WYTHENSHAWE TOWN 0, FARSLEY CELTIC 1
Wythenshawe Town manager Rory Fallon was disappointed as his side’s epic Emirates FA Cup run finally came to an end.
After five rounds and seven matches – two rounds went to replays – this was the furthest the club had ever progressed in the cup.
Town gave Farsley Celtic, two divisions higher in the football pyramid, a run for their money.
Nick Heppel and Sam Sheridan both stuck the frame of the Vanarama National League North side which won through a 33rd minute breakaway goal from Darren Stephenson.
“I thought we were unlucky and deserved something from the game,” explained Fallon.
“We had come through four rounds to reach this stage, and I had been hoping for a couple more, but it was not to be.”
The cup run has impeded newly promoted Town who have played only five games in Northern Premier League, West.
“We have adjusted well and if you had offered me three win and one draw from the five games, I would have taken it. It has been a good start, but we have a lot of games to catch up other teams,” he continued.
Town, whose side included former Premier League player George Boyd, were by no means overrawed by their more lofty opponents.
Boyd had an early penalty appeal turned down and Heppel hit the upright after breaking from midfield.
But they were caught on the break in the 33tf minute when Ben Atkinson’s through ball released Stephenson, whose previous clubs have included local sides Stockport County and Curzon Ashton.
The Jamaican sprinted clear and rounded keeper Greg Hall to slot home the matchwinner.
Late in the half, Town’s Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, another former EFL player, had two great goal attempts deflected just wide for corners.
Boyd, now aged 38, went close with a scorching drive from 25 yards in the second period – it narrowly cleared the bar.
Sheridan then struck the bar with a terrific free kick after Boyd had been tripped 25 yards from goal.
Boyd had another effort well parried by on-loan Manchester United keeper Tom Wooster who saved the best until last.
In the second of four added minutes, Wooster, (19), flung himself low to his left to turn away a free kick from substitute Daniel Thompson-Edwards.
Luke Nook then saw a venomous volley fly just past the upright as Town literally threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Yorkshire side which is only potentially one match from reaching the first round for only the third time in the club’s history.
Celtic manager Pav Singh praised the character and resilience of his ‘warriors’ as they are having to play every game away while a 4G pitch replaces grass at their ground.
Including pre-season, this was a 20th successive away game as every game continues to be a road trip.