WYTHENSHAWE FC 3, CHEADLE HEATH NOMADS 3
(Wythenshawe FC won 4-3 on penalties)
It is hard to imagine a more dramatic tie in the Isuzu FA Vase than Wythenshawe FC’s spellbinding victory against Cheadle Heath Nomads,
If the Ammies have a lengthy run in the competition, manager James Kinsey admitted they will look back to how they almost bowed out in the first qualifying round.
Kinsey labelled his Step 5 side as “horrendous” though they somehow found a way to win,
“We have been brilliant, but complacency set in. We were 2-0 down inside half an hour and had a problem,” he said.
The Ammies, pressing for an equaliser, were caught on the break as Nomads made it 3-1 after 83 minutes as their Step 6 neighbours looked set to pull off a giantkilling act.
They never gave in and were rewarded when Sam Goodwin headed a 99th minute equaliser – referee Aron Connolly only signalled seven added minutes.
There was barely time to kick off again when the final whistle sounded and the game went to penalties with Ammies winning 4-3 but then the outcome was not settled until the 10th kick from Darius Palma.
“In fairness the players didn’t stop and asked questions right to the end,” Kinsey added, saying his side needs to learn fast.
Aaron Dwyer, signed from NPL side Atherton Collieries, had an eventful debut which began when he missed a sitter after only seven minutes, blazing over with an open goal beckoning.
Nomads were ahead after 17 minutes when Edson Cata, once an Altrincham academy player, was released on the left and fired home off the bar and upright, a spectacular finish.
And it got better when the visitors doubled their advantage after 25 minutes when captain Callum Graham was left unmarked to head home from a corner.
Ammies halved the deficit shortly before the break when Darrhyl Mason set up Dwyer who made room for himself before finding the bottom corner with unerring accuracy.
It was one-way traffic for much of the second period, but Nomads defended as though their lives were on the line, Palma bring a super save from keeper Joe Lawlor on one of the rare times they breached their back line.
Then with the Ammies taking risks in pursuit of a leveller, they were caught on the break after 83 minutes when Kaylan Wilkinson broke from his own half and rounded keeper Ryan Forde to slot home.
If Nomads thought they were home and dry as their celebrations suggested, they were mistaken.
Ammies were given a hand when Nomads were reduced to 10 men when Alex May was sent off for a second booking soon after the goal.
And three minutes later, Mason reduced the deficit as he converted a cross from the left with a low shot.
In the seven minutes of added time – which became nine – Dwyer struck the bar with an overhead kick before the last-gasp leveller, a header from Goodwin.
Ammies looked set to win comfortably in the shootout when Deus Norford had his kick saved and Max Whittle blazed over.
Dwyer, who Kinsey said didn’t want to take a penalty, had a kick to win the game but saw his effort saved by Lawlor low to his left.
Wilkinson scored for Nomads leaving Palma to smash the 10th kick into the roof of the net as Ammies edged home 4-3 in a tie which had everything and which proved the magic of the cup is still very much alive, even in non-league.