Written by Liam Price, photos by Jonathan White
Nantwich Town overcame a 45-place gap to upset Banbury United 2-1 to move on in the FA Cup.
A performance that was described by manager Paul Carden afterwards as ‘outstanding to a man’, the Dabbers started on the front foot and stayed there throughout. Callum Saunders might have given them the lead after just 5 minutes, cutting inside wonderfully and drawing a fine save from Banbury keeper Jack Harding.
But it didn’t take long for Nantwich to strike, scoring after 9 minutes. Steven Hewitt floated in a teasing free kick that was met ahead of the keeper by Troy Bourne to nod in. It was almost a carbon copy of Saunders’ first goal against Liversedge last weekend, the Puritans perhaps not doing their homework.
The 2 teams traded a couple of simple shots on target, before Banbury’s danger man Ken Charles had his first pair of openings, the second was blazed over the cross bar from a good position.
With AJ Leitch-Smith not available, another forward blow came for Nantwich when Saunders was forced off after less than half an hour with an apparent knee injury, Kai Evans replacing him.
Connor Heath flicked a header wide before Bourne was found again by Hewitt in acres of space, this time he could only head straight at Harding.
Banbury did grow back into it and had a couple more openings before the break, Temitope Obadeyi struck into the side netting and then Louis Hall fired over, like Charles he was in a decent position.
In the second half, it got tighter with Carden subbing the booked Connor Heath for Joel Connolly, a change to shore things up in midfield.
But it was Connolly who spurned a massive chance to make it 2-0 just 5 minutes into the half. Evans did great things on the left to work some space and squared to Connolly who put it over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Banbury then got a big chance to level, Obadeyi won a 50/50 with Nathan Okome and was in on goal, but Scott Moloney stood strong and saved well with his feet.
Then another big moment. Hewitt struck a fine free kick that looked goal bound were it not for a superb clawing save from Harding to keep it out. Then Connolly headed in on the rebound but was flagged offside from the initial free kick. Replays, including from supporters stood at pitchside, showed that Joel was onside when the free kick was taken.
Byron Harrison and Aidan Elliott-Wheeler spurned chances for either side, but Harrison wasn’t done.
As the visitors piled forward, the Dabbers broke through some great skill from Evans, played it to Connolly and he found Harrison who took a touch and tucked in the second. It was 83 minutes and it looked like game over.
But Banbury got a lifeline just 2 minutes later as Bourne turned a corner unluckily into his own net.
That set up a tense finish, Harding made another good save to deny a third before Banbury dramatically saw a goal ruled out for a foul throw, the assistant ref indicating the player had planted his foot on the pitch while taking.
But Nantwich held on to upset a side 2 divisions higher and move into the Third Qualifying Round for the first time in 3 years.
The next home game is the FA Trophy tie on Saturday 23rd September against Dunston at 3pm.
Teams
Nantwich Town: Scott Moloney, Troy Bourne, Perry Bircumshaw, Ahmed Ali, Nathan Okome, Scott Butler, Paddy Kay, Steven Hewitt, Byron Harrison, Connor Heath (Joel Connolly, 45), Callum Saunders (Kai Evans, 27)
Subs not used: Mohamud Ali, Jacob Edwards, Lewis Sinnott
Goals: Bourne (9), Harrison (83)
Banbury United: Jack Harding, Jack Tompkins (Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton, 86), Jack Davies, Tai Fleming, Lawson D’ath, Ken Charles, Abdi Yussuf (Craig Hewitt, 65), Temitope Obadeyi, Emmanuel Maja-Asewu, Aidan Elliott-Wheeler, Louis Hall
Subs not used: Simeon Maye, Josh Barlow
Goal: Bourne (85, og)
Attendance: 415