Stevenage 2-2 Concord Rangers (aet 5-4 on pens): Battling Boro win hard-fought FA Cup clash after spot-kick shootout

By Layth Yousif 7th Nov 2020

PICTURE: Stevenage boss Alex Revell issues a rallying cry ahead of penalties. CREDIT: @laythy29
PICTURE: Stevenage boss Alex Revell issues a rallying cry ahead of penalties. CREDIT: @laythy29

Battling Stevenage beat brave Concord Rangers after a dramatic penalty shootout to progress to the second round of the FA Cup following a hard-fought clash that went to extra time.

The home side beat the National League South visitors 5-4 on spot-kicks, with Aramide Oteh slotting home the winning penalty after a 2-2 draw in 120 minutes on Saturday afternoon at the Lamex.

Chelsea's on loan keeper Jamie Cummings saved Concorde's first spot-kick from Tosan Popo to put Boro in the driving seat.

The two sides could not be separated after two hours minutes of intense competition - with both teams deserving credit for their heroic endeavours, in a match match played with full commitment.

Concord, aiming to reach the second round of the world's oldest knockout competition for the first time in their history, levelled through Odei Martin on 107 minutes to make it 2-2, in an absorbing clash between two sides who did not yield an inch.

The Beach Boys nearly hit the perfect note to claim victory when substitute Lamar Reynolds forced a superb late save from netminder Cummings, on loan at the Lamex from Stamford Bridge for the season, before their dreams were dashed in the subsequent spot-kick drama.

Prior to that, Stevenage substitute Danny Newton had put Boro 2-1 ahead in the first period of extra time during a full-blooded FA Cup tie.

Earlier, Boro notched only their second goal in nine matches when defender Ben Coker put the home side 1-0 ahead in the 27th minute, following good work from Stevenage returnee Tom Pett.

The experienced Pett, who rejoined the club this week, turned his man to square for Coker, whose shot took a deflection to end up in the net past Concord keeper Chris Haigh.

However the visitors from Canvey Island equalised three minutes before the interval through giant striker Alex Wall to make it 1-1.

The bustling 6ft 5in forward fired past Cumming, to the delight of the vociferous official Concord contingent that had travelled to north Herts, following Jason Raad's excellent ball in that was helped on by Sam Blackman.

     

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