FA Cup Stevenage 4-3 Tranmere: Jamie Reid's last-gasp winner breaks Rovers hearts after thrilling clash
FA Cup First Round: Stevenage 4-3 Tranmere Rovers
A dramatic last-gasp winner by two goal hero Jamie Reid was enough to seal a thrilling 4-3 victory over Tranmere.
The late strike by Reid broke Rovers hearts after visitors' substitute Kieron Morris made it 3-3 in the 91st minute, moments after coming on
In a lively game, Boro substitute Kane Hemmings looked to have sealed passage to the second round of the FA Cup, after his strike put the home side 3-2 ahead with only 10 minutes remaining.
The 32-year-old ex Burton Albion centre-forward appeared to have capped a stirring triumph, that saw former Stevenage striker Luke Norris have an eventful match on his return, scoring a goal, before conceding a penalty in an entertaining cup clash.
In front of 2,404 at the Lamex on Saturday afternoon, which included 177 visitors from Merseyside, Jordan Roberts close range header for Boro within 120 seconds of the opening whistle ensured Boro shot out of the blocks.
The early strike fuelled hopes of Boro making a start on replicating their tremendous run to the fourth round of the world's oldest domestic knock-out competition last season.
Who can forget Stevenage's giant killing last term, which included the never-to-be forgotten 2-1 victory over Premier League giants Aston Villa. While the run was eventually ended by Stoke City in the fourth round the thrilling run created memories to last a lifetime.
However, former Boro player Norris, briefly halted home supporters' daydreams of cup progression following Roberts' opener, when the Stevenage-born striker won a penalty on 28 minutes, after he was felled by Kane Smith in the box.
Up stepped the 30-year-old - who scored 36 goals in 121 appearances for North Herts' side - to find the net and make the score 1-1. despite keeper and former teammate Taye Ashby-Hammond's best efforts to keep out the low strike to his left.
Despite Roberts testing Rovers' keeper Luke McGee prior to the interval, the sides went in level at the break after a hard-fought first half.
Prior to the match there was a perfectly observed minute's silence (below) to honour The Fallen ahead of next week's Remembrance Day.
Which was followed by a brief downpour, before a rainbow appeared at Broadhall Way, as you can see by our Nub News picture.
Rovers went ahead on 55 minutes when Rob Apter's left-footed shot beat Ashby-Hammond, to put the visitors from Merseyside 2-1 in front.
The lead was short-lived, as Steve Evans side earned a penalty a mere 180 seconds later - when Norris fouled his former teammate Carl Piergiannni in the box, leaving Jamie Reid to step up and convert the spot-kick to level the scores at 2-2.
Substitute Hemmings forced the ball past McGee to put Stevenage 3-2 ahead on 80 minutes, which looked to have earned Evans side passage into the next round - until Morris' late equaliser for the battling visitors.
That was before Stevenage hero Reid grabbed his second of the match, to earn a remarkable victory for Evans battling side.
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