A look back at an exciting end to the FA Trophy Fourth Round tie…
By Matty Paddock - 13/01/2024
Posted 2 years ago
HARRIERS secured a place in the Fifth Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy with a dramatic 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over Altrincham.
The Reds triumphed from 12 yards after a goalless draw at Aggborough.
On a chilly afternoon, Harriers’ day got off to the worst possible start when Sammy Robinson pulled up with what looked to be a troublesome injury with barely six minutes played.
The two teams traded long range efforts in the opening half. Gold Omotayo’s header and an Jack Lambert drive were comfortable enough for Ethan Ross to deal with, while Christian Dibble got down well to keep out an effort from Matty Kosylo.
Ross was busier as the half wore on, though, particularly when Ashley Hemmings began to find his range, having one effort from 30 yards out parried away, and a second, rising shot tipped away from danger.
Altrincham went within inches of going into the break a goal up when Alex Newby’s dipping free kick threatened to drop in, only for the woodwork to intervene.
Newby might also have put the Robins in front after the restart, but his effort on the angle crashed into the side netting after a pass from ex-Harrier Christian Dibble.
Hemmings had a shot held in the area on the hour mark, before a brilliant double block stopped Altrincham from taking the lead as Caleb Richards and Shane Byrne both put their bodies on the line to stop the ball heading in from close range.
Harriers dictated much of the last third of the game but were almost dealt a hammer blow with just seconds of normal time remaining after a foul by Dibble as adjudged to have been inside the area. That gave the visitors a penalty, but Chris Conn-Clarke was denied in the 93rd minute as he stepped up from 12 yards.
That triggered a penalty shoot-out to decide who’d go through to the Fifth Round draw, with Dibble again denying Conn-Clarke with Altrincham’s first penalty after Shane Byrne had converted the first kick of the shoot-out. Eddy Banks was also beaten by Dibble, meaning decisive, further kicks from Morgan-Smith, Richards and Lambert were enough for a 4-2 victory on penalties for the hosts.
Get full team news and key match facts at The Match Centre.
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