lineup

Jason Pearcey

Gary Moran

Jamie Williams

Adam Hart

Craig Herbert

Andy Commander

Rory Squire

Craig Dutton

Robbie Beard

Justin Marsden

Steve Evans

subs used

Jon Douglas

Gary Redgate

An action-packed, thrilling and controversial FA Cup tie at Rugby United ended all square against current Trophy holders Hednesford Town.

The visitors, operating a slick, passing game, got off to the better start in the first half against an unchanged Rugby side and striker Andy Bell was unlucky not to give the Pitmen the lead when his fiercely struck effort clipped the top of the crossbar.

Despite Hednesford looking dangerous on the break, Rugby still created a few chances, the best falling to Justin Marsden, who could only shoot off target.

Both defences marshaled attacks away well and there were not too many clear cut chances until five minutes before half time after the visitors hit Rugby on the break.

Following a Rugby corner, Hednesford broke from midfield and with Rory Squire tracking Andy Bell, the former tripped the latter in the area for a certain penalty.  Indeed the referee pointed at the spot but Bell failed to convert, with Jason Pearcey getting a hand to his spot-kick and the ball bounced off the crossbar and away.

The action then all came after the break.  Jon Douglas replaced an injured Squire to give United a three-man frontline and it seemed to make a difference.  Rugby were a lot stronger in the second half and took the lead with over twenty minutes remaining when a deep cross the back post was flicked on by Douglas and Robbie Beard struck a sweet, low, left-foot volley into the net to give Rugby the lead.

It seemed as if Hednesford had no reply and just five minutes later, Rugby were two to the good.  Craig Herbert's perfectly weighted ball found Douglas in space down the right side and as he probed to the byline, he cut the defence apart and pulled the ball back to Robbie Beard who finished with ease inside the six yard box.

It looked as though Valley were set for a game in the next round but with just ten minutes remaining the momentum of the game was completely nullified when a fan climbed over the hoardings and set about unnerving Rugby goalkeeper Pearcey.  After the fan, who has now been banned by Hednesford, was escorted off the pitch by the players, the referee refused to resume the game until the fan was out of the ground.

This five-minute unusual stoppage gave Hednesford the change in momentum they needed, and just a minute later, Andy Bell latched onto a long pass and poked the ball underneath Pearcey to get a goal back.

An equaliser looked far from inevitable with Rugby still looking to seal the game, but with four minutes remaining the referee awarded an unlikely penalty.  A cross came into the box and Pearcey punched the ball out of the box to safety and was challenged by Bell.  The Rugby number one was not pleased with Bell's challenge and pushed the striker away, and the assistant raised his flag to alert the referee.  The referee claimed after the match that he had clearly seen the push, which makes it strange that he needed to wait for his assistant to flag.

Pearcey was booked, and despite getting a hand to the ball, he could not keep Leon McSweeney's penalty out.  The goalkeeper then kicked the ball at McSweeney in frustration and appeared to receive a straight red card.

The equaliser sets up a replay on Tuesday at Keys Park.