4:11pm Friday 11th December 2009
By Sports correspondent
THAT man Mark Haran grabbed the goal that ended Witton’s FA Trophy hopes in the cruellest fashion.
His late leveller at Wincham Park forced this replay, and the Matlock midfielder found the net two minutes before the end of extra time to end Albion’s brave resistance.
They had played more than an hour with 10 men after keeper Joe Clegg’s dismissal, replacing him between the posts with Brian Pritchard.
Top scorer Ross Hannah made the most of Clegg’s gaffe to put the hosts ahead on 25 minutes, a lead they doubled when Ben Algar rode two challenges before blasting home.
Brad Maylett’s deflected effort reduced Albion’s arrears early in the second half, only for Clegg to see red for a foul on Nathan Benger.
The referee? Halesowen official Sarah Garratt (see Vics match report from their win at Gloucester City).
Hannah scored from the spot to make it 3-1.
But Gary Finley’s men hauled themselves level after scoring twice in three minutes.
First Jamie Tandy teed up Steve Foster to head home then Peter Heler added another stunning strike to his growing collection when he fired in an unstoppable shot from distance.
Darren Cartwright cleared Maylett’s free kick off the line in extra time then Carl Ruffer’s intervention at the other end prevented a certain goal with Benger set to score.
Haran had fluffed one chance before he did find the target, shooting with just enough power to prevent Pritchard making a save.
Witton Clegg (GK), Craig (Rudd 60), Neville, Pritchard, Ruffer, Heler, Tandy, Broadhead (Brodie 78), Lamb (Moseley 51), Foster, Maylett
Sub not used Booth
Attendance 256
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