Tadley Calleva silenced the EBB Stadium on Saturday afternoon, twice coming from behind to hold Aldershot Town in the FA Cup.
On Thursday, First Team Coach Michael Buck told Football in Berkshire the Romans weren’t going to the Recreation Ground to “make up the numbers,” and it was clear, despite an early set back, that would be the case.
Marcus Dinanga opened the scoring after just eight minutes for Aldershot in a big blow to the visitors – four steps divisions below the home side.
Tadley quickly settled though and one intricate moment of passing led to Kieran Rodgers trying a 30 yard effort that certainly had goalkeeper Nick Hayes looking nervous for a moment.
The big moment came though just before half time, Alfie Burton swivelled and hooked the ball home from a knockdown in the first minute of injury time. The travelling crowd of 883 erupted and the referee quickly brought the half to a close.
The second half saw Tadley come out all guns blazing, but Michael Stickland punctured the hope on the hour with a deserved goal as Aldershot exerted pressure.
‘A knee slide that will rack up millions of views’
A third goal was surely in the offing, but Tadley hadn’t thrown in the towel. They never do. From my vantage point side on to the goal, Tadley’s equaliser looked similar to a rolling maul in rugby union, players throwing themselves at the ball to get it over the line, Aldershot defenders straining to keep it out until substitute Charlie Barlow applied the finishing touch.
His knee slide to the away support will undoubtedly rack up a million views across social media, an iconic moment, but only if the Romans could hold out.
11 minutes went up on the board for added time. Aldershot hit the bar, had a goal ruled out for offside and couldn’t find a way past the immovable force of Donnacha Burke in goal.
2-2 it finished. A truly memorable afternoon for the Tadley players and supporters, one that will go down in the clubs history.
The FA Cup First Round Proper draw is on Monday (details here), so by the time the replay is played at Barlows Park on Tuesday, it will be known if the dream away day to Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester City or Reading is on.
No-one in the ground on Saturday would bet against Joe Lawler’s side achieving it.
