The Ambers ensured their name is in the hat for Monday’s First Qualifying Round draw of the Emirates FA Cup but they had to work hard to bring Cleethorpes Town back to Olivers Mount for a replay on Wednesday night, a late Mitch Dunne penalty earning them a draw in the sunshine.
A sizeable following from Sheffield saw the NPL East promotion contenders start well, and early strikes from Molyneaux and Bateson flew across the Ambers box as The Owls signalled their intent, before the visitors started to pick up confidence and the pace of Jimmy Eyles caused some consternation in the home crowd as his well-timed runs brought keeper Jackson off his line smartly to clear, before he then chipped the ball in but an early offside flag ruined the moment for The Ambers. Kane Reece then charged down a Town clearance, but his shot was blocked.
Ben Townsend was on hand to save a decent long-range effort from McMenemy before he then acrobatically tipped over a dipping effort from Oglesby. The Ambers then suffered a blow as Ant Mackie went down injured and was replaced by young Rion Arbouin for his first appearance of the season.
A great passing move by The Ambers carried the ball from their own half and into the Town box, but the final pass left Toby Kenyon with just too much to do and Jackson was able to claim the ball at his feet.
Oglesby then tried his luck once more from distance, but yet again Townsend was on hand to tip the effort away for a corner. As the game moved into first half stoppage time, Cleethorpes managed to get the ball in the away net but a foul was called for an infringement on Townsend and the half ended all square with the home side having marginally had the better of it.
The Ambers’ stubborn resistance lasted less than three second half minutes as a scramble in the box led to the unfortunate Mike Trench deflecting the ball past Townsend, but the referee Mr Tompkins had spotted a foul on the keeper in the build-up and disallowed the goal, only to then consult with his Assistant and subsequently change his mind and decide that the goal should stand.
The advantage offered Town the opportunity to start knocking the ball around and they began to dominate possession, pulling The Ambers around the pitch as they looked to create an opening to put the game to bed. Topliss fired over from the edge of the box before Molyneaux failed to hit the target after Townsend had left his area unattended, and a Bateson strike after a tricky dribble was deflected away for a corner.
The Ambers were dependent on hitting their opponents on the break and they created a chance when a free kick was awarded just outside the box, but although the strike from Johno Williams beat the wall, it was straight at keeper Jackson, who then dealt with a Jon Hill header from Trench’s long throw and a Mitch Dunne header from another Williams set piece delivery.
The home side were also creating chances and Trench was on hand to head a Williamson header from a corner off the line before Lowe was unable to keep his shot down. The heat was now taking its toll and both sides used their substitutes, with the two Sam’s, Fewkes and Smith coming on for The Ambers.
Dunne then fed Arbouin on the right and the full backs cross/shot into the box was hacked away, whilst at the other end, Howe almost put the tie beyond the visitors when he pounced on a rare defensive error, but his shot came off the inside of the post and rolled away out of danger.
With eight minutes to go, Fewkes played the ball into the feet of Dunne on the edge of the box with his back to goal and he was bundled over, the referee pointing immediately to the spot, much to the astonishment of the home fans. Dunne calmly slotted home the penalty to level things up and set up a frenetic finale to the game.
Howe headed a good chance over from Dawson’s cross before Townsend saved Howe’s free kick, whilst at the other end, Jackson denied Smith with his legs after Dunne had put him through. The impressive Arbouin then sent Dunne racing clear and his long-range effort beat Jackson but flew just over the bar. Howe then almost benefitted from a lucky bounce off an Ambers player, but Townsend read the situation well and bravely claimed the ball at the strikers’ feet, before Cooke missed a glorious chance to win it deep into added-on time with a free header but the attempt was too high.
So, the result of an entertaining game was in effect decided by two borderline decisions by the officials, and the two sides will have to do it all again on Wednesday night to see who progresses on the Road to Wembley.