Stourport Swifts 2, Bromsgrove Sporting 2 (aet)
CALVIN Dinsley’s 90th minute spot-kick dealt Stourport Swifts an FA Vase reprieve as they earned a replay against MFL Division One visitors Bromsgrove Sporting.
The Swifts were heading out at the first hurdle at the hands of their local lower league opponents before Dinsley’s penalty forced the tie into extra time. A goalless half-hour means the sides will face each other again tomorrow (Tuesday).
Bromsgrove had broken the deadlock after only five minutes through debutant Sam Wills, although Brendon Bunn could have done more to stop his strike finding the back of the net.
After a sluggish start, Swifts soon drew level through Lewis Pountney, who rose highest to head home Alex Cowley’s right-sided cross.
But with the interval looming, Swifts were knocked for six as they conceded two penalties in the space of six minutes. First Wills was shoved as he attempted to win a header and the home side were fortunate to see Simon Fitter crash his effort against the underside of the crossbar.
Yet Swifts then gifted their opposition another chance from 12 yards. Wills was again the architect after Kevin Spencer needlessly hauled him to the floor and this time the striker picked himself up and fired his spot kick beyond Bunn on the stroke of half-time.
Stourport gradually turned up the heat in the second period and had numerous opportunities to find an equaliser.
Jake Bedford did well to catch John Griffin’s far-post header, while the determined Ashley Parsons-Smith curled a free-kick narrowly wide with five minutes remaining.
A dramatic finale ensued as Pountney, who seconds earlier had seen an angled strike tipped onto the post by Bedford, was then fouled in the box by Fitter.
Dinsley duly smashed his spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner to take the tie into a goalless period of extra-time.
Swifts: Bunn 6, PARSONS-SMITH 8, Willets 7, Briscoe 7, Spencer 6, Walker 7, Cowley 7 (Hurrell 81), McGrath 6 (Dinsley 46 8), Pountney 8, Griffin 7 (Maund 73), Hyde 8. Subs (not used) Lavery, Morris
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