Jennings feels at home (29.11.03)

BIZARRE blunders, goals galore and a controversial ending made for an exciting FA Trophy tie in Swindon on Saturday,
United took the lead in the fifth minute, courtesy of a dreadful error of judgement by the home keeper Tom King.
Gallen floated in a free kick which seemed to offer King an easy take. But, for reasons unknown, he chose to punch the ball clear rather than catching it and had to watch in horror as his attempted clearance hit Laurence Yaku and rebounded into the net.
Former Swindon player Andy Jennings almost doubled the lead just two minutes later, but his powerful header from a Ryan Ashe free-kick was blocked on the line by Terry.
Gradually, the home side got back into the game, with dangerman Dave Toomey leading the way.
After 25 minutes, a good cross by Futcher found Toomey, and his header produced an excellent save from Nick Hart.
Toomey again broke through five minutes later and was unlucky to see his shot hit the post and rebound into Hart’s grateful grasp.
The half-time talk obviously worked for the home side, as they came out with renewed confidence and quickly put the Magpies under pressure.
It was no real surprise when, seven minutes into the half, Toomey broke through and this time made no mistake with a well placed shot.
Minutes later, Toomey went close again, when a shot from a tight angle hit the outside of the post. With a rare forward attack, Phil Gray also hit the outside of the post, when collecting a Ryan Ashe quick free-kick. But, on the hour, Swindon took the lead, when Matthews made the Maidenhead defence look silly as he rode the tackles before finding the deadly Toomey, who again made no mistake from close range.
Maidenhead started to get back into the game as the half wore on, giving the good band of travelling supporters the hope of at least squaring the tie.
King made up for his earlier mistake when he pulled off a spectacular diving save to deny Brendan Gallen’s well placed free-kick.
The pressure finally paid off eight minutes from time, when Ashe and Renner-Thomas combined well to give Phil Gray a chance, and he carefully placed his shot just wide of King’s despairing dive.
With five minutes to go, the fans were even more delighted when Maidenhead re-took the lead.
A long ball went through to King, who – under no pressure at all – contrived to fumble the ball away for a corner.
Gray’s firm shot from the cross was blocked by the collective defence but, as the ball spun high, Jennings forced his way through to powerfully head home.
As the game moved into added time, Nick Hart tried to clear the ball but his kick was bravely and perhaps recklessly charged down by Carter.
With the Magpies protesting at the challenge, Carter collected the ball and then went to ground, as Adam Durrant moved in to tackle.
To the players’ horror, the referee pointed to the spot and Swindon captain Giles Harris stepped up to earn his side a replay.