Magpies are spot-on after dramatic climax (05.10.04)

THE Magpies scraped through to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup after winning a dramatic penalty shoot out 3-2 against Whitstable Town on Tuesday.
However, the exciting finale to this Maidenhead Advertiser-sponsored replay eclipsed a below-par performance from the Magpies against a plucky team from the Kent League.
Having missed a plethora of chances on Saturday, the Magpies turned in a mirror-image display of poor finishing which eventually left the door open for the visitors to make a game of it.
In the first 30 minutes of the match the Magpies completely dominated and should have had the tie wrapped up.
In fact they could have taken the lead inside the first minute when Lawrence Yaku controlled and spun on a fine pass from Rob Saunders, but blasted his volley at the Whitstable keeper. It promised much.
The Magpies poured forward with Brendan Gallen and Jamie Cook finding advanced positions on the flanks, but possession could not be turned into goals.
Gallen had a header cleared off the line, Barrie Matthews side-footed a decent opportunity wide of the mark and then Saunders fired the ball into the ether with the goal beckoning, as chance after chance came and went.
Even when visiting keeper Gary Arterton went off injured and had to be replaced by Mark Lane, the hosts could still not find a way through.
However, they did move the ball, and their opponents, around the park intelligently, in the expectation that it was just a matter of time.
And so it proved, as just seven minutes into the second half a delightful half-volley from Cook from 25 yards flew into the top corner of the goal to send the Magpies on their way.
However, this merely provoked the fighting spirit in Whitstable who increasingly came at their hosts and for the first time looked like they might score.
The Magpies should have quashed this revolt in its tracks when they were awarded a penalty on 70 minutes for a dubious handball decision.
However, the normally reliable Gallen hit the spot-kick straight at the keeper.
Even though they were now playing with three up front, since Richard Harris had joined the fray, the killer-blow could still not be found.
As the clock ticked down there were chances at both ends but it was Whitstable, with just three minutes remaining, who found the back of the net, when Ryan Davis scored from close range following a routine cross.
Extra-time produced little of note although Gallen had a good header cleared off the line and Cook sliced wide when well placed.
The lottery which is a penalty shoot-out brought the best out of the Magpies, who slotted home three times through Cook, Harris and Yaku, with only Craig O’Connor seeing his effort saved.
Whitstable though scored just twice – their final effort hitting the post.
Even at this stage the difference between survival and failure was a narrow one.

WAR CRY: Brian Connor celebrates a memorable cup win at York Road. Ref:86630/1