A late penalty save by Chico Ramos inspired nine man Maidenhead to hold on for a replay on a day of drama which lived up to the legend of the FA Cup.  On an afternoon that will go down in Magpie history, the men in red and white produced a performance that was nothing short of heroic to hold their opponents, two divisions above, to a draw despite Stafford enjoying a numerical advantage for most of the match.

The drama began just over an hour before kick off when Adie Allen withdrew from the line up due to injury, leaving player coach David Clarke to step in.  However this proved to be somewhat fortuitous as Clarke produced a man of the match performance, working like a one armed coathanger, linking midfield to defence and attack from his position on the right side, and filling in at the back as required.

From the kick off Maidenhead were not daunted by their opponents, and roared on by their vociferous fans took the game to Stafford in the opening minutes.  This approach produced a spell of early pressure with three successive corners, Mark Nisbet going closest to opening the scoring with a header that was deflected wide.  Stafford then began to assert themselves moving the ball quickly forward.  Danny Edwards provided the best attacking option on the right wing and when his shot was deflected wide in the twelfth minute he trotted forward to take the corner which was met by a powerful header from captain Wayne Daniel who went through the United defence like a knife through butter to open the scoring.

Maidenhead continued with a patient approach bringing the ball forward in a fashion pleasing to the purists present, but were unable to create any clear cut chances despite regular promising advances.  On the one occasion David Clarke got behind the Stafford defence on the right wing his teasing cross was put wide by Craig O’Connor on the quarter hour mark.  The pace of Rangers’ attacks meant they appeared the more potent team going forward and in the 23^rd minute a quick counter attack saw Guy Madjo square ball from the right wing to Craig Lovatt but his shot was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Ramos.

United’s task was made all the harder in the 32^nd minute when O’Connor was dismissed following an altercation with Lovatt just outside the Rangers’ penalty area.  The referee who had spoken to the pair moments earlier indicated that O’Connor had raised his hands to push Lovatt.  With many feeling a straight red was a little harsh, the United fans were apoplectic three minutes later when Nathan Talbott was only shown a yellow card after he led with his elbow in an aerial challenge with Dwane Lee.

The ten men of Maidenhead fought hard to keep the deficit to a single goal as half time drew near, Ramos dealing well with efforts from Talbott and Edwards.

After the break Maidenhead appeared revitalised by their half time team talk from Johnson Hippolyte, and as so often happens the ten men proved more than equal to the eleven they were facing.  With five minutes of the second half gone Ramos saved well with his feet from a shot by Ged Murphy and from the resulting counter attack Lee Newman broke down the left flank before being clumsily upended from behind by an awful challenge from Richard Sutton.  The resulting free kick was deflected wide for a corner which was delivered expertly from the right by Dwain Clarke and was met by a glancing header from Dwane Lee which flew into the net to level the scores.

Buoyed up by the goal Maidenhead now began to dominate the game, a Richard Witt long shot forcing Rangers’ keeper Danny Alcock into a full stretch save in the 63^rd minute.  However as the match moved into its final stages Stafford’s extra man began to tell and with fourteen minutes remaining an Alcock clearance was flicked on by the head of Madjo into the path of veteran striker Neil Grayson who hared towards goal with Dominic Sterling in pursuit.  As they neared the penalty area, the merest hint of contact from Sterling was enough for Grayson to give up his chance of a shot and tumble to the ground.  With the referee signalling a foul he had no option but to award a penalty and dismiss the United captain.  Grayson then jumped up to take the spot kick and in the faceof the massed ranks of Stafford supporters baying for a goal behind him Ramos read the kick correctly diving to his left to stop the ball which was swiftly cleared to safety.

With two men spare Stafford inevitably laid siege to the Maidenhead goal, but the nine remaining Magpies took a deep breath, pushed out their chests and dug deep to withstand the onslaught.  Time and time again the men in red proved to have stout hearts and stern resolve as they committed themselves to ensure that they prolong their FA Cup run.  Even when the defence was beaten Ramos was on hand to save the day, pushing away a good shot from Kevin Street.  As injury time dragged into its fourth minute Stafford again pressed forward but this time the referee decided enough was enough and blew for time to cue delirious celebrations from the Maidenhead supporters who poured onto the pitch to congratulate their heroes.

Rangers: Alcock, Talbott, McAughtrie, Daniel, Lovatt, Grayson, Gibson (60 Street), Madjo, Edwards, Sutton, Murphy (84 Olaoye).  Unused subs: Dacres, Oldfield, Murray.

Goal: Daniel 13.  Bookings: Murphy 14, Talbott 35, Sutton 51.  Gate 1,526

Magpies: Ramos, Nisbet, Parsons, Lee, Sterling, Clarke Da (73 Johnson), Witt, Osman, O’Connor, Newman (86 Romeo), Clarke Dw (81 Gorman).  Unused subs: Hughes R, Lewington.

Goal: Lee 53  Sendings Off: O’Connor 32, Sterling 77.  Magpie of the Match: David Clarke.