Baffins Milton Rovers secure FA Cup progress after seeing off nine-man Tadley Calleva

Baffins Milton Rovers kept their cool to collect an FA Cup extra-preliminary round victory at nine-man Wessex League Premier Division rivals Tadley Calleva.
Billy Connor struck for Baffins Milton Rovers at Tadley Calleva. Picture: Chris Moorhouse   (241020-32)Billy Connor struck for Baffins Milton Rovers at Tadley Calleva. Picture: Chris Moorhouse   (241020-32)
Billy Connor struck for Baffins Milton Rovers at Tadley Calleva. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (241020-32)

Summer signing Alex Przespoloweski and substitute Billy Connor got the goals as Shaun Wilkinson' s side recorded a 2-0 victory.

Wilkinson, who was not at the game because of an ongoing stadium ban, praised his players for remaining composed against a 'physical' Tadley outfit.

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The hosts had Jordan Goater dismissed a minute before for break after picking up a second yellow, while Andrew Charsley received his marching orders a minute from time.

For Baffins, it was a first triumph of the season following their opening-day league draw at Fareham.

And Wilkison is hopeful his team can now build on the victory after pocketing £1,125 in prize money for the FA Cup win.

He said: ‘It was good to get through, especially in our first game away from home, it was win at all costs, really.

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‘Obviously last season we went out at the first round so it was just pleasing to get through.

‘You always want to have a little run in the cup - first and foremost you want to win football matches - that breeds a bit of confidence.

‘It was good to get the first win of the season and in the cup competitions you want to go as far as you can.

‘Obviously I wasn’t there, but from what I hear we had loads of possession the other team were really physical.

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‘They tried to intimidate us but we’ve got characters in our squad this season who won’t let that happen.

‘I think we were knocking on the door for a very long time, didn’t take our chances, but once we finally got the goal it opened up for us and we got the deserved second at the end.’

Goater collected a second booking on the stroke of half time as Baffins had a man advantage for all of the second period.

Przepolewski finally made the breakthrough just after the hour mark to hand the visitors the advantage.

Substitute Connor then struck a minute from time before Tadley finished with nine men following Charsley's dismissal.

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