Hawks stunned by eighth-tier Marine FC as they miss out on spot in FA Cup third round

Home striker Niall Cummins headed the only goal in the last minute of extra-time against a Hawks side who were reduced to 10 men in the 88th minute when skipper Anthony Straker was sent off for a second bookable offence.

A free-kick was sent in to the back post where defender Anthony Miley nodded the ball back across goal for Cummins to dive and head in, sparking jubilant celebrations.

The visitors - 41 places higher in the pyramid than their Northern Premier League North West hosts - can have no complaints about the result.

Marine, who hadn’t played for three weeks due to their ‘non-elite’ status, carved out the better chances throughout at The Marine Travel Arena.

They looked the sharper side, they looked the hungrier side, and it would have been an injustice on Marine had Hawks won the penalty shoot-out that was beckoning.

Hawks were indebted to keeper Ross Worner for a couple of great second half saves to even take the tie to the extra 30 minutes.

Paul Doswell’s men only managed one on-target effort across the two hours of action, a shot from sub Theo Widdrington that was saved at the near post.

Going into the game with a five-man defence, against a team two divisions lower in the pyramid, Doswell started with just Tommy Wright up front as Joe Iaciofano hadn’t trained all week due to a groin injury.

One of the three centre halves, Moussa Diarra, could have given the visitors a 12th minute but fired well wide from a Roarie Deacon corner.

After Deacon had cut inside from the left and been fouled, Josh Taylor fired a low free-kick into the defensive wall.

That was to be the last time Hawks had a shot at goal in a scrappy first half which never really flowed due to the amount of free-kicks awarded.

Hawks only really threatened via Josh Taylor throw-ins or free-kicks, but the hosts - with Anthony Miley and David Raven impressive at centre half - defended well.

Marine also improved as an attacking force as the half went on, and came very close to breaking the deadlock in time added on.

Josh Hmami fired in a left foot shot from just inside the penalty area which rebounded off the post. Kenghi’s follow up effort was parried by Worner and, with Hawks unable to clear, Hmami then lashed a shot over the bar.

Worner produced the first of two great second half saves on 65 minutes, saving with a foot after Touray had been put through.

Sub Widdington saw his shot saved low down at his near post by Bayleigh Passant, but Worner was easily the busier of the two keepers.

He produced another superb stop on 76 minutes, changing direction to divert Cummins’ close range shot behind for a corner.

Marine were appealing for a penalty on 84 minutes when Cummins went down theatrically under a challenge from Sam Magri.

Hawks were then reduced to 10 men four minutes later when Straker brought down Neil Kenghi and was shown a second yellow.

He was one of seven Hawks players booked, along with three Marine players, in a tie that was never remotely dirty.

Despite Hawks’ numerical disadvantage, the first half of extra time was fairly even, with Worner rushing out to deny Touray with his feet before saving low down from the same player.

At the other end, Deacon took a pass from Read but lashed a shot wastefully high and wide.

Marine players were starting to go down with cramp, as Hmami was replaced by striker Ryan Wignall, twice an FA Youth Cup winner with Liverpool.

The second period was equally even, and it looked as if penalties would decide a winner before Cummins’ dramatic goal.

Marine: Passant, Solomon-Davies (Strickland, 108), Joyce, Doyle (Devine, 45), Miley, Raven, Kenghi, Hmami (Wignall, 104), Cummins, Touray (Hughes, 120), Barrigan.

Hawks: Worner, Reed, Straker, Diarra, Magri, Robson (Iaciofano, 72), Clifford (Widdrington, 60, Mclennan 90), Taylor, Gomis (Sinclair, 82), Wright, Deacon.

Referee: Ross Joyce