Late drama as Moneyfields create FA Trophy history

The 10-man visitors looked destined for victory as the 90 minutes were up.

However, never-say-die Moneyfields turned the game around in dramatic fashion with goals from strike pair Kieran Roberts and Steve Hutchings to pull off an unlikely win.

It was a pulsating success which took Moneys through to the first round proper for the first time.

Carter praised the battling spirit of his side.

'My players are enough to give me a heart attack at times but one thing I will say for them is that they never know when to give up,' he remarked

'I think our two-week break without a game showed early on.

'Possession wise we were okay and I felt that we were the better side in the game.

'It was just in the final third that we let ourselves down.

'In the end we came back fighting and it was fantastic to get the win.'

Moneyfields fell behind in strange circumstances in the 14th minute following a ten-minute delay.

Assistant referee Harry Redman slipped up in the mud on the near touchline and twisted his knee.

He was unable to carry on and, after numerous announcements, a replacement was finally found.

Carter was unhappy that Kidlington scored straight from the restart.

'We threw a ball on during the delay in a bid for players to keep their concentration, not just have a kick-around,' he moaned.

'For both their goals we gave the ball away and didn't clear our lines properly.'

A long throw-in from the left was only half cleared allowing Callum Harvey to volley into the bottom corner of the net.

The home side should have been level five minutes later but Joe Briggs saw his effort blocked on the goal-line.

Roberts eventually levelled four minutes before the break.

His first point-blank header was brilliantly kept out by the keeper but the striker drilled in the loose ball.

It continued to be a cracking cup tie with both teams producing an end-to-end affair.

The visitors regained the lead in the 71st minute when Jacob Davidge curled an unstoppable 20-yard shot into the far top corner.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, confusion suddenly reigned.

With no obvious incident having taken place, the referee suddenly issued a straight red card to Kidlington central defender Tom Franklin.

It transpired later that the card was allegedly issued for dissent aimed either at the referee or home substitute Lamin Jatta.

From that point Kidlington found themselves fighting a fierce rear-guard action.

A minute into stoppage-time Roberts fired the ball in at the far post to level the scores.

And with penalties looming, Hutchings rose above the defence to send his winning header high into the night - sparking off wild celebrations in the home camp.

'In the closing stages we threw everything but the kitchen sink at it,' said Carter.

'We even sent defender Sam Pearce up top.

'The main thing is we got away with it and that we are in the hat for the next round.

'It is nice to break the record getting the club the furthest they have ever been in the competition.

'One thing we always have here is great spirit and keep going to the end.'

Moneyfields are due to return to Southern League action on Tuesday night at home to Barnstaple Town.

The Devonians failed to travel to Winchester for their league game at the weekend.

A statement said: ‘There are two reasons for this. Firstly the club has been made aware of the decision made by Cinderford Town to postpone their match (on Saturday) due to Covid-19 issues. Cinderford were Winchester's opponents in midweek. Secondly, there are Covid concerns within the Barum squad with several awaiting Covid test results.

‘The club has put the health of its players and committee ahead of all other considerations and informed the league and the opposition of its decision.’

Barnstaple have yet to say whether they intend making the 320-mile midweek round trip to Portsmouth.

Moneyfields: Hallett, Bailey, Raine, Da Costa, Pearce, Briggs (Jatta 71, Hoare, 90), Ridge, Hutchings, Dinsmore (Barker, 61), Lefleur, Roberts.