US Portsmouth’s history-making FA Vase run goes on with 3-2 home win over Millbrook
Glenn Turnbull’s men had already created club history by reaching the third round for the first time ever.
But today’s highly entertaining 3-2 home success against Cornish outfit Millbrook at a soggy Victory Stadium takes them through to the last 32.
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Hide AdThey are the first club from the second tier of the Wessex League to ever reach the fourth round stage.
And they did it by scoring early in each half before adding a third 20 minutes from time.
Millbrook set up a nervous finale by scoring twice in a minute in time added on.
The tie got off to a sensational start when US were awarded a penalty after only SIXTEEN seconds.
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Hide AdStriker Andy Todd was needlessly shoved over by Sam Morcom and Dec Seiden sent Chris Wearing - who had saved two Bashley penalties in the previous week’s Vase win - the wrong way from the spot.
Rikki Shepherd should have levelled on 25 minutes. A Jeffes slip saw the ball played through to the striker, who rounded keeper Tom Price only to fire his shot back across the face of the six-yard box and just wide.
US doubled their lead two minutes after the restart with a truly stunning strike from right wing-back Frankie Paige.
Paige’s free-kick was blocked, but the rebound fell to him and he lashed a 25-yard angled drive into the top corner with Wearing rooted to the spot.
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Hide AdIn a tie that was always end-to-end, US extended their lead when Jeffes - so impressive as one of the three centre halves against a lively visiting attack - rose highest to nod in a Paige corner.
Millbrook had arrived in Portsmouth having won 14 and drawn one of their league and cup games this season, and it was not hard to see why.
It was a surprise it took them until injury time to get off the mark, Shepherd forcing the ball home from close range.
Less than 60 seconds later, Shepherd scored again - heading in a cross at the near post.
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Hide AdThat set the USP nerves jangling, but the final whistle signalled another historic victory and the club’s eighth in a row in all competitions.
USP: Price, Paige, Hazell (Kyle, 79), Jeffes, Cain, Birmingham, Pile, Glen, Todd, Seiden (Sargeant, 74), Franklyn.