Photo credit: Henry Nunn

Having secured a last minute equaliser on Saturday to secure the replay away against Laverstock & Ford, the Mitres were looking to avoid a cupset to secure the plum home tie.

In front of a decent and vocal home support it was the Mitres who applied the early pressure with some dangerous crosses but the hosts managed to deal with them all.

The Mitres first clear chance came just after ten minutes when Ross Langworthy was through one on one against an onrushing Lewis Gunstone-Grey but the shot wasn’t quite high enough to avoid the Laverstock & Ford stopper.

The home side then started to get themselves into the game and forced a fine save from Lewis Clayton before Gunstone-Grey saved well with his feet from Jay Malshanskyj’s effort.

The sides then continued to exchange attacks but the Mitres’ defending was good and the attacking plays started to become more smooth although it was a more route one approach that unlocked the hard working defence. Clayton sent the ball long to Malshanskyj but the Cleeve striker still had plenty of work to do beating two defenders before executing a perfect chip to give the Mitres the lead for the first time in 120 minutes across the two matches.

Laverstock & Ford’s best chance came just before the half time whistle as they broke down the left but a superb last ditch tackle denied them the shot and secured a half time lead leaving Mitres fans hopeful they could secure progress to the next round.

The hosts however who were also dreaming of qualifying for the next round continued to cause problems for Cleeve and early on in the second half managed to equalise as Lewis Wakeford’s freekick was not dealt with and headed in by Billy Campbell-Smith much to the delight of the home support.

The Mitres nearly equalised immediately as Langworthy had two chances; first a header went just wide followed shortly after by a shot smashing the upright.

The two sides then exchanged attacks in what became an open end to end game with both ‘keepers making more very good saves.

Then, just as the game looked like it might be heading to extra time, Cleeve won a freekick out on the right. Aaron Evans-Harriott whipped the ball in and Bryan Stalley, who had only been on the pitch twelve minutes, volleyed in one of the important goals in Mitres history to send the away fans ecstatic

There still ended up being ten minutes for the Mitres to see through but they did well to reduce the home side’s chances and saw the game out, to the relief and delight of the away fans (and those following on social media!)

After the match, Mitres manager Paul Collicutt said “They made it very difficult for us tonight…they’ve got a way of playing then they equalised then you get worried here and there but young Scalley (Bryan Stalley) has gone on and he’s taken his goal so, so well.

“In my time at the club over two spells this has been the biggest result in the clubs history. Why? Because of the carrot that was dangling on the end of it. I’m so proud of how the lads have gone on and won, they’ve (Laverstock & Ford) made it very difficult for us and they won’t lose many at home.