Stourport Swifts 0
Holbeach United 1
(After extra time)
Jordan Thomas struck an extra-time winner to earn Holbeach United a famous FA Cup win on Tuesday night – and book a lucrative date with Worcester City in the second qualifying round.
Striker Thomas, who netted in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Carter’s Park, settled the tie in the first period of extra time after he finished off a move involving Jake Clitheroe and 16-year-old debutant Dan Dougill.
It was a titanic effort from the Tigers, who had to endure an unwanted 270-mile midweek round-trip.
But boss Darren Jarvis admits that none of that mattered to anyone at Holbeach following the final whistle.
As well as securing a Carter’s Park date with National League North side Worcester on Saturday week and banking £3,000 in prize money, the away win will be one for every member of the team to savour.
Jarvis said: “I’m absolutely elated, I just couldn’t be happier.
“The work rate, commitment and desire shown by the lads was incredible – just to make this kind of trip midweek – and win – is amazing.
“To have a tie like Worcester waiting is the icing on the cake and completes the perfect combination of a great FA Cup win and a top draw to go with it.
“This is easily the best result we’ve had since Tom Roberts and I arrived at Holbeach United.
“Personally, it’s right up there in my favourite-ever wins as a manager too.
“For the lads to show such resilience on the pitch shows how much they care about the club.
“Some of them had to get off work, while Josh Ford played 70 minutes with flu.
“I’m absolutely made up with them all.”
Holbeach had the better of the chances in normal time and were only denied by a top goalkeeping performance by Swifts’ number one Dominic Richards.
His best save kept out a Jonny Clay header in the second half of normal time.
It mattered little in the end, with Dougill’s pass finding Clitheroe on the wing before he crossed for Thomas to prod home the most important of goals.
Holbeach are back in UCL Premier Division action on Saturday as they make the trip to Harborough Town (3pm), before travelling to Boston Town on Tuesday night for a Lincs FA Senior Trophy clash (7.45pm).
But they could be forgiven for having one eye on their date with Worcester on September 26.
Tigers: Drury, Worthington, Ward, Clay, Cartwright, Warfield, Pinner (Dougill 88), Thomas, King, Ford (Clitheroe 70), Gale.
