Thurnby Nirvana 3 Holbeach Utd 4: Seven goals, red cards, extra time and a place in the last 16 of the FA Vase was the story of Holbeach United’s rollercoaster afternoon on Saturday.
They were all but out in the 95th minute, but centre-half Kern Miller – who had been thrown up front as a last-ditch measure to save the tie – did exactly that, slotting under home keeper James Flinders to make it 3-3.
That forced 30 minutes’ extra time and Jamie Clarke – who also scored the winner in round two against Huntingdon Town – rose to nod home fellow sub Craig Parker’s pinpoint cross to leave the Tigers three wins from Wembley.
Holbeach – who had a few players not at their best – were 2-0 up in 46 minutes through Lee Dube and Matty Nolan.
Dube slotted home from after rounding keeper James Flinders on 31 minutes.
But Flinders had to be alert seconds later, denying Lee Beeson with his legs. Fellow Tigers midfielder Danny Steadman twice went close in the first half too.
Just seconds after the break, Beeson squared to give Nolan the easiest of chances and double Holbeach’s lead.
However, Thurnby turned the match on its head with two goals in as many minutes.
The Leicestershire hosts – brilliant at home this season – were back in it when midfielder Ash Day’s low drive from 25 yards eluded Tigers keeper Nick Conroy’s outstretched right arm on 55 minutes.
Then, with the Tigers ruing missed chances, Matt Melbourne bundled in an equaliser.
And the home bench erupted when top scorer Liam Canavan forced the ball home to put bookies outsiders Thurnby 3-2 up with 16 minutes left.
However, they were reduced to ten men late in the second half and had the victory denied them by Miller’s stab home from eight yards.
And it was pretty much one-way traffic in extra time, with Parker having everyone off the away bench in truncated celebration with a rifled effort just the wrong side of a post, and fellow sub Gary King going close.
Thurnby actually played much of extra time with nine men after another sending off, but the Tigers had their tails up after their great escape and even ten in opposition would have been unlikely to stop them progressing.
Midfielder Jake Duffy – who lives just a stone’s throw from the ground and is good friends with Canavan – said: “I didn’t play well myself but I’ll take that every time if it means we get to Wembley.”
And matchwinner Clarke said: “I was in the right place at the right time again after getting the winner in the Vase before.
“The ball’s come across and like all good strikers you want to be in that box, scoring that goal.
“To be fair, I was bit disappointed not to be playing from the start but the gaffers sent me on and said just be in there!”
He added: “Yet again we showed resilience and we’re delighted to be in the next round. We’re pleased for the fans too who came a long way to support us.”
Tigers: Conroy, Allen, Cartwright, Steadman, Miller, Spencer, Beeson (Parker 63), Duffy, Dube (Clarke 67), Nolan, Warfield (King 75). Not used: Pinner, Overton.
