History-makers Hungerford into the last 32
[caption id="attachment_66732" align="alignleft" width="227"] Dean Stow - settled it at the finish[/caption]
They go into Monday’s second round draw for the first time in their history amidst some of the giants of non-league football, although manager Bobby Wilkinson is merely happy to be in the hat.
“I don’t care who we get,” he said, “but whoever we do get, I know we’ll go out there and give them a run for their money.”
Hungerford pocketed £5,000 of that on Saturday when beating the Calor League’s Premier Division leaders, and if St Albans lose their replay with Tonbridge, Hungerford will be the competition’s last survivors in the Trophy.
They had to withstand heavy second half pressure to protect a first half lead provided after 31 minutes when Mark Draycott latched onto Dean Stow’s pass to clip the ball over goalkeeper Shane Gore.
Goalkeeper Paul Strudley made three good saves behind a resolute back line before Hungerford wrapped up the tie at the start of stoppage time when Bradley Gray opened up play for Stow to go on and beat Gore and leave Hungerford potentially four matches from Wembley.