The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Third Round Proper
Saturday 5 January 2008
Winning clubs receive £40,000
Havant and Waterlooville scored a late equaliser against League One leaders Swansea City to ensure a non-League club go into the hat for The FA Cup Fourth Round draw on Monday.
Earlier in the day, the two other non-League sides in the Third Round – Chasetown and Cambridge United – took the lead against Championship sides Cardiff City and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively, but ended falling at the last.
But Havant did superbly well to come from a goal down against the League One high flyers in their first appearance at this stage of the competition.
The leveller was scored by 35-year-old journeyman Rocky Baptiste with just three minutes remaining, and earns the club a replay on their home turf at West Leigh Park to be played on January 16.
There were a handful of other upsets on a hugely entertaining day as four Premier League giants were slain by lower-league opponents.
Iain Dowie’s Coventry City pulled out all the stops to thrash Blackburn Rovers
4-1 at Ewood Park. The Championship side were three goals up by the time David Bentley struck a consolation goal with five minutes remaining before Michael Mifsud scored his second in the last minute to ensure the tremendous result.
League One side Huddersfield Town pulled off one of the results of the day by defeating Alex McLeish’s Birmingham City 2-1 at home. Luke Beckett opened the scoring for the Yorkshire club after four minutes only for Gary O’Connor to level for Birmingham 15 minutes later, scoring his first goal in 17 games.
However the Terriers were to have the last laugh, as Chris Brandon netted with only nine minutes left on the clock. Huddersfield held on for a memorable result.
Bryan Robson’s Championship club, Sheffield United, travelled to the Reebok Stadium and a Lee Carney goal, three minutes before the half-time oranges, was enough to sink Gary Megson’s Bolton Wanderers.
In a game delayed due to a fire in a nearby chip shop, Everton, who had lost only twice in their last 17 games, lost 1-0 at home to League One’s Oldham Athletic.
Gary McDonald’s spectacular 25-yard strike just before the interval capped a superb effort from John Sheridan’s side. It was Oldham’s seventh straight away win.
Elsewhere, Portsmouth, thanks to a David Nugent goal, held off a brave Ipswich Town team who were unbeaten at Portman Road in 17 games. The Tractor Boys had Liam Trotter controversially ejected after only 24 minutes, but Portsmouth did enough to seal a 1-0 win in Suffolk.
Championship team Bristol City were downed by Middlesbrough of the Premier League by 2-1, with goals from England international Stewart Downing and local boy David Wheater.
Source: Cup magic strikes
