Emirates FA Cup Third Round Qualifying
Saturday 28th September, 2024
Harborough Town 1 (Starkie 23′)
Leamington 0
History was made as Harborough Town progress to the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round for the first time as Ben Starkie’s strike saw the Bees past Step 2 Leamington.
The visitors enjoyed early chances, with Josh Quaynor curling his freekick just over the bar before a double deflection took the sting out of Joy Doyle-Charles’ volley. The best opportunity in the first half for the Brakes fell to Callum Stewart, who volleyed straight at Elliott Taylor after the ball fell kindly in behind the home defence, but the tide then started to shift in Harborough’s favour. Ben Stephens forced a good save out of Callum Hawkins, who tipped his freekick over the bar, but the Leamington shot-stopper could not keep out Starkie’s effort from the resulting corner as the Tanzanian international arrowed his shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to put his side ahead.
The away side looked to get themselves back in the game in the second half, with Stewart’s freekick getting parried away by Taylor, before Adam Wacker’s low drive was deflected narrowly wide of the post. Amar Sandhu had a shot diverted just over the bar as the Bees hit advancing Leamington on the break, but it was Taylor who was called into action next, producing a brilliant save to deny Tim Berridge. Robert Evans followed this chance up with a thunderous freekick that left the crossbar shaking, before a slick counter-attack saw Kai Tonge flash his shot just wide as the hosts remained threatening. The pressure was applied by Leamington in the final moments as they looked to force a replay, but a resolute home defence stood firm to secure a richly deserved passage to the next round.
MOTM: Alex Morris (HTFC)
Report: Cristian Bratu