Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round
Saturday 11th October 2025
Altrincham 2-2 Harborough Town
Reddin (38′), Knowles (50′), Kennedy (87′), Putman (90+10′)
Attendance – 1812
Report – Ben Monti
Photo – RB Media
Harborough Town defy the odds, creating yet another moment of FA Cup magic as they came from two goals down away at National League side Altrincham to level the game in the 100th minute, with Eliot Putman opening his account for the club. The dream of reaching the First Round Proper remains very much alive.
1,812 fans filled the J. Davidson Stadium, of which 293 were sporting yellow, having made the 125-mile trip north. The game was delayed by five minutes when the home side noticed a net repair was required in the roof of the goal. At one point, defender Dan Sassi was hoisted onto a teammate’s shoulders to help fix it in rather comical fashion, lightening the mood.
Harborough started well, matching their hosts, slightly edging control and possession in the opening minutes. Devon Kelly-Evans produced a crunching tackle, halting Altrincham’s momentum and signalling the Bees’ intent.
The first real chance of the game, however, fell to the Robins when Tylor Golden’s clever low ball from a free kick found Lewis Banks, who curled over the bar. Shortly after, Kahrel Reddin cynically lashed out at Ben Stephens after having been dispossessed, luckily avoiding any punishment, despite being directly in the fourth official’s line of sight.
Altrincham’s superiority began to show, with Jimmy Knowles forcing Elliot Taylor into a last-ditch save before a chaotic goalmouth melee somehow left the Bees unscathed. Seconds later, Alex Morris almost headed into his own net, but Taylor reacted with a firm hand to save Morris from his blushes.
As the home side ramped up the pressure, Kelly-Evans produced another perfectly timed tackle to keep the Robins at bay. Nonetheless, the National League side grew in confidence, patiently spraying the ball side to side, looking for a weakness to exploit. The pacey Reddin cut in from the right and curled an effort, destined towards the top corner, only for Riley O’Sullivan to head clear. A further goalmouth scramble occurred from the resulting corner.
Pressure finally told when the Robins’ superb build-up play culminated in Golden crossing low from the left for dangerman Reddin to slot home from close range, making it 1-0 after 38 minutes.
Harborough nearly responded immediately. Captain Connor Kennedy fired wide after a well-worked passage of play, and Danny Newton stole the ball from the defender before blasting over. At the other end, playmaker Tom Crawford narrowly missed the top corner from the edge of the box.
Altrincham flew out of the traps in the second half with Reddin bursting into the box after weaving his way through the Harborough defence. Moments later, the hosts doubled their lead. A mid-height cross from the right wasn’t cleared, and Knowles finished at the back post from yards out. After the game, Mitch Austin said, “I think the goal we conceded was quite poor; we respected them too much. We delivered a great half-time team talk, but when the second goal went in, we thought maybe this was just a day where we were beaten by the better side.”
Despite concerned thoughts of defeat, the boss never wavered, making a bold, quadruple substitution as Dempsey Arlott-John, Eliot Putman, Paul Malone, and Andre Changunda replaced Brady Hickey, O’Sullivan, Stephens and Newton. “It was tactical,” he explained, “I wanted the big man up front, two pacey wingers, and to bring Walshy into midfield.”
The changes galvanised the Bees, freeing up Connor Kennedy in the midfield to cover every blade of grass and lead by example. Arlott-John, as he has done all season, looked devastating down the right flank, and Luke Hutchinson tipped away Paul Malone’s towering header. Moments later, Putman’s well-struck effort from the edge of the D deflected off a teammate.
With the clock rapidly ticking away, Harborough pushed forward relentlessly. Arlott-John’s delicate chip almost released Josh Walsh; however, Hutchinson reacted quickly to deny the chance. Ten minutes from time, Austin brought on Luis Rose to assist in the final push.
The Bees’ ‘never say die’ attitude paid off on 87 minutes. After Malone kept the ball alive inside the box, Kennedy’s slight touch was saved, but the Skipper reacted quickest to head home the rebound, making it game on.
An enormous roar came from Harborough’s travelling support as the fourth official indicated a minimum of eight minutes of stoppage time. Arlott-John produced a moment of individual brilliance, refusing to lose the ball under pressure, evading his markers, and galloping into the box to win a crucial corner. Austin signalled for keeper Taylor to join the attack as the Bees flooded the penalty area.
The corner led to pure goal-line chaos, with the Robins failing to alleviate the danger. George Carline rose highest to connect with a recycled cross, nodding towards goal, and Putman, in his first game back from injury, took it on his chest and, on the turn, guided it low into the bottom corner. Pandemonium. The away end erupted as Harborough pulled off another monumental comeback, and their affinity with this magical competition grows ever deeper.
A visibly emotional Austin said afterwards, “I’m here to make the town proud, and myself proud. The players should be proud, too. With those fans, we can be anything we want to be.”
Harborough will now focus on Monday’s live FA Cup draw, before hosting Altrincham in Tuesday night’s replay at the Beehive. “We’ll all be there to watch it,” added Austin. “Let’s get as many fans down as possible and watch it together. I also want the ground packed on Tuesday. Let’s show them what Harborough is about.”
One word defines this club: character. And my word, do they have it in abundance. They simply don’t know when they are beaten!