Poole Town forced to FA Cup replay after late heartbreak

The Dolphins will take on Hayes and Yeading again in their bid to make the first round proper of the FA Cup, following their draw at the SKYEx Community Stadium. The 1-1 result does however mean both teams will be in that hat for Monday night’s FA Cup draw, meaning that the prospect of playing a League One or Two side could be on the line in Tuesday’s replay.

Tommy Killick’s men travelled to Hayes sitting 12 places higher than their opponents in the Southern Premier South. And when the home side were reduced to 10 men just three minutes in, it looked as if Poole were favourites to progress. Hayes and Yeading defender Keano Robinson was dismissed after his desperate lunging challenge denied Dolphins’ forward Harry Baker a one on one chance.

Despite having the one man advantage, the Dorset men struggled to threaten opposition keeper Jack Smith until midway through the second half. Poole’s number seven Josh Carmichael sent in a cross from the right which was volleyed home by substitute and AFC Bournemouth loanee Jake Cope to put Poole a goal up.

The Dolphins failed to qualify for the FA Cup at this final hurdle last year. It was Haringey Borough who scored a late winner against them, and there was more late devastation for Poole in yesterday’s tie. In the fourth minute of injury time James Clark drove a long range effort into the bottom right corner of Poole keeper Luke Cairney’s goal.

Despite the heartbreak boss Killick knows his side still have a good chance of making the first round of England’s most prestigious cup competition. Speaking to the club’s social media he said: “We have got to get over the disappointment quickly. It is easy for us to think that’s it, but we are still very much in the tie. We’ve got the home advantage. We have to try and turn the mood round.”

The replay will take place at the Black Gold stadium Tuesday night. Kicking off at 19:45, Poole will hope they can clinch their first qualification into the cup for 35 years. The draw for the first round will be shown on BBC Two Monday night at 19:10. Poole or Hayes & Yeading are ball number 72.