Set to play in the second round of the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history following their stunning first-round victory at Leyton Orient, Maldon and Tiptree FC welcomed League Two’s Newport County to the Wallace Binder Stadium. Could the non-league side pull out another upset? We were in attendance to find out, making the fixture the next part of our ‘Framed’ series.
Maldon and Tiptree provided one of the shocks of the first round of the FA Cup when they travelled to Brisbane Road and duly eliminated their hosts, Leyton Orient, from the competition. And their reward was the chance to do it all over again, although this time on the home soil of Wallace Binder Stadium. Under the Friday night lights with the cameras rolling and the smell of fried onions wafting from the various hotdog and burger vendors; yep, this was a proper FA Cup tie and no mistake.
League Two side Newport County came into the game only too aware of Maldon and Tiptree’s heroics from the last round, and both sides had opportunities to take the lead in front of the 1,876 fans in attendance. But for some fine defending on the line by Akins, Newport would have taken the lead in the first half through Abrahams, who fluffed his opportunity when it seemed easier to score.
The home fans, crammed into the only two stands and scattered across the various grassy knolls that surrounded the pitch, were in fine voice, cheering the home side and jeering the visitors in equal measure. But it was not to be their night, and their FA Cup run came to a cruel end when Padraig Amond scored a header in the 91st minute – making that eight rounds in a row that he’s found the net – breaking hearts and crushing dreams at the same time. But it was a hell of a ride while it lasted, and one that won’t be forgotten in that area of Essex anytime soon. Same again next season, yeah?
Photography by Kieran Clarke for SoccerBible. Next up, the big boys come out to play...
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