North Leigh 0, Andover 1 (aet)
North Leigh suffered the heartbreak of an FA Vase exit at the hands of Sydenhams Wessex League outfit Andover on Saturday, after they fell to a late goal in extra time in front of a bumper crowd at Eynsham Park.
But the west Oxfordshire side had only themselves to blame as they dominated a highly competitive, all-action fourth round tie.
Lacking the killer touch, they missed a hatful of clear-cut chances which would have put the game out of reach of the Hampshire side.
It was the visitors who were quickest out of the blocks, and when winger Mario Nurse volleyed wide in the seventh minute, it looked as though North Leigh would have their work cut out against a physical, but skilful Andover side.
However, that proved to be the visitors' only chance of the first half as North Leigh virtually camped in Andover's territory for the remainder of the first period.
Kevin Coles was left wondering how he didn't put the home side in front after 13 minutes. Latching on to Kevin Alder's huge clearance, Coles darted into the area, only to see his shot across goal tipped behind by keeper Colin Hopkins.
Tom Smith saw a clever back-header tipped over by Hopkins minutes later, while livewire front man Stivelle Cooper drilled an angled shot across the face of goal on the half-hour.
The second half continued to be one-way traffic, but try as they might, North Leigh just couldn't find the back of the visitors' net.
Harry Burnley connected with a brilliant through ball from Coles, but with only Hopkins to beat, the Andover keeper saved bravely at Burnley's feet. Moments later, Cooper's teasing cross from the left found Joe Burnell, who somehow managed to volley wide from six yards.
North Leigh were dealt a big blow just after the hour when the impressive Cooper hobbled off with a calf injury, after being cynically upended by Damen, but the home side refused to let their heads drop.
Fifteen minutes from time North Leigh were grateful to the Stuart Huxley, who somehow hooked Justin Bennett's shot off the line to cap a superb display at the back.
There were still chances for North Leigh to win it in 90 minutes, but Burnley spurned them both.
Then after a quiet first period of extra time, Andover broke clear against the run of play eight minutes from time to snatch the winner.
There was a certain amount of luck involved in it as Danny Sullivan's speculative run onto a defensive clearance paid off.
The ball fell kindly for him 30 yards from goal, and he raced through to slot home beneath Alder from 12 yards and break North Leigh's hearts.
North Leigh: Alder, Murphy, Shelton, Lewis, Huxley, Smith, Burnell, Maisey, Cooper (Ellis 63), Coles (Jackson 105), Burnley (Forrester 94).
Referee: D Brockwell.
Attendance: 426.
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