Stockport County gave a battling performance against Premier League West Ham United in the final FA Cup match of the round last night. However, after relentless pressure over the course fo the match, West Ham got the breakthrough with eight minutes to go through Craig Dawson’s header. West Ham go on to face Doncaster in the next round.
In the other FA Cup matches, Manchester United won 1-0 against out of form Watford on Saturday night. Captain for the night Scott McTominay headed home after five minutes. the Red Devils will now face Liverpool in the next round with the winner of that facing Stockport’s conquerers West Ham or Doncaster in the fifth round.
Oldham Athletic could not find their giant-killing boots against Bournemouth. A 4-1 defeat didn’t reflect the flow of the match, with Oldham having good spells throughout and drawing level through a Bahamboula penalty on the stroke of half-time. Harry Kewell’s men can now concentrate on the league as they bid to continue to climb the League Two table.
In the last of the FA Cup ties for our Greater Manchester sides, Manchester City eased passed a poor and struggling Birmingham City 3-0. It was game over by half time with a Silva double and Foden putting the blues to the sword inside 33 minutes. Man City go on to face Cheltenham in the next round, with the winners facing either Swansea or Nottingham Forest.
Rochdale were in League One action and produced a stunning second-half comeback after being 3-0 down at half time to draw 3-3. A Morley goal and Lund striking a double, his second coming six minutes from time, completed the comeback. Rochdale areas still within the relegation zone but move a to within a point of Wimbledon in 20th.
Altrincham equalised in the 94th minute to secure a point in a tight match against 3rd placed Sutton Utd. The game ebbed and flowed between both sides with Altrincham taking the lead after 16 minutes through Mullarkey. Sutton came back and took the lead just before half time. Following a period of sustained pressure, Altrincham’s Hampson produced a stunning strike deep into injury time to secure the Robins third draw in five matches.
