Radford were eliminated from the 2022-23 FA Cup as Anstey Nomads won a closely-fought Extra Preliminary Round replay at Selhurst Street, reports Will Hugall.

After an original tie the previous Saturday finished 1-1, the Pheasants had high hopes on home turf but ultimately could not overcome the difference in divisions.

Anstey, a UCL Premier Division side who finished 3rd last season, were tough to break down in all departments and made a second-half spell of pressure count for victory.

Neither side changed much from the original meeting, although Radford made the decision to swap Jevin Seaton and Johnathan Jebbison for Jordan Alls and Callum Smith.

On a warm evening at the Oakfield Arena, the early stages were predictably cagey and saw the Pheasants have the first threat through Joe Meakin’s low shot at Conrad Logan.

The visitors then thought they had an early lead, only for Jordan Annable’s header from a corner to be poked in by a teammate in an offside position.

With that worry averted, Radford continued to go about their gameplan in a confident style, with Kyle Stovell proving particularly threatening when cutting in from the right.

End product was the only thing lacking from a full-throttle performance from both sides, and only at the very end of the half would that change.

Attacks had become prolonged at this stage, and finally in the sixth minute of added time, Anstey broke the deadlock as Sam Hollis took advantage of a loose ball and sent an overhead kick past Hadlee Dunn.

Radford’s response was prompt, however, as from a corner just two minutes later, Jordan Alls was free as a bird to head the ball across goal and into the bottom right corner.

It meant the half ended all square, and the higher-level visitors, who had just started to find confidence, were quickly reminded of Radford’s quality.

With a home tie against Skegness Town the prize awaiting the winner, the second half began with everything still very much up for grabs.

As the summer sun gave way to moonlight, the Pheasants stuck to their guns and were ploughing forward to create chances for the tricky Stovell.

Anstey were wise to whatever was thrown at them, though, and with 21-goal striker of last season Michael Reeve up top, knew they had the ideal outlet were chances to appear.
As it turned out, it wasn’t Reeve who would make the breakthrough.

Instead, Hollis grabbed his second of the game in the 60th minute with a gorgeous strike from 15 yards, placed high into the top left corner past Dunn’s reach.

The visitors had to be credited for accuracy when it mattered, as just two minutes later they bagged another.

Ben Bayliss was the beneficiary on this occasion, as after a great run from his own half, the left-back took advantage of confusion between Dunn and his defenders to tap a rebound home.

Radford could do little but chase the game after this, but Anstey were not to be parted from the ball in the remaining time.

With Logan a tenacious presence at the back, skipper Annable marshalling excellently and Hollis hunting his hat-trick, the Nomads were out to prove their credentials.

Despite having 30 minutes to attack the visitors, Radford were truthfully a little out of steam in the late stage and couldn’t quite reach the level necessary.

That took nothing away from a well-rounded performance over the tie, however, which considering the divisional divide was highly encouraging for those in claret.

The Pheasants will go on to focus on league football, as well as campaigns in the FA Vase and UCL Cup, with the next instalment coming against Kirby Muxloe this Saturday (13th) at Selhurst Street.

Kick-off will be 3PM, and with a 100% league record on the line against a presently free-scoring Kirby side, it should be a real cracker.

Radford: Dunn, Adegbola (Tobin, 23), Moore (Fletcher, 70’), Boafo, McLaughlin (C), C. Meakin, Stovell, J. Meakin, Alls (Seaton, 57), Fitzhugh, Smith

Unused: Campbell

Anstey Nomads: Logan, Wolfe (Snaith, 83’), Bayliss, Annable (C), Gibbens, Blackshaw, Armeni, Bestwick, Reeve (Wakefield, 74’), Hollis (Kasongo, 85’), Bowley

Unused: Hall, Richardson, Kinch