Brian Cusworth scored the late winner for Maltby Main in the dramatic FA Cup win over Ashton
Brian Cusworth capped an amazing Maltby Main comeback by scoring a trademark header in the dying minutes to send his side into the Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round.
The veteran striker got two as Maltby came back from two goals down to beat Ashton Athletic 3-2 in the Extra Preliminary Round replay at Muglet Lane.
Saturday’s 2-2 at Ashton brought the game back to Maltby and it was the home side, who began brightly.
A early corner allowed Nicky Darker to warn Ashton with a near miss.
A superb striker from Callum Mahoney fired Ashton ahead in the 42nd minute.
The second half started as the first ended which resulted in Maltby going two down after confusion from the corner allowed Mahoney to grab his second of the game as he stroked the ball from 18yards into the top corner, giving goalkeeper John Stancilffe little chance of stopping it.
Moments later Maltby halted the deficit when Darker’s diving header crept in under the Ashton goalkeeper.
On the hour mark and Paul Watson was down in the Maltby area but the referee waved away any claims.
Mahoney, looking for his hat-trick, struck an optimistic shot and wasn’t too far away as he clipped the outside of the post.
With 15 minutes left to go Maltby looked to be out of the game until talisman Cusworth was unmarked at the back post and it was a formality he levelled the scores with his trusty head.
Maltby had Ashton on the rack and minutes later it was celebration as a pinpoint throw landed on Cusworth’s head once again and once again he scored – this time the winner.
Thanks to Ben Storey from Maltby Main for this report.