Uxbridge force a replay at Garden Walk on Tuesday night

FA Trophy First Qualifying Round

Uxbridge 2

Royston Town 2

A LAST-gasp strike from Uxbridge’s Wayne Carter denied Royston a victory on Saturday in dramatic fashion.

The Crows thought they had won the tie after debutant Sam Spencer scored in the 89th minute, following Matt Standen’s second half opener and Matty Woods’ leveller five minutes later, but Carter struck at the death to ensure a replay tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at Garden Walk.

The winners will face either Canvey Island or Wroxham in the Second Qualifying Round on Saturday, October 27.

Both sides were reduced to 10 men in what was a full-blooded encounter in west London, with the home side playing the whole of the second period a man down following Chris Owens’ rash tackle just before the break.

Paul Attfield’s sdie took the lead on 53 minutes after the break when Tommy Mallins swept the ball to Ryan Ingrey who fired against the post, only for team-mate Matt Standen to stroke home the rebound from close range.

It didn’t take the hosts long to equalise and they did so five minutes later when Woods side-footed into the bottom corner after the Crows defence had been caught out by a long ball.

The momentum shifted in favour of the hosts when Royston centre-half Joe de la Salle received a second yellow for a misplaced challenge to even up the sides at 10-men each.

However, Royston thought they had won it when Spencer pounced on a defensive mistake before firing a fine 25-yard effort into the net.

But the match wasn’t over yet, and as the match entered stoppage-time Carter found himself one on one with the Royston keeper before calmly slotting the ball into the corner of the goal to earn his side a replay.