TWO second half strikes from Chris Rabone helped Dudley Sports to a memorable FA Cup preliminary round win over Rocester.

The striker netted at the beginning and end of the second period as Sports earned a mouth-watering trip to Southern League Premier side Rugby Town in the first qualifying round on September 12.

It was all they deserved after weathering pressure from their Midlands Alliance opponents in the first half before taking control in the second period.

The visitors almost went in front as early as the second minute. Sports failed to clear a corner and the ball eventually found its way to James Curley, who saw his point blank effort blocked by home keeper Adam King.

Darren Bullock then headed straight at King from a Keenen Meakin-Richards free-kick, while Rabone shot high and wide for the home side.

Rocester’s Tyrell Shannon-Lewis then hit the side netting from a tight angle after turning his marker.

The visitors looked threatening going forward and went within inches of claiming the lead in the 21st minute.

Again Sports failed to clear a corner, Shannon-Lewis’ saw an effort blocked and the ball eventually found its way to Shawn Salmon ten yards out whose shot cannoned agonisingly off the post into the welcome arms of King via a defender.

Courtney Shaw then spurned another chance for Rocester, heading wide from Daniel McLeod’s deep cross.

He was nearly made to pay for the miss immediately, visiting keeper Richard Frogatt saving well at close range from Kalum Evitts after good work from Rabone and Adam Beddard.

Salmon had an effort pushed behind by King as Sports defence held firm in the final minutes of the half.

Sports then took the lead withing two minutes of the restart, Beddard taking advantage of some sleepy Rocester defending to feed Rabone, who cut inside the defender and fired into the roof of the net.

The goal rocked Rocester, who poured forward in numbers in search of an immediate response and Shaw twice went close to providing it.

First he had King rapidly back peddling to tip over a chipped effort, before firing just past the far post after Sports had failed to deal with a cross.

But the home side were holding firm and went close to doubling the lead as Mitch Orford’s header from Evitt’s corner was hooked off the line.

Gaps were now appearing in the visitors defence and Harry Hambleton should have done better after being fed by Rabone but failed to control the ball allowing Bullock to clear.

Rabone then raced clear only to shoot weakly straight at Froggatt.

As the game entered the final ten minutes the visitors began peppering Sports with high balls but struggled to create a chance of any note.

Rabone then sealed the win in the final minute, pouncing on Martin Heath’s weak backpass before rounding Froggatt and stroking home to send his side into rapture.