GORNAL Athletic will host Rugby Town in a Tuesday night FA Cup preliminary round replay after a fantastic performance at Butlins Road.

The Peacocks more than matched their Southern League Central hosts and thought they had won it at the death – only for referee Richard Watson to adjudge the ball had not crossed the line in a scramble involving Calum Martin.

Martin had earlier tested home keeper Louis Connor during the first half, while Marvin Nisbett fired over from close range.

At the other end, Gornal stopper James Pemberton denied Tyrone Fagan and substitute Andy Gunderlach with impressive saves.

Peacocks boss Ian Rowe blasted a kit back into the advertising hoardings in frustration when the late effort was waved away and afterwards admitted to being slightly disappointed to not have won the game.

But the overwhelming emotion at the end of the game from the visiting contingent was one of pride – and rightly so.

Against opposition from two levels above them Gornal were a credit to the West Midlands Premier, playing attractive football and creating plenty of problems for the hosts.

The praise should start with the manager, whose 4-5-1 formation ensured his side got a grasp on the midfield and allowed widemen Marvin Nisbett and Matt Martin to play merry-hell with their opposing full-backs.

Meanwhile, in a patched up defence, skipper Chris Waterhouse stood strong and the only downside for the visitors was the loss through injury of his equally impressive partner Connor Gater. Right-sided midfield player Mike Perks deputised at the back for the final 20 minutes and did a sterling job in the circumstances – though Rowe will be hoping Gater is fit for Tuesday’s return.

Gornal’s attacking abilities were evident from the start as they forced an early corner, with Dave Meese causing all kinds of problems in a role just behind sole striker Calum Martin. It was he who created the first clear chance of the game for Nisbett after ten minutes, whipping in a low cross which the winger hit just over the bar.

That seemed to stun Rugby into action and they fashioned a chance of their own moments later, Pemberton doing brilliantly to deny Fagan low down after the striker had cut in from the left and then tried to pull a shot inside the keeper’s near post.

But this was a rare opportunity for the home side as they struggled to get the upper hand and it was Gornal who fashioned the next opportunity.

Again Meese was involved, playing a centre-back splitting through ball to set Calum Martin away. The striker saw Connor off his line and attempted to curl a shot over the keeper from 25 yards out but didn’t get enough elevation, meaning his shot was pushed away.

Still Gornal pressed, with Nisbett keeping Rugby right-back Gary Moran honest and the hosts limited to counter-attacks.

One such attack nearly paid off, as Seb Hamilton wriggled clear Robin Keates and sent in a low cross which Fagan really should have turned home from six yards out but instead hit straight at Pemberton.

Gornal began the second half looking to seize the initiative and dominated early possession without creating any real chances, with the final ball too often letting them down.

Instead it was the hosts who began to make better use of their time on the ball and they twice went close to breaking the deadlock. First substitute Gunderlach was denied by Pemberton following Rugby’s best move of the match. From the resulting corner, skipper Nik Preston headed wide from point blank range.

Though there was still little to choose between the teams in terms of possession but the hosts were certainly fashioning the better chances.

Fagan saw a shot deflected just wide by Waterhouse, while Hamilton failed to hit the target from ten yards out after the ball fell to his feet following a scramble. In another instance, Waterhouse was able to recover and steal the ball from Fagan just metres out after first missing a Moran centre.

The pattern continued until the final ten minutes but any thoughts of a final onslaught by the hosts went out the window as again Gornal came to the fore.

Calum Martin wasted a great opportunity when he chose to cross rather than shoot after being played in by namesake Matt. From the corner, Meese’s near post glancing header was hacked off the line by Moran at the far post.

In the final minute, Gornal thought they had snatched it. Meese showed great skill on the edge of the box to beat his man and his shot from an acute angle seemed to deflect off Connor and towards goal. Martin and a defender went for the ball on the line, which the latter cleared in dramatic fashion via the crossbar. With players, management and fans all appealing for the goal, referee Richard Watson waved play on and - at least until Tuesday – the fairytale ending was gone.

RUGBY: Connor, Moran, Reece, Preston (c), Gourlay, Evans, Steane (Gunderlach 50), Miveld, Fagan, Hamilton, Wesley Subs not used: Sherwood, Wilson, Khan, Da-Costa.

GORNAL: Pemberton, Green, Keates, Gater (Perks 68), Waterhouse (c), Morgan J, Wherton, Meese, Martin C, Nisbett, Martin M Subs not used: Morgan C, Willetts, Weyman, Hensman.