The Third Round awaits...
Stevenage secured a place in Round Three of the FA Cup after beating League One leaders Hull City 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
Alex Revell made four changes to the side that beat Port Vale midweek, as Ben Coker, Terence Vancooten, Tyrone Marsh and Arthur Iontton all came in for Luther James-Wildin, Scott Cuthbert, Jack Smith and Romain Vincelot.
Both sides enjoyed spells of possession within the opening minutes, as Martin Samuelsen’s glanced header and Arthur Iontton’s long range effort produced easy saves for both keepers.
Boro settled into the game well, forcing a young Hull City side back on numerous occasions as a corner forced by Aramide Oteh fell to Danny Newton, heading just over the bar.
Stevenage were playing the better football in the opening 15 minutes, coming close once more with a low-drilled Remeao Hutton cross finding Newton who was intercepted at the final moment by a Hull defender.
Hull had a fantastic chance of their own seconds later, with Tom Eaves shrugging off Terence Vancooten before unleashing a strike that was expertly saved by Jamie Cumming.
Newton was finding his rhythm early on, wriggling past numerous Hull defenders in the box before crossing into an unmarked Charlie Cater, whose volley hit the ground and was eventually cleared to safety.
This contest produced end-to-end football as Thomas Mayer’s diagonal ball found Samueslen unmarked inside the Boro box, heading just wide of Cumming’s goal.
Oteh produced an excellent save from George Long on the 30 minute mark, stinging the gloves of the Hull keeper with a ferocious long range effort.
Newton produced another fine Long stop from the resulting corner as Boro continued to dominate the League One table toppers, asking all the questions.
Hull had the final chance of the half after 40 minutes, as James Scott’s mazy run on the right hand side ended in a superb save from Cumming to deny the Hull striker.
Stevenage certainly held their own in the half but conceded a penalty early in the second half, with Arthur Iontton’s outstretched boot taking down Scott. Tom Eaves stepped up to take the penalty, scoring emphatically to give the visitors a second half lead.
Boro came close to an equaliser soon after with Hutton’s floated cross sailing over Tom Pett but reaching Newton, tamely shooting into the gloves of Long from point-blank range.
Samuelsen saw a long-range volley sail wide and substitute Keane Lewis- Potter had a free-kick saved by Cumming as the hosts began to feel comfortable in the contest, pushing Boro back with attacking moves of their own.
Boro continued to press and found a leveller through substitute Elliott List on 78 minutes. Carter forced an opening into the Hull box and a scramble resulted in List finding space and releasing a powerful strike into the top corner, leaving Long in the Hull goal helpless.
Hull nearly nicked the game on 85 minutes, with a long ball finding Samuelsen on the edge of the Boro box, firing over much to Boro’s relief.
The game went to extra time and the first chance went to Boro, as a piledriver released by Newton had to be tipped over by Long.
The battle between Eaves and Vancooten continued, with Vancooten winning many of the duels against the experienced striker, a positive for Alex Revell going forward.
Newton continued to pose a threat for the visitors as the second half of extra-time commenced, twisting and turning into the Hull box before being closed down.
There were no goals in extra-time, meaning the contest had to be settled via a penalty shootout.
Sean McLoughlin missed the crucial penalty, with Jamie Cumming the penalty shootout hero as Stevenage knock out League One leaders Hull City to secure a place in the FA Cup Third Round.