Raynes Park Vale were denied progress in the FA Cup by an injury-time equaliser. In Raynes Park Vale’s first competitive game of the season, an Olu Lawal goal after 31 minutes left Vale trailing 1-0 at half-time.
Vale began the second half in a more positive mood, and Natty Boakye slotted home the equaliser in the 51st minute. Yet again, Merstham took the lead after 72 minutes with a Sinn’Kaye Christie header. Vale’s response was almost immediate, Natty Boakye claiming his brace from a corner kick after 75 minutes.
Danai Hassan came straight off the bench and volleyed home a great Mo Kamara cross from the right in the 75th minute. In desperation, Merstham’s goalkeeper Rob Tolfrey joined the fray as Merstham won a corner, and he had to make a dash back to his goal area as Vale regained possession.
Jubilation turned to despair as Vale goalscorer Danai Hassan went for goal instead of heading for the corner flag to run down time. The resulting clearance inevitably ended in a last-gasp goal for Merstham, with Olu Lawal scoring his second goal on 90+7 minutes.
So it’s all back to Grand Drive to keep the FA Cup dream alive.
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