The Road to Cardiff - 10 men Frome fight back

Backwell United despite being 2-0 up at half time and playing against 10 men for 60 minutes still managed to turn a ticket into the next round of the FA Cup into a replay at Frome Town on Saturday.

Backwell started the game brightly and raced into a 14th minute lead when Richard Hewitt headed in from a free kick. Then after 30 minutes it looked all over for Frome as Karl Madge raced past a static home defence and rounded 'keeper Johnston. His chipped shot towards the open goal was handled on the line by Richard Lindegaard and the Frome defender was promptly shown his marching orders by the referee. Mark Byrne made no mistake from the penalty spot. Then crucially with minutes left of the first half Bloomfield took too long over what seemed an easy chance and a 3rd goal went begging.

Frome made changes at half time and threw men forward but this gave our boys opportunities on the break and Bryne was guilty of missing a guilt edged chance on 55 minutes.

Then on 65 minutes Frome's Hayter scored following a scramble, now Frome looked increasingly dangerous making a mockery of having a man less than United and sure enough 5 minutes later Damien Preece raced onto the loose ball and calmly slotted home a deserved equaliser before being mobbed by all his team mates in front of an ecstatic home support - all 191 of them.

Neither side could muster a winning goal in the remaining twenty minutes despite Backwell trying to pile on the pressure and so both sides have to do it all again in a replay for the privilege of reaching the Second Qualifying Round of the best Club Cup competition in the world.

Replay Tuesday September 21st at 7.30pm.