/ 17 January 2008

Non-leaguers upstage Keegan’s return

The teachers and taxi drivers of non-league Havant and Waterlooville bagged a dream FA Cup trip to Liverpool after beating Swansea in a third-round replay on Wednesday. The part-timers from the Conference South -- the joint sixth tier of English football -- overcame the League One leaders 4-2 to ensure they will travel to Anfield later this month.

The teachers and taxi drivers of non-league Havant and Waterlooville bagged a dream FA Cup trip to Liverpool after beating Swansea in a third-round replay on Wednesday.

The part-timers from the Conference South — the joint sixth tier of English football — overcame the League One leaders 4-2 to ensure they will travel to Anfield for a money-spinning fourth-round tie later this month.

Richard Paquette, Jamie Collins and Rocky Baptiste gave the Hampshire side a three-goal lead, before Guillem Bauza pulled a goal back for Swansea six minutes before half-time.

Jason Scotland made it 3-2 but Tom Jordan’s 65th-minute goal settled the non-leaguers’ nerves and they eventually held out comfortably for the biggest win in the tiny club’s history.

It was a night that will live long in the memory of everyone in the 4 400-strong crowd at H and W’s Westleigh Park.

And it was an equally memorable evening at St James’ Park, where Newcastle celebrated the second coming of Kevin Keegan by beating Stoke City 4-1 in their replay.

Keegan, whose shock return to the club was confirmed just hours before kick-off, was in the stands as goals from Michael Owen, Brazilian defender Cacapa, James Milner and Damien Duff sent the Magpies into a fourth-round showdown with Arsenal.

Liam Lawrence scored a late consolation goal for Stoke, who were unable to take advantage of their numerical advantage following the straight red card received by Newcastle’s Turkey international Emre for a challenge on John Eustace before Cacapa made the game safe.

Manchester City edged their all-Premiership clash with West Ham thanks to a solitary goal from Brazilian playmaker Elano 17 minutes from the end of an uninspiring encounter at the City of Manchester stadium.

Elano dived into a crowd of boots to convert the rebound from a Rolando Bianchi header that had come back off the post and his bravery earned City a fourth-round trip to Championship outfit Sheffield United.

The night’s other replay ended in a slight upset with League Two’s Hereford overcoming League One outfit Tranmere 1-0 to earn a fourth-round home tie against Championship side Cardiff. — Sapa