FA Vase 1st Round: Stafford Town FC 3-3 Nuneaton Town (2-4 on pens)

Kyle Jardine celebrates his stoppage-time equaliser.

FA Vase 1st Round
Stafford Town 3–3 Nuneaton Town
(Nuneaton win 4–2 on penalties)
Hearsey 28, 63, 75 – Sawyers 51, McGrath 57, Jardine 90+4
Attendance: 315

It was one of those afternoons that remind you exactly why this competition still matters with two sides who simply refused to give in. By the end of it all, Nuneaton Town were through – but only just. Penalties again, nerves again, and more than a few sighs of relief from the travelling faithful.

Callum Gillies stepped in at left-back for the unavailable Carsley, but otherwise the side that took to the field at Evans Park was a familiar one. Alex Graham kept his place in goal, still deputising for the injured Brandon Bache, while Danico Johnson led the line.

The opening half was tight, neither team quite brave enough to take the handbrake off. Stafford looked the more likely early on – a nervy moment saw Graham forced to clear under pressure after a mix-up at the back, and shortly after Gillies lost out on halfway, leading to a dangerous break. But the keeper stood tall, smothering well.

On 28 minutes, Stafford made their pressure count. A corner swung in from the right and there was Matt Hearsey, the home side’s leading scorer, glancing it inside the far post. 1–0. One flash of quality, and it was enough to tilt the half in their favour.

As the whistle blew, tempers frayed – words exchanged, arms waved, but the referee’s calm hand kept things just this side of chaos.

Half-time: Stafford 1–0 Nuneaton

Whatever was said at the break worked. Nuneaton came out like a different team. Kai Thomas burst down the right within seconds, flashing a cross that just evaded both Sawyers and Johnson. Lock followed up, firing narrowly over. The away fans found their voices.

And then came the equaliser. 51 minutes. Gillies overlapping, the cross perfect, Johnson with his back to goal – a neat lay-off, and Eesa Sawyers swept it into the corner. 1–1.

Six minutes later, the turnaround was complete. A free-kick from halfway was hoisted forward, and McGrath – up from the back – rose bravely to meet it. The Stafford keeper came to punch, missed, and the ball looped in. 1-2. Suddenly, belief.

But Stafford, to their credit, refused to fold. Hearsey was a menace all afternoon, his movement clever, his finishing ruthless. On 63 minutes, he was there again, heading home at the near post after Nuneaton failed to clear. 2–2.

And then the sting. 75 minutes. Hearsey again, ghosting through a tangle of blue and white shirts to lash into the top corner. 3–2.

Time ticked away. Substitutions came – Brown on for Harrison, Hendrie for Somel – and still Nuneaton pressed. The clock showed 90. Stafford’s fans were ready to celebrate.

Then, deep into stoppage time, salvation. Gillies, again involved, whipped in another teasing cross. Brown rose, cushioned his header across goal, and there was Kyle Jardine to stab it home. 3–3.

Penalties would decide it, as they had before.

Nuneaton were ice-cold from the spot. Jardine, Recci, and Jones each converted before Aaron Brown stepped up to bury the decisive fourth into the top corner. Stafford blinked first – Hatton wide, Thomas denied by Graham – and that was that. 4–2. Job done.

No one will remember this one for its composure. But they’ll remember the fight, the noise, the drama under the Stafford floodlights. A cup tie in its truest form – messy, emotional, and utterly alive.

Full-time: Stafford Town 3–3 Nuneaton Town (Nuneaton win 4–2 on pens)

Nuneaton XI: Graham, Thomas, Recci, McGrath, Gillies, C Jones, Somel (Hendrie 84), Lock, Sawyers, Harrison (Brown 78), Johnson (Jardine 59).
Subs: Edwards, Hendrie, Jardine, Hesson, Brown.