WE’RE WAITING IN THE WINGS
Watford 2-1 Chesterfield: Tom Dele-Bashiru fires in stoppage time winner for the Hornets to deny the National League leaders an FA Cup third round replay
It was not to be for Chesterfield, yet as crushing as it was for the non-leaguers to concede when the clock read 94:09 at Vicarage Road, the thousands who travelled wasted no time in reminding their team what is more important.
‘We are top of the league,’ the army of 4,000 sang to Paul Cook and his deflated players on the pitch. Promotion to the Football League is their top priority, though there was no escaping the hurtful ending to this FA Cup defeat.
Chesterfield led through Joe Quigley until the 76th minute. That was when Mileta Rajovic equalised for Watford before Tom Dele-Bashiru struck the killer blow in stoppage time to avoid a replay.
The consensus among those getting their chippy tea at Fry Days afterwards was it was harsh on the visitors who made this five-hour, 270-mile round trip in the hope of seeing some FA Cup magic.
Yet there will be no run to follow for Chesterfield’s players. No repeat of 1997. No being felt up by a former England footballer on primetime television. If that last sentence sounds a little strange, some context will help here.
The consensus among those getting their chippy tea at Fry Days afterwards was it was harsh on the visitors who made this five-hour, 270-mile round trip in the hope of seeing some FA Cup magic.
Yet there will be no run to follow for Chesterfield’s players. No repeat of 1997. No being felt up by a former England footballer on primetime television. If that last sentence sounds a little strange, some context will help here.
