DIVISION Two Braddan sprung a Cu-Plas FA Cup shock on Saturday as they defeated top-flight Castletown in a remarkable first round tie at the Stadium.
Marc Newell’s young second tier side produced a fine all-round team performance to see off their more illustrious opponents who were made to pay for a lacklustre afternoon’s work.
The visitors made a dream start to the tie when Alex Delaney handed them a fifth-minute lead. Experienced striker Geoff Murphy doubled the Swans’ lead not long before the half-time break as Braddan seemed to be cruising into the draw for the competition’s quarter-finals. However, the Premier League outfit dragged themselves back into the encounter thanks to two second-half goals from sub Nathan Cooil and centre-back Karl Clark.
The latter’s 86th minute equaliser sent the tie to extra time, where the match really exploded into life midway through the second period of the additional 30 minutes.
In an extraordinary six minute spell Town capitulated, losing Clark to a red card for a handball before conceding the resulting penalty and two more goals as the Division Two outfit emphatically completed their cup ‘giant’ killing.
The decision to switch the tie from Braddan’s waterlogged Victoria Road ground seemed to benefit Town in the game’s opening throes as they took the game to the underdogs. Indeed Stuart Butterworth and Ben Qualtrough’s side nearly took the lead when Karl Staniford’s rasping volley brought a fine save out of Braddan keeper Craig Hardie. The loose ball fell to Alex Crawley in the Braddan box, but the Town skipper could only find the post with his follow up effort.
Braddan took advantage, taking the lead barely a minute later. Dean Corlett’s mishit shot was kept alive well by Jonny Padi. The tireless wideman crossed the ball back in from the right flank where Delaney struck home from the edge of the box.
Both teams had chances as a good, open cup tie began to develop. Jack Charmer fizzed a shot just over for the hosts before Will Smith nodded Danny O’Hare’s free-kick from deep narrowly wide. Town then found the Braddan woodwork in resolute mood again as Clark crashed a header against the bar after connecting with the fleet-footed Lee Davenport’s corner from the left.
Clark’s chance marked a good spell of pressure for the Mets, but crucially the southerners couldn’t find a way through the hard-working visitors’ massed defence. The pace of Padi offered the Swans a threat on the break and he nearly doubled his team’s slender lead when he charged through only to be denied by the feet of Town keeper James Matthews.
Having weathered the Town storm, Braddan enjoyed a good spell at the end of the first 45, capitalising to stretch their lead just before the break thanks to Murphy’s smart turn and shot.
Town started the second period in determined fashion and grabbed a goal back eight minutes into it when half-time replacement Cooil tapped in after Hardie had spilled Mark Wolfenden’s well-struck shot. The hosts continued to pile forward and Crawley’s stinging half-volley drew a good save out of Hardie as the Premier League side desperately searched for an equaliser.
Castletown continued to create chances - the lively Cooil dragging a shot agonisingly across the face of goal after latching on to Wolfenden’s measured through ball. Just as it looked as if time was going to run out, Town finally made their pressure count with four minutes to go when talismanic defender Clark headed in Whitley’s raking free kick.
Town nearly snatched a dramatic late winner, but Hardie came to Braddan’s rescue standing up well to deny Wolfenden after the former St John’s man had gone through on goal.
Hardie’s stop sent the tie into extra time. After an uninspiring first 15 minutes where the pitch really began to deteriorate the game sparked into life again in the second period of the additional 30.
Town sub Tom Doherty headed over as the southerners seemed to be finishing the tie the stronger. However, Braddan still had enough in the tank to muster the odd sortie into their opponents’ half and looked to have taken the lead when Tony McKay headed Padi’s cross goalward only for Clark to punch the ball over the bar.
Referee Andy Lodge had no option but to send the Town defender off and award a penalty which O’Hare coolly slotted home.
Braddan added to their lead barely two minutes later, when a quick free-kick caught the Town defence flat-footed. McKay took full advantage to slot in and all but seal his side’s advancement.
However, the Swans fairy tale finish to the match wasn’t quite finished there and Padi took advantage of some confusion in the Town defensive ranks to add a fifth after chasing down a long punt forward. As Town’s resolve visibly ebbed away a sixth nearly followed but Matthews produced a fine save to deny Braddan veteran midfielder Rob Shaw’s shot from distance.
Castletown: James Matthews, Tom Callister, Mark Potts, Karl Clark, Ashley Southern, Lee Davenport, Karl Staniford, Jack Charmer (Nathan Cooil 46m), Stephen Whitley, Mark Wolfenden, Alex Crawley (Tom Doherty 70m).
Braddan: Craig Hardie, John McMullen, Lee Currer, Danny O’Hare, Stuart Monks, Alex Delaney, Dean Corlett (Rob Shaw 19m), Will Smith, Jonny Padi, Geoff Murphy (Tony McKay 68m), Mark O’Neill (Tom Cain 83m).
Referee: Andy Lodge. Assistants: Matty Evans and Harry Messenger.
Booked: Potts, Cooil (Castletown)
Man of the Match: O’Hare (Braddan) - impressed at the back with Monks, Currer and McMullen and slotted home coolly from the penalty spot.
Match rating: HHHII