Farnham Town manager Paul Johnson praised his side’s character after they scored a stoppage-time winner to beat ten-man AFC Stoneham 2-1 at the Memorial Ground in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase on Saturday afternoon.
Stoneham’s Yumo Wan was sent off in the 12th minute for a last-man professional foul.
Town broke the deadlock in the 56th minute when Shamal Edwards fired home at the near post, but the visitors equalised on 73 minutes after a mix-up at the back.
Johnson was delighted to progress in the competition.
“It was a strange game,” he said. “Stoneham are going to be frustrated but the decisions were right – the red card is a red card and the penalty is a penalty.
“The red card changed the game, but credit to them because they sat in their shape really well and made it difficult for us.
“We were poor in large patches – the way they banked up made it difficult for what we wanted to do.
“Shamal produced a good finish at the near post.
“Owen Dean came on and was the catalyst for the penalty. It was a ball that wasn’t Owen’s to win, but he made a great effort to get there.
“It’s cup football – we’re through, so we take it.
“It was always going to be a hard tie, but we’ve come through it and we move on.
“We had to stay patient and not get frustrated.
“Chances did appear, but we failed to take them and then an uncharacteristic mistake at the back could have cost us.
“It’s the first goal we’ve conceded this season. I’m glad that’s out the way after 500-odd minutes – congratulations to the boys on that one.
“It was a different test but we got through it and it shows another side, too.
“We like late goals – we said there’s one more chance.”
Next up for Farnham is a trip to Flackwell Heath in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon (3pm).