Martin Helps Kidderminster Pull Off FA Cup Upset
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Keziah Martin and his Kidderminster Harriers teammates pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the third round of the FA Cup today [Jan 8].
Kidderminster, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, came from behind to defeat Sky Bet Championship side Reading 2-1 at Aggborough.
Midfielder Martin was replaced in the 94th minute by Lewis Montrose as Kidderminster, who play in the Vanarama National League North, four tiers below Reading, ran the clock down.
Reading took the lead on the stroke of half-time through striker George Puscas who lashed the ball past Kidderminster goalkeeper Luke Simpson from ten yards out.
The home side levelled in the 69th minute when winger Sam Austin’s shot from the left side of the box somehow squirmed through Reading goalkeeper Rafael Cabral at the near post before rolling into the back of the net.
Harriers netted the winner in the 82nd minute, striker Amari Morgan-Smith bundling the ball home from close range after a corner.
Martin, who joined Harriers from Barnsley Under-23 at the start of last season, has made 16 appearances in all competitions this term.
The 21-year-old came through the ranks at non-League Solihull Moors, had a trial at Premier League side Burnley, before joining Barnsley, then playing in League One.
Russ Penn, the Harriers manager, said he is hoping for a mouth-watering tie against a top-flight club in the next round.
“I’m a Wolves fan but I never played there,” he told BBC Sport. “So, selfishly, I’d love to play there but they’ve got a tough game [at home to Sheffield United on Sunday].
“Wolves, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea – it’s mad to even be talking about these clubs.
“We know it’s a one-off, up against a Championship side and we’ve exceeded expectations. We want to be a league club again.
“That’s our overall objective but we’ve got plenty of heart. We had our objectives for this season and this was one of them.”
