Sutton United 2 Cheltenham Town 1
Paul Doswell wants a glamorous FA Cup third round tie with the Premier League’s best after Sutton United’s incredible stoppage-time win over Cheltenham Town.
The victory capped an incredible turnaround after a dominant first-half display from the Robins saw them take the lead courtesy of Danny Wright’s neat finish.
Half-time words of wisdom from Doswell saw Sutton level the score 45 seconds after the restart, with new signing Matt Tubbs converting Maxime Biamou’s header from close range.
League Two Cheltenham almost grabbed a winner as Rob Dickie headed against the crossbar, but, in the sixth minute of stoppage-time, Roarie Deacon found the bottom corner from 18 yards to spark wild scenes as Sutton caused yet another cup upset.
“It sends shivers down your spine when you talk about which teams we could possibly get,” said Doswell.
“It’s a great achievement for the club and I just hope and pray for the club that they get a draw that can help them out for the next two or three years financially.
“I’m a massive Southampton fan, I travel to all their games as much as I can when we’re not playing, so Saints home or away would be the dream one for me.
“For the club it has to be Manchester United away or here, but any of the top ten Premier League teams would be amazing.
“I would like a home draw and this ground would be sold out whoever we draw, and you never know it could be another major cup upset.
“Our best chance will be on here but I’ll take Manchester United away!”
In 1989 the club created one of the greatest giant-killings in the competition’s history as they knocked out First Division side Coventry City 2-1.
Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan were the goalscorers that day and they were both in the crowd as Sutton wrote a new chapter in the club’s history.
Doswell added: “In 1989 the players created club history with an amazing team, they didn’t just play Coventry, they played Leeds, Middlesbrough and Norwich, so that was a golden era for the club.
“What we’ve tried to do recently is make some more memories and I think the memories of us winning the Conference South against the odds won’t be forgotten and to now make the third round of the FA Cup.
“Regardless of what we do in the next round, there are very few non-league teams who make the third round, and I think we’ve made another recent memory.
“Matthew Hanlan and Tony Rains were here at the game and I hope that one day Matt Tubbs and Roarie Deacon will get dragged out instead of those two.
“I think our team has created their own history with that win.”
