Walsall v Manchester City FA Cup 3rd Round 1985/86

WALSALL 1 CITY 3

FA Cup 3rd Round 

4th January 1986

attendance 10,779

Scorers
City Davies(44), Simpson(65 & 91)
Walsall O’Kelly(23 pen)

Ref D Hedges

City Nixon, Reid, Power, Clements, McCarthy, Phillips, Lillis, May, Davies, McNab, Simpson – sub Moulden(58)

Walsall Cherry, Hart, Mower, Shakespeare, Brazier, Hawker, Childs, Cross, O’Kelly, Naughton, Daley – sub Kelly(73)

FROM AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE WALSALL PROGRAMME 23RD JANUARY 1999
We were in the running for promotion from Division Three whilst Manchester City were comfortably placed in the top flight‘ when we were drawn against them in a season in which we had already romped home 7-3 against Preston North End and triumphed 2-1 over Port Vale in previous rounds. Snow descended just to add a little bit more flavour to this cup tie but our ground staff did a fine job in keeping the lines clear and we set off with plenty of confidence as befitting a side unbeaten in their previous five games.

Richard O’Kelly, who had come into our side after Steve Elliott had gone down with a virus, went close with a fine header that came back off City ‘keeper, Eric Nixon’s knees, whilst at the other end Steve Cherry pulled off a couple of brilliant catches from dangerous crosses. Fellows Park erupted after 23 minutes as O’Kelly was fouled by Mick McCarthy as he went for a high cross and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot from where O’Kelly himself tucked the ball just inside the left post at the Hilary Street end to give us the lead.

We came under some pressure after that but seemed to be holding our lead until half-time. However with literally seconds to go until the whistle, teenager Paul Simpson’s corner was touched on by Mark Lillis for Gordon Davies to head home despite Kenny Mower’s best efforts to clear off the goal-line.

If this was a severe blow then there was worse to come in the 65th minute as with snow falling heavily Peter Hart misjudged a back-pass and Simpson nipped in to score. We kept plugging away though and Nicky Cross was unlucky as Nixon saved bravely at his feet. Our cup of sorrow overflowed in injury time when a Neil McNab free kick was deflected home by Simpson to grab his second and City’s third goal of the game. What a thorn in our side young Paul Simpson proved to be. We wonder whatever happened to him!