By Russell Brown

In true FA Cup folklore, John Quilt fired in a last gasp winner to break the hearts of Barwell after the underdogs had more than matched their higher league opponents.

With the game heading for a replay, Willenhall mounted one final attack deep into injury time that caught out the Canaries and keeper Dave Sharpe handled outside his area to earn an instant red card.

Barwell skipper Scott Clamp donned the keepers jersey, but his first touch of the ball as stand-in was to retrieve it from the back of the net as Quilt rifled the free kick low through the defensive wall to score with the final touch of the game.

It was a spectacular finish to another wise mundane cup tie that saw very little to choose between the two sides and both keepers had a relatively quiet afternoon.

The visitors had the first chance when Steve White tried to play Les Williams in with a ball over the top, but home keeper Nathan Vaughan was quickly off his line to head clear outside his area.

Willenhall countered with a move down the left and when the ball was played into Quilt, he slipped the ball across for Richard Colwell who miscued his shot wide.

The blustery conditions were making it difficult for both sides to judge the flight of the ball and defender Mark Creighton almost used that to his advantage as his cross was caught up in the wind and dipped enough for Sharpe to backpedal and shepherd the ball over his crossbar.

Willenhall made two changes right at the start of the second period with Danny McGhee and Richard Field coming on to add some bite to the midfield, but the best either side could muster was an attempted overhead kick by Quilt from Craig Slater’s cross that flashed wide of the target.

That was until Quilt, who had fired the Red’s into this round with his first touch of the ball against Eastwood, ironically another free kick, continued his love affair with the FA Cup, blasting Willenhall into the next round with the very last touch.

Willenhall Town: Vaughan, Colwell, Whitcombe (McGhee), Slater, Creighton, Thomas, Webb (Field), Myers, Quilt, Edwards (Tyrell), Colcombe. Subs not used: Swann, Jones.

Referee: Mr P.Carter (Ilkeston) Attendance: 163