Marine FC will join Liverpool and Everton in tonight’s FA Cup third round draw after a dramatic 1-0 win against Havant & Waterlooville.
The Northern Premier League side left it late after Niall Cummins converted a 120th minute extra-time winner in a very tight game.
Although there were no fans at the ground, it didn’t stop the celebrations from Marine supporters with a fan being caught celebrating from a tree at the end of his garden!
Due to the national lockdown, Marine have been out of league action since October, making their win even more remarkable.
A £60,000 bonus from TV and prize money was also presented to the non league side.
Non-league football hasn’t been blessed with luck, with many games being cancelled.
Astonishingly, Marine have played only five league games this season on the back of seven cup games.
Such a breathtaking game actually led to a member of the Marine committee in tears.
“Unbelievable, isn’t it?” he said.
For others, there was only one thing on their mind at the end of such a great win.
Marine goalkeeper Bayleigh Passant, still in his match kit, headed straight for his local store to celebrate with some well deserved drinks.
After posting several pictures on Twitter, Stuart Wilks-Heeg said: “The very non-league football team at the end of my road, @MarineAFC, has somehow made it to the third round of the FA Cup and their goalkeeper has just returned to the ground from the local Co-op with drinks to celebrate.
“This is definitely one of my top moments of 2020.”
With so many huge teams in the pot for the FA Cup third round draw, everyone involved with Marine will be keeping a close eye on the draw which will be televised at around 7.10pm tonight.
“If you had a choice, which you haven’t, for me, being a Liverpool fan, it’s Liverpool away,” were the words of Marine manager Neil Young when asked who he would like to face in the next round.
“The third round draw is the biggest draw of the lot because that’s when the Premier League and Championship teams come in and the non-league teams are still knocking about.
“So yeah, for me, it’s Liverpool away.
“But we’d have to take people with us to brick the goals up or put the bus on the pitch!”
(Image courtesy of the theFA.com)
