Burton Albion 1 Tamworth 2
The last team to play an FA Cup-tie wearing red shirts at the Pirelli Stadium were record Cup winners Manchester United
But Messrs Rooney, Ronaldo, Saha and Solskjaer - who all graced the Burton Albion stadium in an unforgettable third-round draw last January - would have been proud to claim the stoppage-time winner from Tamworth midfielder Jon Stevenson which fizzed into the net to settle this Staffordshire derby.
It was the Lambs’ first serious threat on goal and it was aided and abetted by the failure of Brewers’ duo Keith Gilroy and Ryan Austin to clear a throw-in from Graeme Law.
But such a scrappy build-up mattered little when Stevenson latched on to the dropping ball 25 yards from goal and hammered a spectacular volley into the top right-hand corner of the net.
The Lambs now have to travel to Rushden & Diamonds, who are just one place ahead of them in the Nationwide Conference on goal difference, in the second round on the weekend of December 2-3.
Burton’s players could only shake their heads in disbelief as they trooped off dejectedly at the final whistle while Stevenson and his colleagues celebrated with the Lambs faithful, in front of whom the winner had been scored.
Lambs' player-manager Mark Cooper admitted it had been backs-to-the-wall stuff at times - just like their giant-killings last season at Bournemouth and Hartlepool. But, having waited 36 years to reach the second round, the Lambs have achieved the feat in successive seasons.
"The winner was just fantastic," said Cooper. "It was the sort of goal worthy of winning any game. The only bad thing was that there were four minutes of injury time left and that wasn’t too good for the heart.
"We knew we would be under pressure because they have got good players all over the pitch, the two wide players particularly and Daryl Clare. They are fourth in the league and they are up there because they are a good side.
"If we had to come here to play 4-4-2 and look for an open game, they would have beaten us, it’s as simple as that, so we had to play a little bit differently and it has worked for us. On the day, every player played his part.
"It was probably a smash and grab but, in the second half especially, our lads put their bodies on the line to block shots and headers. Two of the lads ended up with stitches. You have to make your own luck."
Tamworth might have feared the worst when Burton’s constant pressure was finally rewarded four minutes after half-time with a sweetly-worked move. Lee Fowler flicked Paul Carden’s pass into the feet of Andy Ducros and the one-time Coventry City, Nuneaton Borough and Kidderminster Harriers' striker's low cross was guided home at the far post by Clare.
Burton sensed the kill but instead, an horrendous goalkeeping blunder by Kevin Poole gifted Tamworth an equaliser eight minutes later. The former Birmingham City No 1 had not been tested at all until then, but when John McGrath curled in a right-wing corner, Poole jumped to gather but fumbled and referee Graham Scott judged the ball had bounced over the line.
The Devon official further incurred the wrath of the home fans when left winger Gilroy, who was a constant danger, was sent sprawling by Law 15 minutes from time but the referee pointed to the corner quadrant, rather than the penalty spot.
Stevenson, recalled to the team after loanee Gavin McCallum returned to Yeovil Town, will earn the headlines, but the Lambs’ man of the match was undoubtedly Portuguese goalkeeper Jose Veiga.
The former Benfica and Levante shot-stopper, who signed only last month, flew through the air like Superman to parry a ferocious Paul Carden drive and Darren Stride’s close-range header in the first half and then flipped over Gilroy’s blistering snap-shot.
When he was beaten, the bar kept out Ducros’ early header and Lambs midfielder Daryl Taylor denied Stride in a goalmouth scramble.
"Jose’s not just a good keeper, he is a commanding figure," Cooper said. "He comes and catches crosses and took the pressure off us at key moments."
He can expect a similarly busy afternoon in three weeks’ time when the Lambs stand 90 minutes from getting their chance to face Manchester United.
BURTON ALBION: Poole; Rowett, Tinson, Austin (Harrad, 92), Corbett; Fowler (Shaw, 92), Carden, Stride, Gilroy; Ducros, Clare. Subs: Taylor (gk), Brayford, Holmes.
TAMWORTH: Veiga; Laight (Law, 65), Weaver, Kemp, Kendrick; Taylor (Storer, 88), Smith, McGrath, Williams, Stevenson; Atieno (Burton, 71). Subs: Belford (gk), Cooper.
Referee: G Scott (Devon).
