SKIPPER Carl Davies heaped praise on teammate Jamie McClurg after seeing him come to Bracknell Town’s rescue in dramatic fashion at Blackfield & Langley on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

Midfielder McClurg fired home a spectacular late goal to bring the scores level at 2-2 and, with both sides scoring in extra time, the FA Vase fourth-round tie ended 3-3.

The Robins were behind on three occasions in a game where the Wessex League side played with 10 men from the 38th minute following a red card for their goalkeeper.

Town looked to be heading out of the competition at the last 32 stage going into stoppage time, but then, out of the blue, McClurg came up trumps with an unstoppable left-footer from the edge of the area that whistled into the top right-hand corner.

“It was a great goal,” commented Davies. “He does it a lot in training, but he rarely shoots in games. I often have a go at him for it, but he certainly came up with the goods.

“If anyone deserves to score an equaliser as important at this one, then it’s him.”

McClurg described it as “among the best and most important goals I have ever scored.”

Seb Bowerman, from the penalty spot, and substitute TJ Bohane netted Town’s other equalisers on a tough afternoon for the Robins.

Davies confessed: “Before the game, I would probably have taken a draw. But as we were playing against 10 men for as long we did, you would like to think we should have gone on to win it.

“But in the 91st minute, it looked like we were going out, so to get a replay is pleasing.

“It was equally frustrating not to have won, so I have mixed feelings really.”

Davies continued: “Before the game, I was very wary of them (Blackfield) having heard what they are about and we gave them the respect they deserved.

“But when we played our football at certain times we looked dangerous and they could not really cope with it.

“It was pleasing to get three goals considering they had gone eight games without conceding. They were a force with their set-pieces as they have got some big lads, but I think individual errors cost us the goals.”

The Bracknell skipper had a word of praise for all the club’s fans who attended last Saturday’s tie, saying: “I couldn’t believe the number of supporters that travelled. There were familiar faces everywhere I looked, it almost felt like a home game.”

Town left back Ryan Parsons commented: “I thought they (Blackfield) were a very good side, one of the best we have played, even better than Highworth the previous week.”

Town return to Hellenic League action this coming Saturday when Lydney are the visitors to Larges Lane on a day when admission will be free.

They are now 20 points adrift of Highworth – who were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by bottom club Burnham last weekend – but have five games in hand.

“We are a long way behind them and that is a bit worrying, but we need to just concentrate on what we are doing ourselves,” commented Davies.

“We have got a target to aim at and it’s still achievable.

“When Kidlington won the league a couple of seasons ago I think they had eight games in hand at one stage.

“Now we have to start looking to put a good run together and get a bit of momentum going, hopefully that will happen for us.”

Last night’s (Tuesday) replay with Blackfield & Langley took preference over Town’s home Berks & Bucks Senior Cup quarter-final tie with Slough, which was brought forward late last week at the visitors’ request. It is now scheduled for Tuesday, January 23.

“We are in other cups as well, so it is going to be a congested end to the season for us,” concluded Davies.