Stockport 0-1 West Ham: David Moyes' men leave it late to sneak through as Craig Dawson heads in winner just seven minutes from full-time to break the hearts of non-League minnows
- Non-League Stockport County hosted Premier League West Ham on Monday
- The fifth-tier side held firm in the first-half and couldn't be broken down
- They grew into the game in the second-half on an increasingly flooded pitch
- Finally Craig Dawson headed in Jarrod Bowen's cross from a corner to win it
Craig Dawson is no stranger to nights like this. He started his career at non-league Radcliffe Borough and scored his last FA Cup goal more than a decade ago for Rochdale.
So when West Ham needed someone to break Stockport County’s resistance in the cloying mud and driving rain at Edgeley Park last night, who better than the veteran centre-back to deliver the decisive goal in the 83rd minute?
County were within sight of extra-time when substitute Jared Bowen took a short corner and got the ball back. He swung it to the edge of the six-yard box where Dawson emerged from the gloom and rose above Stockport captain Liam Hogan to direct a header into the bottom corner.
Craig Dawson's 83rd minute header saved West Ham from an FA Cup upset at Stockport
The non-League outfit had held firm until the centre-back headed-in Jarrod Bowen's cross
The Edgeley Park pitch fell-apart under lashing rain, creating a throwback slog on Monday
It felt harsh on the non-leaguers who were hoping to join Chorley in the fourth round where a home tie against Doncaster Rovers awaited – as well as the significantly bigger attraction of facing Manchester United or Liverpool in the fifth round.
The conditions no doubt played into their hands, narrowing the gap between Premier League and National League with every minute that the downpour refused to subside.
It rained so hard that there were the areas of the pitch where the ball would hardly roll through the surface water and the players struggled to keep their feet.
In these conditions, quite how someone managed ignite to the fireworks display behind the West Ham goal that briefly held up this game in the first half is anyone’s guess.
By the time Dawson, on loan at West Ham from Watford, stepped up to the plate the game had descended into a bit of a slog.
The best action of the first-half saw Stockport fans put-on a firework display beside the ground
Amid the display Mike Dean stopped the game, seeing an opportunity for some spotlight
‘It was tough tonight,’ said the 30-year-old defender. ‘It's been a while since I've played in conditions like that, but it was great to get a goal at the end.
‘It was something we worked on in training. The lads put in a shift and it was a great clean sheet.
‘Stockport are doing great in their league and it’s not easy coming to these grounds. It was difficult for both sides but we stuck to our task and did very well in the end.’
The Hammers will be mightily relieved to have avoided another cup upset at Edgeley Park, 25 years after losing a League Cup replay when Stockport boss Jim Gannon was a player here.
That was a little different though. County were a club on the up, heading for the semi-finals that season and a place in what is now the Championship.
The future is a lot brighter now but they have been out of the Football League for a decade and 86 places separated the two teams at kick-off.
Right-back Sam Minihan was one of Stockport's strongest performers in defence and attack
It looked like it as well. The excellent Declan Rice dictated the early play and sent over the cross that ended with Said Benrahma clipping the outside of the post with a shot.
At that stage it looked like it might be a rather long night for a Stockport side that included Lois Maynard, the cousin of Marcus Rashford, and Wayne Rooney’s younger brother John, but the balance began to shift.
It was Rooney’s corner that brought a poor punch from West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph and County’s first sniff of goal in the deteriorating conditions.
Andriy Yarmolenko, in particular, looked miserable after sliding down the touchline on his back and discarded his sodden gloves shortly afterwards.
For all their possession, the Hammers lacked penetration. Michail Antonio seemed almost surprised to be played through on goal shortly before half-time and Mark Kitching reacted quickly to poke the ball of his foot as he shaped to shoot.
If Stockport had been a little reticent to attack – or simply unable to – in the first half, they were altogether more purposeful after the break.
The hosts were devastated after staying so organised and solid to keep the Hammers out
Stockport boss Jim Gannon took-on his 501st game for the club, having been a player there too
They broke forward whenever possible and West Ham’s defending became increasingly desperate in the conditions, not least when Dawson threw his body in front of Connor Jennings’s shot after he had exchanged passes with Sam Minihan.
But there was also a lucky escape when goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe made his first error of the night, miscuing a clearance straight to Benrahma. The Hammers No.9 tried to lift the ball over the only defender on the line and placed his effort wide.
It looked like we were heading for extra-time until Dawson intervened. Amazingly, his three FA Cup goals have all come in different decades.
So no cup upset for Gannon this time but he will now focus his efforts on taking County back into the Football League.
‘It was always a stretch for us but the performance showed we are a cut above this (National League) level,’ he said.
‘The players are disappointed but I think is that not a testimony to how they played?
‘The club is going the right way. It's been tough year for everyone this year but we want go one better than last year and go for the play-offs and hopefully promotion.’
All over at Edgeley Park, and the non-league outfit can be very, very proud of their efforts despite falling out of the Cup to Premier League opposition.
Stockport's rigid back-line were only stopped for a firework display by their own fans in the first-half, sticking together and forcing West Ham to take frustrated long-shots.
As the pitch fell apart in the second-half the match became an arduous, 70's style slog. The Hammers' players won't have played a game like that in a while.
Stockport never tired and grew into the game, striking fear into the Hammers with some decent chances. Finally though, it was a set-piece that voided their back-line's hard work - with Craig Dawson rising to head in Jarrod Bowen's corner.
Hinchiffe stands over a free-kick in the hosts half ready to launch a long-ball into the box. Stockport take it down but can't make another of it. Here comes the whistle...
Stockport are searching for a last-gasp equaliser but in these conditions a single attack take a lot of energy. The Hammers are able to repel the hosts easier now.
Is there one more twist on this brilliant third-round weekend? Four minutes have been added on...
FINALLY the breakthrough, and it's a tough one to take for the Stockport defence who have battled so hard.
Bowen and Rice combine from the short corner and the former Hull star whips a brilliant ball in. Centre-back Dawson arrives late and gets a superb jump, rising to power the ball into the net.
The substitutes seem to be working as West Ham regain control of this game. Noble comes forward with a dribble inside the hosts' box but is repelled well. The Hammers need to capitalise.
Cresswell replaces Johnson now as West Ham realise the threat they're under now.
David Moyes is seeing this game slipping out of their control and sends on two reinforcements, as Soucek replaces Lanzini and Bowen comes on for Yarmolenko.
The hosts' confidence is growing now as this game evens-out in the conditions. They'll need to watch they don't get stretched and hit on the break now - not that the ball is going anywhere fast through these puddles.
Minihan and Jennings link well on the right with a one-two, as the winger takes a shot which gets blocked by Dawson.
Stockport make a switch as Reid makes way for Bennett, looking to add some energy back into their attack.
This has become a slog now. West Ham are offering little to show for their Premier League talent now, as Stockport see more possession.
Rice picks the ball up in his own half and makes a driving run into the box, losing it in a scrappy melee as the Hammers claim for handball. No VAR tonight lads...
The heavy rain is really taking its toll on the pitch now, with the ball rolling much slower on an increasingly waterlogged pitch. Players are splashing across the pitch as they run now, with both touchlines slippy with mud.
West Ham, used to playing on immaculate carpets of turf, could find this tricky against the non-league side used to battling tough conditions.
Stockport come out very early for the second-half, standing in the rain before West Ham emerge at the last minute.
Mike Dean gets the second-half underway to the tune of Pump It Up by Endor, as the rain continues lashing down.
It's all-square at the break after a dogged defensive performance from the hosts in the first-half. West Ham need something quicker and more inventive to break down the non-league outfit.
A rare venture forward sees Minihan burst onto a loose-ball and win a corner at the byline, as Stockport line-up some kind of routine.
It's a disappointing result though, as the ball doesn't even make it into the box - going out of play from the kick.
Frustration beginning to build for the Hammers as Declan Rice receives the ball and is confronted with the organised Stockport back-line again. The Englishman opts to shoot from a long away out and it goes well wide.
Great effort from the hosts in this first-half.
Antonio hasn't found much space this half but he sidesteps a tackle and gets the shot off, with the deflection taking it just wide of the post.
Again though, the Hammers can't capitalise from the corner.
Stockport are penned back in their own 18-yard box and the ball comes to centre-back Hogan, who has Mark Noble closing-in.
The defender tries to clear but Noble blocks and the deflection heads towards goal dangerously quickly. Thankfully for the hosts, it doesn't threaten Hinchiffe in goal.
The hosts aren't offering much going forward but their scrappy defending is working well so far. The Hammers are looking for openings, but getting anything clear-cut is difficult.
An elaborate firework display has kicked-off on the road outside the ground, with each explosion booming across the empty stadium. Referee Mike Dean is milking it to his best, stopping the game and pulling faces in conversation with Mark Noble.
Stockport fans have certainly made their support heard and seen despite being barred from the ground, great to see.
Lanzini lays it back to Yarmolenko 25 yards from goal, as the Ukrainian goes for power but scuffs the shot slightly, and it bobbles out of play.
West Ham seizing total control now but playing with plenty of patience as the hosts scramble to keep-up with the Premier League pace.
Benrahma takes the ball down inside the Stockport box and is surrounded by defenders, but the Brentford man's quick feet buy him enough space to bend a strike towards the bottom-right.
He's just too wide, clipping the outside of the post.
Scrappy start to far with the hosts having a spell possession, but needing to adjust to the pressing of a Premier League team.
The Hammers look to be eyeing their opponents up just as much, as the pitch starts to struggle already.
We're underway in the rain, with Stockport wearing light-blue with white socks, West Ham in an all-black kit.
The pitch certainly isn't in the best shape but it looks playable after much hard work from the groundsmen.
The players are walking out under heavy rain at the empty Edgeley Park, with Hammers stars playing sharing a laugh moments before kick-off.
Just five minutes before we kick-off at Edgeley Park, so here's a line-ups reminder.
STOCKPORT COUNTY: Hinchliffe; Minihan, Hogan, Maynard, Rooney, Jennings, Williams, Kitching, Keane, Croasdale, Reid.
WEST HAM: Randolph; Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Johnson; Noble, Rice, Yarmolenko, Benrahma, Lanzini; Antonio
Stockport County are aiming at some lofty goals, with new owner and local businessman Matt Stott the driving force behind the scenes.
The National League side are already fighting for promotion to League Two this season, and Stott is hoping to shoot his club to stardom with a famous victory tonight.
Well, these teams really do having something to play for now. For Stockport, West Ham and Doncaster, their FA Cup pathway will include a trip to either Old Trafford or Anfield if their runs extend into the fifth-round.
The winner of Manchester United's blockbuster clash with Liverpool could be welcoming Stockport County.
Our two teams know exactly what they're battling for now, with a home tie against League One's Doncaster Rovers being drawn by Peter Crouch.
Doncaster won their spot in the fourth round through a 1-0 win over Blackburn on Saturday.
Stockport and West Ham are ball number six, Peter Crouch is getting the draw underway now.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United... all possible draws.
WEST HAM: Randolph; Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Johnson; Noble, Rice, Yarmolenko, Benrahma, Lanzini; Antonio
STOCKPORT COUNTY: Hinchliffe; Minihan, Hogan, Maynard, Rooney, Jennings, Williams, Kitching, Keane, Croasdale, Reid.
West Ham sit 10th in the Premier League... 86 places above the National League's fourth-placed outfit, Stockport County, in the English football pyramid.
The hosts' Edgeley Park ground seats 10,000, while the Hammers play their home games at the 80,000-seater London Stadium.
It's a huge occasion for the Hatters players, but one David Moyes' stars must know not to take lightly against the men who play at non-league's summit.
Stockport County could become one of only two non-league outfits in the fourth-round draw tonight, but they must beat Premier League opposition to do so.
Chorley have already secured their spot after their upset against Derby, and National League side Stockport are keen on joining them.
Hello and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of West Ham United's trip to non-league Stockport County in the FA Cup.
This match closes a weekend of superb third-round entertainment, with the chance of another huge upset on the cards once again tonight.
Stay tuned right here for all the build-up and latest updates from reporter TOBY MILES.
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