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FA Vase Wembley dream alive for Ashford United as injury-time own goal completes comeback

Ashford United are two rounds from a trip to Wembley after a stunning FA Vase fightback in a last-16 replay.

United's long trip to the north east looked set to end in disappointment when Gateshead side Dunston led 2-0 at half-time.

Shaun Welford gave them hope with a 60th-minute header, then the home side had substitute Steve Goddard sent off following a clash with Ashford player-boss Danny Lye.

Ashford player-manager Danny Lye
Ashford player-manager Danny Lye

Michael Phillips equalised with three minutes left and the turnaround was complete in the third minute of injury time when Welford chased down a lost cause and forced an own goal.

Victory set up a quarter-final tie at Salisbury on February 20.

Player-manager Lye said: "At 2-0 everyone was thinking it was going to be a bad day but the boys pulled it round.

"I got into them at half-time. I told them 'don't waste the moment, play with heart and desire and get yourselves back into the game'.

"Shaun scored a great first goal and when Mickey made it 2-2 I said 'I don't fancy extra time, let's get it done'.

"We carried on and got the win. The ball looked like it was going out but Shaun got there, kept it in play, crossed it and the ball went in off the defender's legs.

"It was literally the last kick of the game - incredible."

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