Yeovil Town’s FA Cup journey came to a surprising end at the final qualifying round as they were defeated 2-1 by a resilient ten-man Hemel Hempstead Town side. Known for their giant-killing exploits, the Glovers found themselves on the receiving end of an upset against the National League South underdogs.
The turning point came early when Hemel Hempstead’s Isiah Noel-Williams received a red card in the 26th minute for an off-the-ball clash with Yeovil’s Kyle Ferguson. Despite being down to ten men, Hemel Hempstead took the lead just before halftime thanks to Kyle Ajayi’s close-range finish.
Yeovil responded strongly in the second half, creating numerous chances before Harvey Greenslade calmly netted an equalizer in the 71st minute. Momentum seemed to be with Richard Dryden’s squad as they pushed for a winner.
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However, heartbreak struck in the final minutes. With just three minutes remaining, Darion Dowrich delivered a well-placed ball into the box that Finley Wilkinson met with a clever header, lobbing the Yeovil goalkeeper and sealing a sensational victory for Hemel Hempstead.
The result means Hemel Hempstead Town advance to the FA Cup first round proper, while Yeovil Town’s hopes of a memorable cup run are dashed.