Cup heroes come from Division Three

Last updated : 06 January 2003 By Tony Scholes

Shrewsbury's Luke Rodgers takes on Alan Stubbs in the win over Everton

There were only four winners from outside the top two divisions but all four beat teams from higher leagues. Second Division Brentford beat Derby 1-0 at home whilst non-league Farnborough led three times at Darlington and eventually won 3-2.

But the Saturday headlines were for the two 3rd Division clubs who will be assured of a place in the 4th round with wins against the Moyes Boys and the Moyesless Boys.

It was one of Stan’s former Bury strikers Nigel Jemson who wrote the main headlines, he scored both goals as Shrewsbury saw off David Moyes’ Everton 2-1 at Gay Meadow. Shrewsbury of course are managed by Kevin Ratcliffe, former Evertonian and captain of their top side from the 1980s.

It was a late goal from the Shrews but Rochdale’s winner at Moyes’ former club Preston came much earlier. It was manager Paul Simpson, on as a substitute, who hit the 54th minute goal at Deepdale that ended the scoring.

The game of the round though surely had to be the Sunday afternoon game at Molineux between Wolves and Newcastle. It ended 3-2 to Wolves, and deservedly so. It was a real treat for Sky viewers and one of the best games seen all season.

It's Rochdale's winner at Preston but scorer Paul Simpson is not on picture

At times it was predictable. We saw Paul Ince complaining to the referee over an incident he later admitted he didn’t see and we also saw Alan Shearer looking miserable.

No other game ended in a win for a lower division side but Conference side Dagenham & Redbridge earned themselves a home replay with a 2-2 draw at Plymouth.

Our game with Grimsby will be one of seven replays and two other ties are still to be played with Gillingham’s home game against Sheffield Wednesday being called off after initially being given the all clear whilst a power cut forced the postponement of Norwich’s home tie with Brighton.

The day brought a first for the season, a home win for West Ham, but it could have been so different. With the scores level at 2-2 David Johnson missed the target from the penalty spot and shortly afterwards the Hammers scored their third and the winner to go through.

Brave Morecambe finally bowed out against improving Ipswich who hit them for four at Portman Road. It is the second time in the past three seasons that Morecambe have reached this stage of the cup and both times have gone out to Ipswich.

Performance of the round was a difficult choice but it has to be Shrewsbury ahead of Rochdale. Although at home they beat an in form Premiership side whereas Rochdale’s excellent win came against a Preston side low on confidence after three consecutive league defeats over the Christmas period.