Former Wolverhampton Wanderers Apprentice Paul McCone helped Evostik Southern Premier League side Stourbridge pull off a sensational FA Cup win over Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night.
McCone headed Stourbridge’s first goal in a 2-0 win over the League Two outfit. Former Manchester Utd youth player Sean Evans added the second against 10-man Plymouth as the Glassboys reached the FA Cup second round for the first time in their history.
Argyle had Paul Bignot sent off in the first half for kicking out at Sean Evans, who had just fouled him.
Now a Bricklayer, McCone set the scene for a famous FA Cup night in the West Midlands with a 52 minute header but in truth Stourbridge could and should have been ahead much earlier.
They played excellently throughout the game and could have taken a first-half lead when Evans’ centre found Ryan Rowe but his shot was well saved by Jake Cole.
And after Bignot had been dismissed for Plymouth, Stourbridge’s authority never seemed in doubt. Ben Billingham also went close to breaking the deadlock but was thwarted by Cole just before the interval.
But seven minutes after half-time, McCone, who works by day for his father’s company, headed them into a fully deserved lead.
Plymouth’s chances were few and far between and Durrell Berry’s weak effort which was easily saved by Lewis Solly summed up their evening.
Stourbridge, sensing they were on the verge of something special, should have had their second when Paul Lloyd’s cross hit the bar and Leon Broadhurst’s headed the rebound off the crossbar with keeper Cole beaten.
But they had their clinching goal when the lively Rowe saw his shot saved and Evans found the corner from the rebound.
The result means that Stourbridge will now host League One side Stevenage in the second round on 3 December.
