CRAIG DAWSON provided the late spark just when the night threatened to turn into a damp squib for West Ham.
The game against non-league Stockport bizarrely had to be halted in the first half as local residents set off fireworks behind one of the goals.
Craig Dawson scored West Ham’s winner after 83 minutesCredit: Reuters
Declan Rice and Mark Noble looked to the sky during the grim first halfCredit: AFP
The highlight of the first half was the fireworks erupting over the stadiumCredit: BT Sport
But in almost impossible conditions, the spirited resistence by Jim Gannon’s men finally fizzled out seven minutes from time.
Dawson – who began his career with nearby minnows Radcliffe Borough – got on the end of a cross from sub Jarrod Bowen to put the Hammers in round four.
Since the Premier League was founded, a top-flight club has lost to a non-league team on only two occasions.
However, this one appeared to have all the ingredients for an upset with Gannon’s Hatters flying high in the National League.
It was a filthy night in Greater Manchester – and the pitch was soaking after a day of rain. It was hard to imagine the Hammers fancying this FA Cup tie one bit.
Yet David Moyes’ men settled well with Declan Rice controlling the early stages and a cross from him landed nicely for Said Benrahma.
He worked an opening for himself but then bent his shot against the base of the post with keeper Ben Hinchcliffe beaten.
The Hatters reaching the 15 minute mark on level terms was the cue for a spectacular firework display behind Darren Randolph’s goal.
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Boyhood Hammers fan and Stockport manager Jim Gannon was frustrated by his side’s wasteful set piecesCredit: Reuters
The rain did not stop falling for 90 minutesCredit: Rex Features
It had been organised by local residents to draw attention to the road accident which left a 15-year-old boy critically injured over Christmas.
Amid the racket, referee Mike Dean decided to stop play until the display was over.
In truth it was more spectacular than what was happening on the pitch with the Hatters keeping their opponents at arms length.
Maybe Randolph had been affected by what was going on behind him as he mis-judged a corner but was revealed to see his defenders bail him out.
It was a quarter of a century ago that Stockport dumped West Ham out of the League Cup – it was just starting to look like another upset could be on the cards.
The teams knew before kick-off that the winners would face Doncaster in round four – with a tie against Manchester United or Liverpool waiting after that.
No doubt County would have been allowing themselves to dream of the short trip to Old Trafford – the Hammers maybe not so much.
West Ham took 32 minutes to register their first shot on target as Manuel Lanzini shot from distance and Hinchcliffe got down well to save.
It was a turgid affair for the most part on a very soggy pitchCredit: Reuters
Prem ref Mike Dean comforted Hammers captain Noble who looked somewhat scared of the loud fireworksCredit: BT Sport
But they were starting to create chances with Matt Kitching getting across to deny Michail Antonio with a superbly timed tackle.
The Hammers forward then saw a shot delfected wide with Angelo Ogbonna heading off target from the resulting corner.
But Stockport looked a well-organised unit and the visitors were struggling to carve out many clear cut openings.
If anything the rain got heavier during the interval and the ball was starting to stick on the wet turf. Yet it was proving to be a real leveller.
Rice appealed for a penalty after he surged into the box and the ball appeared to strike an arm but referee Dean was not convinced.
And having hung in, Stockport began to show more ambition with James Jennings linking up nicely with Sam Minihan before hitting a goalbound effort that was blocked by Craig Dawson.
At the other end, Hinchliffe fluffed his clearance straight to the feet of Benrahma but was relieved the Algerian could not loop his long range effort on target.
Wayne Rooney’s brother John then shanked his clearance straight up in the air and Hinchliffe failed to deal with it.
But just as the Hatters looked set to hang on for extra time, sub Jarrod Bowen hung up a cross from the right and Dawson got there first to head home.
Declan Rice scores a phenomenal goal across the pitch for a challenge
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
