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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

Wrexham suffer FA Cup heartbreak as Sheffield United strike late to set up Tottenham clash

Two late goals cruelly denied Wrexham a Hollywood FA Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur in their Fourth Round Replay at Sheffield United.

Paul Mullin had dragged Wrexham back into the replay with a second-half penalty, before having the chance to put them ahead from the spot again - only for his effort to be saved.

And that was to prove crucial as late goals from Billy Sharp and Sander Berge ended Wrexham's hopes of a giant-killing against the Blades - who currently sit second in the Championship.

An entertaining first-half had remarkably remained goalless, despite the promotion-chasing home side having the better chances. The most gilt-edged of which saw James McAtee opt to ignore Iliman Ndiaye when the pair were through on goal, with McAtee ignoring a simple pass to set up a tap-in in favour of a shot for himself.

However, he guided his effort past the post when a goal looked certain. Despite that, Phil Parkinson's side looked dangerous when able to get out of their half - with Mullin's hold-up play a constant nuisance to the Championship side.

Wrexham started the second-half the better side, but found themselves falling behind when Anel Ahmedhodzic fired a shot past Rob Lainton five minutes after the break.

But the National League side weren't done, with the constant threat of Mullin dragging them back into the game.

Just before the hour mark, goal-scorer Ahmedhodzic dragged down Mullin to hand Wrexham a penalty - with the prolific striker hammering the ball into the roof of the net with the sort of force that would have made home goalkeeper Adam Davies glad he dived to his left.

Mullin would win a second spot-kick 10 minutes later when substitute Oliver Norwood brought him down just minutes after coming on. However, this time, Davies was equal to Mullin's efforts - guessing right to parry the striker's penalty to safety.

Unfortunately for Wrexham, they would lose their dangerman heading into the final 10 minutes. Despite being desperate to play on after feeling a twinge in his hamstring, Parkinson took no chances with Mullin with promotion to the Football League still the priority.

Wrexham might have momentarily feared their FA Cup dream was over late on, when Sharp found the net three minutes from time - only for his effort to be chalked off for offside.

However, it wasn't to be for the non-league side as two goals in stoppage time cruelly killed their cup dreams just when extra-time had seemed inevitable.

Sharp broke Wrexham hearts, capitalising on a mistake by Max Cleworth to tear away and slot home a well-placed finish, before Berge lifted a shot across the helpless reach of Lainton after another counter-attack to seal the result.

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