A MONUMENTAL performance from Wessex League Lymington and New Milton shocked Nationwide Conference Woking in a 1-1 FA Cup fourth qualifying round thriller.

A 839 crowd packed into Fawcett's Field to see Linnets deservedly force a replay tomorrow night with the prize of a trip to Notts County in the first round proper.

Karl Murray handed the Conference side a first-half lead but super-sub Kevin James came off the bench to net an equaliser with his first touch and put his side into the hat for the first round proper for the first time in their history.

The New Forest outfit were not expected to live with a side that play four divisions higher in the non-league pyramid.

But, in the end, they were left kicking themselves that they did not win the tie, with Paddy James and Mark Clothier going agonisingly close.

Proud Linnets boss Ian Robinson had the broadest grin in Hampshire when he said: "We've got to be happy with that and I think we've done the Wessex League proud today.

He added: "If you'd have just turned up and seen the two sides nobody would have put them four divisions above us."

The outcome was in sharp contrast to last season when the Linnets were thumped 5-1 at Salisbury City at the same stage of the competition.

Robinson added: "We've learnt a lot from losing to Salisbury last season and we go to Woking now with nothing to fear really.

"I do feel though, that our big chance was today and maybe they'll sort us out up there but we've got incredible team spirit and we've got incredible character in the side."

Nerves were going to play a big part and after just nine minutes Linnets were fortunate not to go behind. Luke Oliver headed over when it looked easier to score.

Former Cherries striker Amos Foyewa then rasped a 20-yard effort past the post.

But the longer the game lasted, the more confident the Wessex League representatives looked and heroic performances from the outstanding Pete Smith, Kevin Reacord and Jimmy Anderson began to emerge.

At the heart of the defence Paul Towler was a rock and Paul Morris, who had not played for the first team at Fawcett's Field for two years had an equally stunning game.

If Woking had thoughts of a nice easy passage to the first round proper, the early work rate and effort of the home side must have changed their minds.

But Woking did take the lead on 29 minutes. In a lightning move, Foyewa squared the ball to Karl Murray, who swivelled and buried a shot past Mark Watson.

Linnets could have grabbed a first-half equaliser when Paddy James, Towler and Sam Carter all went close.

On the hour Murray struck a free-kick against the outside of a Linnets post.

But the hosts were competing magnificently through out and had their efforts rewarded after 65 minutes with a beautifully crafted equaliser.

Paddy James controlled a flick-on on his thigh and swivelled to play a rampaging Ben Thomson in wide on the left.

The winger took a touch before whipping in a peach of a ball across the six-yard box and substitute James, on the pitch for less than two minutes, slid in to toe-end the ball into the corner of the net.

A frantic finale ensued and, in the ninth minute of injury time, the whole ground were on their feet as Paddy James raced in on goal.

James, who won the FA player-of-the-round at the second qualifying round stage last season, looked about to earn the award again but stroked his shot just wide. Mark Clothier, arriving at the far post, attempted to force the ball over the line but was denied by a last-ditch block from Gary MacDonald.