By James Briscoe
Nantwich Town stumbled out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle as lady luck deserted them.
The Dabbers had a free-kick goal ruled out and then conceded a bizarre own-goal equaliser.
Rugby then snatched a dramatic winner in this FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie at Weaver Stadium.
Nantwich’s prolific striker Aaron Burns skipped past two Rugby defenders to put the hosts deservedly up on 40 minutes.
Dabbers cheered again on 52 minutes when ex-Bury winger Max Harrop placed a free-kick perfectly beyond Niall Cooper.
But an assistant referee saw an infringement no one else seemed to and it was ruled out.
Smith palmed a Seb Lake-Gaskin shot on to his post only for the ball to bounce in via his back on 80 minutes.
And travelling Rugby fans were in dreamland on 84 minutes when Sam Youngs ran and unleashed a shot from 19 yards which found the corner of the net.
Earlier, Nantwich had started the stronger and Clayton fired over from inside the Rugby penalty area after a superb back-post cross from Adam Carden on 11 minutes.
Nantwich Town: Terry Smith, Alex Frost, Andy White, Ross Davidson, Sam Wilson, Russell Courtney, Adam Carden, Mark Jones, Aaron Burns (Ben Deegan 79), Harry Clayton (Matt Bailey 67), Max Harrop (Matty O’Neill 55). Subs: Thomas Moore, Oliver Devenney, Chris Amadi, Phil Parkinson.
(Pics by Simon J Newbury Photography)
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