November 2010

A whopping 27 goals were scored across seven games, offering an average of nearly four per game in a red letter night for the competition.

With so much drama, it is difficult to know where to start our round, up, but Adams Park, Wycombe, seems as good a place as any, where Bristol Rovers enjoyed an away day to remember.

When the Pirates made the final of the trophy in 2006, they had to overcome Wycombe Wanderers en-route, so maybe their 6-3 thrashing of the Chairboys is an omen for them.

The League One side blitzed Gary Waddock’s men and were 2-0 up at half time through Jo Kuffour – after Wayne Brown had also hit the post twice.

Then Kuffour completed his hat-trick on the hour mark and despite Scott Rendell’s own hat-trick for the home side, goals from Chris Lines, Jeff Hughes and Ben Swallow made it a scoreline to remember.

A similarly emphatic away win was witnessed in the north of the draw too, where Huddersfield Town were putting Rotherham to the sword in some style.

The Terriers have been vocal in their desire to win the trophy from the outset and their words were backed up on the pitch.

Two goals apiece from Jordan Rhodes and Benik Afobe eased Lee Clarke’s men through, while Scott Arfield also found the scoresheet.

An equaliser by Ryan Taylor and a late Ryan Cresswell header proved to be a consolation for the home side.

Away successes were the common denominator throughout the ties, with only last season’s finalists Carlisle United securing a home victory.

Defender Peter Murphy scored two late goals to secure his side’s passage to the latter stages once more, adding to an own goal from Clayton Donaldson and late redemption for the Crewe Alexandra striker, when he found the net at the right end.

Moving back south, and a big attendance at Home Park witnessed one of the feistiest encounters of the evening, as local rivals Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City went head to head.

It was the Grecians who won the bragging rights, scoring deep into injury time to break the hearts of the Green Army.

Earlier, Ryan Harley had opened the scoring early on for Exeter City, before Chris Clark wrote his name on the Ultimate Finish shortlist with an amazing lob from 40 yards.

However, sub Daniel Nardiello sank the Pilgrims with the last kick of the game to write his name into countless sports headlines on the south coast.

Speaking of fabulous strikes, Therry Racon’s goal for Charlton Athletic will surely have a say when the goal of the round is judged. His 25 yard screamer was good enough to win any game and so it proved at Roots Hall as the Addicks won 1-0.

Meanwhile, Tranmere Rovers are making the most of their second bite of the trophy, sneaking through to the area semi final stage under the radar.

Tranmere scored with their first attack of the game as home goalkeeper Ritchie Branagan missed Enoch Showunmi's cross and Ian Thomas-Moore volleyed into the net.

Finally, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy just wouldn’t be the same without some penalty shoot-out drama along the way.

And no prizes for guessing that Brentford were the team involved once more, dispatching Swindon Town at the County Ground.

The Bees have already gone down the spot kick route to beat Leyton Orient in the last round and they again held their nerve to progress after the game finished 1-1 in normal time.

Cruelly for Swindon, it is the second season in succession that they have bowed out on penalties.

All successful teams will take their place in the area semi-final draw live on Soccer AM on Saturday from 10am, where three games will stand between them all and a trip to Wembley.

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