Stockport County produced a stunning comeback to dump Bolton Wanderers out of the FA Cup – and Aston Villa’s Arjan Raikhy ended up playing a key role.
County drew the first game between the two sides 2-2, forcing a replay back at Edgeley Park.
Fans were hopeful of an upset at home, but were 2-0 down inside six minutes as Bolton ran riot.
Even when Paddy Madden brought Stockport back into it, a calamitous goal restored Bolton’s two-goal lead.
Scott Quigley managed to flick one home on the stroke of half time, and Stockport dominated the second before Ash Palmer sent the game to extra time with a thumping header.
Quigley lofted in his second and Stockport’s fourth, before Ollie Crankshaw sparked wild celebrations as he secured a 5-3 win.
Aston Villa’s Raikhy makes an impact for Stockport
With Stockport needing fresh legs, teenager Raikhy came on as a second-half substitute.
The Aston Villa loanee put himself about well in midfield before playing the key pass to set up Crankshaw’s game-clinching goal.
With Steven Gerrard now in charge at Villa, any midfielder associated with the club will be desperate to impress and show Gerrard what they can do.
Gerrard was surely watching last night’s bonkers cup tie, especially with Raikhy playing an important role.
It’s a big step-up from this level to the Premier League, but Raikhy impressed many with his cameo.
Villa fans called Raikhy ‘unreal’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘sensational’, backing him for a huge future with the club.
Stockport fans joined in, branding Raikhy ‘phenomenal’ whilst hoping that he now gets a bigger role after this display.
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