CHIPPENHAM Town manager Gary Horgan revealed it took days for the magnitude of the club’s FA Cup giant-killing to truly sink in.
The Bluebirds pulled off one of the club’s greatest ever results on Saturday thanks to Joe Hanks’ outrageous back-heeled finish in the first half of Chippenham’s first-round tie at home to Lincoln City.
The National League South side rode their luck at times – the Imps hit the bar and had a goal ruled out – but overall were excellent value for a win which booked their spot in the second round for the first time in their 135-year history.
Discussing the game and what it meant to lead his team to victory, Horgan said: “Saturday was incredible.
“We were absolutely delighted, obviously. We knew it was a big achievement and a good result, but I suppose I didn’t really realise the magnitude of it until a couple of days later when everybody was calling it one of the big giant-killings of the FA Cup.
“In terms of the actual game, we were by no means clinging on at all. We had the best three chances of the game before we scored too. We felt a touch aggrieved we weren’t in front before we actually scored, to be honest.
“In the second half, you know you’re getting to get the proverbial kitchen sink chucked at you. We had our little bit of luck with the goal being ruled out and them hitting the bar, but we were full value for the win.”
Chippenham’s reward for skipping past the Imps is an away tie at League One’s bottom side, Burton Albion on the weekend of November 26-27.
Horgan admitted he would have liked a perceived ‘giant’ – a team like Sheffield Wednesday or Derby County – but believes the actual tie gives the Bluebirds another fighting chance of progression.
He said: “We’re slightly disappointed because we would have liked to give the fans and the chairman one of the perceived bigger boys – your Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich Town, Charlton Athletic, Portsmouth. Or even a local one like Bristol Rovers.
“If we had pulled Burton at home, then it might have possibly been one for TV because they might have sniffed another giant-killing.
“But we’ve got nothing to fear, we’ve already beaten one League One side. Whether lightning will strike twice remains to be seen, but it gives us an opportunity to showcase our talents.”
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