Steve Race on Long Stratton's comeback victory against higher-league Norwich United to reach the Norfolk Senior Cup quarter-finals

Steve Race says Long Stratton are relishing the underdogs tag after knocking out another Step 5 side to reach the quarter-finals of the Ashtons Legal Norfolk Senior Cup.

The Reds, who play in the Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination Premier Division, Step 7 of the non-league pyramid, overturned a half-time deficit to knock out Norwich United 2-1 on Tuesday.

It was the second Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division scalp Race and Damian Hilton’s men have claimed in a now club record equalling run in Norfolk’s top cup competition, having beaten Fakenham Town on penalties in the previous round.

And now with a home tie in the quarter-finals, against either Mulbarton Wanderers or UEA, to look forward to in March, Stratton joint manager Race was full of praise at how his side have upset the odds to create more history.

“It’s incredible,” he said. “Lighting strikes twice on this cup run. To beat two Step 5 teams back-to-back is unbelievable.

“It’s very exciting to be at home in the quarter-finals and we’re looking forward to that.

“This is now only the second time in our history we’ve reached the last eight of this Senior Cup.

“It’s been a tough run. In previous years you would normally face another Anglian Combination side or maybe a Thurlow Nunn Division One side, but we’ve had two Thurlow Nunn Premier sides, both away.

“To then defeat them both as underdogs, we’re enjoying that at the moment. There’s no pressure on us when we draw these sort of teams. We sort of raise our game on the day.

“It’s unbelievable really. No one could have predicted it, even when we drew Fakenham, to win that one let alone two on the trot.

“It’s putting the football club on the map and long may it continue.”

Tuesday’s third-round clash at Plantation Park beat the cold weather to go ahead, and it was the favourties who struck first through Alby Matthews inside 15 minutes.

But Stratton hit back after the break with James Bemrose heading home a Sam Page cross, before moments later Stephen Crowe put the visitors in front from a corner.

“In the first half there’s no doubt Norwich United were on top,” Race said.

“They had a number of chances but didn’t score. Our goalkeeper George Macrae made a couple of good saves.

“But if you’re going to be the underdog you have to stay in the game and at 1-0 you’re always in the game.

“After we scored the tide turned somewhat and you could see our lads grow in confidence. In the second half we were the better team.

“We had a brilliant travelling support with us for a Tuesday night, and on a cold night as well.

“We had drums, we had flares, we had horns, the whole lot. We made plenty of noise.

“There’s no doubt about it I think the players responded to that. It willed them on really.”

Stratton (10th) return to Premier Division action at home to Blofield United tomorrow (2pm).