Harborough manager Mitch Austin admitted that he will remember his side’s eventful FA Cup second-round defeat at League One Reading for the rest of his life.
The Southern League Premier Division Central side lost 5-3, after extra-time, having twice led their hosts in normal time.
Two Chem Campbell goals in the additional period eventually saw Reading progress into the third round.
“It’s been a fantastic day,” Austin said.
“The team have done the town and the club proud. The 3-3 (at the end of normal time) will live with me forever.
“Do we have any regrets? No. Do we have loads of memories. Yeah, they’re fantastic. The whole cup journey has been amazing.”
Austin also praised Sandro, 35, the former Brazil and Tottenham midfielder who made his first appearance for Harborough after a chance meeting with the Bees boss.
Sandro picked up a booking and was substituted at half-time but Austin said: “He was defensively good for us and we were a bit more open in the second half.
“Sandro came to see me at half-time and said: ‘I’m tired gaffer, I can’t do any more’.”
Relieved Reading manager Ruben Selles believes the game will stand his players in good stead.
He said: “We know what these type of games can be like in the FA Cup.
“It doesn’t matter which type of opponent it is, Harborough presented a team that had a very good idea of how to play today.
“This is part of our journey as a team. To get exposure of that kind of massive pressure.
“It’s not often that we have a game that we must win. But today was a must-win.
“We felt that pressure and, sometimes in the game, we made mistakes that we are not used to making.
“But at the end, we went through – with the squad and with the young players. We went through with everyone together. It was a good learning for us.”
