FA Cup gold as Tottenham Hotspur v Tamworth match delayed over bizarre incident at non

Tottenham Hotspur were exposed to the realities of non-league football as their FA Cup third-round clash against Tamworth was delayed over a bizarre incident regarding one of the goal nets at the 4,000 capacity ground.

Ange Postecoglou's side enjoy a welcome break from their hefty schedule against English and European elite with a clash against the National League outfit in the pick of the third-round matches.

The fifth-tier club were the lowest-ranked side remaining in the hat for the third round, and only train on a part-time basis following a meteoric rise from the seventh-tier - they have enjoyed back-to-back promotions in the past two seasons.

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The visit to the Midlands club presented something of a culture-shock for Spurs - trading their luxurious new 62,850 seater for the terraces of a hardened non-league club, brimming with a sell-out capacity of 4,000 fans eager to see an upset on home 3G turf.

But their anticipation was quelled somewhat when kick-off was delayed by approximately five minutes, as the net in one of the goals had been insufficiently tied to the goalposts.

The incident sparked scenes only England's most historic competition could deliver - as Tamworth's squad rallied to fix the issue and get their fairytale cup tie underway.

The fifth tier side's manager, Andy Peaks, revealed ahead of kick-off that some of his squad ply their trade as construction workers outside their part-time footballing schedule - providing a handy level of expertise to whip the goal net back into shape and the two sides finally got underway later than expected.

Tamworth forward Beck-Ray Enoru was notably involved in amending the issue, as he was hoisted towards the crossbar by team-mate Jordan Cullinane-Liburd - sitting on the defender's shoulders as he taped the net back to the frame of the goal.

Enoru then went on to show his skills do not just lie in DIY upon the kick-off whistle - forcing a save from Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky in the opening seconds from an acute angle.

There are 96 league places separating Tamworth and their UEFA Europa League-competing counterparts in the third-round clash, and the tie is a boost to an already-impressive season for the non-league outfit who are 16th in the fifth tier - establishing themselves among full-time opposition.

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