SO the FA Trophy is an unwanted extra fixture to many teams then...or that's what you would believe if you heard certain managers droning on and on about their backlog of games in a manner normally associated with Sir Alex Ferguson.

But those managers forget that Ferguson loves winning and entertaining - and thankfully Sammy McIlroy and Mark Stimson are chips off the Ferguson block.

That meant that the tie of the third round was a game you couldn't take your eyes off.

In the end, cool head Garry Thompson kept Morecambe's Trophy dream alive with a last gasp penalty to earn a replay as he kept calm while just about every other player pulled out the old handbags.

The final whistle was greeted with a punch-up as Ronnie Henry started swinging at Jason Walker like a bad and very drunk pub fighter while Michael Howard also seemed to take one in the mouth as he acted as peacemaker...forget debates about rights or wrongs - the end of match reaction proves the players care about the Trophy.

There was more entertainment in the after-match scrapping than in some championship boxing matches.

But that isn't the reason why 1,100 people turn up on a freezing and foggy afternoon, although even before the kick off it appeared it could be one of those days.

A power cut silenced the pre-match music and plunged the dressing rooms into darkness, leading to a 15-minute delay to the game on safety grounds.

That power cut appeared to have knocked out the pass nav' of both teams as the Shrimps and Borough gave the ball away at will in the early stages.

But Stevenage were dangerous, especially their hot shot striker Steve Morison, a hat-trick hero at Christie Park in August's 3-3 draw, who forced Steven Drench into a couple of smart saves.

While Alan Julian tipped over well from Garry Hunter's effort as the Shrimps finally found men in the same shirts and ripped through the Borough defence with a sharp passing move.

Jerome Watt was wasteful on a couple of occasions as he missed the target, while Drench saved magnificently at the feet of Morison.

Neil Sorvel and Craig Stanley already have an understanding in midfield and the pair combined to set Michael Twiss free as Morecambe burst forward on 34 minutes. Twiss whipped the ball into the danger area and Julian flapped - but escaped as Hunter's follow-up shot lacked power.

Drench saved from Dale Binns and then Jon Nurse in quick succession before Stevenage stunned Christie Park in the third minute of added on time as Chris Blackburn's stray pass was seized upon by Morison and his finish was clinical.

It was an awful time for Morecambe to concede - and it could have got worse seconds into the second half when another Blackburn error let Morison in but this time Drench was equal to his shot.

The midfield was getting hotter and hotter with Stanley ruffling feathers in the engine room but for all the effort and endeavour it looked increasingly unlikely that Morecambe would get something from the match.

Twiss headed over a Stanley cross and when Hunter fed Thompson on the right it looked like the moment.

Thompson raced into the box and let fly - but Julian magnificently got down and pushed the ball for a corner.

From the resulting kick Jim Bentley headed against the bar and Walker couldn't finish the rebound as the clock ran into stoppage time.

But then, with three minutes and 22 seconds of the four minutes of stoppage time played, came the drama.

Adam Yates slammed the ball into the box from the fog on the right it richoceted around - but referee Andy Haimes ruled it had been handled by Barry Fuller.

It looked harsh and you would feel aggrieved if the decision went against you...Stevenage were livid and Hunter and Walker were right at the centre of the rowing as they told Borough to let Thompson get on with taking the penalty.

Thompson did well to ignore the Stevenage mind games as he prepared to take the kick and then took great delight in reminding his on-field tormenters of the score when he slammed the ball home.

Seconds later the final whistle went and the Stevenage pain erupted into a free-for-all involving players from both sides and coaching staff.

It was something and nothing, although Henry would surely have copped trouble had the officials seen his swinging arms - one thing's for certain though, he will never make a boxer.