TOWN'S ALI IS ALL GOLD

‘ONCE is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is Ahmed Ali’ – Ian Fleming might well have been writing about Nantwich Town’s FA Trophy run.

- Andy Simpson

That quote, adapted from the James Bond creator’s novel ‘Goldfinger’, should probably be pinned to the wall in York City’s dressing room before they meet the Dabbers in next month’s third round clash.

For anyone catching up, the Somalian midfielder has converted the decisive spot-kick in a penalty shoot-out success for the Northern Premier League club at each of the past three stages – including last Saturday against Chester.

“It was like the outcome was written for us,” the 33-year-old told The NLP. “But I promise you we don’t plan it that way!”

The truth is it was a happy accident when he kept calm and scored from 12 yards to deliver a sudden-death victory at Bradford Park Avenue in a qualifier before the competition proper.