The FA Cup’s capacity for shocks was demonstrated again yesterday when Northwich Victoria, the Blue Square North side, beat Charlton Athletic, the Coca-Cola League One promotion contenders, courtesy of a part-time barman.

When Wayne Riley, a substitute, slotted the ball between Darren Randolph’s legs with less than ten minutes remaining, justice was finally delivered to the Cheshire side who had spent the previous 80 minutes dishing out to the visiting team a lesson in desire, footballing commitment and sheer bloody-mindedness.

Riley, 20, works part-time behind the bar at The Legh Arms, a pub in Adlington, yet he will be receiving drinks rather than pouring them the next time he goes in.

“It feels good and I am buzzing to get the winner,” he said. “I am now dreaming of a third-round game against Liverpool.

“When I am not here, I just work in a bar near mine to get some extra money — I will be getting ambushed in there now by mates.”

Andy Preece, the manager, who scored a wonderful volley for Stockport County to beat a fine Queens Park Rangers side in the FA Cup in 1994, was thrilled with his side’s performance, which has earned them another home tie in the second round, against Lincoln City.

“When it pays off like that, you look like a tactical genius, don’t you?” he said of bringing on Riley five minutes before his winner. “The plan was to always give Wayne some part of the game because he looked so bright in training.

“What I said at half-time was that what was missing was a goal and fortunately we took one of our chances.”

Preece also noted how important the FA Cup is to teams such as his. “It might not be for the very, very top teams, but [for] anybody outside the top six, this competition is as special as ever,” he said. “For non-League teams, that will never change, it will always be huge. It is brilliant and lets us pit our wits against the very best.

Charlton were little short of a disgrace and were clearly not interested in fronting up on a cold and blustery day in a passionate stadium situated next to a cement works. They offered nothing throughout the game and could comfortably have lost by many more than the single goal.

In the first half, they had Darren Randolph to thank for keeping them in it as he brilliantly clawed away a header by Michael O’Connor just before the break.

But for all Northwich’s dominance, the part-timers seemed to be heading for a goalless draw — until Riley got on the end of a through-ball by O’Connor, honed in on goal and secured his place in local folklore.

“We were second-best,” Phil Parkinson, the Charlton manager, said. “They wanted it more than we did and that was very disappointing. We did not have any of the ball and we did not have any quality when we did. We have had plenty of plaudits when we have done well, so we will have to wear this one on the chin.”

Northwich Victoria (4-4-2): C Aspden — M Aspin, M Bailey, N Kerr, R Brown — I Herring, J D’Laryea, M O’Connor, L Elam (sub: W Riley, 77min) — J Allan (sub: H Winter, 90), J Newby (sub: D Edwards, 87). Substitutes not used: S Vaughan, M Cadwallader, L Richards, J Spencer. Booked: O’Connor, Newby, Riley.

Charlton Athletic (4-5-1): D Randolph — E Omozusi, K Youga, C Dailly, S Sodje — L Sam, J Semedo, T Racon, J Shelvey (sub: D Burton, 68), N Bailey — I McLeod (sub: L McKenzie, 68). Substitutes not used: J Binks, G Basey, M A Llera, M Spring, S Wagstaff. Booked: Semedo.

Referee: D Webb. Attendance: 2,153.

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