SUBSTITUTE Mark Dempsey landed Shrewsbury the glittering prize of a fourth round home FA Cup tie against Liverpool when he raced through for an improbable winner against Fulham with only three minutes left of their third round replay last night.

Fulham had looked hot favourites for a big Craven Cottage pay day against Liverpool when Shrewsbury were left with 10 men after the 15th-minute dismissal of Wales' Under-21 midfielder Paul Evans, who crashed into Fulham skipper Simon Morgan.

The Londoners looked even hotter favourites for a big date when a blunder by goalkeeper Paul Edwards let in Rory Hamill to send Fulham into a 29th minute lead. But the depleted Shrewsbury battled magnificently and pulled level four minutes into the second half when former Wimbledon striker Steve Anthrobus headed home a Ray Woods corner.

A magnificent goal-line stop by Shrewsbury skipper Mark Taylor prevented Fulham regaining the lead, and with extra time and a possible penalty shoot-out beckoning, Dempsey raced onto a through pass from Austin Berkley to settle a dramatic replay.