Trio seal progress to FA Vase first round
Bradford Town, Keynsham Town and Bitton have all made it through to the first round proper of the FA Vase following victories on Saturday.
The Bobcats faced a local derby against Odd Down and managed to win 2-0. Harvey Baker opened the scoring on his debut after heading home from Charlie Walton’s cross. Down’s challenge was made even harder when they were down to ten men after their striker left one in on Walton.
Walton thought he had doubled Bradford’s lead but his effort was cleared off the line as it remained 1-0 at the break. The all important second goal came from substitute Ross Lye with just his second touch of the game in the second half. The reward for the Bobcats is a nice, long trip to Falmouth Town on October 23.
Bitton joined Bradford in the second round after a fast start enabled them to beat Cheltenham Saracens 3-1. The deadlock was broken in bizarre fashion inside the first minute when Saracens’ centre-back fired the ball from 25 yards past the keeper into the top corner of his own net. Bitton then doubled their advantage after just five minutes through Egan.
Saracens’ day got temporarily worse when they had a player in the sin bin but Bitton were unable to take full advantage as Griffiths headed wide before Withey’s effort also missed the target. Dunk was called into action for the first time on 38 minutes, tipping over a Saracens effort, while at the other end Jack Ball headed wide to see it remain 2-0 at the break.
Cheltenham started the second half brighter and struck a free-kick wide before managing to pull a goal back on 56 minutes. Egan struck a free-kick into the wall as Bitton looked to restore their two-goal advantage and had Dunk to thank to keep them ahead with a smart save.
Barnes chipped wide after spotting the keeper off his line, who was then called into action twice to deny both Barnes and Griffiths, before the latter finally put the tie to bed three minutes from time. Liam Monelle was named man of the match and Bitton will now face New Milton Town in the next round.
Keynsham went one better in their victory over Spartan South Midlands side Long Crendon. It was the visitors who actually took the lead after 19 minutes before Callum Baker notched the equaliser just after the half hour mark, finishing off a great team move.
After going into the break level, it needed just one second half minute for Keynsham to take the lead as Baker scored again from Brown’s assist. Brown then turned scorer himself with Keynsham’s third on 62 minutes and, after Seth Locke made a great save at the other end, Will Hailston rounded the tie off 4-1. Keynsham will now travel to Newquay in the next round.
Corsham Town were sadly knocked out in heartbreaking fashion on penalties. Hosting Hamworthy United of the Wessex League, Corsham took a first half lead through Matty Morris who expertly dispatched from the penalty spot. However, Corsham couldn’t hold on as Hamworthy equalised with just seven minutes remaining to force a penalty shoot-out which the visitors won 4-2.
■ SOUTHERN LEAGUE Larkhall Athletic have become one of the many clubs affected by the fuel shortage crisis after agreeing to postpone Tuesday’s game a Lymington Town. That came after an enthralling 3-3 draw on Saturday against Cinderford Town.
Lewis Powell opened the scoring for the Larks on 11 minutes before Ben Brooks equalised just seven minutes later. Zachary Drew then put Cinderford ahead on 37 minutes but the teams would be level at the break after Samuel Crumb’s equaliser two minutes from the whistle.
Cinderford took the lead for a second time through Harry Emmett ten minutes into the second half, but Larkhall weren’t to be denied and were awarded a penalty seven minutes from time which was dispatched by Powell. The striker almost stole the points for the Larks, but was thwarted by the keeper. Joe Hillard was named man of the match.
■ WILTSHIRE LEAGUE Odd Down Reserves claimed four points from their two games in the week. Brad Evans and Harvey Kendrick netted on Saturday to help Down to a 2-2 draw a Trowbridge Town, holding on after James Payton received a second yellow card not long after the hour mark.
The draw came after a 4-1 victory over Devizes Town Reserves last Wednesday. Angus Williamson helped himself to a brace, while Shaquile Perkins and Charlie Saunders added the others.
Corsham Town Development ran riot at Marlborough Town with a 5-0 thrashing. Benjamin Wickens opened the scoring inside two minutes before two goals in the space of five minutes, 11 minutes from half-time, put them in a commanding position. Adam Mitchell had added a second just before the half hour mark, with Will Stead and Wickens again scoring to see Corsham 4-0 up at the break.
Ed Mccormack fired in the fifth ten minutes after the restart as Corsham settled on five.
■ SOMERSET LEAGUE Timsbury Athletic continued their fine start to the campaign with a 6-2 win at home to Nailsea & Tickenham Reserves in Division One. The victory came at a cost however as striker Sam Gregory, who has made a big impact since joining the club, suffered a serious injury after scoring the sixth and is likely to face a lengthy spell out.
Timsbury could have scored in the first minute but Tim Midgley missed the target from Rhys Cook’s cross. In fact it was the visitors who settled quickest and, after Ollie Hogg had seen a shot saved by
Ashton Tucker, Charlie Ashton headed them in front from a corner.
Gregory had a header blocked on the line and Ellis Hancock’s effort was held by the keeper, but it was still Nailsea looking the liveliest without creating any clear cut chances. With half-time approaching, Timsbury turned the game upside down as Toby Neilson ghosted in at the far post to head home Midgley’s cross, before Cook made it 2-1 on the whistle.
Timsbury dominated the second half, with Cook and Gregory causing all sorts of problems. Seven minutes into the half, Gregory’s header made it 3-1 before he turned provider, knocking down Callum Taylor’s free-kick for Cook to tap home. Within minutes, Cook had grabbed a well-deserve hattrick for 5-1 before Neilson hit the post when searching for a sixth.
With 20 minutes remaining, Gregory raced clear to make it 6-1 but collapsed on the ground after making contact and the game was held up for 15 minutes before he could be taken from the pitch. Timsbury ended the game with ten men and Nailsea grabbed a consolation through Nick Walker’s penalty.
■ ELSEWHERE, a brace for Aaron Childs alongside goals for Liam Crispin and substitute Harry Crew saw Keynsham Town Reserves to a 4-1 win at Chard Town for just their second win of the Premier Division campaign. Fry Club followed suit with a 2-0 win at Worle.
Substitute Samuel Clifton netted eight minutes from time for Saltford, but they were beaten 3-1 at home to Minehead in Division One. Peasedown Miners Welfare played out a 3-3 draw with Portishead Town Reserves in Division Two.
Goals for George Bean, Tom Young and Jathesh Sakthipakan helped Tunley Athletic edge hosts Fry Club Reserves 3-2 in Division Three.
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■ MID SOMERSET LEAGUE
brace from Craig Dowling helped Peasedown Albion ease past Chew Magna Reserves 5-0. The other goals were scored by Josh Addicott, Sam Hoddinott and Lee Smith to set up a tie at Wells City A after they beat Chilcompton Sports Reserves 3-1.
Timsbury Athletic Reserves are also through after goals from Robbie Toy and substitute Antonio Sanfilippo secured a 2-1 win at Farrington Gurney. The will travel to Coleford Athletic in the last eight.
In the Tony Baxter Shield, Luke Higgins and Aidan Wrintmore scored for the Peasedown Albion Reserves but they were beaten 7-2 by Paulton Rovers Reserves.
■ WOMEN’S FOOTBALL Keynsham Town notched a second win of the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier campaign after Laura Williams netted twice to see off Chichester & Selsey 2-1. Williams opened the scoring four minutes before the break but it was cancelled out two minutes into the second half by Gemma Simmonds.
Parity lasted just four minutes though as Williams netted again to regain Keynsham’s lead. The K’s also brought on Ylenia Carabott for her first taste of football at this level. Maltese international Carabott has arrived at Keynsham, hoping to reignite her career after suffering an ACL injury which has kept her out for eight months whilst as Belgian top-flight side RCSC Charleroi.
Carabott helped Charleroi to their first ever victory, winning a penalty and scoring the decisive goal in a 2-1 win over Zulte-waregem. It was her first goal in 12 appearances for the Belgian side.
Larkhall Athletic suffered a 4-0 defeat at Exeter City in Division One South West, while Keynsham Town Reserves lost 3-0 at Warminster Town in East Division of the South West Regional Women’s League.
Bath City enjoyed a 15-3 thrashing over FC Calne in the Wiltshire Women’s & Girls League.