Bobcats purr into gear to go through
Bradford City enjoyed an emphatic victory as they marched through to the next round of the FA Cup.
The Bobcats travelled to Wessex Premier League side Hythe & Dibden near Southampton and made their feelings known from the off as Jake Brown managed to get in behind the defence before shooting at the keeper.
George Box went even closer by hitting the post before Charlie Walton did give Bradford the lead their start deserved.
Walton soon made it 2-0 with a low, powerful shot and the game was all but over before half-time when Brown was fouled in the box for Box to convert his penalty into the top corner.
Box then joined Walton in grabbing a brace by making it 4-0 in the second half and was soon celebrating his hat-trick with another penalty after Box was this time fouled.
Hythe grabbed a consolation with the third spot-kick of the afternoon but Bradford restored their five goal lead through Brown before Charlie Wiles-richards rounded off a perfect day with his first goal for the club.
Bradford will now face another Wessex Premier League side in the form of Alton in the next round on August 21.
Joining the Bobcats in the Preliminary Round is Corsham Town as they edged out another Wessex Premier League Division side Hamble Club in a five-goal thriller.
Corsham took the lead through Luke Ballinger as he continued his fine start to the campaign, heading home from Matty Morris’ cross.
Ballinger then made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time with another header before Corsham looked to have been home and hosed at 3-0 as Ballinger grabbed his hat-trick with a deflected long-range effort.
Hamble managed to pull one back with a cool finish and forced a nervy final couple of minutes after making it 3-2, but Corsham held to book their place against Combined Counties Premier Division side Fleet Town at home.
There was heartbreak in the cup for the rest of the local sides though. Larkhall Athletic were beaten 2-1 by Lymington Town in an all Southern League. After a goalless first half, Alex Lambert managed to equalise for Larkhall after falling
but Lymington retook the lead and held on.
Bitton were also goalless at Spartan South Midlands side Oxhey Jets at half-time before succumbing to a 2-0 defeat, while Keynsham Town and Odd Down both lost 3-0 away at Spartan South Midlands Premier Division side Tring Athletic and Wessex Premier Division side Alresford Town respectively.
■ WESTERN LEAGUE Odd Down recovered from their FA Cup defeat with a 4-2 victory against Bishops Lydeard on Tuesday night. Reeko Best opened the scoring on 25 minutes before an own goal made it 2-0 just after the half hour mark.
Luke Bryan gave Odd Down a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead on 66 minutes before Lydeard threatened a comeback three minutes later.
But Bryan was on hand to restore Down’s two goal lead on 73 minutes to render Lydeard’s second goal in injury time another consolation.
■ HELLENIC LEAGUE Corsham were held to a 1-1 draw against Thornbury Town on Tuesday night. Lew Powell gave The Quarrymen the lead on the half hour after being found by Ry Baggs. Thornbury levelled in the second half with a head from a well delivered corner and the sides couldn’t be separated come full time.
■ TUNLEY ATHLETIC hosted Westfield on Saturday for the 17th annual Freda Hookings MBE Memorial Trophy game. Freda was Tunley President for over 40 years and first lady Vice-president of the Somerset FA, receiving her MBE in the Millennium New Year’s honours list for her services.
The trophy was donated by Freda’s family to be played between Tunley and a local football club in a pre-season match. The result was 2-2 at full time so penalties were played to determine the result which favoured Westfield 6-5.
The Barry Gould Trophy was awarded to Tunley’s man of the match Scott Eades. Both Clubs thanked Darren Robbins for refereeing the game as players, friends and family gathered after the match for refreshments in Tunley’s Recreation Centre.
Tunley’s season starts this Saturday in the Uhlsport Somerset County League away to Bishop Sutton Reserves. Westfield play against Stockwood Green.