Corsham progress after penalties win
Penalties were needed for Corsham Town as they secured progression to the First Round Proper of the FA Vase.
Visiting Brislington, the tie got off to a feisty start before Gary Higdon forced a good save from the home goalkeeper. A mix up at the back nearly allowed Brislington to take the lead before Corsham did go in front before the half hour when Callum Demkiv was set up by Ryan Bath to hammer home from an acute angle.
Bath had a shot deflected which was cleared for a corner before Demkiv’s effort was blocked over as Corsham remained in front at the break. A poor start to the second half saw Corsham conceded a penalty for a push and Brislington levelled from the spot within two minutes of the restart.
Brislington would take the lead shortly after before Corsham regained their composure and levelled the tie on 55 minutes as Demkiv grabbed his second. The game became a bit stop start as it wore on, with both sides wasteful in the final third, and the game went to penalties. After Nathan Davis scored his spot-kick, Brislington went 2-1 in front as Matt Jenkins missed his.
Joel Smedley managed to make it 5-4 before Brislington levelled again, but Corsham managed to hold on to win 6-5 and progress to the First Round for the first time in seven years. They face a local derby in that round on October 22 as go to Keynsham Town.
Bradford Town also needed penalties to progress at home against Fareham Town. Malachi Benjamin went close early on for the Bobcats with a header which went narrowly wide. Tyson Pollard thought he had given Bradford the lead when he put the ball in the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside after 13 minutes.
At the other end, Jonathan Hill made a diving save to turn a shot past the post before Fareham came even closer when Cameron Thomson was forced to clear off the line just before the half hour. Pollard was denied by a good save and the shot over as it remained goalless at the break.
Fareham had the better chances at the start of the second half before Bradford get themselves back into the game as Pollard’s shot was deflected for an easy save. As Pollard shot wide once more, Jasper Jones’ effort in stoppage also narrowly missed the target as the game finished as it started and headed to penalties. Bevan Cross, Harry Rutty and will Taylor put Bradford 3-2 ahead before Hill made two fantastic saves to see the Bobcats win 4-2 and go through.
They will host Laverstock & Ford in the First Round Proper.
There was another penalty shoot out as Odd Down as they too held their nerve to beat Newton Abbot Spurs. After a poor opening half an hour which saw Down go 2-0 down, Cam New managed to pull one back just before half-time. A lovely free-kick from Curt Dunn levelled the tie and, despite lots of chances at both ends, it remained 2-2.
Odd Down missed their first spot-kick before Spurs did likewise with their second to make it 1-1. That became 4-4 to send the tie to sudden death where Spurs missed their sixth attempt to leave Odd Down through to face a trip to Brixham.
Bitton were knocked out of the Vase though after defeat at home to Eversley & California. A scrappy start to the game saw Jordan Williams’ cross tipped over before Eversley had a free-kick from 40-yards which struck the bar and went over. Brandon Dack glanced wide with a header from Williams’ cross before Alessandro Pellicia’s long range effort was spilled by keeper who made amends to save from Jamal Chevolleau.
The hosts did take the lead though on 20 minutes through when Jenson Manning played in Chevolleau to score after the defender misjudged the ball. Bitton continued to cause problems as Williams stuck wide and Chevolleau forced another good save from the goalkeeper. Pellicia also had a good effort tipped wide.
Kai Wilson had to pull off an excellent to keep Bitton in front before half-time, but Eversley were level just four minutes into the second half. Wilson was called upon again to save at point blank to keep Bitton in the game, while Chevolleau shot wide at the other end.
With the game seemingly heading for penalties, Eversley managed to find a winner with five minutes to go to break Bitton hearts and go through.
■ WESTERN LEAGUE Keynsham Town were unable to build on their three-game winning streak as they were brought down to earth by Street on Saturday, losing 5-1. Owen Brain managed to pull a goal back on the half-hour to make it 2-1 at the break before three goals in the final 15 minutes saw Street to a big win.
On Tuesday, Keynsham responded by narrowly going down 2-0 against Shepton Mallet. The third-place side took the lead inside 90 seconds but had to wait late on, to secure the win. Tash Jackson and Dylan Lewis had both been denied by Shepton goalkeeper Tom Easterbrook before the second goal was scored.
In Division One, Odd Down enjoyed a 5-0 thrashing of struggling Radstock Town on Tuesday. Curtis Dunn and Louis Short gave Down a 2-0 lead at half-time before Short netted his second a minute into the second period. Dunn added his brace with 15 minutes to go before being shown a second yellow card just a minute later. It didn’t alter proceedings though as Short completed his hat-trick in injury time.
■ HELLENIC LEAGUE A 95th minute goal from Callum Demkiv proved enough for Corsham to seal a 1-1 draw at Cribbs on Tuesday. The hosts had taken the lead in the first half before Corsham rescued a point late on to make it 16 from nine games.
■ WILTSHIRE LEAGUE Odd Down Development arrived having never beaten Wroughton in their three previous meetings. That record continued as Wroughton ran out comfortable 5-1 winners. Sam Long set them on their way with an opener before an own goal doubled the lead. Leading scorer Jonathan Peacheyscore fired in his 12th goal of the campaign and Kyle Moulden added a fourth before Odd Down pulled one back.
Luke Saunders rounded off the scoring with a fifth for Wroughton from the penalty spot.
Last Wednesday, Odd Down had made it through to the next round of the Somerset Senior Cup after a 5-1 win at AFC Whitchurch.
■ SOMERSET LEAGUE Fry Club picked up their second win of the Premier Division campaign with a 2-0 victory over Mendip Broadwalk. A single goal was enough to see Stockwood Wanderers beat Keynsham Town Reserves as they slipped to a sixth defeat in seven games.
A 91st minute goal from substitute Warren Edgell helped Saltford to a 2-2 draw at home to Middlezoy Rovers Reserves in Division One. Cameron Emmott had scored in the 28th minute as Saltford picked up a seventh point from four games.
Peasedown Miners Welfare suffered their first defeat in Division Two after they went down 5-1 at leaders Cutters Friday.
Tunley Athletic were beaten for the second time in two Division Three games, losing 3-1 at home to Yatton & Cleeve United Reserves. Jack Rowlands scored Tunley’s goal.
■ MID SOMERSET LEAGUE Substitute Sam Hoddinott scored for Peasedown Albion but they were beaten 4-1 by Victoria Sports as they exited the Dimmock Green Cup at the first hurdle. Weston offered Mells & Vobster a home walkover.
Timsbury Athletic Reserves are also out after going down in a penalty shoot-out. James Noad and substitute Gary Pearcy were on the scoresheet for Timsbury as they played out a 2-2 with Evercreech Rovers, before Evercreech held their nerve to win the shoot-out 7-6.
In the Tony Baxter Shield, Saltford Reserves progressed after their 2-0 win at Coleford Athletic Reserves. Endrit Qosja scored twice for Peasedown Albion Reserves, but they were edged out in a fivegoal thriller at Westfield A.
■ WOMEN’S FOOTBALL Larkhall Athletic stormed through to the next round of the FA Women’s National League Cup with a 6-1 thrashing over Hounslow. Chloe Snook scored twice for Larks alongside goals from Sky Hull, Lydia Newton and Hannah and Sophie Price.
After a goalless 90 minutes, Keynsham Town also progressed when substitute Vicky Vipond netted 12 minutes into extra time to see off visiting Moneyfields.