Quarrymen make club history in Vase

Corsham Town have reached the fourth round of the FA Vase for the first time in their history after beating Royal Wootton Bassett on penalties following their goalless draw.

The game got off to a scrappy start, with the goalkeepers mere spectators for the opening half an hour before Ryan Bath’s free-kick was fired wide. As Corsham grew into the game, a great flowing move was denied by a last ditch clearance which led to Mark Cooper’s acrobatic effort going just wide from Nathan Davis’ throw.

Just before half-time, Bassett forced a corner which ultimately went wide before their goalkeeper made a mistake at the other end and needed three blocks to keep Corsham out. The game began to open up in the second half as Callum Demkiv broke the offside trap and squared the ball for brother Dan but he was unable to convert. He also headed over from Davis’ cross with the goal gaping.

Bath was next to go close from the edge of the box before Bassett saw an effort headed wide. Corsham should have taken the lead when two goalmouth scrambles caused panic in the defence, but Bassett were able to survive and headed a chance over at the other end.

Substitute Matthew Jenkins sliced his effort before the game ended on a sour note when a Bassett player lashed out, causing a melee between the players and was ultimately sent off. With the match finishing goalless, penalties were needed to decide the contest. Matt Swan levelled the tie at 1-1 before Davis missed the chance to take the lead as both sides missed their second kicks.

Corsham would go on to win the shoot-out 3-2 and book their place in the fourth round for the first time in their history and will face Southern Counties East League side Deal Town at home on January 14.

■ SOUTHERN LEAGUE Max Williams’ 38th minute proved enough for Larkhall Athletic to earn their second victory in three games, bouncing back to winning ways following last week’s reverse by the same scoreline at home to Exmouth Town.

Visiting newly promoted Tavistock, goalkeeper Alfie Kelsey saved a penalty in the second half to complete a man of the match performance with his side’s first clean sheet in the Southern League Division One South this season. Williams’ first half effort was set up brilliantly by Harry Warwick as the Larks move four points clear of the bottom two and up to 15th.

Keynsham Town produced a good battling display, but fell to a 3-2 defeat at Mousehole in the Premier Division. Owen Brain gave Keynsham an early lead before Mousehole equalised before the half-hour mark through Jack Calver. Home substitute Mark Goldsworthy

■ WESTERN LEAGUE

put Mousehole in front on 68 minutes before Tallan Mitchell harshly added a third with 19 minutes remaining.

Tyler Linton pulled a goal back for Keynsham and had five minutes with a man advantage after Mitchell received a second yellow card to see Mousehole end the game with ten men, but hung on for the points.

In Division One, Luke Bryan’s 85th minute strike saw Odd Down to victory in a five-goal thriller at home to Cheddar. The Cheesemen took the lead via an own goal from Ashley Bryan, before two goals in six minutes from man of the match Courtney Charles put down 2-1 in front with eight minutes of the first half remaining. It was Charles’ first goals for the club, his first a scissor kick at the back post.

A poorly defended set piece allowed Cheddar to level through Lewis Chappell on 65 minutes and it looked like ending as a draw before Luke Bryan’s late winner which keeps them seventh.

■ HELLENIC LEAGUE Bradford Town recovered from their heavy defeat last week by edging out Tuffley Rovers in a nine-goal thriller, despite leading 3-0 at half-time. The Bobcats got off to a fast start thanks to a third minute penalty which was dispatched by debutant Scott Baker with a low drive into the bottom corner.

Bevan Cross narrowly struck wide and William Taylor fired over from seven yards before Tuffley’s first effort forced a diving save from Ed Baldy. After the sides traded set pieces, Bradford made it 2-0 on 28 minutes as Baker doubled up following a wonderful piece of skill.

Josh Howlett headed over from a corner before the game seemed to be in full control when Cross hit a lovely effort to make it 3-0 with five minutes to go before half-time. After Baker missed a chance to secure his hat-trick, Tuffley pulled one back with a smart free-kick routine five minutes into the second half.

Any thoughts of a comeback were seemingly dashed when Baker turned provider for his namesake and captain Harvey to head home for 4-1. Tuffley added a second on the hour from a corner, before making it 4-3 from another set piece seven minutes later.

Tuffley had a great chance to complete the comeback via the penalty spot, but the kick was missed. However, Tuffley weren’t seemingly to be denied and managed to make it 4-4 a minute later. Bradford’s blushes were spared six minutes from time with a fantastic near-post finish from Jack Pearsonbrown to see the Bobcats win 5-4.

■ WILTSHIRE LEAGUE Larkhall Athletic Development entertained Kingsdown Lions, who they had lost to the previous week in what turned

out to be another tight game. All three games between the sides this season have now been decided by one goal margins.

The game saw the two sides turn round at half-time with the match still looking for its first goal. The deadlock was finally broken early in the second half when Josh Barnfield connected with a Scott Stone cross to head powerfully into the net. Larkhall pushed hard for an equaliser, but some solid defending denied them any real clear-cut chances.

Kingsdown continued to be under the cosh for sustained periods but gave themselves some breathing space 20 minutes from time when a break saw Stone quickly close down a defender, dispossess him and slot home for 2-0. Larkhall continued to try and get themselves a foothold, but Kingsdown defended stoically until deep into injury time when they gave away a penalty which was put away by captain Charlie Saunders for his eighth of the season to make it 2-1.

There were to be no further goals as Kingsdown held out for three vital points in the battle for the Division One title. The game was slightly marred by the sending off Kingsdown manager Adie Wilkinson, along with Larkhall striker Finn Norris following an exchange of words between the two at after the final whistle.

The back-to-back wins for Kingsdown over Larkhall meant they opened up a four-point lead at the top and a five-point advantage over Larkhall, however Larkhall still have two games in hand.

Odd Down Development offered Middlezoy Rovers a home walkover in the Somerset Senior Cup.

■ SOMERSET LEAGUE Keynsham Town Reserves moved into the quarter finals of the Somerset Senior Cup with a 3-1 win at Broad Plain House. Fry Club are also through, matching that scoreline at Wrington Redhill. On a difficult pitch in tough conditions, goals from William Simpson-jarman, Dan Hynes and a deflected Freddie Gwyther freekick

saw Frys progress.

Toby Neilson and Rico Sobers struck for Timsbury Athletic as they also progressed with a 2-0 win at Burnham United.

In the league, Harry Rogers and Andy Jones were amongst the scorers as Saltford beat Welton Rovers Reserves 3-1 in Division One. Peasedown Miners Welfare scored in the final minutes to edge past Chew Magna in a nine-goal thriller in Division Two.

Toby Cooke was on target for Fry Club Reserves, but they lost 2-1 at home to Radstock Town Reserves in Division Three.

■ MID SOMERSET LEAGUE Jay Reed, Kris Seviour and substitute Kory Moore were all on target for Peasedown Albion as they edged past Westfield Reserves 3-2 in the Premier Division. They sit third, three points off new leaders Wells City A but have played a game more.

The Reserves secured their first win of the campaign in Division One, winning a nine-goal thriller at Chew Magna Reserves. A double from substitute Gary Pearcy alongside a Kane Frith strike gave Timsbury Athletic Reserves a 3-0 win over Farrington Gurney to stay second, two points off leaders Haydon Sports having played a game more.

■ WOMEN’S FOOTBALL A double from Gemma Mcguinness saw Keynsham Town to a 2-1 victory at Maidenhead United in Division One South West in the National League. Vicky Vipond scored for the Reserves but they exited the FAWNL Reserve Plate with a 2-1 defeat at home to Exeter City Reserves.

■ SUNDAY LEAGUE Whiteway took on Trowbridge Athletic in what turned out to be a goal-fest, with Whiteway scoring 13 and conceding two. Jack Lewington and Ty Mulholland both claimed four goals, alongside a double for Ashton Muir and strikes for Gary Jones, Richard Quick and Jack Williams.

It continues Whiteway’s unbeaten streak, which now stretches to ten, before facing league rivals Bath Rovers on Sunday - kick-off 10.45am at Odd Down Football Club.