Gallant Ashes see Cup run ended by Sholing
SALTASH United manager Dane Bunney could not have been prouder of his players, despite their FA Cup run coming to an end against Southern League Division One South side Sholing on Saturday.
The Ashes had beaten three teams from higher up the football pyramid to reach this stage for the first time in 29 years, but hopes of reaching the third qualifying round were ended as they went down to a 3-1 defeat at Kimberley Stadium.
Prolific striker Dan Mason bagged a hat-trick for Sholing, to knock the Ashes out, with Dave Barker replying for the Cornish side.
Now, the focus turns to the South league with Bunney determined to lead the Cornish club out of the South West Peninsula League and into the Western League Premier Division, where they could meet the likes of Plymouth Parkway and Tavistock.
“It didn’t go as we had planned, but we played really well on the day” Bunney said. “It was a great effort form the boys and we threw everything at them, but we came up against a good side and it was maybe just that step too far, perhaps.
“There were some big moments in the game. They scored an early goal and were then given a penalty and I think the referee was the only person in the ground that thought it was a penalty.
“It was their player trying to shoot and our guy trying to clear and then, at 2-1, we had a big, big appeal for a penalty and again, he was the only one in the ground that thought it wasn’t a penalty.
“It was one of those days where we came up against a good side and decisions didn’t go our way.”
Bunney added: “It has been a great FA Cup adventure and we have really enjoyed it.
“It’s been brilliant, we have made some memories and we will give it another go next year, but now we go back to the bread and butter and trying to win the league.
“I am sure if we play like we did yesterday – and keep playing as we have started the season – then I have no doubt that we can do it.”
There was no such trouble for Truro City as they stormed into today’s third qualifying round draw with a 4-0 thrashing of Hungerford Town at Treyew Road.
Ed Palmer got the White Tigers off to the perfect start with an early goal before they went into cruise control after the break.
Dan Rooney made it 2-0 with his third goal in as many games, converting a cross from debutant Kieran Hayes, and Rocky Neal powered in a header from Rio Garside’s free kick to make it 3-0.
Two minutes after coming off the bench, Tyler Harvey bagged the fourth, slotting in from Connor Riley-Lowe’s pull-back.
Tiverton are out after they lost an eight-goal thriller 5-3 at Ladysmead to local rivals Taunton Town.
Dan Hayfield gave Tivvy the lead, but they suddenly found themselves 3-1 down when Dan Sullivan, Toby Holmes and Gathyn Hill scored for the Peacocks.
Former Tiverton defender Jamie Short made it 4-1 only for Alex Fletcher and Jordan Bastin to bring it back to 4-3. But hopes of a dramtic comeback were ended when Owen Howe was fouled in the box and scored the resultant penalty.