Bulletin #29 - 19th February 2012
FA Vase
Larkhall Athletic travelled to Herne Bay a week later than planned due to the frozen pitch in Kent last week. The outcome, however, was not worth the wait for the Toolstation League outfit as they succumbed to a ten man home side. Herne Bay looked the better side in the opening exchanges but received a setback when a straight red was shown to one of their players on the half hour. Larkhall failed to take advantage of the extra man and were pinned back for most of the match. In the second half Herne Bay enjoyed the majority of possession but couldn't break thorough for the all important goal until they found the back of the net on 85 minutes. Larkhall then produced some penetrating play but a series of shots on goal, including a free kick, did not have the desired effect and they can now concentrate on a league and cup double on home soil.Les Phillips Cup
With a torrential downpour before Radstock Town kicked off against visitors Calne Town the playing surface proved very difficult, although the home side seemed to master the conditions better than their visitors. Busiest man on the pitch in the first half was the Calne keeper who saved well on several occasions to keep it scoreless at the break. In the second period Calne put pressure on the Radstock custodian before the home side opened the scoring. Unable to build on the lead a stunning shot from the Calne frontrunner forced the match into extra time but Radstock had a player red carded just before the 90 minute mark.SNEAKED
With the extra man Calne went into the lead for the first time, but with the last kick of the match Radstock sneaked the equaliser, setting up the penalty shoot out. Calne earned a trip to Barnstaple in the next round netting five spot kicks to the Radstock's four. A nap hand of goals from Odd Down surprised home side Bristol Manor Farm, who only managed to net once. The first half was well balanced with Manor Farm equalising on the half hour after Odd Down had hit the opening goal on 12 minutes. Odd Down regained the lead within five minutes of the start of the second half and made it three-nil just before the hour. Following a well directed free kick the visitors added to their score and completed the rout with seven minutes remaining netting their fifth goal. Local neighbours Street and Shepton Mallet battled to produce a narrow 1-0 victory to Premier Division Street. The four other matches were also Premier v First Division encounters - that all went the way of the form book with the top division sides going into the draw for the Quarter Finals. Merthyr Town looked to have the easiest task as they welcomed Elmore who are currently sat 28 places below them, but the Elmore youngsters looked to make a game of it.ENJOYED
Whilst Merthyr enjoyed the biggest percentage of possession they seemed unable to work the ball into scoring positions, and when they did the front men failed to deliver or the visiting keeper kept them out. The few neutral spectators present would have made the Elmore glovesman the man of the match. The only goal of the match came from the penalty spot after a Merthyr striker was floored in the area on 26 minutes. The second half was much of the same with Elmore thwarting any hopes Merthyr may have had of grabbing more goals. The gap between home side Bitton and Welton Rovers is 24 places but it was two penalties and a sending off that swung the match in favour of the Premier Division leaders. The first goal of the match came after 20 minutes in open play shortly after the visitors were reduced to ten men. After the half time break Bitton added two more goals, both from the spot, and cruised to the next round. Gillingham Town gave a good account of themselves at Barnstaple Town but missed out by the odd goal in three. Barnstaple took the lead on 34 minutes with a well hit cross from the right but Gillingham levelled proceedings on the stroke of half time. It remained nip and tuck before the home side grabbed the winner with a 15 yard driving shot with quarter of an hour remaining.CUP HOLDERS
Just up the coast from Barnstaple the other north Devon side, cup holders Ilfracombe Town had to overcome a spirited display from Melksham Town. The heavy pitch proved to be energy sapping but both sides displayed some good play. After producing some good moves Ilfracombe took the lead on 27 minutes from the penalty spot. Melksham looked to get back into the match after Ilfracombe failed to convert pressure into further goals in the remainder of the first half. Ilfracombe's second goal in the second half was more than enough to give them a chance against Odd Down in the next round.Premier Division
Hallen kept in touch with the leaders after collecting maximum points at Wells City. The home side might have hoped to build on their surprise victory the previous week at high flying Willand but found Hallen a much tougher task. The Well's defence was breached for the first time after 20 minutes play when the ball cannoned off the upright into goal. Hallen added a second goal before the interval and knocked in third just into the second half.REVIVAL
The home side hopes for a revival, following their goal midway through the half, came to nothing as Hallen quickly knocked in a fourth goal. Each side netted once more but Hallen were worthy winners. Brislington could not reproduce their midweek form, when they beat top side Bitton, and had to be happy with a point share against visiting Bridport with two goals apiece. Corsham Town were another side who produced a surprise result in midweek and failed to build on it for Saturday. Bishop Sutton travelled home from Corsham with all three points after an untidy match on a rain soaked surface. Corsham failed to take a couple of early chances and the sides went in all-square at the break. In the second half Bishop Sutton stepped up a gear and took the lead with a close range shot early in the second half and wrapped it all up with a second goal on 63 minutes, with Corsham with little left to offer.FULL ADVANTAGE
Longwell Green Sports welcomed Sherborne Town and took full advantage of the league inactivity of several of the lower placed clubs to move up the table. Sherborne failed to deal with the busy home midfield and paid the price when the home side opened the scoring on ten minutes. There was no further score until Longwell Green struck again 20 minutes into the second half and with ten minutes reaming they made sure of their three points and added to Sherborne's basement misery.First Division
Devizes Town continue to prop up the rest of the division after they failed to collect any points against visiting Chard Town. Ten minutes before half time Chard knocked in their first goal and maintained control into the second half when the made sure of maximum points with a second goal early on in the half. Just above Devizes are Wellington who moved four points clear of the basement spot with a well worked win over visiting Roman Glass St George. Wellington had a two goal lead as early as the seventh minute when the front man knocked in the opening goals. Roman Glass fought back and then Wellington struggled for some time before conceding a goal 11 minutes into the second period.VICTORY
The home side then settled down and made sure of victory with a third goal with ten minutes remaining. The pitch at Oldland Abbotonians was passed fit by the referee at the last minute and any doubts he may have had were dispelled when both the home side and visitors Almondsbury UWE produced an enjoyable game of football. It seems that Oldland did everything but score in the first half but the clearest chance of an opening goal fell to Almondsbury – who were denied by a magnificent save by the Oldland goalkeeper. The second half was much more even but on the hour the home side took the lead. In the closing stages Almondsbury levelled proceedings to take a deserve share of the points and remain in mid table, with Oldland just out of the danger area. Shrewton United are in no immediate danger in the table but could have jumped up five places with a home victory, but league leaders Cadbury Heath had other ideas. A rampant Cadbury Heath took the lead after fifteen minutes having dominated from the start. The almost constant pressure from the visitors saw them double their tally on 30 minutes. With just ten minutes gone of the second half Shrewton were reduced to ten men when the skipper was shown a red card. The Shrewton keeper then produced some fine saves but was finally beaten for the third time on 71 minutes following a pin point cross.LATE PENALTY
A late penalty was hammered home to see Cadbury Heath triumph 4-0 and move six points clear in the table. Portishead Town welcomed Hengrove Athletic and the result was in the balance until the final whistle. Hengrove were first on the scoresheet after 16 minutes and 15 minutes later Portishead made it one apiece. Nine minutes before the interval the home hit their second goal and held the lead until a 75th minute leveller from Hengrove. In the dying moments the visitors snatched a third goal to claim all three points. There was a 'six-pointer' played at Bradford Town with the home side and visiting Keynsham Town on equal points before the start of the match. Bradford had the best possible start, opening the scoring after just two minutes. Keynsham hit back on 20 minutes to pull level but the home side restored their lead just minutes later. Keynsham were not finished and soon made it two each, but the second half saw Bradford produce some fine play and grab two more goals without reply to lift maximum points.