FA VASE ROUND 2
SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2014
VERWOOD TOWN 5 PLYMOUTH PARKWAY 4

Plymouth Parkway (PP) set off with pace and determination. From the kick off the ball was whipped down the right for a runner to try and get to the bye line. Buck blocked progress and made a great tackle to put the ball into touch. A long throw into the box was headed powerfully away by Kelly.

Kelly was again Kingpin as PP pushed us back. Another cross into the box was headed clear. Whelan this time was on hand to collect the ball and a cross field pass found Munday who slipped his marker and tried a shot but watched it whistle wide.

PP played good football across the middle of the park. A long hopeful shot was collected by Lynch. His long clearance found Foster. A pass inside found Whelan breaking through and Whelan had good feet in slipping past two defenders. Munday's run was spotted and Whelan's ball was inch perfect. Munday went wide and a low cross should have been our opener but defenders closed in and the ball was deflected away from the area.

Munday, Foster and Groves linked up with and Whelan finished off the move blazing his shot over the bar.

We were now enjoying more possession and matching effort in mid field.

8 minutes old and Evans made ground on the right Foster and Groves took over the move and Groves finished with a hard low ball across the face of goal. Munday was well placed to put the ball into the net but miscued and the ball sat on the goal line. Luckily Munday hadn't gone into a swallow dive anticipating the goal and was able to follow up putting the ball into the bottom corner. 1-0.

Over eager to make it two almost cost us. A break with Buck the instigator had bodies going forward but the ball was lost in PP's third and resulted in a counter attack. Kelly was the hero making a great challenge preventing entry into our box.

18 minutes our pressure won a free kick. Up stepped Whelan and a pin point ball into the box was glanced on by Foster to put us two up. Lynch was in action for a while as PP stepped up pace and pressure. Gajic headed clear one shot on goal and then was on hand to boot the ball clear after a miscue in front of goal.

44 minutes we slackened and got punished. PP worked the ball across the back and then found space for a runner to go free with only Lynch to beat. A delightful chip over Lynch found the net 2-1.

Half Time 2-1

A rousing half time chat by PP's Manager and Coach had a desired effect. Tackles were more brisk and the flanks were employed in far greater depth. Evans and Buck were tested frequently.

Lynch had to make a couple of saves as balls were whipped in but with 5 minutes gone the ball was delivered to the edge of the box and a right foot volley whistled past Lynch. 2-2.

We were rattled and it showed. Another break by PP and this time we were lucky that the cross had nobody on the end of it as it sped across the penalty spot untouched.

It was then end to end. Rutten came on for Foster with 60 minutes gone and within a minute of coming on was on hand to funnel back and block a cross as PP yet again pushed us back.

We had a lucky escape when slack marking in the middle of the park let in a runner but an angled shot only 6 yards out went wide.

We pegged away. 70 minutes Dyer and Fisk combined and broke free on the right. A half clearance was picked up by Whelan 30 yards out and before he could move ahead was dropped heavily. Whelan elected himself to take the free kick and hammered a low shot that deceived the keeper and finished up in the back of the net 3-2.

71 minutes and whilst PP were re shaping Whelan took the opportunity to glide past a defender and put the ball past the keeper with a fine cross shot. 4-2.

73 minutes it was Fisk's turn to break free and this time there was no mistake as Fisk put his new boots to good use in lashing the ball past the keeper. 5-2.

74 minutes and while we were still congratulating ourselves PP swept forward and smashed the ball past Lynch. 5-3.

PP really went for it. Some good football and with a will to win attitude had us back pedalling. We were now having possession in snatches.

80 minutes and a free kick was chipped in to the box. It looked like 22 players and 12 subs were all in the box to collect the ball and all on trampolines. Finally an upwards header dropped near the goal line and flipped over the line off a players back. 5-4.

Alex Ferguson's squeaky bum time took charge. Defibrillators were in heavy use in both dug outs. PPP and BUPA phone lines went mad. No one could get through to NHS.

92 minutes and another melee on the edge of our area had six players all springing for the ball. A hand went up in the box. Penalty ?

The ref had debate with the linesman. Carl Poore was on resuscitation PP's Manager having a transplant. What a finish. Then came the decision. It was the 'Hand of God' and a free kick went our way.

94 minutes and Munday was forced wide of goal. A good effort was blocked by the keeper.

That was it. The whistle went on a 5-4 win taking us into the next round.

Report submitted by Bernard Scott