FA VASE - 3RD ROUND
SATURDAY 6TH DECEMBER 2014
AFC ST AUSTELL 6 VERWOOD TOWN 1

3rd Round of the FA Vase and drawn away to St Austell. It needed a strong squad, but we had to suffer four withdrawals forcing several changes. Non - the - less it was a good experience for our younger squad members.

It looked as if we were still in the dressing room as St Austell forced us back. A dipping ball after only a couple of minutes brought out a good save from Lynch. A long ball up field gave Fisk a run but good defensive play from the home side's centre half put the ball back in out our half. Kelly wearing the Captains arm band in Gajic's absence won the tussle and slipping the ball wide right put Evans on a counter attack. A ball inside to Rutten should have produced a run on goal but a quick decisive tackle from St Austell's mid field took the ball and put them again on the attack.

6 minutes gone and we had the ball in the net as Foster and Groves worked the ball to Whelan and a shot from just inside the box whipped up the net. Strong protests at the Linesman's flag were to no avail. The 'goal' was disallowed.

3 minutes later howls of protest again went unheeded as a forward got behind our high line and went free to score. It was a hotly disputed moment but it stood putting the home side ahead 0-1.

2 minutes later, a strong tackle by Evans halted a move down the left. A free kick was awarded, a cruel deflection in the box put St Austell ahead in a two minute spell.

We were shell shocked and couldn't get ourselves into the game. St Austell conversely looked the better team at this and wanted the ball more than we did. It told in the 16th minute when yet again a high long ball whipped over Ben Kelly to land between the edge of our box and the back four … a runner … and we went 0-3.

We did get near scoring after 21 minutes when McGilchrist cleared to Whelan and a ball wide to Fisk gave a rare opportunity … a sight of goal. The shot went over the bar.

A minute later we were shown how to score when after a deep cross had dropped in our box we could only half clear and that was enough for a side foot into the net. 0-4.

In the closing stages of the half St Austell could have had a couple more as a header from a corner went over the bar and another clear chance was put wide.

Half Time 0-4

James Guthrie came on for Tyler Rutten at the start of the second half going right of mid field.

St Austell carried on where they had left off teaching us a lesson in desire and a will to win. McGilchrist cut out an attack on the right and then Kelly headed clear from a clever cross on the left.

Lynch punched away a cross, placed for the penalty spot, and then Dyer cut out an attack on the edge of the box.

McGilchrist tried to send Foster clear but it was a wayward pass and picked up by the home sides left back. A line ball sent away a runner and Kelly intervened with a great tackle.

Guthrie showed a touch of class with good feet taking him clear of his marker but his cross was too short for Fisk to get on the end of.

We were showing a bit more bite but there was a general lack of urgency and all credit to the home team as they continued to hunt down the ball despite a commanding lead.

Guthrie again went clear on the right but Groves was blocked from a run into the box leaving the ball to whistle over and into touch.

Kelly and Lynch then became busy as central attacks became the norm. Kelly made a couple of good clearances and Lynch made two excellent saves as St Austell pushed us back.

66 minutes and an attempt to make a break through the middle of the park was halted by a strong tackle. A ball wide right and a cross was met by a diving header. 0-5.

It was all over bar the shouting. What slim chance we thought we might have had had gone. Had it ?? Dyer picked up a ball from the kick off, moved forward and scored the goal of the game with a spectacular dipping shot that ended up in the top corner. 1-5.

Jordan Fisk made way for Ben Satterley and Joe Kimber came on for Josh Buck.

Satterley made a run to the edge of the box and a squared ball found Foster in space. A rising shot went inches over the bar.

Kelly pushed up for a corner and headed over.

5 minutes left and a cross into our box was deflected leaving space for an easy tap in. We were always second best in this game and maybe it taught us a lesson that if you don't put the effort in there's rarely a reward.

All credit to St Austell whose game plan was spot on and we can only wish them every success in the next round.

Result 1-6.

Report submitted by Bernard Scott