FA VASE second round Millbrook AFC 2 Bashley FC 0
- Details
- Created on Sunday, 13 December 2020 07:54
- Last Updated on Sunday, 13 December 2020 14:48
- Published on Sunday, 13 December 2020 07:54
- Written by KEVIN MARRIOTT at Jenkins Park on the road to Wembley
It was a fantastic team performance from the unbeaten South West Peninsula League Premier East leaders against a strong team from the Wessex Premier at Jenkins Park.
The Brook now face a 190-mile trip to United Services Portsmouth of Wessex League division one next Saturday in the third round.
Jake Foster fired Millbrook ahead with a wonder goal from 30 yards and captain Tom Payne doubled their advantage from a second half penalty.
Bashley won two first half penalties but spot kicks by Conor Whiteley (12 minutes) and Harry McGrath (42) were brilliantly saved by Millbrook keeper Chris Wearing.
Brook manager Mackenzie Brown said: “In the first half I thought we were a little all over the place. But in the second half we were magnificent.”
Chairman Mark Pratten added: “I am in shock, I can’t quite believe it. What a game.”
The pre-match boasts of some of the visiting supporters from Hampshire that they were looking forward to a local derby in the next round looked justified in the opening stages as Millbrook were starved of possession.
So it was no surprise when Bashley were presented with a golden chance to take the lead after 12 minutes when a home defender was adjudged to have fouled Whiteley.
Whiteley picked himself up to take the resulting spot kick but his shot towards the corner of the net was kept out superbly by Wearing, diving low to his left to tip the ball away.
To rub salt into the visitors’ wounds, Millbrook went ahead four minutes later. Bashley keeper Sam Thompson made a poor clearance and was slow to recover his position as Foster spotted him off his line and produced a stunning lob from wide on the left which nestled in the far corner of the net.
Bashley continued to dominate possession but they could have been 2-0 down in the 36th minute when Rikki Shepherd caused panic in the penalty area before firing a low shot inches wide.
The visitors were then awarded their second penalty after Wearing brought down Harry Bunce in the 42nd minute. Bashley changed their spot kick taker to McGrath but again Wearing was equal to it, keeping out a low shot with his legs.
Bashley only had themselves to blame for going in at the break without scoring but they came out for the second half with all guns blazing as they pinned Millbrook back in their own half.
Their hopes of finding a way back into the tie were dealt a severe blow in the 54th minute when Shepherd went crashing to the ground under a challenge and from the resulting penalty, Payne made it 2-0.
Undeterred, Bashley piled forward in search of a goal and came closest in the 68th minute when McGrath chipped the ball over Wearing towards an empty net. Tom Hall got back to hook the ball to safety from under the bar.
Millbrook were defending heroically and they were still creating occasional chances of their own, including a breakaway from Foster before he ran out of steam and was caught by two defenders.
There was still a feeling that if Bashley got a goal back they were capable of getting another but Foster should have put the tie out of reach in the 90th minute when set up by Shepherd but struck his 15 yard shot against the post.
Two minutes into six minutes of stoppage time, Foster had another opportunity but Thompson made a fine save.
The final whistle brought celebrations from the Jenkins Park crowd and they gave their team a rousing reception as they trooped off to the dressing room.
Millbrook C Wearing, T Hall, R Hamilton, J Wood, R Knight (D Chapman 90+2), J Richards, J Foster (J Toulson 90+3), L Murray (E Goodman 81), T Payne, R Shepherd, S Morcom.
Subs not used L Robinson, M Brown.
Goals J Foster 16 T Payne 54p
Bashley S Thompson, B Strickland, J Smith (R Roboki-Phelps 65), D Thompson, L Farrugia, L Aimson, H Bunce, L Ross, M Crowe, C Whiteley, H McGrath.
Sub not used H Gravett.
Referee Stacey Ford (North Devon)
SWSN All Stars Impossible to pick out an individual from a superb Millbrook team effort
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