FA Vase First Round

Newquay 1 Slimbridge 3

THE round trip may have been just under 400 miles, but it was a profitable visit to Cornwall for Slimbridge, who booked their place in the second round with a victory against their South West Peninsula League opponents.

Leading at the break through Sean Lawson, two second half goals from Paul Fahy, which bookended an Alex Coles strike for the hosts, saw Slimbridge pick up what was eventually a comfortable victory at the Mount Wise Stadium.

With the best part of a gale blowing across the ground, the game had a scrappy start before Slimbridge began to take control of the game and create some decent chances. Jamie Martin forced a save from Newquay keeper Joe Crane after good work from Lawson and Fahy, before Lawson's effort was too high after Ryan Thwaite and Martin had set him up in a good position.

With half an hour gone, Lawson found himself through one-on-one with Crane, but the Newquay stopper made a superb save to keep out his effort.

Martin was the next to try his luck, shooting wide after Lawson's powerful break down the left flank, and Fahy miscued a good chance after Crane had fumbled Lawson's shot to him in the penalty box.

Five minutes before the break, the visitors' pressure was rewarded when Ryan Thwaite's effort was saved by Crane, but the ball rebounded to Lawson, who gleefully converted to put the visitors ahead.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first and six minutes in the Swans doubled their lead. Coles took a tumble in the Slimbridge box, and while his teammates were protesting to referee Andrew Bennett that they should have had a penalty, a quick break saw Fahy through on goal at the other end and he calmly rounded Crane to record the second of the afternoon.

The second goal saw Slimbridge begin to lose a little concentration, and they were punished four minutes later when Coles was left in space to convert a cross and put the home side back in the game.

Newquay started to gain a little momentum, but their recovery was snuffed out ten minutes later, when Martin's good work set up Fahy, who drilled the ball home for the Swans' third of the afternoon.

As the home side's frustration began the show, the game became very scrappy, but still the better chances were for the visitors as Lawson hit the post with a good effort.

With two minutes remaining, the miserable afternoon for the hosts was compounded when Tom Vercoe picked up his second yellow card following an altercation with Dean Turner and was dismissed.

Slimbridge will visit Western League Premier Division league leaders Melksham Town in the next round of the FA Vase, scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 22.

Slimbridge: Evans, Turl, Ryan Thwaite, Freeman (Tunnicliff 75), Richard Thwaite, Ward, Turner, Parrott (Mace 67) Lawson, Martin (Hammond 69), Fahy.

Star man: Paul Fahy.