Football: Almonds dumped out of FA Vase (From Gazette Series)

Football: Almonds dumped out of FA Vase

7:00pm Saturday 15th November 2008

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FA Vase second round - Hungerford Town 0 Almondsbury Town 2

ALMONDSBURY Town’s hangover continued as they were dumped out of the FA Vase by their old rivals Hungerford Town.

Paul Weeks’ men have struggled to recover from the disappointment of last season where they missed out on promotion to Southern League Division West on the last day on goal difference and they were deservedly beaten in this game by a side who are 14 points clear of them at the top of the Hellenic League Premier.

Almondsbury midfielder Paul Fowler had a goal ruled out after 77 minutes, just moments before Hungerford scored twice within three minutes to secure their passage to round three.

Hungerford started the more confident side and came close to going in front after eight minutes. Almondsbury ‘keeper Ben John had to be at his best to tip Toby Clark’s 20-yard free kick wide as it bounced right in front of him.

The Almonds began to feel their way into the game without carving out many opportunities. On 31 minutes Cai hit a 30-yard free kick with plenty of venom but it went high and wide.

Two minutes later Hugerford hit them with a swift counter-attack as Mark McMeeking slid in Tom Feelier, whose cross from the right byline was met by Luke Brewer. However, Kris Davis had got back to somehow clear the close range header off the line and he then bravely blocked Ian Concannon’s follow-up.

The second half got off to a frantic start and Hungerford almost took the lead within 16 seconds.

A wonderful move from kick-off ended with Peter Macklin’s curling effort from the edge of the box and John was at full stretch to pull off a great save.

On 56 minutes Cai latched onto a long through ball but Hungerford stopper Green raced off his line to block his effort from 15 yards.

With 15 minutes left, Brad Andrews’ volley from just inside the area flew just wide after the Hungerford defence only half-cleared John Lock’s free kick.

Almondsbury then had a goal disallowed as Fowler was adjudged to have pushed Green as he headed in Cai’s corner from three yards.

Disaster struck one minute later as Hungerford midfielder Brewer ran at the defence before laying off to Tom Feelier who rifled the ball home from 18 yards.

As Almondsbury pushed out in a desperate attempt to get back in the game they were caught out after 81 minutes as Concannon fed through Macklin, who rounded John and finished into an empty net.

There was no way back for the Almonds at that point despite referee Bill Mortimor mysteriously adding eight minutes stoppage time.

Almondsbury Town: John, Davis, Pope ©, Lock, Haines, Cai, Andrews, Fowler, Forward (Kabba, 82), Kear (Morgan, 86), Ingram (Cole, 82). Subs not used: Smith, Wood.

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