In a cracking cup-tie atmosphere at Chedzoy Lane, Third Division Bridgwater Grasshoppers ran First Division Admirals Landing close before eventually going down 4-3 to the visitors.
The Hoppers had started the game brightly, hitting the crossbar in the first minute and wasting further chances to establish a comfortable lead in the first quarter of the game before conceding two quick goals to the visitors following strikes by Kev Andrews and Wes Glover. The Grasshoppers then experienced further misfortune as they saw three key players lost to injury in the space of five minutes, including a bad shoulder injury for promising young goalkeeper Gavin Riddle, who was rushed straight to hospital. Perhaps fuelled by a sense of injustice, the Hoppers embarked on yet another of their now familiar fightbacks, and got back on level terms before the interval following two superb strikes from teenage "wonderboy", Adam Kinsey.
The second half was a closer affair with Admirals pegging the Hoppers back into their own half for long periods. However, even then the home side contrived to miss further gilt-edged chances on the break and were to pay the price for their profligacy in front of goal when a top corner scorcher from Lee Turner and a low drive from Andrew Cheese gave Admirals another two goal cushion with only five minutes to go. There was still time for Grasshoppers to hit back once more through veteran Scottish striker Bob Kippen, but the final whistle blew soon afterwards and it will be Admirals' name that will be in the hat for the second round draw.
Perhaps refreshed and reinvigorated by a four-week break over the Christmas period, Second Division contenders Flag Old Boys made light work of Third Division Glastonbury Backpackers, racing to a 4-0 half-time lead and eventually running out 5-0 home winners after strikes from Lee White(2), Mike Taylor, Jamie Stewart and Lee Turner, who sealed the win with a superb left-footed volley into the top corner.
Another Glastonbury-based Third flight side, Glastonbury Town Sundays, had better luck against Second Division opposition as they emerged from their away encounter with Woolavington Reserves with a 5-3 victory. James Shaw(2), Andy Morgan, Darren Williams and Gary Mitchell bagged the winning goals for Glastonbury while Matt Caddy, Kev Dibble and Matt Brewer responded for the home side.
In a clash of the Third Division's basement boys it was Tor Sports who came out on top with a 5-3 home victory over Middlezoy Athletic following a hat-trick from Paul Jeffrey and further goals from Joel Hopper and Izam Hamrauni.
In the clash between Pig & Whistle Reserves and Eastover Wanderers it was Third Division Pig Reserves who emerged victorious over their Second Division visitors by a margin of 5-2. Sam Puddy bagged a hat-trick for the young Pig side and was joined on the scoresheet by team-mates Jamie Evans and Adam Jenkins. Steve Jones and Tommy Chidgey responded for Wanderers, with Chidgey's effort being given a helping pair of hands thanks to a Roy Carroll-style blunder from the Pig keeper.
For various reasons, Countryman, Durleigh and Tiger Old Boys all received byes into the next round of the competition.
(Story First Published: 09.01.05) |
