F.A.Vase First Qualifying Round (Saturday 06-09-08)

Luckily the Hammers were rewarded for the long five hour coach trip down to Penryn with a win, which made the trip back to Dorset that much more bearable. The squad which Phil Simkin had to choose from was considerably reduced with Stuart Cannie suspended, and Steve Gilbert, Ryan Dovell and Michael Dean not available for selection. This gave the chance for Lee Thomas to start the game up front along side Warren Byerley. The game was played on a perfect pitch voted the third best in levels 6&7 of the FA Pyramid in the country.
The first thirty minutes of the game saw the Hammers having just the edge in a fairly even opening spell. In the twenty ninth minute Richard Jackson was denied a goal, first of all by the post, and then shortly afterwards by a brilliant save by the Penryn Keeper. Six minutes before half time United deservedly took the lead when Warren Byerley headed home a Tim Constable corner.
Penryn had their best spell of the game following the break, and should have been back on level terms just two minutes after the restart, but they just shot wide. Following some excellent inter-passing in mid-field Warren Byerley was put through one on one with the Penryn Keeper. The normally reliable striker hesitated this time, and the ball was pushed round the post for a corner by the Keeper. Mark Claremont was brought on for Lee Thomas, and a purple patch followed for the Hammers. They really dominated the play for about fifteen minutes with good movement and passing from the back right through to the two strikers. This created several chances none of which unfortunately were taken The tricky Mark Claremont was brought down in the box after seventy one minutes, and the Referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Penalty taker Warren Byerley stepped up to put the ball confidently past the Keeper for his, and the Hammers second goal of the game. Penryn had their Central Defender sent off shortly before the end of play, but Hamworthy were unable to capitalize on it, and get the third goal they probably deserved over the full ninety minutes.
Hamworthy thoroughly deserved their win and now go on to meet Radstock Town
away. At the time of writing they lie second in the Toolstation Western Premier League, but they lost to Brislington in the FA Cup who the Hammers beat in the following round.

Team: M.Peters, M. Crow, M. Grimason, O. Cherrett, N. Walker, T. Constable, Mark Dancer(K. Yelland), R. McCabe, L. Thomas(M. Claremont), W. Byerley, R. Jackson. Unused Subs: G. Horlock. J. Cole 

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