HAMWORTHY UNITED 2 TAUNTON TOWN 1
F.A. Cup First Qualifying Round (Saturday 13-09-08)
Phil Simkin had done his homework on Taunton, and it certainly paid dividends for his Wessex League side. They always had a slight edge on their British Gas Southern League opponents over the ninety minutes. Hamworthy were without five of their normal squad. Stewart Cannie and Ryan Dovell were both suspended, Richard Jackson was unavailable, Michael Dean was injured, and Mat Grimason was sick, which made the win all the better. The Hammers this season have a bigger, and more experienced squad, and this made the problem less than it would have been in previous years.
United were the livelier of the two sides at the start, and were soon into their stride
creating the first chance three minutes into the game. A good passing move down the left had the Town defence at full stretch, but the shot at the end of the move was easily saved by the visiting keeper. Lee Thomas’s pace up front was giving the Taunton back four problems, and he was ably assisted by Warren Byerley who’s ability to hold up the ball was at times invaluable. The midfield was very tight with both sets of players evenly matched in that position. The Hammers broke the deadlock five minutes before the interval with a well worked goal that started deep in their own half. Following a Taunton attack, Ollie Cherrett brought the ball out of defence, and found Tim Constable out wide on the left with a superb forty yard cross field pass. The United midfielder brought the ball down before making a pin point cross that found Lee Thomas in the six yard box who found the back of the net with a great header to complete the move. Hamworthy’s lead lasted just two minutes when Town striker Alex Pounde headed home a corner to make the score 1-1 at the break.
The Hammers as in the first half started the better of the two sides, and soon restored their lead. Lee Thomas was put through one on one with the keeper, and did well to keep his head before drawing the keeper out, and knocking the ball past him into the net to make it 2-1. The Peacocks thought they had equalised, but the Assistant Referee had his flag raised for offside long before the ball entered the net. Ollie Cherret was forced out of the game by a nasty elbow to the face which left him dazed, and bloodied, but luckily for the offender it was not noticed by any of the officials. The Hamworthy defence was well marshalled by Nathan Walker, and they never gave Taunton a clear cut chance to get back into the game, despite some late pressure from the Somerset side. It was the Hammers who deservedly went through to the next round at the end of the game following a good team performance.
Team: M.Peters, K. Yelland, O. Cherret ( G. Horlock), N. Walker (Capt), S. Gilbert, M. Crowe, M. Dancer, R. McCabe, T. Constable, L. Thomas (M. Claremont) W. Byerley