BARNSTAPLE TPWN 1 HAMWRHY UNITED 2
F.A.Vase (First Round Proper) Saturday 04-10-08
Once again Phil Simkin, and his men were able to make the long journey back from the West Country with another Cup win under their belts. The team were made to battle the full ninety minutes by a Barnstaple Team that proved to be much stronger opposition than their League position suggests. The Hammers squad was down to its bare bones with seven players unavailable for one reason or another including keeper Martin Peters who was on holiday. Wayne Robbins played his first game in goal for the senior team this season, and joint reserve team manager Gary Clark was on the bench. They both went on to give a good account of themselves in the game.
With a strong wind in their faces Hamworthy started the brighter of the two teams, and went ahead after only six minutes. Following a good move down the left, Tim Constable got round the back of the Barnstaple defence, and chipped the ball back from the by-line. The ball was then nodded on to the far post where Warren Byerley was on hand. He headed powerfully past the keeper to add yet another goal to his impressive tally this season. Barnstaple almost equalised straight away when a Town striker headed the ball onto the crossbar before it went over for a goal kick. Wayne Robbins did well to punch away another dangerous cross. The Home side played mainly route one football lofting the ball forward at every opportunity for their tall Captain, and top goal scorer Kevin Squire to get on to. Last season he scored thirty five goals in thirty five games for Barnstaple, and he was once again proving to be their main danger. United when they got the ball down played the better football, but the midfield was often being missed out by the ball being lofted in the air. The score remained 1-0 at the break.
As you would expect the Hammers were forced on the defensive for long periods of the second half as Barnstaple chased the game. They never really got a clear shot on target however, and were forced to shoot harmlessly from long range for most of the time. As the game drew to an end Barnstaple threw more men forward in search of an equaliser, and this left them open to being caught on the break. With two minutes of normal time remaining a good ball out of defence found the experienced substitute Gary Clark through one on one with the keeper. He kept his cool, and drew out the Town keeper before slipping the ball past him, and into the empty net. Barnstaple pulled a goal back with time running out .Their top striker Kevin Squire took full advantage of the ball only being cleared to the edge of the box and lashed it past the helpless Wayne Robbins giving him no chance. This was to be their last chance as the Hammers saw out the remaining time.
Team: W. Robbins, S. Gilbert, R. Jackson, O Cherrett, N. Walker (Cpt), M. Crow, T. Constable, M. Dancer, M. Claremont (G. Clark) W. Byerley, S. Cannie. Unused Subs : G. Horlock, M. Glavin.