ELMORE AFC 1 HAMWORTHY UNITED 5
F.A. Cup Extra Preliminary Round (Saturday 14-08-10)
The game was played in front of a big crowd of 247 boosted by many Exeter City fans. They came to pay their respects to one of their players Adam Stansfield who died earlier in the week, and started his career at Elmore. Four Goals in sixteen minutes of the second half saw the Hammers safely through to the next round and a Home tie against Sherborne Town. This followed a very lack lustre first half by United, and after giving away an interval lead two minutes into the second period. Hamworthy started with the same line up that drew with Bournemouth the previous Tuesday.
United began the game kicking up the slope, and had slightly the better of the opening exchanges. It took just seven minutes for the Hammers to open the scoring. A good cross from the left to the far post found the head of Greg Horlock. He directed the ball back across the face of the goal to Aaron Corby who made no mistake from close range. Liam Currell was struggling from the ankle injury picked up in the Bournemouth game, and had to be substituted half way through the half by Joe Toghill. After taking the lead Hamworthy struggled to keep the momentum going, and as the half progressed Elmore came more and more into the game. In fact but for some erratic finishing it could so easily have been them that lead at half time instead of the somewhat fortunate Hamworthy United.
HT 0-1
Elmore started the second half as they finished the first, on top. They were rewarded with an equaliser just two minutes after the interval with a similar goal to that scored by Hammers. A cross to the far side of the box was not dealt with, and a looping header over Dan Ackerman left the Elmore man to pick his spot from close range. The goal kick started United back into the game, at last finding their men and attacking Elmore down the slope. Luke Burbidge now playing a little wider on the left began the move that soon restored Hamworthy’s lead. He passed to Aaron Corby who in turn picked out Max Crowe on the far left wing. He cut inside his man and crossed the ball back to the centre spot to Stuart Cannie. The United striker gave the Elmore Keeper Luke Phillips no chance with a well struck volley into the corner of the net. This was the start of a sixteen minute spell of some good football, and some devastating finishing by Hamworthy, spearheaded by young Luke Burbidge. He scored the third goal himself when he worked his way across the box beating two defenders, before lashing the ball back across it and into the bottom corner of the net. In the sixty second minute United increased their lead even further with another superb finish. Aaron Corby found Joe Toghill on the far left, he took the ball a few paces before sending a twenty five yard strike into the far corner of the net, to score his first goal for the Hammers. The fifth and final goal a minute later was again scored by Luke Burbidge. After picking up the ball in midfield he ran straight through the middle of a stretched Elmore defence, and picked his spot to shoot past Phillips to complete a fine solo effort. With the job done Hamworthy eased off the pedal and Elmore to their credit continued to look for a consolation goal that never came before the end whistle was blown.
Team: D. Ackerman, M. Antrobus, R. Jackson (M. Jackson) G. Horlock, M. White, M. Lawrence ( J. Merritt), M. Crow (Capt) A. Corby, L. Currell (J. Toghill), L. Burbidge, S . Cannie. Unused Sub E. Roberts.