Ashton & Backwell United were knocked out of the Buildbase FA Vase after a penalty shootout defeat to Bemerton Heath Harlequins at the Lancer Scott Stadium today (Saturday).
After a goalless draw, which saw the visitors hit the woodwork twice, Lewis Coombes stepped up to see his penalty saved by Patrick Creese to allow Calum Sweeney to send the Harlequins through to the second round.
A tightly contested first half saw both sides cancel out each other. But that wasn't to say both sides had chances in the opening 45.
Bemerton’s Danny Young's low strike hit the post and Stags' Brad Skidmore’s curling strike from 18 yards out narrowly went over Creese’s goal as the tie hung in the balance at half-time.
The game burst into life in the second half when substitute Sam Price went close when his first-time effort from the edge of the box was pushed away by Creese.
Bradley Skidmore then saw his low effort, which went through George Bennett’s legs, kept out by Creese with his legs.
Connor Harley was unlucky not to open the scoring when he picked up a long ball forward.
He took a touch and steadied himself before rifling his effort which was well saved by Creese.
But Sean Hale’s side, who have yet to taste defeat this season with 10 wins and one draw, hit back when Young picked up Ronan Clancy’s pass and flicked it up with his first touch and on his second the midfielder, who can also play as a forward, saw his effort just wide.
Cameron Roach then saw his strike from just inside the area pushed onto the bar superbly by Coombes.
Sweeney, then, created space for himself and took aim and fired towards goal but he could see his strike go narrowly wide.
Hartley tried to curl home the winner but his effort was easily saved by Creese as the match went to penalties.
Captain Joe Bishop, Sam Thomas, Miles Hardidge and Paul Uppington were all successful from 12 yards out.
However, Coombes went up next but Creese guessed correctly by diving to the right and keeping out the goalkeeper’s effort to pave the way for Sweeney to send the Wessex League Division One side through.
Tony Beecham's side return to Toolstation Western League Premier Division action next Saturday when they travel to Cornwall to take on Helston Athletic at Kellaway Park at 3pm looking to end their three-match winless run.
Coombes, Devoy, Sollars, Hebblethwaite, Thomas, Bishop (C), Harley, Hardidge, Uppington, Inverizzi, (Price, 57), Skidmore (Bayliss, 83)
Attendance: 119
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