Unexpected statue This Saturday I still had not decided which game to go to as late as 2pm. My daughter's game was a late kick-off, meaning I didn't leave Wantage Town's ground until after 1.30pm. I had several post codes in my Sat Nav and quickly selected each in turn as I set off. Bishops Waltham was immediately a no-go, presumably some traffic issues meaning I wouldn't get there until after half-time. Brislington was a possibility, but that was also going to be a close shave and any additional traffic would mean missing kick-off. Not to worry, I also had the choice of Calne Town v Highworth Town or Malmesbury Victoria v Portishead Town, both of which were very tempting. Ultimately, I decided to make a re-visit to The Flying Monk Ground, which I last visited in August 2017 (Flying Visit).
Today's FA Vase clash pitched the home side, currently 15th in the Hellenic Premier, against Portishead Town, who sit eighth, and unbeaten, in the Western Premier.
Portishead made the 4th Round of the competition in their last venture, eventually going out to AFC Stoneham who went on to win the trophy last season. Malmesbury's best run came in the 1976-77 campaign where they eventually fell at Round 3, 2-1 at home to Hungerford Town. For two seasons around a decade ago, the teams were both in Division 1 of the Western League. Malmesbury won three out of the four league encounters. However, Portishead did win at The Flying Monk the last time they met in the league here, back in August 2017 (10 days before my last visit).
Thanks to both teams for posting their team line-ups, including shirt numbers, on social media, which saved me from tracking down the referee for access to the teams sheets.
Today's FA Vase clash pitched the home side, currently 15th in the Hellenic Premier, against Portishead Town, who sit eighth, and unbeaten, in the Western Premier.
Portishead made the 4th Round of the competition in their last venture, eventually going out to AFC Stoneham who went on to win the trophy last season. Malmesbury's best run came in the 1976-77 campaign where they eventually fell at Round 3, 2-1 at home to Hungerford Town. For two seasons around a decade ago, the teams were both in Division 1 of the Western League. Malmesbury won three out of the four league encounters. However, Portishead did win at The Flying Monk the last time they met in the league here, back in August 2017 (10 days before my last visit).
Thanks to both teams for posting their team line-ups, including shirt numbers, on social media, which saved me from tracking down the referee for access to the teams sheets.
Bexon-Shaw opens the scoring The opening encounters were fairly even. Bexon-Shaw headed just over for Malmesbury and Ethan Feltham's acrobatic effort for Portishead went well over the bar. Dan Dodimead's superb cross, a minute later, was inches from finding Feltham at the far post, and only an excellent piece of defensive covering took the ball off his foot.
Mitchell Osmond then sent a header just wide and Charlie Warren volleyed over from the edge of the box, as the teams traded opportunities. The visitors, however, were beginning too gain the edge in terms of possession and looked the more likely to open the scoring.
That changed in the 25th minute when Vics captain LJ Bexon-Shaw and Town defender Harvey Tierney chased a ball played into the edge of the visitors penalty area. There was a coming together from which the referee immediately pointed to the spot. It was a soft one by any standards. The home captain didn't argue though, dusting himself off to slam the spot-kick past James Walker. 1-0.
The penalty decision and going a goal down seemed to really throw Portishead off their game. Suddenly it was the hosts who looked confident. Town did try to respond. Jack Thorne curled an effort from the edge of the box, giving Harry Pickering to make a flying save to his right, and Josh Jenkins flashed a drive across the face of goal. However, it was Malmesbury who began to look the more likely to score again.
Kameran Muhid produced a deft lift over the defence to send Bexon-Shaw on his way again. This time the striker could only send his effort over the bar. Then, with half-time approaching, Muhid showed some very nifty footwork to weave in the box and send a shot towards the far corner, only for Walker to get a crucial fingertip to the strike sending it out for a corner.
The home side's renewed confidence was summed up by the last attempt of the half, Kassa Anderson attempting to lob Walker from the halfway line, only to put the effort well wide of the target.
HT Malmesbury Victoria 1 Portishead Town 0. The half changed with the penalty decision. Not only did it give the host the lead, but it appeared to get into the heads of the visitors, who visibly wilted after going behind.
Good to have a chat with a former Vics player over half-time and the second half. Stupidly, I didn't ask his name. Nice chap though.
Mitchell Osmond then sent a header just wide and Charlie Warren volleyed over from the edge of the box, as the teams traded opportunities. The visitors, however, were beginning too gain the edge in terms of possession and looked the more likely to open the scoring.
That changed in the 25th minute when Vics captain LJ Bexon-Shaw and Town defender Harvey Tierney chased a ball played into the edge of the visitors penalty area. There was a coming together from which the referee immediately pointed to the spot. It was a soft one by any standards. The home captain didn't argue though, dusting himself off to slam the spot-kick past James Walker. 1-0.
The penalty decision and going a goal down seemed to really throw Portishead off their game. Suddenly it was the hosts who looked confident. Town did try to respond. Jack Thorne curled an effort from the edge of the box, giving Harry Pickering to make a flying save to his right, and Josh Jenkins flashed a drive across the face of goal. However, it was Malmesbury who began to look the more likely to score again.
Kameran Muhid produced a deft lift over the defence to send Bexon-Shaw on his way again. This time the striker could only send his effort over the bar. Then, with half-time approaching, Muhid showed some very nifty footwork to weave in the box and send a shot towards the far corner, only for Walker to get a crucial fingertip to the strike sending it out for a corner.
The home side's renewed confidence was summed up by the last attempt of the half, Kassa Anderson attempting to lob Walker from the halfway line, only to put the effort well wide of the target.
HT Malmesbury Victoria 1 Portishead Town 0. The half changed with the penalty decision. Not only did it give the host the lead, but it appeared to get into the heads of the visitors, who visibly wilted after going behind.
Good to have a chat with a former Vics player over half-time and the second half. Stupidly, I didn't ask his name. Nice chap though.
Posset look for more goals If Malmesbury thought they had seen off the Portishead challenge, they were given a massive shock in the opening few minutes of the second half. Two minutes in, a Town raid down the left culminate din a deep cross to the back post where Ethan Feltham was running in to volley past Pickering. 1-1. If that was not enough, a minute later the visitors were in front. A driven ball into the heart of the penalty area, which may already have been on its way in, got the feintest of touches from Jack Thorne to ensure Pickering had no chance. 1-2
Malmesbury's response was to earn a freekick on the left hand edge of the penalty area. With players gathering at the far post for a cross, Jordan Murray went for a crafty attempt at the near post, matched by a flying save from Walker.
Things then got even harder for Victoria when they were reduced to ten players. An off the ball incident led to a melee involving most of the players from both sides. It was hard to see exactly what happened, but the outcome was Sam Francis leaving for an early bath.
Portishead obviously smelled blood now, and set about securing the win. Jack Thorne headed just over and Jamie Adams drew a superb, point-blank, save from Pickering before substitute Owen Humphries sent an effort skimming over the home crossbar.
Just about on the midway point of the second half, Humphries then broke down the Posset left before drilling over a low cross that beat both forward and defender on the near post before finding Ethan Feltham at the back, who fires past Pickering to make it 1-3.
The visitors were now well and truly in the hat for the next round, it was just a case of how many more they would score. Pickering, who was having a very good game, came to the home side's rescue again on 76 minutes, blocking well from Jaden Neale's stinging drive. With ten minutes to go, Thorne's good work on the left created what looked like a tap-in for Egan, but somehow the Posset captain couldn't put it away. However, from the resulting corner, the ball finally dropped into the path of Jamie Adams, who took a touch to control and then slotted into the empty net. 1-4
Harry Sealey sent a token effort not too far wide of the Town goal before Portishead substitute, Rio Fitton, somehow shot wide from 6 yards. That should have made it five to Town and they did eventually reach that target in the second minute of added time when Owen Humphries drove down the left and sent a low strike past Pickering. 1-5
FT Malmesbury Victoria 1 Portishead Town 5. The quickfire double at the start of the second half, combined with the red card les than ten minutes later, effectively sealed the game. Portishead deservedly go into the hat for the next round. Malmesbury had their moments too and, if they'd gone in more than one in front at half-time, this could have been a very different game.
Next up, on Tuesday evening, The Vics travel to high-flying Thornbury Town, who currently sit in fourth spot, just a point off the league leaders. Posset have no midweek game. They entertain 15th placed Torpoint Athletic on Saturday.
Malmesbury Victoria: 1.Pickering, 22.Sykes, 2.Kick, 4.Jackson, 3.E.Bexon-Shaw, 8.Francis, 6.Warren, 16.Murray, 7.Muhid, 9.LJ.Bexon-Shaw(c), 5.Anderson. Subs: 18.Sealey, 11.Cox, 19.Timberlake, 20.Costello, 23.Rees
Portishead Town: 1.Walker, 2.Tierney, 4.Adams, 6.Woodhouse, 3.Robbins, 8.Osmond, 10.Egan(c), 7.Jenkins, 9.Feltham, 11.Thorne, 17.Dodimead. Subs: 12.Fitton, 14.Neale, 16.Coumbe, 19.Humphries, 20.Eastwood
Ground No.: Re-visit
Attendance: 73
Entrance: £7
Programme: N/A
Malmesbury's response was to earn a freekick on the left hand edge of the penalty area. With players gathering at the far post for a cross, Jordan Murray went for a crafty attempt at the near post, matched by a flying save from Walker.
Things then got even harder for Victoria when they were reduced to ten players. An off the ball incident led to a melee involving most of the players from both sides. It was hard to see exactly what happened, but the outcome was Sam Francis leaving for an early bath.
Portishead obviously smelled blood now, and set about securing the win. Jack Thorne headed just over and Jamie Adams drew a superb, point-blank, save from Pickering before substitute Owen Humphries sent an effort skimming over the home crossbar.
Just about on the midway point of the second half, Humphries then broke down the Posset left before drilling over a low cross that beat both forward and defender on the near post before finding Ethan Feltham at the back, who fires past Pickering to make it 1-3.
The visitors were now well and truly in the hat for the next round, it was just a case of how many more they would score. Pickering, who was having a very good game, came to the home side's rescue again on 76 minutes, blocking well from Jaden Neale's stinging drive. With ten minutes to go, Thorne's good work on the left created what looked like a tap-in for Egan, but somehow the Posset captain couldn't put it away. However, from the resulting corner, the ball finally dropped into the path of Jamie Adams, who took a touch to control and then slotted into the empty net. 1-4
Harry Sealey sent a token effort not too far wide of the Town goal before Portishead substitute, Rio Fitton, somehow shot wide from 6 yards. That should have made it five to Town and they did eventually reach that target in the second minute of added time when Owen Humphries drove down the left and sent a low strike past Pickering. 1-5
FT Malmesbury Victoria 1 Portishead Town 5. The quickfire double at the start of the second half, combined with the red card les than ten minutes later, effectively sealed the game. Portishead deservedly go into the hat for the next round. Malmesbury had their moments too and, if they'd gone in more than one in front at half-time, this could have been a very different game.
Next up, on Tuesday evening, The Vics travel to high-flying Thornbury Town, who currently sit in fourth spot, just a point off the league leaders. Posset have no midweek game. They entertain 15th placed Torpoint Athletic on Saturday.
Malmesbury Victoria: 1.Pickering, 22.Sykes, 2.Kick, 4.Jackson, 3.E.Bexon-Shaw, 8.Francis, 6.Warren, 16.Murray, 7.Muhid, 9.LJ.Bexon-Shaw(c), 5.Anderson. Subs: 18.Sealey, 11.Cox, 19.Timberlake, 20.Costello, 23.Rees
Portishead Town: 1.Walker, 2.Tierney, 4.Adams, 6.Woodhouse, 3.Robbins, 8.Osmond, 10.Egan(c), 7.Jenkins, 9.Feltham, 11.Thorne, 17.Dodimead. Subs: 12.Fitton, 14.Neale, 16.Coumbe, 19.Humphries, 20.Eastwood
Ground No.: Re-visit
Attendance: 73
Entrance: £7
Programme: N/A
RSS Feed