Oadby Stutter In Vase Semi

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[color:"red"] [/color] Two second half goals gave Northern Counties East League side Brigg Town the iniative in an entertaining FA Vase Semi-Final against Midland Alliance outfit Oadby Town.

 

Brigg were first on the attack with Craig Stones setting up Simon Drayton, whose right foot shot was saved low by Oadby''''s Czech ''''keeper Pavol Maruna.

At the other end Oadby pushed forward with confidence and on 15 minutes Curtis Warner, who was an injury doubt before the game, saw his well struck shot palmed onto the bar by Brigg ''''keeper Damien Steer. Shortly after, good work from Danny Poultney saw his cross sliced onto his own bar by Rob Nevis.

 

The tie was developing into an even, end-to-end contest but Brigg, Vase winners in 1996, began to push forward with confidence.

Graham Thompson shot over the bar, then Simon Roach saw his header well saved by Maruna. Drayton failed to connect with a volley on 36 minutes and then saw a 25-yard effort sail over.

 

Steve Carter came close with the first effort of the second half, Richard Swingler clearing off the line, but Poultney responded with another run which ended with a Ross Blockley shot that failed to trouble Steer to much.

 

Then, on the hour-mark, Marc Orton powered down the right and hit a perfect cross for Curtis Warner at the far post, but the striker''''s header was off target.

 

Shortly after Brigg finally made the breakthrough when Drayton slid in from 8 yards after collecting a deep free-kick.

 

Oadby pressed for an equaliser but were thwarted by Steer, who made two fine saves on 66 minutes, First he pushed a Warner effort over the bar and then dived at the foot of the post to deny a Tyrone Mintus header from 12 yards.

 

As Oadby committed men forward, Brigg caught them on the break and Roach scored a terrific goal on 73 minutes, hitting a 25-yard shot on the turn past a helpless Maruna to give his side a vital cushion to take into next Saturday''''s second leg.

Report from www.NonLeagueFooty.com