Town Earn Vase Victory

[Duffer]

Saturday 19th October 2002

FA Vase 1st Round Proper

WILLENHALL TOWN 2 vs SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC 0

 

(Please note no team line up for Athletic)

 

Willenhall were presented with the Midland Football Alliance Team of the Month award prior to this Vase battle with their visitors from the Central Midlands Supreme Division.

 

After just 8 minutes Quilt, making a rare start, nearly broke the deadlock when his effort skidded off the out stretched leg of the Athletic keeper. From the conceded corner the defence scrambled the ball off the goal line.

 

Three minutes later and Hay delivered the perfect cross to his strike partner Bullimore, the effort just wide.

 

The crowd of 95 had to wait until the 25th minute for the opening goal. Whitcombe and Pearce combined well with a perfect 1-2 move, before Whitcombe's cross was converted by Bullimore.

 

Not to be out done Athletic nearly got straight back on level terms when Armstrong saw his dipping 40 yard free kick just go over Town's crossbar on 28 minutes.

 

On 35 minutes the number 10 for Athletic found himself with just keeper Vaughan to beat, however the striker blasted the ball well wide.

 

Five minutes later and number 7 for the visitors saw his free kick from the edge of the box go just wide of the post.

 

In a frantic end to the first half Pearce saw his on the run volley brilliantly tipped over the bar by the keeper, then from the corner Creighton hit the crossbar, and finally from the rebound the keeper sliced the ball to safety.

 

On 63 minutes Athletics' 7 curled a speculative effort goal wards, the dipping effort was superbly tipped over by Vaughan.

 

Seven minutes later and Bullimore headed Carter's cross just wide, and on 31 minutes a Grosvenor free kick was powerfully headed by Pearce but again just wide.

 

The killer goal came on 82 minutes when a brilliant cross by Whitcombe was collected by Hay who headed the ball past the keeper.

 

Two minutes later and Hay should have sealed the victory when he dribbled through the defence before tapping the ball past the keeper and the wrong side of the goal post.

 

A minute into added time and sub Bromley's cross skidded goalwards off Athletics' number 3, the keeper however produced a brilliant reflex save.

 

Willenhall now have 3 tough away games in the league. Tuesday 22nd October they visit Pelsall Villa, Saturday 26th they travel to high flying Quorn and Saturday 2nd November they travel to Barwell.