Highworth Town
After the 150 mile round trip the Wells faithful had endured to support their heroes against Deal Town last weekend. The TWFC fun bus was oiled refuelled for the 250 mile round trip into deepest darkest Wiltshire for the much anticipated FA Vase fourth round tie away to Highworth Town F.C.
Highworth is located 6 and half miles to the north east of Swindon and has a little over 8000 residents.
With The Wells starting XI unchanged from the game against Deal, The Wells started the game the better of the two sides with the home team looking slightly overawed by the large travelling support.
It's perhaps harsh but fair to say the Elms where the host’s play their football has never seen a laser level and so hasn't got a single piece of level turf . The Wells opted to play up hill for the first half.
The wet, heavy conditions proved to be tricky for both sides with members of both teams slipping and sliding and one such tumble led to the Wells having the first effort of the game when the Highworth right back slipped and allowed Paul Booth to nip in round the keeper and just as he was about to pull the trigger slipped himself on the Highworth slope and see the covering defender clear the danger.
The half progressed with little between the two sides and it would be Highworth who would have the next chance of the half but their speculative effort was comfortably saved by Steve.
With the referee keen to let the early exchanges go without punishment this set a precedent for the rest of the game which eventually turned into farce as late challenges and deliberate body checking were allowed to continue.
With the first half ending scoreless, the Wells contingent were quietly confident that when attacking down the hill in the second half, fitness quickness and strength would pay dividends and prove to be too much for Highworth. Those thoughts were proved wrong as the hosts enjoyed the better of the early play at the beginning of the 2nd half.
The game turned when Joe played in Booth who was brought down recklessly by the Highworth defender and the referee had little option but award the penalty.
Up stepped Cass of the Culverden who rifled his shot low and central past the opposition keeper.
After taking the lead the Wells swagger began to shine through with sublime passing and possession that left Highworth chasing shadows for large parts, and the 1-0 lead was almost doubled when after Perry picked the ball up outside his area and skipped passed 3 challenges before passing to Booth who in turn played in Fuller who rifled just over from 20 yards.
With time running out the hosts threw caution to the wind and upped the tempo and had Wells on the back foot. The stubborn Wells resolve was finally broken in the 85th when Steve came to clear on the edge of his box but unable to handle the ball outside the area had to use his head but didn't get the connection he would've like to and the Highworth winger poked thee loose ball into the empty net.
With the final whistle blown the game went to extra time and the “ nothing to lose" mentality that had served Highworth so well late in the second half continued into extra time although no real threat was made on Steve’s goal in the first period.
The games most controversial moment came towards the end of the 2nd half of extra time when Highworth captain TJ Bahone broke free and whilst through on goal and Brad covering Perry's attempt to tackle the forward fell short and ended with him upending the striker a foot outside the area.
With the referee aware that Brad was covering he deemed the foul worthy of just a yellow card and having previously been booked earlier in the game Perry was sent marching.
Having initially pointed towards the penalty spot, the referee having consulted his assistant correctly awarded a free kick just outside the area which was duly blazed wide.
With ten men and the introduction of Boyley to sure things up at the back, all the huffing and puffing from Highworth could not breakdown the Wells defence and they made sure that the rarest of things ( An FA Vase game at Culverden) could become reality.
The Wells faithful can be buoyed by the fact that on a pitch that would be better suited to hosting a Sunday league game rather than a Step 5 Vase fixture, the never say die attitude was on full show and with The Wells game better suited to flat playing surfaces it sets up next weekend’s replay perfectly.
With a bumper crowd expected at Culverden let’s hope the working week flies by!
See you all Saturday.
#COYW
Also see Wink's alternative match report here: http://www.thatbetheday.blogspot.co.uk/