FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
It was another very warm day for my first visit to Barlows Park as FA Cup football came into Tadley. I made the stupid decision to walk to Silchester to see the Roman remains before the game, a round trip of six miles through dusty tracks, heathland and bridleways in the sunshine rather than wander around the town. It seemed like a good idea at the time!
Finally getting to the ATS Group Stadium at around half past one I had a brief chat some Bemerton Heath supporters who had made the long journey from Salisbury before heading into the ground. Entry was £8 for adults and there was no mention of a programme being available either printed or online.
I did my usual wander around the ground, it has a nice stand with a good amount of covered standing on the right side, and the pitch looked in fantastic condition considering the lack of rain we’ve had so kudos to those behind the scenes on producing such a great playing surface! The club house is large with plenty of seating both inside and out and a reasonable range of drinks available. Sadly, due to people being away on holidays the kitchen wasn’t open for this game but they did have a good range of pies, pasties and sausage rolls available in the bar.
One of my reasons for visiting was one of the Bracknell Town players from years past, Michael Buck, is now a coach at Tadley. He’d been asking me when I was going to visit on social media so this FA Cup game seemed to be the perfect opportunity. It was good to catch up with him before the game and also grab a chat with Sandy Russell, the club’s chairman.
So, I took up my seat in the stand ready for this FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round game to kick off. I will apologise now if I get any of the visitors names wrong in the following report but the numbers on their shirts were not exactly easy to make out from distance!
Both sides made a fast start to the cup tie and space was at a premium especially in the middle of the park. Tadley had the first chance in the second minute, a Jack French shot from the edge of the box which was easily gathered by Gunstone-Gray in the Harlequins goal.
A nice move from Bemerton came next, Tom Hanley surged forward down the left flank found Artem Mosiakin who whipped a cross into the middle which was just too far in front of Ethan Trigwell. Trigwell retrieved the loose ball on the right and played a ball inside inviting Brad Richards to shoot but his effort was superbly blocked by Scott Costello.
The game then turned a little scrappy with neither side able to find any space or force either keeper into action. This changed in the 25th minute, a good attack down the right forced the visitors to concede a corner. Harlequins were caught napping as the hosts swung a quick corner into the centre where Costello was on hand to get the final touch to send the ball past Gunstone-Gray. 1-0
Moments later another Tadley corner nearly caused the visitors more grief. Alex Miller floating the set piece towards the far post where Brad Neal rose highest but couldn’t direct it goalwards.
The final chance of the half saw the home side create another chance from a set piece, a free kick halfway inside the Harlequins half was fired long into the box by French with Neal again winning the aerial duel only to see his header loop over the bar.
H-T: Tadley Calleva 1 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 0
The second half started with the visitors very much on the front foot pushing the home side back. Within three minutes Bemerton were level, a crossfield pass from right to left was controlled in the box by Richards with his shot sliding across Donnacha Burke into the net off the far post. 1-1
The away side were now very much in the ascendancy, first a Trigwell strike from the edge of the box drifted narrowly wide, and then a cross from the same winger finding the head of substitute Tyler Sheath who couldn’t keep his header down and it sailed just over.
Tadley were sluggish to get going in the second period, they were sitting deep and attempting to hit their opponents on the break as the away side pushed forward.
The attacks from the visitors kept coming, another crossfield pass from Maxwell Andrews was headed on by Mosiakin into the path of Sheath but his snapshot slid just the wrong side of the post.
Next a contentious moment. A surging run down the left from Mosiakin was halted in the area with the forward going down under an awkward challenge. Referee Stephen Hawkes took a long hard look before waving away the shouts for a penalty.
Harlequins were still smarting from the decision when Tadley rubbed salt into the wounds. A long ball over the top found the run of Kieran Rodgers who shrugged off a challenge before lifting the ball over Gunstone-Gray sliding out and into the empty net. 2-1
The action got a little feisty for the next few minutes as tackles rained in but neither side were able to make the space to set up any goalscoring chances. Where Bemerton were finding space down the wings was shut down and they were reduced to punting long balls forward which the defensive unit of Jordan Goater, Neal and Costello dealt with well.
Going into the final moments it was Tadley who came closest to adding to the scoreline when Josh Ewing hit an effort from distance which flew wide of the far post.
In added time the visitors piled on some late pressure with a free kick and a corner which keeper Gunstone-Gray came up for, but it wouldn’t fall for them in the box, the Romans defence managing to clear and run the clock down.
F-T: Tadley Calleva 2 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 1
Tadley just came out on top and advance to the Preliminary Round where they will face a tough tie away to Wessex Premier Division side The Hamble Club following their 3-1 away win against Cowes Sports in their Extra Preliminary tie on the Isle of Wight.
This was at times a scrappy game with few goalscoring opportunities at either end. As mentioned earlier, these were two well matched sides cancelling each other out with neither side able to make space and take control of a congested midfield. Tadley rode their luck a bit in the second half but it’s the result that counts at the end of the day and its they who advance in the competition.
Bemerton Heath took control of the second half and only just fell short but will feel aggrieved to be on the wrong end of a refereeing decision which would have possibly tipped the game in their favour, but that’s football, the official can only give it as he sees it.
A very enjoyable day out at a very friendly and hospitable club with impressive facilities and a good setup. I wish both teams all the very best of luck for the rest of the season.