Ten Men Come Close - Pewsey Vale vs. Laverstock And Ford

Slightly elevated view of The Recreation Ground

With it being the start of the vase and after missing on Pewsey Vale a couple of weeks ago there was only one choice this weekend. In the first qualifying round it was an all Wessex League Division One clash with Pewsey Vale hosting Laverstock and Ford. Pewsey were transferred from The Hellenic League West for this season and had found the transition tough with them gaining a sole point from their five league games so far this season. Laverstock were in mid table having only lost once but had drawn three games.

Start of this seasons FA Vase in Wiltshire

 Pewsey almost catch the Laverstock goalie out when the ball is poked from his grasp but luckily for him, the ball trickles wide of the post. Pewsey are then reduced to ten men as the keeper charges out and handles the ball some distance from the area. With no keeper on the bench, one of the full backs fills in and he is quick to make a great save when Laverstock get in on goal. The visitors than hit the post after the ball bounces around the crowded box before the Pewsey keeper makes another fantastic save from a close range header.

Laverstock looking for the opener

The pattern continues into the second as the Pewsey keeper keeps the visitors out who are now beginning to look a little frustrated. Pewsey are then unlucky when a cross shot is cleared off the line by a desperate defender. Pewsey are now enjoying their best spell of the game and they come close again as a powerful shot is tipped onto the bar. Sadly the ten men can't see the game out and it takes a wonder shot from distance to finally beat the Pewsey keeper.

A Laverstock free kick is put into the box

 There are direct trains from Paddington to Pewsey but they are only once every other hour or so and they take an hour. Pewsey is an attractive place and sadly due to cretins on the line, I didn't have time to look at the heritage centre. Also frustratingly The Shed Alehouse didn't open until two and The Crown Inn wasn't open at all. So I popped into The Moonrakers for the first half of the earlier kick off before having the best beer of the day at The Coopers Arms around the back of the ground. The ground is right in the centre of the village and the clubhouse offered bottles and cans. As you can see from the pictures it is a very pretty ground and on today's evidence, the first win isn't too far away. 

Action in front of the newly decorated clubhouse