Match Report | Basford United (H)
The Yeltz survive an early scare against step 4 Basford to make a swift first half comeback in 3-1 win
Quick Overview
The early setback came with just three minutes on the clock, and it was the first time we had conceded in the opening half hour since April 9th against Harborough Town. The defense parted, and it allowed Amarvir Sandhu, formerly a Harborough player, to slot the ball past birthday boy Dan Platt 1v1.
The equaliser was fairly swift, as a delicious cross from Dan Meredith down the left on 25 minutes found Vanylson Silva at the back post in the box, whose composed finish went into the opposite corner of the net. As the game edged closer to the break, Jason Cowley popped up with a 42nd minute strike, before Samson Hewett added a third in the second half after Matt Yates punched out a Meredith cross.
Match Report
The start of the match, even aside from the visitors opener, was poor. The sun was beating down on the amazing turf at The Grove, after a few weeks of consistent showers, and a hangover from the Redditch game was clear. The Ambers went for a very early second just before the 10th minute, as Tristan Thompson-Matthew’s shot was punched away by Dan Platt from 30 yards out.
Eventually it started to click, and our first effort at goal of the game arrived just before the quarter hour mark. A cross from Vanylson Silva was blocked out by Owen Betts for a corner. The delivery from Samson Hewett found Ryan Wynter, who initially missed the ball, but had a second bite at the cherry, but Matt Yates had the time to smother.
Just prior to Silva’s equaliser, the chances continued to flow our way, as our step 4 visitors started to struggle with the step higher quality. In the middle, Hewett picked out Meredith to the right. The latter ran towards the area, won a corner off Cain Noble, delivered in by Hewett and headed wide by Matt Preston. Three minutes later, Hewett waited to Meredith’s run, and the fullback’s cross was met by the former, whose shot was blocked by Ethan Stewart.
The away sides defense had a slight bit of restbite once the leveller finally found the net, and it took us 11 minutes to have another shot at goal. A superb run from Silva saw him outmuscle Tyreace Palmer down the left and make his way past another Basford man in the box. Looking for a way to go, he eventually went for goal at the angle, but still forced Yates into a smart stop.
The goal that put us ahead, was very much required, but the second half could have become a lot easier had Wynter converted a guilt edged chance in the first minute of stoppage time. A cross from Hewett down the left found Cowley in the box, who header across goal was somehow not turned in by the Yeltz captain from two yards out with the goal gaping. Still, we would have bitten your hand off for a lead at half-time after the opening 10 minutes of the contest, and credit goes to our opponents for that.
We were comfortable at the end of the first period, and the start of the second 45 saw the same dominance as the visitors struggled to craft moves forward. A huge chance went begging three minutes after the break, as a long ball forward was flicked on by Silva and found Cowley 1v1. Surprisingly our number 9 took a heavy touch, and was forced to round keeper Yates, who grabbed hold of the ball. Rightfully awarded man of the match, Hewett had a barn storming second half, and forced Danny Gordon to head clear, after Silva won a corner off Brad Wilson.
The loanee was very alert to head over the helpless Yates for our third, but the Kiddy man could have added a second three minutes later. He found the ball to feet with the Basford shotstopper out of his goal, but Wilson was on the line to block an almost certain fourth for us. The game petered out with our two goal lead and the confidence now on display. A Hewett cross on 84 minutes was headed wide by substitute Lewis Ison, before a corner minutes later from the former was met by Preston, whose header across goal saw Milan Butterfield, against his old club, head wide.
On our 100th FA Cup, we start with victory, and for the 8th time in the last 10 additions of the competition we advance past the First Qualifying Round. As step 2 clubs enter in the next round, with the draw on Monday, a tasty tie could be on the cards for the Yeltz, but our first appearance in the First Round Proper for 22 years is still three wins away.
Attendance: 628
MOTM: Samson Hewett (chosen by Keith McKenna)
Teams
Yeltz XI: Dan Platt (GK), Ben Cassidy, Ethan Sephton (Lewis Ison 75’), Matt Preston, Ryan Wynter (C), Todd Parker, Jason Cowley (Ty Barnett 86’), Vanylson Silva, Milan Butterfield, Samson Hewett (Ryan Wollacott 90’), Dan Meredith
Unused Subs: Thom Mawdsley, Rob Evans & Gael Mfuamba
Basford XI: Matt Yates (GK), Owen Betts, Bodi Thistleton (Dameer Rose 54’), Nat Peters (Jack Goodman 24’), Ethan Stewart, Brad Wilson, Tristan Thompson-Matthews, Danny Gordan, Tyreace Palmer (Charlie Gill 53’), Cain Noble (Ryan Ebanks 67’), Amarvir Sandhu (Nyle Blake 53’)
Unused Subs: Brad Gascoigne & Harry Twite