SEAGULLS EARN FA CUP REPLAY WITH VALUABLE DRAW AT BARNSTAPLE

Barnstaple Town 1-1 Mousehole

Emirates FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round

Saturday 6th August 2022

At Mill Road

Replay at Trungle Parc: 

Tuesday 9th August, 7.45pm

SUMMARY

Mousehole travelled to North Devon for a potentially difficult FA Cup tie and with a depleted squad fought out a creditable draw to take the tie to a replay and keep alive their interest in the Cup

PRE-MATCH POINTS

The 151st FA Cup gets underway today with the Extra-Preliminary Round between two strong Step 5 Western League Premier Division clubs, as North Devon hosts West Cornwall.

Barnstaple were relegated from the Southern League at the end of last season, while Mousehole are playing only their second season at this level.

Last season, Mousehole had a glorious start to their historic first-ever Emirates FA Cup campaign, defeating local rivals Helston Athletic 3-1 in front of their largest crowd in living memory, before going out in the next Round at home to higher League Plymouth Parkway.

Today, Mousehole are without eight of their first team squad through injury or unavailability.  Experienced summer signing Andy Watkins makes his first start of the season and another recent arrival 18-year old ex-Argyle keeper Lewis Moyle steps up for his debut.

A maximum of seven substitutes can be named, and three used.  Mousehole’s bench includes four members of their Development Team, as well as recently-signed Scottish forward Callum Mulholland-Ferguson.

If today’s score is level at the end of the 90 minutes, the replay is scheduled for Trungle Parc this Tuesday, 9th August, kick off 7.45, the outcome of the tie to be decided if necessary by extra time and a penalty shoot-out.  

A replay would displace the scheduled home League fixture against Falmouth Town.

In the League, Mousehole have so far won one away (5-1 at Torpoint Athletic) and drawn one at home (1-1 v Saltash United), while today’s hosts Barnstaple Town have won one at home (5-0 v Bitton), and lost one away (2-1 at Bridgwater United).

The weather is very warm with a welcome breeze, the pitch surface is dry and somewhat bumpy.

Mousehole are in their all-dark blue kit.

THE KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME

3 minutes:  Ex-Helston striker Stuart Bowker creates space on his left foot 20 yards out but his shot rises well over the bar

4 minutes: Tallan Mitchell swerves a corner into a crowded six-yard box and home keeper Liam Kingston does well to clear the danger

10 minutes:  Tallan Mitchell forces his way into the Barnstaple penalty area and goes down under a challenge, but Referee Mark Hickson waves away the appeals

11 minutes:  GOAL FOR BARNSTAPLE TOWN.  Stuart Bowker sets up TOR SWANN for a chance just inside the area and his bouncing shot deceives keeper Lewis Moyle to nestle in the corner of the net

22 minutes:  Andy Watkins’ low cross results in a frantic clearance in front of the home goal

23 minutes:  The Seagulls are again on the attack, with Andy Watkins bursting forward, beating his marker and driving too close to keeper Kingston

25 minutes:  Mousehole hit the bar as Andy Watkins again does some shrewd work on the left, with Reece Thomson, a defender and keeper all converging on the cross at the near post.

27 minutes:  Reece Thomson has recovered after two minutes of injury treatment and catches the home rearguard out as he’s waved back on to the pitch – Tallan Mitchell has a clear chance as the defence is wide open but shoots wide of the far post

29 minutes: Mousehole keeper Lewis Moyle makes an important save, punching out Stuart Bowker’s angled header

30 minutes:  Half an hour gone and Mousehole are starting to ‘click’.  Louis Price threatens on the left and keeper Kingston is forced into a full-length save to turn the shot round the post

33 minutes:  GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE.  Andy Watkins’ intelligent run puts him in the clear

Inside the box where he’s fouled twice by centre-back Brodie Montague for a very likely-looking penalty. There’s a delay of two minutes while Referee and Assistant have a discussion, and the offending player gets a lecture and a yellow card.  TALLAN MITCHELL then drives home the spot kick to level the score.

40 minutes:  Barnstaple break forward at speed twice in quick succession but have not made the most of their advantage

43 minutes:  Reece Thomson’s skilful change of direction and a well-judged through ball releases Andy Watkins for a run and shot towards the near top corner which keeper Kingston palms out for a corner

45 minutes:  Kingston is in action again, well-positioned to gather Reece Thomson’s reaction header inside the six yard box

45+3 minutes:   At half-time it’s 1-1, with Mousehole playing better in the later stages after a slow start.

The second half

47 minutes:  Lewis Moyle makes a confidence-boosting save at the foot of his near post from a driven angled shot as Barnstaple make a quick start to the half

52 minutes:  Tallan Mitchell collects a diagonal pass on the left, brings the ball inside and misses the near post with a right-foot shot from 18 yards

59 minutes:  Barnstaple get the ball into the net after a free kick into the visitors’ area, but it’s disallowed for offside

61 minutes:  A double save by Kingston stops Mousehole taking the lead – Josh Otto and Josh Magin combining well on the right to set up Reece Thomson for a fierce shot, and Tallan Mitchell firing the loose ball back towards goal

65 minutes:  Mousehole substitute – Andy Watkins is replaced by recent signing Callum Mulholland

67 minutes:  A vital save by Lewis Moyle with a full-stretch clearance from a dangerous loose ball in front of goal

69 minutes:  Callum Mulholland uses his speed to get past a home defender in the area on the right and looks to be pushed over, but the Referee doesn’t think so

71 minutes:  A half-chance from a Barnstaple cross is miscued by the advancing forward

74 minutes:  Tallan Mitchell’s long corner from the left is met by Reece Thomson’s firm downward header at the far post, and keeper Kingston somehow keeps the ball out on the line

75 minutes:  Mousehole have been looking lively, but Barnstaple’s youngsters are full of energy – this game could go either way.

81 minutes:  Mousehole substitute:  A nasty but accidental clash of heads between Josh Magin and Brodie Montague results in a lengthy stoppage for treatment –   both players are then replaced, Josh Magin by Jack Symons

82 minutes:  Barnstaple’s outstanding young full back Callum Deemer sets off on a positive 50-yard forward run and blasts the ball goalwards from inside the box, but Lewis Moyle does equally well to keep it out with a flying save and strong hands – wonderful football by the two youngsters

83 minutes:  Lewis Moyle punches out a near post corner under severe pressure

90 minutes:  The Seagulls’ young keeper shows safe handling on the line to hold on to a downward header that looked as though it was going in

90+5 minutes:  Score 1-1.  The final whistle brings to an end a full-blooded Cup tie with much to admire, both sides coming close to snatching the win in the second period

The replay is at Trungle Parc this Tuesday, 9th August, 7.45pm.  

The winners of the replay will be away in the Emirates FA cup Preliminary Round on Saturday 20th August against either Torpoint Athletic or Millbrook, who also drew 1-1 on Saturday.

MOUSEHOLE (with used substitutes)

Lewis Moyle (Gk), Josh Otto, Mark Richards (captain), Max Hill, Tallan Mitchell, Reece Thomson, Jared Sims, Andy Elcock, Josh Magin (Jack Symons), Andy Watkins, (Callum Mulholland), Louis Price

Other substitutes:  Jamie Devine, Charlie Willis, Ryan Townson, Piran Jones (Gk), Greg Eastman

MATCH OFFICIALS

Mark Hickson (Referee) with Scott Hill & Robert Creron (Assistants)

ATTENDANCE: 143

NEXT FOR MOUSEHOLE

This Tuesday, 9th August:

Home v Barnstaple Town, 7.45pm, 

Emirates FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round replay

Saturday 13th August:

Away at Ashton & Backwell United, 3pm,

Western League Premier Division 

Tuesday 16th August

Home v Millbrook, 7.45pm, WLP

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