Lydney Town 1-3 Mousehole
Isuzu FA Vase First Round ‘Proper’
Saturday 22nd October 2022
At Swan Lane
SUMMARY
Mousehole’s qualities were the deciding factor in a thoroughly deserved Cup win in Gloucestershire, thanks to three superbly executed goals against their hard-working Hellenic League opponents. The draw for the second round sees The Seagulls face a tough home challenge in three weeks’ time against new high-quality opponents.
MATCH PREVIEW
The novelty and excitement of progressing in a national Cup competition means that Mousehole are in unfamiliar territory as they travel for a first-ever match against Hellenic League Premier Division side Lydney Town – their longest-ever journey, a round trip of nearly 450 miles.
The West Gloucestershire side currently lie 14th in their League, which is at the same level as the Step 5 Western League Premier Division. They have an overall 13 points from 14 games, with their home record showing one win, two draws and four defeats from seven games, with attendances falling to below 70 for their last two.
The Severnsiders reached this round of the FA Vase with a 5-1 away win at Step 6 Hengrove Athletic, while Mousehole achieved an identical scoreline at fellow WLP side Shepton Mallet.
The home side have entered the FA Vase 17 times, including in 14 of the last 15 seasons, whereas for Mousehole it’s just their third year. In their first-ever appearance in the competition, The Seagulls lost in a penalty shoot-out after a 0-0 draw at higher-league Exmouth Town, and last season they beat Shepton Mallet away (1-0) and Wells City at home (4-0), before losing 1-0 away at Bridgwater United who went on to reach the 5th Round. If Mousehole win today’s tricky encounter, they will have extended their unbeaten run to ten games.
Under the rules of the FA Vase, the tie will be decided on the day, with a penalty shoot-out at the end of 90 minutes if needed. Each side can name up to seven substitutes and use three.
Mousehole’s team news is that defenders Mark Richards and Josh Otto remain sidelined by injury, young goalkeeper Lewis Moyle makes his sixth consecutive appearance, midfielder Andy Elcock makes his 50th appearance for the club, and just four substitutes are named.
The weather is damp, the pitch surface has plenty of lush grass, and there’s a bigger-than-usual crowd inside the ground, with a sizeable turn-out of Seagulls supporters.
THE KEY POINTS OF THE MATCH
Mousehole are wearing their new turquoise and yellow kit, which makes them much more visible on dark afternoons such as today.
5 minutes: GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE. A well-timed pass inside the full back enables Hayden Turner to race to the byeline on the left and drive the ball low across goal where MARK GOLDSWORTHY has read the situation perfectly to arrive for a close-range finish. Mousehole have a habit of scoring early FA Vase goals – that’s now three (from memory).
14 minutes: Reece Thomson’s 25-yarder is deflected and goalkeeper Richard Thomas safely collects
15 minutes: Mark Goldsworthy crosses low from the right and keeper Thomas gets ahead of Hayden Turner at the near post
16 minutes: Lydney Town have a free kick near the corner of the Mousehole penalty area – but it’s wasted as Steve Clarke puts the ball into the side netting
24 minutes: Mousehole concede possession in a dangerous area and Lewis Moyle makes a confident catch under the crossbar from Steve Clarke’s lofted 20-yard shot
28 minutes: Lydney on the attack again, with Clarke shooting goal-wards from the edge of the box and Lewis Moyle going full-length to tip the ball around the post
30 minutes: At the other end, Jack Calver puts through Hayden Turner to round the keeper, but the angle is too narrow and the defenders have got back to cover
31 minutes: Jack Calver is prominent again, swerving a left-foot shot from 20 yards just wide
32 minutes: Home centre-back Tristan Murphy slices Callam Mconie’s low cross in front of goal and is fortunate that no Mousehole player is near enough to the loose ball
36 minutes: Lydney have another free kick in a promising position but again it’s wasted, as Steve Clarke shoots too high
39 minutes: Callam Mconie makes a surging run down the right to pull the ball back from the byeline, but no-one is within reach
41 minutes: Mousehole substitute – The injured Callam Mconie is replaced by Andy Watkins
43 minutes: A brave bit of goalkeeping as Jack Calver’s floated free kick to the far post is headed back inside by Reece Thomson, and Richard Thomas holds on to the ball under the crossbar with severe pressure from Mark Goldsworthy
45+1 minutes: Reece Thomson’s quick angled pass finds Hayden Turner in a good position inside the hosts’ penalty area but he can’t bring the ball under control
45+5 minutes: At half-time Mousehole have only the one-goal lead despite their possession and chances, so the home side will no doubt feel they can get back into the match
The second half
47 minutes: Hayden Turner exploits space on the left side of the Lydney defence and his low cross is just behind Mark Goldsworthy as he closes in
50 minutes: Sam Addis makes a great run into the Mousehole area and goes to ground in a challenge – despite loud protests for a penalty Referee James Lewis sees nothing in it
52 minutes: The home side’s influential attacking midfielder Robbie Atkinson is close with a 20-yard free kick that’s inches too high, but with Lewis Moyle covering
56 minutes: GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE. Reece Thomson and Jack Calver open up the Severnsiders’ defence leading to a foul on Mark Goldsworthy just outside the 18-yard line and left of centre. HAYDEN TURNER taps the free kick sideways to Jack Calver who tees it up for the striker to drive an unstoppable shot into the top corner. That’s a more comfortable-looking 2-0 lead for The Seagulls.
59 minutes: Hayden Turner’s inside pass breaks for Reece Thomson whose goal-bound shot is deflected for a corner, and Adel Gafaiti nudges the flag kick narrowly over the bar from six yards.
64 minutes: Reece Thomson turns and shoots past the near post after a defence-splitting solo run by Jack Calver
66 minutes: Andy Watkins’ attempt on goal forces keeper Thomas into a sprawling save at the foot of his near post
67 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Jack Calver is replaced in midfield by Tallan Mitchell
Half-way through the second half – Mousehole seem more relaxed and in control, having lots of ball and space
68 minutes: GOAL FOR LYDNEY TOWN. Out of the blue, the hosts pull a goal back from a penalty by LEWIS THOMPSON after Sam Addis is bundled over by Max Hill before he can turn and shoot. Lydney Town 1-2 Mousehole. Can the hosts now raise the tempo in the last 20 minutes?
71 minutes: The home defence is in disarray as Reece Thomson puts Hayden Turner into space for an inside pass, Mark Goldsworthy’s shot is blocked and Andy Watkins’ fist-time attempt on goal goes wide with the keeper out of position
74 minutes: Hayden Turner again supplies a low cross which just evades Mark Goldsworthy in front of an open goal
75 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Mark Goldsworthy is replaced by Louis Price, who takes up a wide-right position with Andy Watkins more central. It looks as though the visitors have decided that attack is the best form of defence.
80 minutes: A mistimed tackle gives Lydney yet another free kick deep into the visitors’ territory, but once again the hosts fail to exploit the possibilities as it floats wide
85 minutes: GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE. HAYDEN TURNER makes it 3-1 with another unstoppable drive into the far top corner, this time from just inside the area – that puts his season’s goal tally into double figures, a really great goal at a really important time in the match
The last few minutes: Lydney have now appeared to accept the inevitable outcome of the match. Mousehole mount a series of quick raids spearheaded by Andy Watkins and Louis Price, with only a superb intervention in front goal by Tristan Murphy and three first-class saves by keeper Richard Thomas keeping the scoreline as it is.
90+6 minutes: At full time it finishes Lydney Town 1-3 Mousehole, a good contest enjoyed by supporters of both sides. Now on to the draw for the second round.
*****
The draw announced on Monday lunchtime set up a ‘plum’ home tie against Hellenic League Division One side Hartpury University. Two years ago, the Gloucester-based organisation formed its first-ever non-league side – from students studying full-time for sports-related degrees and receiving a dedicated fully-professional football coaching programme. Last season they gained promotion to Step 6 and are currently 7th in their Division with 20 points from 11 fixtures, and games in hand on the teams above.
MOUSEHOLE (with used substitutes)
Lewis Moyle (GK), Steve Burt, Adel Gafaiti, Max Hill, Paulo Sousa, Andy Elcock, Jack Calver (Tallan Mitchell 67’), Reece Thomson, Callam Mconie (Andy Watkins 41’), Mark Goldsworthy (Louis Price 75’), Hayden Turner. Other substitute: Kyle Fraser.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee James Lewis (Newent), with Bobby Tutton (Bristol) and Garry Collier (Gloucester)
ATTENDANCE: 147
NEXT FOR MOUSEHOLE
This Saturday, 29th October, 3pm
Away v Barnstaple Town (EX31 1JQ), WLP
Tuesday 1st November, 7.45pm
HOME v Torpoint Athletic, WLP
Saturday 5th November, 3pm
Away v Cadbury Heath (BS30 8BX), WLP
Tuesday 8th November, 7.45pm
Away v Saltash United (PL12 6DX)
Cornwall Senior Cup 2nd Round
Saturday 12th November, 3pm
HOME v Hartpury University
FA Vase 2nd Round
