In the second match report from this season's FA Cup the baton has been passed from Falmouth Town to Bodmin Town. You can read the match report from the Extra Qualifying Round plus some background information by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Falmouth Town
FA Cup Preliminary Round 2011-12: Barnstaple Town 1-2 Bodmin Town
In what could probably be accurately described as a 'cup upset', Bodmin Town, of the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League, came from a goal down to beat Barnstaple Town, of the Toolstation Western League, and secure a place in the First Qualifying Round of this season's FA Cup.
This was the first meeting between the two clubs since the FA Cup in 1972 a match that was also played at Barnstaple, the home team being victorious 3-1 on that occasion.
Barnstaple, nicknamed Barum, were dealt a blow just a couple of hours before kick-off when striker Billy Hopcroft was ruled out through illness.
In his post-match comments, Barnstaple manager Owen Pickard pin-pointed Hopcroft's absence as one of the reasons that Barnstaple reverted to 'long ball' tactics – playing long balls to big strikers Stan Paxton and Lewis Coombes - rather than play passing football. In contrast Pickard acknowledged that Bodmin did play good football.
The visitors started well, putting the home team under pressure and after five minutes were unlucky not to take the lead when a Sam Matthews' shot struck the crossbar.
However, the home team took the lead just before the half hour. A long ball from the back by goalkeeper Luke Purnell was collected in the penalty box by left wing back Jamie Richards, on loan from League Two club Plymouth Argyle, whose cross was put away by Jamie Skinner.
It was a lead the home team maintained until the 66th minute when Bodmin were awarded a penalty, following a handball in the box, which was scored by Adam Carter, firing down the middle of the goal past Purnell.
Six minutes later Bodmin had deservedly taken the lead following some good work from Matthews, his pass found Olly Brokenshire who gave Purnell no chance with a precision shot.
Barnstaple's best chance for an equaliser came late on in the match when Paxton found himself through on goal only to be called back for a free kick in his favour by the referee, the playing of advantage being denied.
Bodmin saw the match out and their victory secured them a First Qualifying Round tie away to fellow Carlsberg South West Peninsula League team Tavistock AFC who overcame St Blazey 2-1.
Post-match quotes from the managers
Darren Gilbert (Bodmin Town manager): "I thought that as a team we played the better football, as they played route one and we managed to deal with that very well. We continued to play our brand of football, and it eventually broke them down and for the last 15 minutes our fitness really told."
Owen Pickard (Barnstaple Town manager): "Billy [Hopcroft] would have made a big difference because of the way he plays. He gets into the channels and shows [for passes] to feet more and that opens up defences. We're sometimes criticised for playing too much football. This time, against a team that did play good football, the players decided to think they had to hit the ball to Stan Paxton and Lewis Coombes because they're big lads and are good in the air. We played too many long balls."
Match Summary
FT: Barnstaple Town 1-2 Bodmin Town (HT: 1-0)
Location/Time: Played at Mill Road, Barnstaple on Saturday 3rd September at 3PM BST
Attendance: not available
Bodmin Town versus Barnstaple Town: Kevin Miller, Huw Morgan, Luke Rundle, Tom Chambers, Steve Simmonds, Olly Brokenshire, Steve Colwell, Sam Matthews, Adam Carter, Jack Bartlett and Ben Smallridge. Substitutues: Danny O'Hagan and Nick Campbell
MOTM: difficult to say based on the reports available but I'm going to award it 'blind' to Sam Matthews who got a few mentions and who set up the winning goal.
Next up: Bodmin Town continue to carry the baton in to the next round of the FA Cup when they will travel to play Tavistock AFC on Saturday September 17th at 3PM.
Sources: I used the following:
The Western Morning News report on the website This Is Devon, click here ==> Bodmin to face Lambs after win over Barum
The North Devon Journal report on the website This Is Devon, click here ==> Barnstaples Billy Blow
The match report on the Bodmin Town FC website, click here ==>
Bodmin Town Match Report
BlueThruAndThru
