In the fourth and fifth match reports from this season's FA Cup Bodmin Town continue to carry the baton in this Second Qualifying Round tie.
You can read the match report from the Extra Preliminary Qualifying Round by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Falmouth Town AFC
and the match report from the Preliminary Qualifying Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Bodmin Town FC
and the match report from the First Qualifying Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Bodmin Town The Journey Continues In To Uncharted Territory
FA Cup Second Qualifying Round 2011-12: Yate Town Versus Bodmin Town Pre-Match Coverage
As the FA Cup trundles on through its qualifying rounds the coverage gets better and better with reports appearing both before and after both matches of this second qualifying round tie between Yate Town and Bodmin Town which went to a replay.
Yate Town play in the Evo-stik Southern League two divisions higher in the non-league football pyramid than Bodmin Town who play in the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League.
Interviews with the managers of both clubs appeared in the local media.
In the Gloucestershire Gazette under the headline 'Beware Of Bodmin Says Yate Boss Cousins' it's noted that Yate Town, managed by Rob Cousins, have been knocked out of the FA Cup by lower league opposition in each of the last four years.
Yate Town - nicknamed The Bluebells - have yet to lose a cup tie of any sort during during Rob Cousins' tenure as manager which started back in February. Indeed he has already led the club to silverware: the Gloucestershire Senior Challenge Cup in the 2010-11 season.
There are some excellent quotes which reveal a manager who is just a little bit concerned about his Club's form going in to the game – no win in their opening nine games isn't great especially against a team that's only lost one match all season:
“It’s opposition that in the pyramid is lower than us, but...they’re doing very well in their league so it’s not an easy win. They’ve got experienced players there who have played at a higher level, but it’s about what we do on the day.”
“If we’re prepared to roll our sleeves up, give a bit of sweat and a bit of blood if need be to win the game...then we’ll be ok, but if we don’t turn up and just go through the motions we’re there to be taken and will come to the ground with a big bump.”
“There are a few players I’ve got question marks on, because they need to do a bit more outside this football club. When they’re on their own they need to get sharper and fitter, they need to question themselves as players, ‘how can I improve myself as a player and help the team go forward?’”
In the Western Morning News under the headline Bodmin seek Cup glory in one of biggest games in their history manager Darren Gilbert is a bit more upbeat in his pre-match quotes:
"The players won't have any excuses about being tired as we'll have been up there on Friday night, have a good get-together, and be only eight miles from Yate's ground.”
“We will travel there intent on giving it a good go and you can be assured that we will be doing our best to get a result."
"The cup money is certainly a bonus and especially the sums that are being paid in these rounds."
Both articles highlight the £4,500 prize money for winning and progressing to the Third Qualifying Round, a substantial amount of money at this level of the game.
Saturday October 1st Yate Town 1-1 Bodmin Town
A 93rd minute equaliser from leading scorer Adam Carter secured Bodmin Town a replay in this open FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie played in the searing early October heat at Lodge Road.
It was no more than the Cornish side deserved, especially after their second half display.
One time Plymouth Argyle striker Michael Meaker had given The Bluebells the lead in the 40th minute. Meaker got on to the end of a Ferguson flick, got the better of Bodmin's high line and took the ball around Bodmin's 'keeper Kevin Miller tapping the ball into and empty net.
The Gods didn't appear to be on Bodmin's side as Carter's penalty, awarded for handball in the 65th minute, was saved by Man Of The Match Josh Dempsey and the rebound crashed over.
Dempsey had pulled off a string of good saves to help maintain the home team's lead including efforts from Olly Brokenshire, Sam Matthews and substitute Danny O'Hagan.
Yate had chances to secure victory with good second half chances falling to Plummer and White but they were unable to take them.
But Bodmin stuck to their task and three minutes in to added time a long clearance from goalkeeper Kevin Miller, formerly on the books of Crystal Palace, found its way to Carter who did well under pressure from a defender before slipping the ball past Dempsey.
The drama wasn't over however as Mr Hulme the referee, who had a good game, managed to find nearly seven more minutes of added time during which Yate had a good penalty claim turned down and Bodmin could have had a player sent off for throwing the ball at his Yate counterpart.
Yate Town: Dempsey, Warren, Mings, Kington, Nicholls (White 88), Badman, Ferguson (Plummer 77), Vahid, Meaker (McNeish 77), Church, Cox.
Bodmin Town: Miller, Reed (Hodge 76), Rundle, Chambers, Simmonds, Matthews, Colwell, Brokenshire, Carter, Luxton (O’Hagan 64), Bartlett (Smallridge 72).
Referee: R Hulme (Radstock).
Attendance: 154
MOTM: Josh Dempsey (Yate Town's goalkeeper) although some reports (e.g. Cornish Guardian) gave the award to Bodmin Town's captain Steve Simmonds who tackled Meaker to deny him a second goal shortly after he scored, keeping Bodmin’s hopes alive.
FA Cup Second Qualifying Round 2011-12 Replay: Bodmin Town Versus Yate Town Pre-Match Interview With Darren Gilbert
In the Cornish Guardian under the headline This Cup tie far from over, warns Gilbert There was an excellent interview with Bodmin Town manager Darren Gilbert who was quoted as saying: "I hope the boys don't think we've done the job. Yate are a good side and Wednesday's game will be just as difficult as Saturday's was. We will have to be at our best, but if we apply ourselves like we did up there on Saturday, we've got a good chance of progress. If you had been a neutral at the game you would have struggled to work out which was the Southern League team and which was the Peninsula League side. The players did everything I asked them to do. Yate scored against the run of play but our heads didn't drop, and the longer the game went on, our fitness showed. I hope all the Cornwall clubs will come and support us for this game, as we would if it was any of them in such a big FA Cup game. It would be great to see a big crowd at Priory Park."
Wednesday October 5th Bodmin Town 4-1 Yate Town
In one of the best ever performances by the club, ten man Bodmin Town reached the third qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time in their 122-year history with this stunning victory over Yate Town at a rain soaked Priory Park, in front of a healthy sized crowd of 300.
Steve Colwell had opened the scoring early on for the home team, scoring in the fifth minute of the match smashing a shot with his left foot into the top corner of the net past Yate goalkeeper Josh Dempsey.
Yate Town equalised in the 14th minute when Bodmin conceded a penalty for a handball on the goal line which led to the sending off of Jack Bartlett. Yate captain Edd Vahid fired the penalty home leaving Bodmin facing an uphill struggle to stay in the game. Seventy six minutes with ten men against a team two rungs higher than you in the non-league pyramid structure was a really tough ask but one that Bodmin was up to.
Undaunted Bodmin got themselves back in to the lead with a terrific diving header by Danny O'Hagan just before the half hour.
Despite tremendous spells of pressure by Yate Town the Bodmin defence held firm, showing great resilience.
On the hour Bodmin increased their lead further through Huw Morgan, goalkeeper Dempsey could only parry a good shot on the turn from O'Hagan in to Morgan's path, he put the ball in to an empty goal net.
Bodmin rubbed salt in to the wounds in the 83rd minute when Chris Luxton scored a wonder goal to make it 4-1. Following a poor clearance, he picked the ball up just inside the Yate half and spotting Dempsey was a few yards off his line he curled a right footed shot over his head and in to the goal from all of forty yards!
There were great celebrations at the end of the match, this was a tremendous achievement against the odds.
Bodmin Town: Miller, Reed, Rundle, Chambers, Simmonds, Morgan, Colwell, Matthews, O'Hagan, Luxton, Bartlett. Subs (not used): Carter, Hodge, Gilbert.
Yate Town: Dempsey, Warren, Mings (Plummer), Kingston, Adams, Badman, Duggan (R. Cousins), White, Meaker (Williams), Ferguson, Cox
Referee: M. Whaley
Attendance: 300
MOTM: defensive partners Steve Simmonds and Tom Chambers got a special mention for their outstanding performance but the award should probably go to the whole team.
Next up: Bodmin receive £4,500 in prize money for this win and play Ryman League side Godalming Town at Priory Park on October 15th in the Third Qualifying Round.
Sources used
Beware of Bodmin says Yate boss Cousins
Bodmin seek Cup glory
Late despair for Yate as Bodmin enjoy day in the sun
Carter injury time strike earns Bodmin Town replay
Bodmin Town match report
Yate Town website match report
Cup tie far from over warns Gilbert
Luxton wonder goal seals famous FA Cup win
Yate Town website match report
Bodmin Town website match report
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