By Kevin Marriott and David Sillifant

FA VASE SECOND ROUND PROPER (SATURDAY)

Andover New Street 2 St Austell 2

(After 90 minutes; Andover won 5–4 on penalties)

TIME ran out, literally, for St Austell as their FA Vase campaign was ended by the lottery of a penalty shootout at Wessex League Andover New Street on Saturday, writes Kevin Marriott.

Lillywhites’ manager Chris Knight was not happy that a competition rule has done away with a period of 30 minutes of extra time if a tie ends all square after 90 minutes.

Knight said: “One thing I would say, and this isn’t sour grapes at all – they deserved to go through, they scored all their penalties – but a 10-hour round trip for us and they can’t do half an hour of extra time?

“For me it’s a disgrace and needs looking at. How can you have a national competition which culminates in a Wembley final and not play half an hour longer? Absolutely blows my mind.”

Of the match, Knight said: “Again I can’t be prouder of the team. It’s a game where we haven’t lost in 90 minutes and the character we showed yet again was fantastic.

“The whole squad were great and in Henry Wilson we had the best player on the pitch by a mile.

“Credit also to the skipper (Neil Slateford) who carried us through and once again scored his pressure penalties.

“And that man Searly (Matt Searle), if there is a better 10 around this side of Bristol I haven’t seen him. A real positive day but a disappointing result.”

St Austell conceded a goal after only nine minutes but were deservedly level shortly before half-time through a Slateford penalty.

Striker Adam Carter was introduced for the second half and he had an immediate impact by providing the assist for Searle to fire the Lillywhites into the lead for the first time after 47 minutes.

The visitors had opportunities to increase their lead before Andover levelled it up with a 72nd minute penalty converted by Callum Sweeney.

And with no more goals in normal time, it was straight to the dreaded penalties. Andover scored all five of theirs; St Austell’s fourth penalty from Jacob Bowker was missed.

Bodmin Town 2 Wells City 5

BODMIN Town’s superb FA Vase run is over after losing 5-2 to Wells City at Priory Park on Saturday.

Simon Minnett’s side had seen off Lydney Town in the previous round but fell behind when Tyson Pollard slotted home after 18 minutes. Town were level six minutes later with skipper James Baker the scorer.

Harry Warwick put Wells back ahead on 27 minutes and it was 3-1 by the break with Pollard notching his second.

Wells scored either side of Harry Probyn’s 80th minute strike as the Somerset side progressed.

WESTERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION ROUND-UP

SALTASH United’s home struggles continue as they were beaten 3-2 by Street on Saturday.

The Ashes took a 53rd minute lead through Fin Wilkes’ stunner, but a three-goal salvo in just seven minutes up to the 71st minute put the Cobblers ahead. Tom Payne slotted home a penalty in injury-time but it wasn’t enough.

Torpoint Athletic drew 2-2 with Shepton Mallet at the Mill despite playing an over an hour with ten men.

Home defender Elliott Crawford was controversially red-carded after just 25 minutes, but Kelvin Fyneboy’s penalty plus Sam Hepworth’s header had the Point 2-0 up at the break before the visitors responded in the second half.

St Blazey were held to a 1-1 draw by nine-man Oldland Abbotonians.

George Newton gave the Green and Blacks an early lead before the visitors levelled before the break.