Boo-vey Tracey AFC survive a late fright

BOVEY Tracey AFC survived a late fright to book their spot in the third round proper of the FA Vase.

The 3-2 scoreline doesn’t tell the full story of Bovey’s clash with Devon rivals Brixham AFC on Halloween though, the Moorlanders having dominated the fixture up until the 80th minute.

Manager Ben Gerring labelled his side as “fantastic” for the majority of the game, adding: “Individually, they all stuck to their tasks really, really well, we played in the right areas and we got in behind when we needed to.”

After a fairly uneventful opening 15 minutes, it was the visitors who fashioned the first clear-cut opportunity at the Western Counties Roofing Ground.

Both Harvey Coggins and Owen Stockton were beaten in and around the area with goalkeeper Andy Collins saving one shot well and getting up to claw away the resulting header.

Bovey started to turn the screw in response, a Jadore Lawson throw-in deflecting off of a Brixham leg and onto the post.

On the other flank, Josh Webber was a real standout. His first cross of many found Ollie Aplin who laid it off for Stuart Bowker to shoot just wide.

It was then Webber’s turn to go close and with the pressure building, he was involved in the breakthrough goal.

The former Bideford AFC man spun his opponent before sending in an inch-perfect ball for Aplin to attack. There is some debate about the scorer with Aplin, Bowker and even a Brixham defender on the scene and Bowker was the one credited.

Webber was the first player carded for throwing an opponent to the ground and he was joined in the book by Lawson and Brixham’s Reece Somers.

The Fishermen had no response to Webber’s output and his crosses continued to cause no end of headaches.

Aplin met one and was denied before it was Lawson’s turn to fire one goalwards, his effort hitting the post and falling to Aplin for his customary goal within the six-yard box.

After Webber shone in the first half, it was the turn of Lawson to come to the fore on the other wing.

With Cieran Bridger down in a heap after a late tackle, Lawson sped down the right and his cross was swept home by Bowker for the perfect start to the second half.

Gerring’s team were in cruise control at this stage and as he rang the changes, that’s when the complacency set in.

Bowker and Bridger were withdrawn with injuries plus Lawson and centre-back Harvey Coggins were also substituted.

“We had the beers in our hands at 80 minutes and that is just a real big lesson that we keep telling our players, the game isn’t done until it’s done,” said Gerring.

He continued: “The subs, not for their own fault, did switch the game around and it ultimately played into [Brixham’s] hands.”

Replacements made a difference for the away team too, Albie Baker whipping one over Collings’ head shortly after coming on and then catching a bouncing ball sweetly to make it 3-2 out of nowhere.

A late injury to substitute Harrison Clarke left Gerring with no option but to sub himself into the game and he was shown a late yellow, as was Aplin.

There was one chance for Zico Kendall to kill the game for Bovey when he was played through on goal and although he was denied well, the hosts were able to hang on and book their spot in the third round proper all the same.

On his own performance, Gerring said: “[I played] terribly. I nearly shanked one, I’ve nearly cost us at the end with giving a foul away and got booked.”

Meanwhile, on a more serious note, he commented: “Obviously I’m bitterly disappointed with the second half and how we managed the scoreline but ultimately, it’s cup football, we got through and that’s all that matters.”

There was a “special mention to the pair of them”, referring to Webber and Lawson on the wings, who made match-winning contributions, and Gerring also labelled his captain Owen Stockton as “magnificent again.”

The Moorlanders will learn their third round proper fate tomorrow (Monday, November 2) whilst their next game sees them return to Western League action; high-flyers Bridgwater United coming to town on Saturday, November 7.