Post by Dave on Feb 18, 2023 11:47:01 GMT
Match Officials Graeme Martin - Maurice Beckenham - Robert Williams
Final Score Bovey Tracey 1 Liskeard Athletic 3
Match preview
My last trip to the Mill Marsh Park was on the 27th August 2022. An FA Vase First Round Qualifying against Newquay AFC. Bovey were on fire that day and won the game by five goals to nil.
Every time I have been to Mill Marsh I have been impressed with the pitch, that day was no exception. While other grounds pitches were still brown from the drought, Bovey’s pitch was green. The day was also memorable because Phil Hiscox the league secretary was unfortunately hit full in the face by a ball flying off the pitch. Stunned for a while he thankfully recovered.
I always enjoy my trips to watch a Bovey Tracey game, it is such a welcoming friendly club and the football on offer is always entertaining.
How Did Both Clubs Reach The Quarter Final?
Bovey Tracey entered the cup in the second round on the 15th October. An away tie against Dartmouth AFC which they won by five goals to nil. Bovey were at home in the third round played on the 10th December. They faced Cullompton Rangers who they beat by six goals to two.
Liskeard Athletic also entered the cup in the second round; they were at home on the 15th October against Wendron United and won the game by six goals to three. In the third round they were away to Brixham AFC and won the game by two goals to one.
Bovey are currently in eighth place in the Premier East League Table on thirty five points after playing a total of twenty one games. Winning eleven of them, drawing two and losing eight. Last weekend they were at home to league leaders Okehampton Argyle and lost the game by three goals to two.
Liskeard Athletic are currently in fifth place in the Premier West League Table on forty points after playing a total of twenty games. Winning thirteen of them, drawing four and losing just the three games. Last weekend they were away to St Blazey and won the game by two goals to one.
I always enjoy Devon v Cornwall games and this one should be a cracker. Bovey will need to be at their very best if they want to beat the very inform Liskeard side. It is a cup game and therefore anything can happen and both teams know they are able to win.
May the best team win.
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Match Report
There is a very good reason why Liskeard Athletic has been on a good winning run in the league lately, they are simply a very good side indeed. After a very even first half where Bovey went into the break winning by one goal to nil, Liskeard upped their game in the second half and Bovey could not come up with any answers to stop them.
The pitch looked superb as it always does at Mill Marsh Park, their grounds man must be one of the best in Devon.
The match referee blew up for the start of the game and both sides started well. Liskeard won the first three kick of the game just outside the right hand side of the Bovey box. But the direct shot flew over the crossbar.
Bovey won the first corner and the ball was fired high into the box and partly cleared. Bovey picked the ball up and a cross was aimed toward the back post. Oli Aplin was just inches away from heading the ball home and putting his side in front.
Liskeard’s Max Gilbert took a free kick on the edge of the Bovey box, but his shot went wide of the right hand post. Moments later Harry Jeffery turned neatly on the edge of the box and got a decent shot away that also just went wide of the right hand post. Max Gilbert then hit a shot just out side the box that went high over the crossbar.
Bovey were finding their passing game, from the edge of the box Neil Last got a shot away that was well held by Sam Borthwick in goal for Liskeard. Finn Bartlett for Liskeard went on great run down the right hand side and took a shot as he entered the box, sadly he was unable to get any real power on the shot and it was an easy catch for Dom Aplin in goal for Bovey.
Liskeard’s Jack Podmore was the first player to have his name taken; a moment of silliness after the ref has already blown up for a foul. The ref then seemed a bit card happy for a short while, Bovey’s Si Laughton went into the book for what looked a nothing challenge followed by Liskeard’s Dylan Peel.
Liskeard won a free kick out on the left hand side, I believe it was Dylan Peel who got his head on the ball and headed it onto the crossbar.
Bovey then took the lead after winning a free kick on the left hand side. The ball was fired into the Liskeard box and hit the far post before dropping down to the feet of Neil Last who hit it first time into the back of the net.
Harry Jeffery had to be treated for a very nasty nose bleed after coming together with a Bovey player. It meant Liskeard had to play the last few minutes of the first half with ten men. Harry did return for the second half with a big wad up his nose.
Bovey were worth their lead when the referee blew up for the end of the first half. Apart from the header onto the crossbar, Liskeard’s efforts on goal in the first half were mostly from outside of the box.
Bovey started the second half well enough, oli Aplin hit a good shot at goal from inside the right hand side of the box that was beaten away by the keeper. Neil Last hooked shot at goal that ended up just wide of left hand post.
Slowly but surely Liskeard were starting to get on top, they won a free kick just out side the box that was fired over the crossbar. Finn Bartlett hit a powerful low ball across the face of the goal from the right hand side that only needed a touch to get Liskeard back onto level terms.
Liskeard were pressing hard in search of their first goal, Dan Jennings had his name taken for a needless foul on Bovey’s Lewis Perring.
Liskeard’s Dan Jennings was played into the right hand side of the Bovey box and forced a fine save out of Don Aplin. Max Gilbert hit a twenty five yard effort over the crossbar.
Bovey looked like they had weathered the storm, but really needed another goal to give them some breathing space.
But it was not to be and a Bovey defender allowed a long ball to bounce, he was quickly closed down and only half able to clear the ball. The loose ball fell to a Liskeard player who fired it high into the Bovey box. Harry Jeffery one of the smallest players on the pitch, ( now wearing the number 16 shirt due to blood on his number 4 shirt) rose up and headed the ball home.
Don Aplin was forced into making another great save to keep his side in the tie, a fine blocking save after a shot by Dan Jennings.
Chances were few and far between for Bovey; Mitchell Thomas did hit a good shot at goal that was well saved low down by the right hand post.
Liskeard then took the lead; James Lorenz ran into the Bovey box from the left hand side and fired a powerful low shot across the keeper into the right hand side of the goal.
It was soon three goals to one when that man Harry Jeffery hit a low shot from the edge of the Bovey box. From my angle it looked like the ball was going to go just wide of the left hand post, but it skinned off it into the back of the net.
Bovey had one final chance of the second half, a free kick out wide on the left fired into the box, but Si Laughton’s effort went well over the crossbar.
Bovey can be proud of their efforts today; they battled hard and matched up to Liskeard well. But the visitors were the better team for a good part of the second half and fully deserve their place in the semi-final.
Many thanks for my warm welcome today and to the match officials for your help with the team sheets.
