Town’s Wembley Dreams Over For Another Season

Warminster Town travelled to the Dorset coast to take on Hamworthy United of the Wessex League Division One in the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Vase. 

Town started brightly but were dealt a blow when United were awarded a 9th minute penalty. Up stepped Bailey Rowe who beat Town’s keeper Callum Hotine, 1-0. Just four minutes later Town were gifted an equaliser when a slip from United’s keeper, Sam Moggeridge allowed Jack Newman a tap in, 1–1. On 35 minutes United retook the lead. They played their way out from their own penalty area and sent Josh Malpas clear down the right wing. The winger squared the ball into the near post where Bailey Rowe was on hand to fire in, 2-1. Two minutes before the break Town keeper Callum Hotine made a great diving save to deny a United attacker. Then on the stroke of halftime that man Hotine came to Town’s rescue again when he tipped a goal bound header over the bar.

Halftime United 2 Town 1

Just two minutes after the break United scored again. A Josh Malpas effort was pushed wide by Hotine but Neemo Nixon, following up, put away the loose ball from a tight angle, 3–1. Town then had their best spell of the game as the hosts sat back but the visitors struggled to create clear chances. On 79 minutes they came closest to reducing the arrears. A Jack Newman shot from the edge of the penalty area had the home keeper beaten but his shot flew just the wrong side of the post. United defended their lead well and it was a frustrated Town side that could not find the breakthrough to make a late challenge to win the Vase tie.

Report by: Geoff Jackson