The third round of the FA Vase saw Warminster Town with a tough draw at Western League Premier side, Roman Glass Saint George, Bristol. The Red & Blacks not only had higher league opposition to contend with but also adapt to playing on a 3G pitch.
The day started with optimism as the mid-week Les Phillips Cup victory over Longwell Green Sports had given everyone a boost. That optimism was well-founded as The Red & Blacks came away as worthy winners 1 – 2.
On a cold sunny afternoon, the game kicked off and the home side looked sharp for the first 20 minutes and scored first in the 13th minute. A counter-attack saw a long ball down The Glass’ right and then crossed to an unmarked number 10 to slot the ball home.
Warminster did not let their heads drop and continued to press the home side and defended well, restricting goal-scoring opportunities and creating some chances themselves. In the 25th minute, Allen should have done better as he fired the ball well over Roman Glass’ crossbar. A few minutes later (32), Allen did well down the left and his strike hit the left-hand post just below crossbar level.
The visitors scored their first goal in the 37th minute when the ball came into the penalty area from the left which was met by the well-marked Jack Miluk who knocked it back to Eban Mortimer-Taylor just inside the left of the penalty area. Mortimer-Taylors’ superb shot flew into the top right of the Glass’s goal. The teams went into the dressing room at halftime at one goal each.
The second half resumed, and Warminster started brightly and pressed the home side, with George Butler on 52 minutes going close with a looping shot from the edge of the box just dropping over the crossbar. Another good chance to seal victory came in the 75th minute when Allen received a ball from a free-kick taken by Shanley, but the striker failed to get enough power into the ball to make it count. With a little over 10 minutes to go, Allen was substituted for James Vincent.
Shortly afterwards Miluk broke free down the left with a ball from Vincent. Miluk was one on one with the keeper who made himself large, making the save; however, Miluk regained possession and from the edge of the box passed the ball to an unmarked Vincent who could only manage a tame shot on goal. Vincent soon made up for this when on 85 minutes made a run from 30 yards out taking on a defender and goalkeeper who kicked the ball into the defender at the edge of the box. Vincent then capitalised on this, passed by them and slotted the ball home to score the winning goal.
An excellent performance from the Red & Blacks in front of 140 spectators, the vast majority of whom seemed to be with Warminster Town. Warminster are now in the draw for the remaining 32 teams and look forward to Round 4.