Stonehouse claim statement victory to set up Vase showdown with Sarries
Stonehouse Town secured their first ever FA Vase win in 90 minutes in emphatic style, running out 4-0 victors over Thornbury Town.
Having only previously won three times in the FA Vase, with all of the victories coming on penalties, the Magpies put in a superb team performance to advance into the Second Qualifying Round.
Tiger Harris’ first half stunner was added to in quick succession by Scott Jordan and a long range effort from Alex Kibble, before substitute Alfie Mann netted a fourth late on.
From 1-11 Stonehouse were outstanding and were fully deserving of their win, with Joe Wright a mere spectator for the majority of the contest.
Stonehouse will host fellow Hellenic One side Cheltenham Saracens at the Ben’s Takeaway Stadium on Saturday 12 September.
Next up for Stonehouse is a trip to fellow Gloucestershire side Brimscombe & Thrupp next weekend, before Bank Holiday fixtures against Bewdley Town and Sharpness.
The hosts started well, with Alfie Bradshaw and Harley Hudd having long range efforts saved by Mackenzie Welsh in the Thornbury goal.
But on 16 minutes, Welsh could go nowhere Tiger Harris’ effort as he cut in from the right hand side and whipped an effort into the top corner.
Scott Jordan, Hudd and Bradshaw were more than a handful for the visitors, with Fin Byrnes dictating the tempo in midfield.
Jordan sent an effort in from 20 yards that skipped up on Welsh, who held on well.
Welsh was beaten five minutes into the second half, buy Hudd’s effort rebounded off the foot of the post – however Hudd would receive the ball merely 30 seconds later and after beating his man, he squared for Jordan to tap home at the back post.
Two became three in spectacular style as Alex Kibble intercepting a square pass, carried the ball into the Thornbury half and just when he appeared to overrun it, Kibble let fly from a good 35 yards and his effort flew over Welsh to make it 3-0.
Alfie Mann came on for the hosts and after Alfie Bradshaw flicked on a ball forward, Hudd pulled back from the left and Mann converted after an initial block from a defender.
Stonehouse were the most likely to score the fifth, with substitute Logan Weyman combining with Harris, but the chance of a shot was snuffed out by Keanu Miller.
Spencer Martin stung the palms of Welsh as the game ticked into injury time, before sub Joey Haswell forced Welsh into a smart stop down to his left – with the follow up stood up to the back post and somehow the ball hit Haswell and bounced over the bar.
Stonehouse have opened their season with three wins out of four in all competitions, with three clean sheets in those victories, giving the Magpies a platform to kick on for the rest of the month.
Stonehouse Town: Wright, Kibble, S Martin, E Martin, Ponting, Keveren, Harris, Byrnes, Bradshaw, Jordan, Hudd
Subs: Haswell, Mann, Weyman, Nash, Champion
Thornbury Town: Welsh, Walker, A Fowler, Goodfield, Sage, Boorman, Brock, Miller, Chalmers, Hobson, Drew
Subs: Hope, Garder, W Fowler, Cadette, Agyemang
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Fin Byrnes (Stonehouse Town)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s results in and around Gloucestershire right here
