Vase dream dies as Wimborne fight back to steal late winner

After going a goal down in the first half, Brakes stormed back to take a 2-1 lead after 58 minutes, only to see the visitors (winners of the FA Vase in 1992) snatch victory to reach the last 16 of the competition.

The glorious sunshine and blue sky brought a bumper crowd of 746 to the New Windmill Ground, including some vociferous visiting fans to liven up the afternoon. The Brakes' defence was again missing the injured Andy Gregory, who last played a month ago, and Leon Morgan was on the bench. There was no place for the fit-again Neil Stacey.

It was clear from the very beginning that this was going to be a tough match and, in only the third minute, it took some frenetic defending and a clearance by Josh Blake high into the Sheepside to thwart the dangerous Wimborne attack. Brakes countered with a long-range shot from Richard Adams, but what little pressure they did exert was competently dealt with by the visitors' defence and, in particular, goalkeeper Stewart Kearn.

Brakes fell behind on 37 minutes when the defence failed to clear a cross from Gareth Barnes and Paul Rideout put Wimborne ahead. There was little further action to report in the remainder of the half other than a shot two minutes before the interval by Jon Adams which seemed to go in slow motion through the crowded Wimborne penalty area and past the post for a goal-kick.

The second half opened in more positive vein and Kearn got down well to save a Jon Adams shot in the 53rd minute. Almost immediately, Richard Morris in the home goal denied Gareth Barnes with a good stop. However, the breakthrough was not long in coming as, this time, Wimborne failed to clear following a Jon Adams corner and Morton Titterton was on hand to stab the ball home in the 56th minute to make it 1-1.

A second goal followed two minutes later, as Titterton this time played the role of provider, laying on a perfect pass into the penalty area to Richard Adams to beat Kearn. Back came Wimborne and on 62 minutes, a corner from the left caused more confusion and Paul Roast was on hand to equalise. Ryan Howell made some telling runs as Brakes searched for the winner, including just failing to connect with a cross from Jon Adams on 78 minutes.

However, it was Wimborne that got the decisive strike on 83 minutes, Sammy Percival rising unchallenged to head home a free-kick. That was it really, apart from Rideout being booked for a foul on Howell as he made a run down the right and then, right in injury, time, Andy Crabtree was sent off following a second bookable offence.

Chances were hard to come by but, having gained the initiative at 2-1, the match was there for the taking. However, full marks to Wimborne for fighting back and grabbing their opportunities with both hands.

Assistant Manager Keith Orme said "After having fought our way back to take the lead, we paid the penalty with defensive errors. We didn't get close enough to their players at set-pieces."

Manager Jason Cadden echoed these thoughts, saying "We started slowly, but got on top in the first 15 minutes of the second half when we went 2-1 up. At that stage we were in control but, in an open game of football, they took their chances and got the result."

Leamington Richard Morris; Ryan Howell; Darran Tank; Ryan Parisi; Andy Crabtree; Morton Titterton [Capt.] (Leon Morgan 73); Jon Adams; Stuart Herlihy; Jody McKay; Richard Adams; Josh Blake
Subs Not Used Tom Sidwell; Kristian Kelsall; James Husband; Paul Shepherd

Wimborne Town Stewart Kearn [Capt.]; Paul Rideout; Sammy Percival; Mark Kenway; Paul Roast; Ben Griffiths (Ross Drew 64); Marcus Oldbury (Dave Clements 86); Michael Dean (Dave Whalley 80); Gareth Barnes; Stuart Cannie; Mark Smith
Subs Not Used Warren Doyle; Peter Mason

Match photos»