F A Vase. Walsham v Brantham

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WALSHAM LE WILLOWS 2 BRANTHAM ATHLETIC 1

(FA VASE THIRD ROUND)

WALSHAM SCORERS:

Ethan Garcia 38 mins

Kieran Twinn 49 mins

BRANTHAM SCORER:

Billy Wales 81 mins

REFEREE:

Ashley Tyne

Walsham will be Suffolk’s sole representative in the last 32 of the FA Vase as they narrowly beat a Brantham side who improved as the game went on in increasingly difficult conditions.

Apart from an early Scott Chaplin free-kick which curled across the face of the Brantham goal, there was little goalmouth action in the opening 20 minutes as both sides battled to overcome the swirling wind.

Imps top scorer James Lee then had the first real chance of the game but he was unable to get sufficient power on his effort after a good move down the right and Ryan Dunne managed to smother in the home goal.

Almost immediately George Bugg broke clear for Walsham and played in Ethan Garcia who rounded Imps keeper Luke Avenell only for Kyle Ferguson to get back and block his effort on the line.

Isaac Moss then sent in a 25 yarder which went close before the hosts opened the scoring on 38 minutes as Moss latched on to a quick free-kick and pulled the ball across for the onrushing Garcia to convert.

Walsham extended their lead early in the second period when Garcia showed some fine skills down the right before crossing for Kieran Twinn to sweep the ball home. Bugg then had a shot from just outside the area deflected narrowly over.

The home side were playing some excellent football at this stage as they defied the conditions. However, Brantham gradually came back into the tie and Billy Wales crossed for substitute Callum Griffith who drove narrowly wide.

Walsham replied with Garcia shooting over before Brantham thought they had pulled a goal back on 75 minutes when Lee headed home a cross from Leo Morley-Robertson only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

The deficit was halved shortly afterwards as Wales cushioned home a volley after long ball into the area from Tom Lawson.

Griffith then could have levelled the tie but his effort was sliced wide though another substitute, Reon Huckvale, broke clear for Walsham only to be denied by Avenell.

Brantham pushed forward to salvage the tie and Twinn was sent off just before the end for a second bookable offence as Walsham held firm to progress.

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