Les Phillips Cup

Radstock Town 2

Malmesbury Vics 2

Radstock win 4-2 on penalties

MALMESBURY VICS bowed out of their second cup competition following defeat to Radstock on penalties.

In a game where the Vics looked very comfortable in, they were perhaps guilty of taking their our foot off the gas when leading 2-0, subsequently letting the hosts get a foot hold back in the game.

The first 45 minutes were really pleasing for the Vics, with their first chance of the game coming in the 17th minute.

Debutant Josh Russell’s corner was met by George Peare and his header fell to Tim Bond but he shot into the side netting.

Malmesbury took the lead inside of half an hour through the impressive Sam Parker.

Joe Snell's long goal kick was headed out to Ryan Collins whose deft flick with the outside of his foot found Sam Parker, and the latter smashed home emphatically from 25 yards.

One goal became two for the Vics and Parker on half-time when the keeper flapped at another Russell corner and Bond expertly lobbed back in towards the far post for Parker nodded home.

Malmesbury rarely looked under any threat at the time and nearly scored a third early into the second half when Collins volleyed just over from inside the box.

However, 20 minutes after the break, Radstock halved the deficit when a ball from their defence split open the Vics' defence and the big number nine powered home when one-on-one with Joe Snell.

Three minutes later, the scores were level when another long ball found Radstock's other striker who was given all the time in the world to take the ball on his chest and fire home past Snell.

After looking so comfortable for the first hour of the game, Malmesbury's Vics came close to losing the tie in normal time after being put under the cosh in the last 20 minutes of the second half.

A world class close range save from Snell kept the Vics in the game and subsequently extra time ensued.

Extra time was fairly uneventful but Ed Wilkins very nearly won it in the last minute, forcing the keeper into a superb save.

Penalties followed after the two sides were unable to find a winner in extra time.

Ed stepped up first and blazed over for the Vics. Josh Hughes and Bond netted the next two to give the visitors some hope, but Jamie Packers' fourth pen was saved.

Man of the match: Sam Parker