FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round

Malmesbury Vics 2 Farnham Town 2

(AET; Farnham won 4-2 on penalties)

MALMESBURY VICS ran their higher league opponents Farnham Town ragged for much of this FA Vase tie but it is the visitors who go through to the next round on penalties.

Vics manager Alan Griffin said: "We've dominated the whole of the game, and gone out on penalties to a side from a higher league. I'm gutted.

"The lads were fantastic, I couldn't ask any more of them.

"After the match their manager said how lucky they'd been, but they go forward into the draw and we're out."

In the opening half-hour Matty Fusco and Sam Jenner both went close to giving the Vics the lead and visiting keeper Matt Petts saved superbly from a Josh Hughes drive.

In the 33rd minute an outstanding piece of interplay involving Ed Wilkins, Jake Fortune, and Allan Webb carved open the Farnham defence, but Webb just failed to connect with the final pass.

The turning point in the game came in the final minute of the half, when a rare foray forward by a visiting striker saw him challenge home keeper Jack Haines with his foot at head height.

To most of the crowd's amazement the referee pointed to the spot and Mark Corbett blasted home the penalty, via the underside of the crossbar, to give the visitors the half-time lead, totally against the run of play.

The second period saw Malmesbury continue to lay siege to Farnham's goal.

Five minutes in, Wilkins, in a offside position, allowed the ball to run to Ewen Kenny who rocketed in a header from the edge of the area, only for the official to disallow it.

Griffin, pushing up from the back, went close on three occasions, and a Fortune drive was well saved. Just as it looked like Farnham had survived Wilkins caused havoc in their defence and the ball broke to Chris Salt who made no mistake, to send the tie into extra time.

The Vics, with their tails up had the better of the first period, and Wilkins was unlucky when he flashed a header the wrong side of the upright.

Five minutes after the turnaround, it was Griffin who snatched the lead.

It looked as though the home team had done enough until three minutes from time when slack marking allowed Ross Cheek to pounce and take the game to a penalty decider, which the visitors won 4-2.

MoM: Paul Bains