Tadley crash out of FA Cup

Tadley-Calleva fell at the first FA Cup hurdle following defeat to Wessex Premier League newcomers Millbrook (Hampshire).

Three first half goals from the visitors proved enough to dispatch of the Barlows Park side who were no doubt full of confidence and quiet expectation following a successful pre-season period.

No less than seven debutantes made up the majority of the Tadley-Calleva squad with the host of summer signings impressing during the summer. Sonny Haynes, Harvey Collins and George Armstrong taking their place in the starting eleven for The Romans.

The hosts started well and within the first minute showed their intent to get on the front foot when a turnover in possesion midway through the Tadley half was played forward, allowing Sheldon Wright to take on his marker. The winger cut inside, played a ball into the box, only for the visitors captain to clear away to safety.

A short break in play followed due to a medical emergency behind the goal. Tadley-Calleva took to twitter to thank their physio, Caz Tuttle, for her swift action in bringing her attention to the spectator.

Debutant Harvey Collins had the first real chance of the game when his header sailed agonisingly over the bar but it was the visitors who took their chance and went ahead in the cup tie. 

A long ball forward was touched down well by White, who played it wide, to the left, where the ball was played deep into the box to the oncoming Gorman who fired home past Atkinson in the Tadley goal. The visitors doubled Tadley’s woes as former Southampton forward, James White, was first to react to snatch a second following a stunning effort from Gorman which produced an equeslly stunning save. Unfortunately White managed to get infront of his marker to nod home. 

With Millbrook tasting blood, they continued to break forward, looking to kill the game off before half time. This however allowed the hosts to find pockets of space, in attempts to break forward themselves. The Romans pushed to reduce the deficite before the end of the half but Millbrook had other ideas and extended their lead to three on forty-five minutes following a lapse in concentration from a short corner.Played short and whipped into the box while Tadley were still setting, it allowed the oncoming forward to get a yard on his marker for an easy head into the back of the net. 

The hosts did manage to claw a goal back before half time however thanks to a prolonged period of additional time.  

A deep free kick from Alfie Saunders fell to Kieron Farmer who held off his marker, turned on the ball and smashed it home to give Tadley a glimmer of hope. 

If the hosts were lacklusture and lacking creativity in the first half, the second forty-five couldn’t be more different. Tadley came out with intent, added impetus and a fire in their belly. 

With just ten minutes of the second half played, this pressure paid off. The high press forced a corner on the left hand side, which was subsequently swung outwards towards the penalty spot. As Farmer rose to meet the ball he was shoved to the ground, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot, with Kieran Rodgers unavailable Miller spotted the ball. He placed his penalty to the right of the goalkeeper who got down well to save the initial effort, however debutant George Armstrong was there to follow up and slot home, into the far corner. 

The game was all Tadley as the 185 strong support roared them forward. Half chances were aplenty with the best of them coming with just fifteen minutes to go when another debutant, Danilo Pereira broke into the box but could not find space for a convincing effort on goal. 

With the clock quickly ticking down, Barlows Park erupted as the ball struck the back of the net following yet another outswinging corner from the left hand side. With the referee pointing back towards the centre spot, it looked to everyone in attendance that the fixture was destined for a replay. However, the man in the middle had other ideas as he’d actually awarded a free-kick to the away side and their lead was upheld.

Tadley pushed for the final minutes but it was too little too late as time ran out on The Romans who ultimately lost the Extra Preliminary Round fixture in a twenty minute period in the first half. 

Tadley-Calleva exit the FA Cup in it’s early round. 

Lineup: Atkinson, Haynes, Goater, Farmer, Neal, Saunders, Collins (Everiss ‘74), Armstrong (Fragata ‘74), Miller, Thorne (Pereira ‘61), Wright

Unused Subs: Kamdem, Horton, Downing, Tombs