Corsham 1 - 2 Bashley

By Peter Millard

Bashley survived a first half scare to progress to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup with a comeback victory despite having only ten men.

Gareth Keeping almost put them in front within the first 60 seconds with an overhead kick that went just wide.

At the other end a free kick from James Lye went through the Bashley wall but went wide of David Elm’s goal.

Bashley had a penalty appeal for handball turned down after Richard Gillespie saw his header blocked.

Corsham took the lead after 16 minutes when a ball was played over the top of the Bashley defence and SIMON GRAY held his nerve to beat Elm and find the net.

Craig Davis shot over from the edge of the area and Gillespie headed just over from a Davis corner.

Ten minutes before half time a penalty was awarded although it seemed that Matt Parnell had won the ball.

James Lye took the kick but shot weakly and Elm went the right way to save his shot.

Gray was then allowed too much time and space to fire in a shot but Elm made a fantastic save to turn it behind.

A goal-bound shot from Dave Wakefield was blocked by Craig Gingell before Bash were reduced to ten men after skipper Paul Gazzard was dismissed for a lunging challenge on Jason Walsh.

Although he won the ball, the referee deemed that he had gone in with two feet and showed a straight red card.

A cross from Justin Keeler was headed back across goal by Davis and turned in by Ryan Moss but a foul was given against Davis.

At half time Keeping was withdrawn to be replaced by Neil Morant, but Corsham created the first chance when Ross Lye was totally free inside the area and Elm made another excellent save to tip the ball away for a corner.

Elm made another save from Phil Baker before Bash equalised five minutes after the interval when Gillespie found Wakefield and his cross was smashed home by RYAN MOSS from close range.

A cross from Keeler took a deflection and Moss got there before Nick Gingell in the Corsham goal and laid the ball back for Keeler but he failed to find the target.

Corsham also had a penalty appeal turned down before Moss forced a corner ten minutes after half time and Keeler’s delivery was headed in by MATT PARNELL at the near post.

Gillespie released Moss and his cross was turned in by Davis but Moss had been flagged offside.

Craig Fulham was booked for a foul on Gillespie and a free kick from Wakefield just flicked off the head of Moss.

Another free kick from Keeler eluded everyone and went just wide of the far post.

Elm made yet another fine save to block from Liam Fulham with his legs.

A corner from Davis was met by Gillespie’s head at the near post but Gingell made a fine save to tip the ball over the top.

Keeler volleyed just over as Bash made the two league difference between the two teams tell in the second half, even with a man less.

A corner from Keeler was missed by Gingell, hit Parnell and went agonisingly over the crossbar.

Steve Riley replaced Keeler and new signing David Town replaced Moss before Gillespie was booked for a foul on Dan Harvey.

Liam Fulham shot over the top from the edge of the area.

Town played a fine ball inside the full back and released Gillespie, who saw his shot from a narrow angle well beaten out by Gingell.

Elm somehow got his body behind a swerving shot from Liam Fulham and Chris Ferrett cleared the loose ball to safety.

Town and Davis set up Gillespie, whose touch took the ball away from him and the keeper gathered, and as Corsham cleared, Liam Fulham put his hand in the face of Gillespie off the ball to leave the Bash player prone on the turf.

Davis found Gillespie with a good pass and his shot was blocked by the keeper for a corner.

Three minutes into added time a Corsham corner was cleared at the near post and Gillespie and Town found themselves with acres of space.

Gillespie took the ball from the halfway line and tried to deceive Nick Gingell by shooting rather than squaring to the unmarked Town but the keeper blocked with his leg for a corner.

Corsham Town: Nick Gingell, Dan Harvey, Kevin Maloney (Adam Taylor 70), Craig Fulham, Craig Gingell (Jamie Moss 54), Ross Lye, Jason Walsh, Liam Fulham, James Lye (capt), Simon Gray, Tom Ingell (Phil Baker 46). Unused subs: Chris Davis, Tim Jeffries.

Bashley: David Elm, Paul Gazzard (capt), Chris Ferrett, Pete Castle, Matt Parnell, Gareth Keeping (Neil Morant 46), Dave Wakefield, Craig Davis, Ryan Moss (David Town 79), Richard Gillespie, Justin Keeler (Steve Riley 76). Unused subs: Stacey Harper, Darren Campbell.