2009
In terrible conditions, Bowhill and Eastvale produced a typical tough cup tie. Eastvale have been hit with lots of injuries just now and it was a weakened team that ran out to face Bowhill. That’s no excuse for a well fought game where Bowhill played some nice defence splitting football and left Vale standing, bewildered, on numerous occasions. Eastvale had to play 80mins with ten men after Wardy was sent off for a indisputable offence. This made the hard task for Vale even harder but it didn’t show for the majority of the game. On a great looking pitch that began to cut up from kick off due to the heavy rainfall, Eastvale played some nice attacking football, with Darren Riddick and Barry Winn making their first competetive starts. A lovely ball from the right into the box by Beau was met well by Callum who rose above the defenders and headed home to put Vale 1-0 up. Bowhill created a number of good chances and by the state of the Vale keeper you could see who had been the more busy of the two keepers. With half time nearing, Bowhill got another corner which was met at the backpost for the Bowhill player to header downwards and squeeze the ball between Gardner and the post.
Half Time Bowhill 1 Eastvale 1
Second half was similar to first with chances falling to both teams. But as can be expected in conditions like this, Eastvale began to tire and the extra man for Bowhill began to tell. Two goals in the last ten, sealed a place in the second round for Bowhill. The first of these was a Corner kick met by the unmarked striker who bulleted a header past the diving Gardner. The Second of these and Bowhill’s Third was the result from an Eastvale attack being cleared and the knackered players could just not get back quick enough to stop the striker sliding the ball past Gardner. Ten man Vale had played with spirit and passion but the extra man told in the end.
As the players trudged off the park, the sun came out, typical !!
Full time from “sunny” bowhill was Bowhill Rovers 3 Eastvale 1.
