Brave Tadley suffer cup defeat (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Brave Tadley suffer cup defeat

12:00pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in Sport By Peter Raynbird

DESPITE a spirited second-half performance, Danny Dolan’s Tadley Calleva side were unable to overcome a 3-1 deficit as they lost at Southern League side and holders Thatcham Town in their Basingstoke Senior Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night.

The game could not have started any worse as Tadley goalie Lee Allen allowed a 30-yard free kick by Ben McCready to slip through his hands as the heavy rain poured down. Thatcham nearly doubled their lead after 12 minutes, but Allen saved Liam Painter’s one-on-one.

Tadley’s Mario Nurse, who along with Grant Powell was impressive in midfield, forced goalkeeper Ashley West to punch out his goal bound shot.

On 29 minutes Tadley went 2-0 down from a breakaway as Painter raced clear and then rounded Allen as he raced to the edge of the area.

Six minutes later, Tadley hit back with a goal against their higher league opponents. Nurse put in a fine cross from the right, it was punched out by the goalkeeper and Spencer Barlow was on hand to put away the rebound.

Just before half-time they almost equalised when Powell broke through and West pulled off a good save. It was in added on time when Lee Hamilton scored from a pass from McCready.

After the break, it was pretty well all Tadley as the rain relented but the closest they came to pulling a goal back fell to sub Ramsey Lewis on 77 minutes.

In the final minute, Brett Denham thought he had scored with a header only for the assistant referee to rule it did not cross the line.

Tadley make the short trip to Andover New Street on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Overton were the only north Hampshire side to play last Saturday, losing 6-2 at Otterbourne in the Hampshire Premier League. They visit Bournemouth Sports on Saturday, while AFC Aldermaston face bottom side Hamble.

Hartley Wintney host South Park in the Combined Counties League Premier Division.