Vase hopes smashed

THE two Biggleswade teams exited the FA Carlsberg Vase over the weekend.

Biggleswade United were beaten 3-2 at home by Leverstock Green and Biggleswade Town went down 3-1 after extra time at Cogenhoe on Saturday.

A poor first-half performance and two goals in the space of a minute brought about Biggleswade United's exit from the Vase at Second Meadow.

Leverstock Green took the lead after just 12 minutes through James Armstrong's emphatic volley. With United out-of-sorts, only missed chances, keeper Andy North, the bar and the upright prevented a rout.

In the 51st minute a superb pass from Robbie O'Dell caught the Leverstock Green back line square and Wayne Goldsmith burst through to equalise.

The Greens soon hit back with two devastating strikes. Armstrong set up Dale Sears for the second and supplied Darren Caseman to make it 3-1.

United pulled themselves back in the game after 66 minutes.

Keith Thomas was put clean through and hit a superb volley past the keeper to give United a lifeline.

Despite dominating the remaining 20 minutes, the closest Biggleswade came to taking the game into extra time was in injury time.

A cross from Goldsmith found Thomas on the edge of the six-yard box but the keeper turned his shot around the post and then fingertipped over a long range shot from O'Dell.

Biggleswade Town went out despite a good performance at United Counties League Cogenhoe.

They started well and were the better side for much of the first half, keeping the hosts penned in their own half for lengthy periods.

The Waders were rewarded for their dominance after 19 minutes when a Cogenhoe clearance fell to Luke Jones 30 yards out who volleyed home.

It was a great goal in what was looking to be a good performance and Biggleswade were unlucky not to increase their lead before half time.

The balance of the game switched after 55 minutes when Danny Bowgett was injured and had to be substituted.

His presence up front had been a problem to Cogenhoe's defence all game and consequently they were allowed more time on the ball.

The equaliser came after 76 minutes when a mistimed header by captain Glen Draper fell to a forward who was allowed to capitalise and score.

Ninety minutes came and went with the scores level and the game progressed into extra time.

As both sides began to feel the pace of the game it became more even again and neither side really threatened to break the deadlock until the 104th minute when Draper was unlucky to send a defensive header into his own goal.

This took the wind out of the sails of the Waders and four minutes later the tie was over as Cogenhoe scored a third.

A 13th minute penalty by Nathan Buckland was enough to give Potton United all three points against third placed Northampton Spencer.

Potton welcomed the return of Steve Kuhne into their starting line up and it was Kuhne who was brought down by the home keeper to give Potton the penalty.

They continued to dominate the remainder of the first half with Paul Garrett and Kuhne linking up well but could not find another goal. The second half saw Potton continue to boss the game and Brad Gillham was rarely tested in the Potton goal.

P Biggleswade United shared the points at SML newcomers Hertford Town on Tuesday night.

United were forced to dig deep to hold on to a first-half lead but in the end succumbed to a 78th minute goal.

An excellent passing move saw Keith Thomas slip the ball through to Jack Weeden who rounded keeper Mark Virgo and tapped home in the 28th minute.

The home side laid siege to United's goal with keeper Bobby Smith on hand to make three superb reflex saves.

A breakdown in communication allowed Hertford's Ryan Redford to find a chink in the United armoury and the striker gave Smith no chance with a low strike to pull his side level.

United were further stunned by a refereeing decision that saw the dismissal of Robbie O'Dell for the first time in his six-year United playing career. An innocuous tackle was deemed dangerous and the United striker was given a straight red.

For the remaining 10 minutes and despite the player deficit, United took the game to their hosts.

Substitute Wayne Goldsmith was unlucky not to grab a winner in the final minute when his strike was parried.