FA Cup: Ardley bow out at the first hurdle

Ardley United went out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle following Saturday’s 4-1 defeat against Tuffley Rovers.

For the second time in five days, Ardley were beaten by a newly-promoted club as the home side looked as inept in the first half as they did against Longlevens just four days earlier.

A routine left wing cross was not cleared at the first attempt, giving Anthony Herrin the chance to steal the ball and slot it past Jack Goode for the softest of opening goals. With a quarter of an hour gone, Ardley began to see more of the ball and Josh Bowden had a shot blocked before crossing for Luke Ingram but his header went over the bar.

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Tuffley should have doubled their lead when Ashley Davies beat the offside trap and ran into the box but was forced wide by Goode and shot against the post with Stuart Griffith putting the rebound wide. But with just over half an hour gone, Tuffley increased their lead when a corner found Herrin on the right and his cross was headed home by Macauley Herbert.

Ardley reduced the arrears on the hour mark when a ball into the box was headed home by Chris Jackson. Both sides had chances before Tuffley stretched their lead in the 70th minute when Griffith found himself free, is initial shot was saved by Goode but he shot home at the second attempt.

Ardley pushed forward looking to reduce the arrears with chances falling to Ingram and substitutes Kieran Scott and Andrew Prescott. But deep into stoppage-time, Ardley were caught on the break as Mark Ford broke down the left before cutting in and slotting the ball past Goode.

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