FA Vase: Kennedy sees red as Ardley crash out

Ardley United's FA Vase dream was emphatically ended in Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Tuffley Rovers.
Chris Jackson gave Ardley United the lead at Tuffley RoversChris Jackson gave Ardley United the lead at Tuffley Rovers
Chris Jackson gave Ardley United the lead at Tuffley Rovers

The visitors had to play for 75 minutes with only ten men in the first round tie after Jack Kennedy was sent off.

Kennedy clashed with Sam Hill in a 50-50 challenge which left the Rovers full-back flat out with a serious head injury. The referee deemed it a high foot despite the defender stooping to head away and brandished a red card to the United midfielder.

Despite the setback, Ardley went close when new signing Leam Howards threaded a neat pass to Jacob Walcott who was denied by the keeper from a tight angle. But six minutes before the break the visitors took the lead when Callum Convey floated a free-kick into the area and Chris Jackson headed home.

After the restart another Convey free-kick saw Bradley Cox’s header cleared off the line by a defender.

But Tuffley finally equalised in the 58th minute when a cross-field pass from Brett James found Liam Wright on the right and he cut into the area and fired across Joe White and inside the far post.

Three minutes later Tuffley took the lead when James was allowed space to cut in from the right and curl a shot into the top corner. Three minutes later Tuffley increased their lead when Mann raced through, rounded White and slotted home from a tight angle.

James completed the scoring with 15 minutes remaining. A ball into the box was headed clear but a quick flick-on saw James bag his second goal of the game.

Related topics: