Saints go through but Sports bow out

Easington Sports striker Andrew Stidder saw his penalty kick saved at Lydney Town

Sports lost 4-0 at Lydney where two goals in each half of Saturday’s third round tie ended their run.

Sports beat Thame United in the second round but could not repeat that feat against another premier division outfit.

Lydney took the lead with their first attack, Jake Morgan cleverly drifted past the visitors’ defence to chip Jack Goode. Sports had to weather a period of pressure before beginning to mount attacks of their own.

Mike Spaull proved to be a real threat attacking down the right and Sports missed a glorious opportunity to equalise when Craig Robinson was pulled back in the box. But Andrew Stidder’s penalty was saved by Richard Thomas.

And within 20 seconds a quick counter-attack found Declan Morley-Lyne who raced through to beat Goode.

Sports dominated the early stages of the second half, Robinson and Stidder had good chances to reduce the deficit but Thomas made a number of impressive saves.

Lydney made the tie safe in the final stages. Nial Halford and Ryan Pendry both profited from good forward play by Morley-Lyne to finish off cut back balls to rifle home past Goode.

Division Two West outfit Bourton Rovers held premier division Brackley Town Saints to a 1-1 draw in normal time before Lewis Rankin hit a hat-trick for the visitors in extra-time.

Lewis Baldwin had earlier given Saints the second half advantage but Rovers equalised to force extra-time.