Meadowmen surpass Harrowby United as they reach the second round of the FA Vase
31 October 2020 @chaguejones
Kevin Buxton’s 54th minute goal enough to send the Meadowmen threw to second round for just the second time in the competition history.
It was the Arrows who got off to the better start in the game, applying immediate pressure to try and crack Bridgnorth’s defence. It would have been to their annoyance to see Andy Hartlebury, who has been out since the Meadowmen’s 1-0 defeat away at Shifnal, back in the side today as he offers the experience that the away side have lacked in recent weeks.
The combination of Harry Walker and Hartlebury was building very strong before his injury but the time off wasn’t enough to hinder them from re-kindling their solid form at the back.
After the half an hour mark, there was no clear chances in the game for either side, perhaps down to nerves of the occasion or both sides just wanting to see themselves into the game and take advantage when the game opened up.
Cam Milne came the closest from his first-half free-kick, which we’ve seen go in previously, but his effort was straight down the throat of Harrowby ‘keeper, Phil McGann.
The deadlock was yet to be broken at the half way mark- it was going to take a moment of quality to separate the two sides in the second-half.
The second 45 started as the first ended, with both sides having spells of possession and making each other work to win the ball back. Harrowby started the brighter of the two sides but were unable to force any clear chances towards the Bridgnorth goal.
It was then, Kevin Buxton’s moment to shine. The man who’d had his position chopped and changed since he re-joined the club for a second spell- but some things never change. Ageing like a fine wine, Buxton was able to take the tie into his own hands and evade challenges from Harrowby’s defender Sam Mill and captain Billy Stubbs to slot the ball into the far corner, sending the Bridgnorth bench into bedlam.
Then it was time to dig in, after unlucky results and a frustrating start to the season, the FA Vase has been a get-away for the Meadowmen, one they were not going to let slip and after Harrowby piled on relentless pressure, Pete Whitehouse’s side came out on top and made the two and a half hour trip to Lincoln very much worth their time. They reach the second round proper of the FA Vase for the first time since 2015/16, the only other time, in the club’s sixth go at it.