Bishops Lydeard 2 Launceston 1

LAUNCESTON must pick themselves up quickly after suffering a heart-breaking injury time defeat on Saturday which ended their participation in this season’s FA Vase.

The Clarets welcome South West Peninsula League premier west leaders Liskeard Athletic to Pennygillam this Saturday (3pm) needing to put the massive disappointment of this result behind them.

The tie was level at 1-1 as the sides moved into time added on with the prospect of a penalty shootout looming large but in the sixth minute of added time disaster struck for the visitors.

Bishops Lydeard had possession near the left touchline in the corner and Launceston looked well set in the middle but James Cottrill turned past his marker and sent in a low cross which evaded everybody and ended up in the far corner of the net.

There was little time for the Clarets to make an attempt to rescue the game and the faces at the final whistle said it all.

So SWPL Premier East strugglers Bishops Lydeard, who shocked the local football world by knocking out in-form Western League premier division side Saltash United on penalties in the last round, go through to the first round proper on Saturday October 18.

Launceston had started the game positively and they swept ahead in the 13th minute when a corner caused danger at the near post and an under pressure defender appeared to knock the ball into his own net.

The home side responded with a period of pressure but the nearest they came to an equaliser before half-time was an effort by Mark Jones which Clarets keeper Howie Evans saved with his feet.

The visitors were still holding their lead after an hour but the introduction of home striker Olly Rayson proved to be the turning point as it was his low shot in the 67th minute which squirmed under Evans’ body to make it 1-1.

The remainder of the tie was a cat and mouse affair as the prospect of the dreaded penalties loomed ever larger before Cottrill’s late, late winner.

Bishops Lydeard: J Hollands, L Bullivant (L Ward 80), L Wright, W Cooper, J Poole, J Brice, E Jones, A West (O Rayson 60), M Jones, J Cottrill, C Barrett.

Subs not used: G Tanton, E Stephens.

Goals: O Rayson (67), J Cottrill (90+6).

Launceston: H Evans, S Tattersall, R Dawe, J Moynan, J Jago, T Manuel, J Stephens (J Jasper 55), G Rutter (A Wall 80), E Gwillam, W Gilbert, G Bills (T Bullock 25).

Sub not used: O Brown.

Goal: own goal (13).