FA Cup - Second qualifying round (Saturday)

St Blazey 2 Barnstaple Town 1

ST BLAZEY fought back from 1-0 down at half-time to pull off a deserved victory at Blaise Park over a Barnstaple side who play at the level above in the football pyramid.

Joe Hatch had given the Southern League division one south side a sixth minute lead, and it took until the 62nd minute for the Green & Blacks to equalise through Harry Blows.

From that point, Blazey looked the better side and Kai Burrell’s superb 81st minute strike proved to be the winner.

Manager Dan Hart said: “I felt it was so important for us to put on a show after the disappointment of Tavistock’s equaliser in midweek.

“In addition, I didn’t quite feel we were at our best in that contest, so our focus was on the adjustments we made and our game plan.

“We were always confident that our team would be more structured than Barnstaple’s. We know they have luxury individuals with talent, but we allowed them no time, no space and worked harder than them throughout the game.

“To get our rewards in the second half was justified, we were the better team statistically, more shots, more possession, more territory in the game and we looked fitter and stronger despite playing in midweek.

“I was very proud of the group, particularly after such an intense game in the week, and Barnstaple having come into the game fresh and winning 6-0 in the previous round.”

“It’s an amazing competition, and a good experience for us as we continue to grow.

“We have more tough tests right ahead of us, but we can face them with some confidence in what we have built already.”

Barnstaple took the lead when a cleared corner found its way to the dangerous Gabriel Rogers who jinked past one, crossed and a ricochet fell to former Plymouth Argyle striker Hatch to poke home.

The rest of the first half was an even affair with both teams working hard in the heat.

At half-time, a couple of tweaks from St Blazey enabled them to get a little higher up the pitch and affect the Barnstaple backline more in possession.

And in the 62nd minute, a Tom Cavanagh clip into Burrell was nodded forward to the onrushing Blows, and the 17-year-old youth product fired low across the goalkeeper to level the scoring.

Blazey felt they should have had a penalty for a foul by Tommy Rogers on Olly Redd but the referee waved away the home side’s appeals.

In the end, though, the fitness and power of Blazey won through, and in the 81st minute, an attempted through ball to Cameron Hutchison was intercepted but fell straight back to Burrell who fired home a left foot half volley from 20 yards to clinch victory.

St Blazey have been drawn at home to Tiverton Town in the next round, with the tie taking place on Saturday, September 5.

St Blazey: Mac Dewsnap, Sam Clifton, Joe Cook (Tom Cavanagh 25), Harry Blows, Jordan Bentley, Aaron Bentley, Olly Redd, Ben Fowles (Cam Hutchison 65), Kai Burrell, Tallan Mitchell, Teigan Rosenquest.

Subs not used. Kyle Moore, Will Tinsley, Hayden Black, Harry Hambly.

Goals. Harry Blows (62), Kai Burrell (81).

Yellow cards, Teigan Rosenquest (53), Cam Hutchison (74).

Attendance: 185.

Man of the Match. Aaron Bentley.