LLOYDIE'S THE HERO AS BRICKIES CLAIM A SCALP IN THE FA VASE!

THE Brickies produced a terrific performance to march into the first round proper of the FA Vase with an ice-cool penalty shoot-out win away to Baffins Milton Rovers. The Portsmouth side are one division higher in the Wessex League but that was never a factor throughout the entire 90 minutes which ended 1-1 and set-up the dramatic spot-kick finale. The hero was goalkeeper Lloyd Thomas, who followed up a penalty save in the match with two saves in the shoot-out. That set up Aaron Scott to calmly sink the winning kick. Any thoughts that the Brickies’ confidence may have been affected by their lack-lustre midweek draw with Lymington were soon dispelled as New Milton made the early running. A couple of chances came and went before Baffins won the game’s first corner on 26 minutes and took the lead, capitalising on a scramble after the Brickies failed to clear cleanly. It stayed end-to-end for the rest of the half with neither side looking like breaking through. Into the second half and a flurry of activity in the Baffins goalmouth gave the visitors hope. It looked as though they had drawn level on 52 minutes when Elliott Pearce-Eavis beat the keeper with a header but didn’t beat the linesman’s flag for a narrow offside. More chances came and went and for a while the Brickies were well in control with the home goal coming under siege at various times. But just when it appeared an equaliser had to be on the cards, Baffins broke away in the 71st minute and were awarded a penalty for an apparent foul in the box. Home right-back Beau Mullins rated his chances of sending Lloyd Thomas the wrong way - but Lloydie guessed well, dived to his right and pushed the ball away to safety. That proved inspirational. It could have been game over but instead it was game on. And the leveller came with ten minutes to spare - a fantastic team goal with Jack Broad, Jake Carswell, Cal McHale and Elliott Pearce-Eavis all involved in the set-up for Luca Lane to finish. Almost immediately rattled Baffins rattled the crossbar - but they never got anywhere near as close again and as time ticked down it was the Brickies who looked the likely winners. Chances came and went and eventually the clock ticked down to zero - and with that came the lottery of penalty kicks. Deep breath, and Baffins had the advantage of going first. This is how it unfolded…
 Baffins first no problem...1-0 
 Brickies Level - Oli Lowes ... 1-1 
 Lloydie saves! ... still 1-1 
 Baffins keeper saves from Freddie Franklin ... 1-1 
 Baffins score again... 2-1 
 Cal Clarke scores ... 2-2 
 Baffins score again... 3-2 
 Cal McHale scores... 3-3 
 Lloydie saves again!!... still 3-3! 
 Aaron Scott scores, cool as a cucumber - 4-3 and that's it!!!! 
Brickies into the first round of the FA Vase with a terrific win 4-3 on penalties! Next it’s back to Division One action with two home matches, against Ringwood on Wednesday (16th) and Sandhurst on Saturday (19th).