Wendron United 4 (4) - St Blazey 4 (2)

Wendron United secured their name in the hat for the Isuzu FA Vase First Round, with a 4-2 penalty shootout win on Saturday, writes Josh McDonald.

It followed a pulsating 4-4 normal time result against Jewson Western Leaue side St Blazey at Underlane.

Wendron made two changes from the side that beat Callington last weekend, with Joe Chapman and Billy Stone returning to the lineup, and a belated squad place for new signing Kristoff Muller on the substitutes bench after his return from New Zealand.

St Blazey welcomed the return of Captain Will Tinsley, with Alfie Fothergill and Jacob Smith the other changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Ilfracombe on Tuesday.

Sam Clifton registered the first shot of the game on target in the 12th minute with a left foot strike from 20 yards. It was the home side however who started the ball rolling for goals in the afternoon, when Billy Stone latched on to a Brodie Kemp pass and rolled the ball past Borthwick to put the Dron 1-0 up.

St Blazey then replied on 25 minutes, when a misplaced goal kick, eventually found its way to Jacob Smith who made no mistake from 12 yards to level the scores.

It was then St Blazey in the ascendancy and a in the 34th minute, a cross-field ball found Ryan Downing, who showed quick feet to shift and cross to Jacob Rowe who had the simplest of tasks to prod home from 6 yards out.

Wendron gave the game its next twist when Josh Wood latched on to a wide ball, controlling and crossing for Brodie Kemp to divert in from close range to bring the scores level.

The scoring of the half wasn’t to be finished there, when Downing cut in from the right and laid a pass on for Rowe, who found the bottom corner from 20 yards past an outstretched Telling.

Going into half time, Wendron trailed 2-3 to St Blazey. However, if the supporters of both Wendron and St Blazey had felt they had already received their money’s worth after 45 minutes, the second half had similar in store.

In a game that was finely balanced with only one goal difference, it was St Blazey that extended the lead on 64 minutes, when Alfie Fothergill cut inside on the right wing and hit a left-footed shot on the angle from 25 yards out to take the score to 4-2.

Wendron continued to have their fair share of the play and were rewarded in the 68th minute, when Joe Souch’s corner was met by Russell May to head in and reduce the arrears to 4-3.

An injury in the 75th minute to Sam Borthwick forced St Blazey into an unexpected change, with Ryan Downing taking up goalkeeping duties.

The home side found their rhythm once again and the introduction of Callum Bertrand and Kristoff Muller for Russell May and Billy Stone provided new energy in search of an equaliser.

St Blazey also brought on George Newton, Eli Evans and Jayden Gilbert midway through the second half to put the game out of reach of any late drama, however a few minutes before the final whistle, Wendron were awarded a penalty for holding in the box as Kemp attempted to jump for the ball.

In the remonstrations of the decision Alfie Wotton saw a red card, and Will Tinsley a yellow and sin bin for dissent.

Brodie Kemp kept his nerve and fired the spot-kick past Downing to the delight of the home contingent and bring the scores level at 4-4, all but ensuring the game would now go to a penalty shootout.

In the shootout, the excitement continued with Zach Telling for Wendron saving the first and fourth spot kicks from Ryan Downing and Sam Clifton with Jacob Smith and Alfie Fothergill converting.

Wendron scored all four kicks through Brodie Kemp, Josh Wood, Callum Bertrand and the final goal from Joe Souch.