Town Progress In FA Cup

With work completed in the clubhouse and toilets, Town were safely able to open the club, operating a one-way-system in the bar, track and trace on the gate and temperature checks on arrival, as well as tape marking standing areas, around the ground.

With the game a sell-out, the support throughout was absolutely first class and gave Town a real lift against fellow Step 5 opposition, as the Reds ran out 4-0 winners in a brilliant performance!

Town started on the front foot early on, with Ben Pattie and captain, Jordon Frederick, testing the visitors goalkeeper early on.

The first big chance of the game went towards Mildenhall, as Brad Kirkwood was called into close range action and made a fantastic stop to deny them from just a few yards out!

Kirkwood’s save seemed to spark Town into even more life and just three minutes after, they took the lead! Pattie’s delightful cross to the far post was met by Archie McClelland, who nodded home to add another goal to his tally, which is already at 6 this season in all competitions!

After the goal, Town continued to dominate the tie, with James Towell and Tom Silford finding joy from full-back and Brian Foulger impressing in the centre of the park yet again.

The passing play continued and Town kept hitting Mildenhall with pace on the charge and that’s how the Reds found their second! Archie McClelland fed a brilliant switched pass to Ben Pattie, who cut back inside on the edge of the box, on his trademark and curled a fantastic strike into the top corner!

With Town on top, they nearly added a third before the break. McClelland drove in from the left but couldn’t find a finish that troubled the goalkeeper!
Mildenhall looked to pull a goal back to get themselves back in the tie before the referee blew for Half-Time, however, Town continued to defend resolutely from a succession of corners.

With the second half just two minutes old, the game was out of sight for the visitors! More fantastic football saw Ross Adams feed a pass into the path of Louie Collier, who finished with class around the goalkeeper, to make it 3-0!
The chances kept on coming for Town as the space continued to open up, with Mildenhall pushing higher to try and fight there way back into the game.
However, they never really threatened Brad Kirkwood at all, apart from the save earlier on in the game.

Archie McClelland went close again, as well as Tom Silford, who fired a rasping strike from range.
On 55, Town almost made it four! Quick, delicate, precise passing from Town saw them tear apart the opposition back-line and the ball was fired across the face to McClelland, who somehow couldn’t finish from just a couple of yards! A great chance, however, the build-up was first class.

Man-of-the-Match, Ben Pattie, was substituted shortly after, for Marcus Mealing and a few minutes later, Archie McClelland was replaced by Ashton Campbell.
Just before the latter of the changes, Collier had the ball in the net, however, the linesman’s flag was up.

Town’s final change saw Aaron Jewell on for Ross Adams, who had another fantastic game out wide for Town.

Marcus Mealing and Ashton Campbell nearly combined on a couple of occasions and James Towell nearly had Collier in for a fourth, as the game ticked on.
Town’s only yellow saw Brian Foulger in the book for a tactical foul on the 73rd minute.

With the game entering the dying embers, Town finally made it four! Mealing played in Campbell who finished past the goalkeeper with class, to see the game done and dusted for the boys in red and white!

An absolutely brilliant performance from Joe Sweeney and Paul Copson’s men and Town march on the Second Round Qualifying.

The draw is on Friday lunch time and Town return to action on Saturday, behind closed doors at Crawley Green!