Leonard delighted to be at home again in next round

PLYMOUTH Parkway manager Dave Leonard was delighted with the result of yesterday's draw for the third round of the FA Vase.

Leonard's side had a great result on Saturday when they beat reigning Toolstation Western League Champions Bitton 3-2 at Bolitho Park and their reward is another home tie.

The Carlsberg South West Peninsula Premier Division side will host the winners of the delayed Arundel versus Crowborough Athletic tie.

Both teams play in Division One of the Broadwater Sports Sussex County League which is a level above the Peninsula at step five, but that will not frighten the Bolitho Park outfit after their success over Bitton in the last round.

Arundel will start tonight's game as favourites as Crowborough are currently bottom of their league, but neither side has been setting the County League alight this season.

Parkway manager Dave Leonard was delighted with the draw.

He said: "It's a home tie against another team in a higher level of football. However, as per last round we will not be fazed by the opposition. We will go out and perform to the best of our ability.

"We have to look at this as a chance to get to the fourth round for the first time in the club's history."

The Peninsula's other surviving club, Saltash United, attempt, for the second time, to play their second round tie away at Bristol Manor Farm with a trip to Sussex County First Division outfit Peacehaven and Telscombe awaiting the winners.

Peacehaven are currently sixth in their first season back in the first division after finishing last season as second division champions.

FA Vase third round (ties to be played Saturday, December 5): Eastbourne United v Brislington/Poole Town, Plymouth Parkway v Arundel/Crowborough Athletic, Longwell Green Sports v Bideford/Welton Rovers/Willand Rovers, Larkhall Athletic v Whitehawk, Shortwood United v Redhill/Shoreham, Witney United v Christchurch/Almondsbury Town, Peacehaven & Telscombe v Bristol Manor Farm/Saltash United, Wellington Town v Epsom & Ewell, Dawlish Town v Brockenhurst.

FA VASE SECOND ROUND

SALTASH were left fuming by Bristol Manor Farm's inability to make an early enough decision to stop them beginning their coach journey to Bristol for Saturday's FA Vase second Round tie.

The cancellation means that Saltash will have to make the journey, to the outskirts of Bristol, for a second time tonight (7.45pm).

The Ashes were on their way to The Creek when they were informed by mobile that the game had been called off, which left them with a hefty bill for the coach hire plus other expenses.

"We informed Bitton, the previous night, that we would be leaving at 10am on Saturday morning, but Bristol Manor Farm told us that the earliest the pitch would be looked at was 9am," said Saltash secretary Luke Ranford.

"We had heard nothing from them until I phoned the club at 9.20am and they informed me they thought the pitch was playable and it was not until 11.15am, and we were well into our journey, that they contacted me to say a referee of the required standard had called the game off."

Ashes boss Kevin Hendy will hope that the delay will allow defender Dave Smith to recover from his groin injury.

One player definitely in contention is recent signing Chris Menhenick, who did not cup-tie himself by playing for Tavistock in a previous round.

Saltash United: K Griffiths, D Smith, T Clark, J Heveran, S Sargison, D Lewis, M Sullivan, M Thorne, G Palmer, S Clark, L Doel, P Madden, C Farnham, C Menhenick, G Coulton, S Hughes, P Chuwen.

CSWPL PREMIER DIVISION

TORPOINT Athletic will be without two of their squad when they entertain Ivybridge Town at The Mill (7.30pm).

Andy Green is still suffering from cracked ribs, while Liam Thornton is away at university.

Ivybridge have central defender Steve Hatfield back from holiday and also include Brett Walton, their new signing from Plymouth and West Devon Combination side Roborough.

Torpoint Athletic (from): M Piper, C Sully, S Green, M Roberts, R Lucassi, D Brook, D Veale, W Daw, K Robinson, P Partridge, D Hicks, G Williams, J Grant, C Todd.

Ivybridge (from): T Pelley, M Scragg, J Crowley, S Chitty, J Morgan, A Widdicombe, R McClements, J Truelove, J Middleton, G Cockman, J Dirrane, D Woodfield, R Henniker, S Hatfield, B Walton, B Smith.