Shepton Mallet will be disappointed not to have reached the third qualifying round of the FA Vase on Saturday, but for Mousehole who made the long trip up from Cornwall, this was a victory that they deserved on the day and in truth the home side can have no complaints.
Shepton Mallet at the moment appear to be performing far better away from home, but despite having a depleted squad they were second best in almost all departments with the visitors looking much the sharper of the two sides.
Jack Fillingham did send an early effort over the Mousehole crossbar, but it was the visitors who went in front on 5 minutes when a wonderful square ball from right to left from Callum Maconie set up an opportunity for Andrew Elcock to send a superb low drive beyond Tom Easterbrook and into the far corner of the net, it came from a swift counter attack and was very decisive.
Shepton Mallet were finding it difficult to break down a well organised Mousehole defence and although Jack Fillingham and Conrad Peck had opportunities to level the scores on the half hour mark, Mousehole remained solid at the back.
Just moments before the break Shepton did go close on two occasions as Nick Hewlett headed an Andy Martin header just wide and a Callum Gould effort was saved low down to his right by Jimmy Weeks.
The home side began to show more urgency at the start of the second half as an Andy Martin free kick beat everyone including goalkeeper Weeks, but that dangerous cross went harmlessly wide of the far post.
The game became more open as Tom Easterbrook did well to hold onto a dangerous Silas Sullivan cross, before the home side quickly created a chance of their own as Fillingham saw a low drive well saved at his near post by Weeks.
The visitors were then reduced to ten men midway through the second half as Tallen Mitchell stupidly raised his arms following a clash with Fillingham and referee Jack Bromham made the correct decision to red card Mitchell, however things didn’t end there as Mitchell refused to leave the pitch and was eventually escorted to the changing room by one of his own coaching staff, it really was an act of stupidity.
The home side did rally late in the game with Nathan Legge testing Weeks at his near post and Joel Sisson did get in behind the Mousehole defence to create a late opportunity, but from a fairly tight angle he sent his effort high and wide of the target.
Tom Easterbrook then made a fine save to deny Elcock before Martin and George Morris-Edwards sent a shot and a header wide of the mark, but on a disappointing day for Shepton Mallet, the defeat was not unexpected as on the day Mousehole were the better team and the score line reflected the difference between the two sides.
Merv’s merit marks: T EASTERBROOK 8, J Sisson 6, A Martin 6, N Hewlett 7, G Morris-Edwards 7, C Gould 6, F Haines 5, C Peck 5, J Fillingham 6, J Morgan 5, N Legge 7, Subs; C Loxton 6, A Costanza 6,
Referee: Jack Bromham 8
Entertainment value: 6
Attendance: 208
On Saturday Shepton Mallet who still remain the only unbeaten side in the league travel to second in the table Tavistock Town, a tough ask.