A warm, sunny afternoon greeted both teams at The Daykin Estates Ground on Saturday afternoon. The Bees, missing 9 players through injury/holiday, were only able to name 2 players on the bench for this tie, but looked to progress in the competition against a strong Kingsdown team.

The game started evenly, with attacking moves for both sides in the opening 5 minutes, but neither team able to make any chances from this. The first of several delays due to injury occurred on 6 minutes, with a Kingsdown player needing treatment.

When the game restarted, it was Kingsdown throwing the kitchen sink at The Bees, a great attacking move on 10 minutes leaving town short at the back, but the shot was well wide of the mark. Kingsdown attacked again on 12 minutes, a speculative effort from around 35 yards out clearing the stand behind the goal.

The Bees rallied back with several attacking moves but could not find a Trowbridge player on the end of their chances. On 18 minutes, Fox looked to break from defence, but was taken out by the Kingsdown striker, which earned him a yellow card.

The Bees carried on attacking, Milburn making a great run and putting a ball in for Charlie Barber to nod home, but the keeper was able to get to it first.

Kingsdown rallied again to close out the opening half an hour, a counter attack stopped excellently by Shipman, who tracked all the way back the Kingsdown half to block the cross on the opposite side of the pitch. Kingsdown then had a great chance to take the lead, a low shot from inside the box saved brilliantly by Hotine.

The referee called for a drinks break on 30 minutes, such was the heat, giving both teams a chance to reset.

Fox was at it again, a great run and ball causing panic at the back, the ball headed out for a corner, from which Milburn’s cross was cleared.

The rest of the half passed without much of note, aside from a great long throw by Shipman in added time, a sea of bodies rising to the ball, from which Bendle shot on the turn from 3 yards out – this was saved phenomenally by the keeper. The resulting corner was headed back across goal by Howlett and just needed a touch to send it into the back of the net, but the ball rolled out for a goal kick.

The Bees were back on it at the start of the second half, a great touch by Bendle to bring the ball down, but his shot was blocked on the edge of the area. Milburn then sent a great ball in, and Shipman’s header was glanced just wide of the post.

Kingsdown then countered on 53 minutes, looking almost certain to score, but the shot was sent wide – a let off for Town.

On 59 minutes, Howlett made a last ditch challenge which was deemed to be a foul, and Kingsdown had a free kick in a dangerous position, but the free kick was sent well over the bar.

Play was stopped on 65 minutes for another drinks break and for treatment to another Kingsdown injury – a chance to reset again for both teams.

On 68 minutes, Bendle won a free kick in a good position, Milburn stepping up to unleash the shot from distance and the keeper saving equally well.

More delays on 75 and 77 minutes as Shipman received treatment for a head injury, and Hotine for a leg issue. Both players carried on, as The Bees had used both subs.

There were further delays on 83 minutes with another injury for Kingsdown, and the prospect of a large amount of both added time and extra time faced both sides.

Not content with settling for extra time, The Bees set out to try and win the game and nearly did so on 87 minutes – Milburn’s corner was hooked back across by Sterling, before Howlett unleashed a rocket from a couple of yards out – how the keeper managed to save this out for another corner on the line was incredible to see.

Howlett was then critical at the other end, stopping a Kingsdown counter attack dead on 89 minutes. The game then fizzled out into extra time.

Extra time kicked off, and shortly after, Kingsdown took the lead with a good strike low into the corner, beating Hotine in the town goal.

The Bees tried to respond, with chances for Shipman, Milburn and Baggs to no avail.

Shortly after the second half of extra time began, the game was stopped following what appeared to be a nasty collision between two Kingsdown players.

With The Bees 1-0 down, and 10 minutes left to play, attention immediately turned to the welfare of the player down on the pitch and if and when the game could resume. Kingsdown had used all of their subs, so would have to play the final 10 minutes with 10 men if the game were to resume.

At 6.25pm the referee made the decision to abandon the game. The Kingsdown player required hospital treatment and was unable to leave the field. With light fading and no guarantee of when an ambulance would arrive, there was no choice but to abandon.

As we understand it, the Kingsdown player was taken to hospital eventually by personnel from their club, and received treatment for a dislocated shoulder. We have been informed that he is in much better spirits today and are relieved to hear this news.

We wish him a speedy recovery and thank Kingsdown, the match officials and our 1st team volunteers and staff for their assistance in dealing with this incident. We now await news from the league as to if and when this game will be replayed. We will update supporters on this decision once we have it.

TTFC A-A Kingsdown Lions
Fountain Trophies Senior KO Cup 2nd Round
Att: 58
MOTM: Not awarded
Match Sponsor: Focus With Beth Brewer

Lineup: Hotine, Gunning, Wayman, Howlett, Shipman, Baggs, Fox, Bendle, Milburn, Mitchell, Barber
Subs: Plank, Sterling