The Bees took on Pewsey Vale at The Daykin Estates Ground in unusually warm temperatures for September, kicking towards “The Shed” in the first half.
The game started slowly, with Pewsey having a shot over the bar, Gunning delivering a great ball only for Town to have no one on the end of it, and a Plank header from the corner going just wide the only action of the first 15 minutes.
On 18 minutes, Pewsey scored but the goal was ruled offside. The Bees went on the offensive on 21 minutes, with Bendle, Sterling and Milburn linking up nicely – the former’s shot tipped brilliantly round the post by the Pewsey keeper.
A shot from the resulting corner was then cleared off the line by Pewsey, who countered but couldn’t take their chance, and Ramsey was able to make a comfortable save.
It was end to end stuff for the rest of the first half, with Ryan Baggs shot zooming just over the bar, before Pewsey hit the bar via a deflection off Grant Gunning – Ramsey was able to save the follow up.
Milburn’s corners were proving dangerous all day, and Francis was able to tower above everyone on 35 minutes only for his header to be saved well by the Pewsey keeper.
On 41 minutes, George Bendle opened the scoring for The Bees, Milburn delivering a great ball, which Bendle picked up on the edge of the box before beating his man and firing it in low and in off the post from the angle.
Pewsey then almost immediately won a free kick close to the box and scored from it, a well taken goal which left Ramsey with no chance.
Bendle had another shot from close range on 45 minutes but the keeper made a fantastic save.
In the second half, Trowbridge started on top, with George Bendle’s shot on target, deflecting out for a corner. The resulting corner was cleared, and nothing else of note happened for another 20 or so minutes.
The Bees were building attacking momentum, with Milburn’s header just over, before Bendle had the ball in the back of the net, with the goal disallowed due to a foul in the build up.
On 71 minutes Milburn did brilliantly to send the ball under the keeper from a tight angle, the post rescuing Pewsey.
Shortly after, Pewsey’s attacker was sent through, and despite appearing offside to nearly everyone in attendance, the flag stayed down and the finish was cool and calm past Ramsey. This would take the sting out of The Bees for the rest of the match.
Ramsey was able to make a brilliant save one on one to keep us in it close to the end, before Rogers dragged a shot wide and Plank had another header saved close to the goal line.
The referee’s whistle went and with it our unbeaten home record, stretching back to August 2021. A disappointing result, but one which we will have undoubtedly learnt lessons from, as we head into our match against Odd Down Development on Tuesday evening.
Full Time: TTFC 1-2 Pewsey Vale
Att: 78
Match Sponsor: Duncan Sterling
MOTM: Not announced/TBC
Lineup: Ramsey, Wayman, Plank, Francis, Gunning, Baggs, Fox, Sterling, Rogers, Milburn, Bendle – Subs: Barber, Young, Miluk, Short, Samuel
Next Up: Odd Down Development (A) 05/09 – 19.30pm KO.
