Highworth Become First Team Through

Friday`s Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round tie.

Highworth Town became the first team from the Pitching In Southern Football League to go through from the Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup when the Division One South side beat Division One Central hosts 2-1 at Alfredian Park on Friday night.

In front of a decent crowd of 270, it was the visitors who took the lead after just 7 minutes when, following a corner that was only half-cleared, summer signing Felipe Barcelos turned the ball into the back of the net.

Highworth `keeper Tom Clapp made a good save to keep the lead intact. However, the Freds did manage to pull back on level terms after 39 minutes when Ben Lodge was tugged back in the area and Ryan Knight duly converted the resulting penalty.

It was 1-1 at the break, but only 5 minutes into the second period, Rob Dean restored the Worthians lead with an effort from the edge of the area.

Joe Gorman in the Wantage goal then made two great saves to prevent substitute Rhys Wells from extending the visitors` lead but the hosts were unable to find a leveller and there were a plethora of bookings as the tie got a little fractious near the end.