Although far from their best for long periods of their FA cup game at Blackfield and Langley, Shepton still managed to keep a fifth consecutive clean sheet to secure a replay as both teams went into the hat for the next round.
Blackfield started well but Shepton keeper Tom Easterbrook was alert to keep out the game’s first shot from Charlie Rattley, and gather a dangerous cross moments later. Shepton initially failed to match the home side’s physicality and create much of note in the final third, and had another close call with 20 minutes played when Blackfield’s Nathan Gray put the useful Clayd Roach in on goal before Easterbrook managed to mop up. Roach broke clear again after half an hour but shot straight at Easterbrook who made another save. Joe Morgan and then Aaron Seviour had missed earlier half chances for the visitors, before their first really good chance arrived 10 minutes before the break after Seviour played in Callum Gould, only for a deflection to take the sting out of Gould’s shot for home keeper Connor Maseko to make an easy save. Then just before the turnaround a Gould free kick found Nick Hewlett in an advanced position, only for the defender to hook his shot wide.
Shepton full back Joel Sisson was kept busy in the early stages of the second period as he made three vital interceptions in quick succession, and when Gray managed the first shot of the half 10 minutes in, Easterbrook again made a good stop. Shepton’s first threat of the half came when Seviour set up Morgan, whose shot was no problem for Maseko to easily save. And although Easterbrook made another save from Roach midway through the half, Shepton then hit the accelerator button in a purple patch that almost led to three goals in four minutes of play. Gould had a shot saved by Maseko from Nathan Legge’s pass, and missed another chance after good work between Legge and Morgan , before Legge raced from half way and shot past the advancing keeper, only for a Blackfield defender to clear from his goal line. Two minutes later Fin Haines shared Legge’s agony when he also shot past Maseko before another goal line clearance prevented a breakthrough goal. Almost immediately, a far post cross from Braeden Symes was met by Hewlett’s downward header that bounced up and shaved the outside of an upright and went out of play. What happened next was bizarre to put it mildly, for with just under 15 minutes remaining Maseko went to retrieve the ball but took time out to relieve himself against a hedge a few yards behind his goal. To the astonishment of everyone present the keeper was red carded by the referee, but despite the hosts reduced numbers, they had the next chance with 10 minutes to go from another Roach effort that forced another good Easterbrook save. Josh Williams skied a late angled shot for Shepton for the sides to meet again to decide who will progress in the competition. Tom Easterbrook was Shepton’s man of the match just ahead of Joel Sisson.
Team
1. T. Easterbrook
2.J.Sisson
3.C.Ball
4. N.Hewlett
5.M.Wood
6.C.Loxton
7. F.Haines
8.C.Gould
9.J.Morgan
10.A.Seviour
11.N.Legge
Subs used
B. Symes…. Cautioned
J.Williams

Attendance 120