when they have entered the FA Cup, and did so again last weekend against a Plymouth Parkway side who grew into the game and ultimately deserved to go into the hat for the next round.
Shepton started well enough and held the upper hand for the first 15 minutes. They should have gone ahead in the 6th minute after good work from Jordan Townsley, who dispossessed an opponent near the byline before fizzing a ball into the middle, only for the inrushing Ash Willmott to somehow fail to connect a yard out out from goal. Willmott returned the compliment soon afterwards, crossing to Townsley who headed just too high, after Ben Lacey had gained possession on the half way line and gone on a decent run before putting Willmott away to make the cross in Shepton's best move of the day. The home side continued to press, and good work from Craig Loxton led to another good chance, this time for Lewis Hedges who unfortunately did not get enough on his shot, allowing Parkway keeper Ben Elphick to save comfortably. After what proved to be Shepton's best phase of the game, Plymouth then started to come into the game more and in the 15th minute Levi Landricombe tested Shepton keeper Josh Hayward from 20 yards with a shot that Hayward saved with ease, before the keeper punched a free kick cross away to safety a minute later. Midway through the half Shepton had another decent five minute spell that saw Lacey shoot just too high from 25 yards, before Willmott delayed too long when he got into a good position to test Elphick. Loxton then earned his side a corner, but no-one could get on the end of Ben Cleverley's whipped in cross. The sides cancelled each other out up to the break, although Landricombe did miss one good chance to put his side in front in the 35th minute when he dragged a shot wide from 15 yards.
Shepton's Lacey put Loxton in for a shot that was diverted for a corner early after the resumption, but the pattern of the game swung dramatically 10 minutes into the half when the visitors took the lead from a long clearance upfield. Uncharacteristically Ross McErlain, Shepton's most consistent performer hitherto this season albeit it is early days, made a hash of what should have been a routine clearance, allowing Landricombe to pounce and take possession before beating Hayward with a low 15 yard shot. For the next 20 minutes of play Shepton hardly had a chance as the visitors raised their own game, boosted by Landricombe's goal. Paul Heveran almost added a 2nd on the hour mark, then Landricombe put another chance wide before he made no mistake from a Jamie Bass cross midway through the half to score his and his side's second of the afternoon, as the tie started to slip away from the hosts. Townsley continued to battle away up front against the odds but scuffed a half chance wide soon after man of the match Landricombe's second goal, and with 15 minutes left Dan Hart missed a chance of a third for the Plymouth side when he blazed a shot over the home crossbar.
Mc Erlain went on a fine solo run with a couple of minutes to go, before setting up a chance for substitute Harry Ritchie who saw his goalbound effort diverted for a corner, and Townsley missed their last half chance in stoppage time but come the final whistle Shepton were a well beaten side on the day, a shame after their promising start but good luck to the Devon side in the next round when they will host Tiverton Town.
Pilton Cider Shepton man of the match : Jordan Townsley.
( On Saturday Shepton face another tough encounter when they host a Barnstaple Town side who have made a 100% winning start to the season after they finished as Division One Champions last season, KO 3pm.)

Team

1.J.Hayward
2.D.Thorne
3.L.Davidson
4.B.Fletcher
5.R.McErlain
6.L.Hedges
7.B.Cleverley
8.C.Loxton.....cautioned
9.J.Townsley
10.B.Lacey
11.A.Willmott

subs used
A.Russell
G.Zaharia
H.Ritchie