Into the Quarter Finals

Anvils progressed to Round 3 with infinite ease, after a first 45 mins of flowing attacking football that had the visitors chasing shadows for most of the half, thus gaining revenge for that league defeat at the Caburn a month previous.

Anvils were quick of the mark with an early Ben Brooker shot that flashed across the face, on 5 mins Harry Lowe's long dash down the flank saw him setup Luke Trotter but the widemans shot was just too high, he had another chance just after but keeper Tom Betts in the Blues goal was equal to the challenge.

For the 'Blues' just a shot from Steve Jackson that was well wide, and later Jacobs firing straight at Anvil keeper Andy Greaves was just about it as the Anvils gained the midfield and started to dominate the half with their crisp attacking play, which paid off on 17 with fellow wide player Dave Houlders opening the scoring with a neat finish. 1-0 Anvils. And just like buses two more turned up just after, with first a combination of Oli Leslie and Trotter setting up Ben Brooker for the Anvils second, and minutes later Brooker returned the compliment for Leslie to join them on the score sheet. 3-0 Anvils.

By now it was virtually game over with the Anvils in cruise control, with a Sonny Barton cross to Houlders which somehow was hacked off the goal line, on 30 the golden left peg of Lowe fired a freekick just wide from 35 yds, then came a Lowe corner that found Houlders in space who in turn was thwarted by keeper Betts throwing himself to his right and clawing the ball away from the gaping goal, more was to come with next Trotter breaking thro but just over running the ball to fire into the side netting. The Blues themselves then ended the half with Payne on a charge and a shot that Greaves had well covered.
HT 3-0 Anvils.

With the Anvils now attacking the Kop the Anvil supporters awaited more action and were not to be disappointed, as first Trotter after all his hard running was on hand to notch number four, but the Anvils were to be rudely interrupted just after when visitors sub Frost on a rare excursion upfield found space in front of a somewhat relaxed backline to rack up the Blues hopes. 4-1 Anvils.

But the Anvils were not for turning, as first Lowe on 53 ran virtually the length of the pitch before sending over a cross that Leslie at full stretch just missed, but on 55 the darling of the home crowd made amends when fellow strike partner Brooker set him up for his second and the Anvils fifth of the game. 5-1 Anvils.

With all three Anvils subs now entering the fray the game lost a bit of momentum, allowing the Blues more freedom upfront with an Ant Storey freekick finding Andy Hales who fired well over, plus a couple of corners and free kicks that usually finished up in the safe hands of keeper Greaves. FT 5-1 Anvils.

Team: Andy Greaves, Sonny Barton, Harry Lowe, Tom Agate (Lee Thomas), Steve Dixon, James Day, Dave Houlders (Josh Alcock), Mike Spence, Ben Brooker (Sam Cane), Oli Leslie, Luke Trotter.

MOM: Harry Lowe. Attn: 37