FA Vase Second Qualifying Round

Keynsham Town 1

Lydney Town 2

THIS cup tie was the first match to be played on a brand new £500,000 3G artificial pitch, recently installed by the hosts, who play in Western League Division One.

Both sides seemed to adapt well to the surface and Lydney's Niall Halford scored first, powering in a header from a pinpoint Ricky Elliott cross.

The home team did not unduly trouble Lydney in the first half, but pushed forward more after the break.

Lydney could have doubled their lead when Halford headed an Elliott free-kick just past the post, but Keynsham equalised on 55 minutes when Jake Mawford's low shot went in off the hand of keeper Rich Thomas.

On 85 minutes Niall Halford broke into the box and rattled the post with a tremendous shot.

With the prospect of a replay back in Lydney looming large, Lydney found a winner.

Man of the match Niall Halford, who caused problems for the Keynsham defence all afternoon, broke into the box in the 89th minute and fired a shot past the home keeper.

In injury-time, Lydney sub Mike Robbins made a rash challenge on a Keynsham player and received a deserved yellow card for his sins. A melee ensued and Robbins was pushed to the ground, but the culprit escaped with a yellow card.

The offending Keynsham player, lucky to be on the pitch, fired a free-kick from the edge of the box just wide.

Lydney survived eight minutes of added time to earn a plum tie against Shortwood United in Lydney on October 22.

It should be an intriguing game, with two former Shortwood players in Joe Macklin and Rich Thomas in the Lydney ranks.

The players' verdict on the pitch was positive, although it was strange to see a cloud of black rubber every time the ball bounced. Several players also said it left a strange hot sensation in their feet.

Lydney play Hungerford Town's development side in the Hellenic League Cup this Saturday.