AFC Uckfield Town progress to second round of the FA Vase with a win over Holmesdale

Goals from Max Walsh and Callum Ridley in the first 20 minutes gave the visitors a two-goal cushion but Holmesdale fought back through James Shield and Nathan Palmer to ensure the two sides were level at the break.

A Jack Samways penalty and a late goal from captain Sam Carrington secured the win for Steve Ives and Graeme Mintrim’s side.

The Southern Combination Premier Division side came into the game fifth in their division but without a win in their last four games in all competitions, while Holmesdale were in good form sitting fifth in the SCEFL Division 1 having lost just one league game all season.

Holmesdale started the game well and should’ve really been in front seven minutes in when Palmer headed just wide on the end of James Teodorescu’s cross.

However another seven minutes down the line, AFC Uckfield were in front when Walsh cut in on the left and buried the ball in the bottom right corner.

On 20 minutes, the visitors doubled their lead when the home defence gifted the ball to Ridley and he made no mistake but to put the ball away past Holmesdale ‘keeper Adam Highsted.

Four minutes later, Lee Roots’ side were back in the game though when Shield tapped home from close range on the end of a good corner in from the left.

The hosts were pushing for an equaliser and got what they deserved in the 40th minute when after good work on the right, the ball fell to Palmer at the far post who blasted home from close range.

Unfortunately for Holmesdale, their opponents were far better in front of goal in the second half despite a mix up between Uckfield ‘keeper Jason Tibble and a defender nearly leading to a goal for the hosts.

In the 68th minute, the visitors got a penalty when defender Jordan Eels brought down an Uckfield attacker unnecessarily in the box. Samways stepped up and buried it in the bottom left corner despite Highsted getting his hand to the ball on its way in.

The hosts once again pushed for an equaliser, but their only notable chance came in the 86th minute when substitute Soul Kader’s shot went just wide of the mark.

Uckfield got a winner with a minute left of normal time when Carrington was on the receiving end of a good ball and after a good tackle he managed to get the ball back and bury the ball in the bottom right corner.

Holmesdale: Highsted, Carpenter (Kader 77), Eels, Shield, Teodorescu (capt), Nwitua (Austin 62), Adenola, Ward, E Green (Acland 77), Palmer, Rabiu.

Booked: Nwitua and Adenola.

Subs not used: Ntumba, Towner, S Green and Hornsby.

AFC Uckfield Town: Tibble, Zabadne, Hover, Tear, Kirk-Patrick (Cash 78), Ridley, Samways, Walsh (Clarke 82), Carrington (capt), Vale, Cook (Page 85).

Booked: Kirk-Patrick, Carrington, Walsh.

Attendance: 89

Report by James Main