Town exited the Southern League Challenge Cup at the first hurdle when they went down 5-2 to Street at the Viridor Stadium yesterday evening (4th September).
It was very much an experimental young Peacocks side with only Lloyd Irish and Shane White having started the last game against Basingstoke.
The visitors opened the scoring with their first chance on 17 minutes when Scott Thomas headed home Craig Herrod’s corner, with the lead being doubled three minutes later after debutant Jack Dray had brought down Josh Wadham, Phil Ormrod converting the penalty. Ormrod then hit the bar before Street scored their third on 39 minutes when Herrod was alone in the box to steer home an Ollie Morris pass.
The Peacocks reduced the arrears a minute later when a ball over the top from White found Andrew Neal who clipped his finish over Joe Moore. Harry Foster’s overhead volley also hit the bar for Street just before half time but they went on to score their fourth four minutes into the second half through Ormrod who got on the end of Lewis Tasker’s cross at the far post.
Moore denied Craig Veal before Neal got his second of the night after 77 minutes when he diverted a long pass from Finlay Biggs past Moore. Ormrod then latched onto a ball over the top to fire home and claim his hat trick for the final goal nine minutes from time.
Reaction | Rob Dray commented: “I was pleased with the young lads’ performances. With four 16 and 17 year olds we look forward to developing them in future cup games. Vealy also got good game time, as did Rocky who got back to scoring form so although it wasn’t the ideal result we got plenty out of it.”