FA VASE

Bowers & Pitsea 2, FC Clacton 1

A BRILLIANT late cameo from substitute Alex Tenola inspired Bowers to come from behind to beat Clacton and book a spot in the next round against local rivals Southend Manor.

Bowers trailed 1-0 with 10 minutes to go and had struggled to muster much on target before Tenola rounded keeper Jordan Giddings to level and then lobbed him six minutes later to send his side through.

The Seasiders had led with a nice finish from Adam Daniels and had shown much more of a cutting edge all afternoon.

Bowers manager John Doyle admitted they had ridden their luck, but felt they were due some good fortune.

“We made hard work of it and it could have gone either way to be honest,” he said.

“To be fair to Clacton, we had a little bit of luck in our own 18 yard box and if they’d taken their chances they could have won the game.

“So we were fortunate today to have that little bit of luck, but we have not had it for a long time.

“We’re pleased and hopefully this can kick-start our season."

Doyle praised the contribution of Tenola and revealed he was unlucky not to start.

He said: “We played an internal game on Tuesday and he scored two and he was a bit disappointed he was left out today.

“But he’s scored another two here and proved me wrong for leaving him out, so maybe he’s entitled to start the next game.”

Bowers started well on Saturday but the first chance fell to the visitors as Stewart McFarlane’s free-kick unnerved the defence and Jack Clamplin turned sharply but fired wide.

Bowers’ first real sight of goal came 10 minutes before the break when Alfie Hilton found himself in space inside the box following Ally McInnes’ mistake, but the winger’s attempted cut-back was easily cut out with Lorenzo Ramsey waiting to pull the trigger in front of goal.

And it became even more costly a minute later when Daniels stroked the ball home from 10 yards after the Bowers defence gifted him a chance from Billy Wales’ corner.

The Seasiders finished the half the stronger and McFarlane saw his lobbed effort float wide before player-manager Ray Turner headed over the bar.

Giddings was worked for the first time on the stroke of half-time as he leapt to his right to tip James O’Brien’s header over the bar.

There was a very early scare for Bowers at the start of the second half when Adam Camden forced Michael Doyle into a low save and then hit the outside of the post with his follow up.

The Seasiders went close to a second goal twice in quick succession as Tom Austin slid Wales’ deep delivery over the bar, then Daniels headed down and against the bar from Wales’ corner.

With 20 minutes to go Tenola gave a taste of what was to come when he dropped his shoulder and hit a low drive, which was kept out by the legs of Giddings.

And it was starting to look like one of those days for the Pitsea side when Michael Salako headed a very presentable chance straight into Giddings’ hands from Paul Oyedokun’s chip into the box.

Camden then dragged a shot wide before Bowers drew level with a route one goal as Tenola raced on to a long punt forward before rounding the advanced Giddings and slamming the ball into the unguarded net.

The relief at the Len Salmon Stadium was palpable as the player punched the air in celebration.

Bowers almost snatched the lead soon after as Brad Webb broke forward and poked the ball through to Tenola, but his driven shot-cum-cross just evaded the out-stretched foot of Salako.

And then Tenola produced a bit of magic worthy of winning the tie. The rangy striker, who had replaced the ineffective Ramsey on 57 minutes, flicked the ball over his marker's head before sending a delicate lob over Giddings and just under the bar.

There was still time for some last-minute heroics from Bowers captain Doyle as a poor clearance put Wales – Clacton's best player on the day – clean through on goal, but the keeper saved with his legs.

Bowers will now to Southchurch Park to face Manor in the next round on September 21.

BASILDON'S EXTRA TIME EXIT

Basildon United 1, Stansted

A PENALTY in extra-time put Stansted through at the expense of hosts Basildon United.

It came after a foul by Leon Smith, and was a cruel winning goal against a Basildon side who had dominated but failed to take their chances.

Tom Cocklin had put the Bees in front on 40 minutes with a nice individual goal.

But Chid Onokwai made it 1-1 three minutes later, and the same player converted the spot kick in the 102nd minute to book the Airportmen a place in the next round.