Devon premier cup

Bere Alston United 2

Roborough 1

BERE came into this Devon Premier Cup tie on the back of a decent start to their league campaign and determined for some sort of cup run having fallen at the first hurdle in all competitions last season.

However, their dismal cup form looked set to continue as they started poorly and it was the visitors Roborough who set the early pace with Wayne Cornish and Craig Smith both causing problems for the Bere defence and Paul Rapson forcing Jack Dixon into a smart save.

Bere slowly got into the game and Marcus Pethick should have given them the lead but shot wide when well placed.

Roborough were still looking the more likely to open the scoring and they deservedly took the lead after 25 minutes when Matt England crossed for Craig Smith who slipped past Jason Clancy and tucked the ball into the bottom corner.

In terms of possession, Bere were perhaps fortunate to come off at half time only one down and with manager Kevin Taylor's words ringing in their ears they started the second half with far more purpose.

However it was not until the introduction of Mike Curtis and Mark Wheeler that they began to take control and go in search of an equaliser.

Mike Curtis, Nick Aplin and Marcus Pethick had all gone close, before Curtis challenged the Roborough keeper Vinnie Bowman and Nick Aplin stabbed the lose ball home to take the tie into extra time.

Bere were now in the ascendancy and although Roborough's Chris Carter and Craig Smith were lively on the break, there looked to be only one winner as Bere were creating chance after chance only to be denied by Bowman in the Roborough goal.

Then with penalties looking more and more likely Craig Smith saw his goal bound effort headed off the line by Nathan Harvey and as Bere broke Mark Wheeler sent Nick Aplin racing clear only to be once again denied by Bowman. A minute later Wheeler again opened up the Roborough defence but this time Aplin slotted the ball past Bowman for his second and Bere's winner.

n Bere Alston are away to Seaton Town in the next round on October 9. On Saturday Bere are away to St Dennis, kick-off 3pm in the East Cornwall premier.