Devon Premier Cup

Bere Alston United 4

Appledore 2

BERE ALSTON provided one of the big upsets of the round with this impressive victory against their Peninsula League opponents in the cup at the Recreation Field.

Appledore, mid table in the SWPL Division One (East), came into the tie with a great record in the competition having won the trophy in 2010.

Bere set about their opponents from the first whistle and Aaron Rockey could have given the home side the lead in the second minute but shot wide from an acute angle.

Bere had started brightly and it was against the run of play that they fell behind in the fifth minute when Will Westlake lost possession to Appledore's player/manager Keith Shapland who set up Ed Yeo for a great finish.

Ten minutes later Appledore increased their lead when Roger Bonaparte seized upon an under hit Mike Curtis back pass and squared the ball for Ed Yeo to add his and Appledore's second.

With their backs to the wall, Bere responded well with Jason Cordice missing two great chances but he made amends shortly before half time when he was put through by Paul Simpson and slotted the ball home to send Bere in only one down at the break.

Within five minutes of the restart, Bere were level when Marcus Pethick's cross was headed in at the far post by Jason Cordice and they went in front on the hour when Paul Simpson beat four players on the edge of the penalty area and set up Jason Cordice to complete his hat-trick with a well driven strike into the far corner of the Appledore net.

Appledore almost equalised when Jamie Frickleton headed against the cross bar but in truth Bere were now well on top with Chris Bray, Marcus Pethick and Aaron Rockey all going close to increasing their lead.

With five minutes to go Paul Simpson made the game safe for Bere when he received a pass from Jason Cordice and drove the ball low past the Appledore keeper to book the home side's passage into the next round.