NEWENT Town FC made history on Saturday as a 2-0 home win over Keynsham put them into the first round proper of the FA Vase for the first time.

Newent players celebrate victory
Newent players celebrate victory (Helen Warwick Photography)

A 4-2 victory at Wildsmith Meadow over Wiltshire side Bradford Town secured a second qualifying round tie with the Somerset Western League One outfit, which attracted a crowd of more than 160.

Keynsham went close with a shot just over the bar on 16 minutes, but it was the Daffs who broke the deadlock 12 minutes later, when Sam Judge fired them in front.

Newent battled into the first round proper of the FA Vase for the first time in their history
Newent battled into the first round proper of the FA Vase for the first time in their history (Helen Warwick Photography)

The Daffs then thought they had doubled the lead only for the ref to rule offside, before the visitors went close 15 minutes into the second period, Jeremy Agyemang rattling the post.

But a Keynsham infringement in their box saw Newent awarded a penalty, confidently dispatched by Dylan Hart for a 2-0 lead.

Again the visitors smacked the post as the Daffs rode their luck with 15 minutes left, but Elliott Vanstone had a great chance to make it 3-0 only to be denied by the keeper, before the ref blew to confirm a historic win for the hosts and a first round tie at Devon outfit Barnstaple on October 18.

Newent & Gorsley Youth FC were the proud mascots for the FA Vase clash
Newent & Gorsley Youth FC were the proud mascots for the FA Vase clash (Newent Town AFC)

Elsewhere, Ruardean Hill Rangers mauled Tredworth Tigers 5-0 at home in the Gloucestershire County Cup, Oliver Mason firing a brace, backed by Steve Clark, Tyler Adams and Mitch Griffin goals.

Howle Hill also went through to the next round of the Herefordshire Junior Cup with a 3-1 win at Weston over Tenbury Colts, Toby Alexander, Ben Fletcher and Joe Thomas their marksmen.

But in other cup action, Newent Development crashed out 11-1 away to Dursley 1sts in the Gloucestershire Senior Cup.

North Gloucestershire Premier leaders Huntley made it four league wins from four though. with a 5-1 victory away to Broadwell 2nds, Lee James firing a hat-trick and Will Freeman and Owen Fishpool one apiece.

But Longhope lost 6-4 in a 10-goal thriller to visitors Milkwall, Richard May with a brace and Jack Halson and Robbie Clark also on target.

A last-gasp Willard Mutsira goal secured a 3-2 NG1 win over Harrow Hill 2nds for Lydbrook 2nds at their Wyeside ground, following a Lee Hill strike and an own goal.

And Ruardean Hill 2nds shared an amazing 6-6 draw further downriver at Redbrook Rovers, Alfie Jayne firing two, backed by goals from Matt Cook, Aaron Barnett and Alfie Nicholls, and a late leveller from Rudy Davies.

But Ruardean United fell 4-2 away to 10-man Mushet & Coalway 2nds, Leighton Beach and Alex Rowles with the consolations.

Ross Juniors got off the mark in NG2 with a 4-1 home win over Lydney Town B, Liam Hughes firing a hat-trick and Jack Clark the other, while Mitcheldean 2nds also won 2-1 at home to Harrow Hill A.

Ruardean Hill A drew 1-1 at home to Redbrook 2nds in NG3 thanks to a Luke Johnson strike, while Lydbrook A lost 3-2 away to Westbury 2nds, Simeon Jones and Liam Chapman on target.

Fixtures this Saturday (September 27) include – Newent v UDA Glos, Filton v Ruardean Hill, Mushet v Mitcheldean, Broadwell 2nds v Howle Hill, Soudley v Longhope, Bream 2nds v Ross Juniors, Redbrook Rovers v Ruardean United, Tidenham v Lydbrook 2nds, Prestbury Rovers v Ruardean Hill 2nds, Mitcheldean 2nds v Soudley 2nds, Longhope 2nds v Westbury 2nds, Lydbrook A v Broadwell A.

Newent Town Development are away to Carterton Development on Friday evening.