Draycott 0

Sparta Kewstoke 2

High energy and aerial domination from the visiting side in the first 20 minutes of this Knockout Cup game meant that Draycott were on the back foot from the start and keeper French was kept much busier than he has been of late.

As the game settled down, however, the Greens managed to assert some kind of control and chances began to be created.

But Sparta's young keeper was in outstanding form as he showed with two match-winning saves from good efforts from Symons and Sealey.

Just as the game appeared to be drifting goalless into the break, though, one of the Sparta giants rose at the near post to divert a long throw-in over French's head and into the far corner of the net.

Sparta were reduced to the odd breakaway in the second half as Draycott chased the game and created several good scoring chances.

Curtis and Symons had efforts which skimmed the bar as the equaliser proved more and more elusive.

Then, on a break into Green territory, Woodward was harshly adjudged to have bundled his opponent to the ground on the edge of the box and the superbly-executed free-kick doubled the lead for the visitors and made the climb back even harder for Draycott to overcome.

Chances continued to come and go as the Greens piled players forward but, such was Sparta's defensive organisation, not even a compensatory goal could be carved out.

Thus Draycott suffered their first home defeat of the season but, while not producing their best display, credit had to go to the fine performance of their lower league opponents.