The scheduled kick off time of 7.45pm was delayed for ten minutes. This was not, however, due to crowd congestion with all 116 supporters managing to get in on time; it was because of a very heavy downpour of rain, although the two sides briefly entertained the supporters by each attempting to beat the world record for the most people crammed in a dug-out.

When the kick off finally took place it was several minutes before most of the crowd noticed, and rather longer before many of them cared. Ex-Gas Head and Grecian and current Keynsham captain Lee Zabek floated in a couple of good looking free kicks early on, and Keynsham earned the first corner of the match five minutes in. Yemi Odubade shot well over, and both goal keepers showed bravery with Steve Collis diving at the feet of Tavis Carter and his Amin Jones similarly denying Yemi Odubade.

Steve Thompson "stole" the ball and made a good run before passing to Dale Williams. His shot was blocked, and from the rebound Nicolas Mirza found his effort deflected for the first Yeovil corner. A Dale Williams shot was soon deflected for a second corner, and a further effort from the young Welshman went wide.

A good header from distance by Charlie Welch left Jones untroubled, and the first half reached the midway point with no goals, no clear cut chances, and early man of the match contenders in the hard working Thommo for Yeovil and the experienced Zabek for the home side.

Although Yeovil had the majority of possession their Screwfix Western Premier opponents were keen to push forward, and a free kick taken by Kevin Rawlings was headed out by Mirza. With the rain getting even heavier, Kezie Ibe played a ball through to Yemi Odubade who took it to the bye-line before crossing to Mirza who shot in, but the assistant referee judged that the ball had gone out of play before Yemi crossed and the "goal" was disallowed. Carter charged forward with a snaking run for Keynsham, but he tried to beat one man too many and lost out when an earlier pass could have been threatening.

With the half hour mark fast approaching Yemi appeared to be pulled down by Carey Morgan, but play was allowed to continue. After a flick on in the Yeovil area Steve Collis dived at the feet of Leon Simpson. The pitch was now - not surprisingly - cutting up pretty badly, and Carter beat Yeovil trialist Mark Jones (another former Gas Head) before shooting into the side netting. Nice skills from Kezie Ibe ended with a tumble in the area, but referee Mr Cassidy clearly indicated that he saw nothing wrong in the challenge.

A good 38th minute run by Steve Reed was prematurely ended when Jeff Copp cut him down just outside the penalty area. Steve Thompson's free kick hit the wall, and Charlie Welch fired the rebound over. In the last five minutes of the first half Ibe found Yemi on the left, and his cross was well controlled by Dale Williams but his flick across took a deflection off a Yeovil player before going out for a goal kick.

When Thompson fouled Rawlings the Zabek free kick eventually found Carey Morgan, who ran into the area before going down after a challenge from Williams. After a heart stopping moment when we thought a penalty had been awarded it was realised that referee Mr Cassidy had actually pointed for a goal kick!

The final first half action of any interest was a low Steve Reed shot which went around the right hand post a couple of minutes before the break.

The second half started with another Zabek free kick, and then a good run from Mark Smith who found Ibe whose cross was defended, but ultimately fell to Williams who chipped from distance which passed the goal and touched the side netting.

A Zabek free kick from inside the Keynsham half went over the attack and defence alike, and seemed to bounce higher than expected but did not fool Collis who judged his catch comfortably. Five minutes into the second period a foul on Carl Rutter earned Steve Thompson a yellow card.

Three minutes later saw Amin Jones execute a superb double save, with a close range stop from Yemi followed by tipping the Ibe shot from the rebound over the bar for a corner - outstanding stuff. He was finally beaten a couple of minutes later when a corner was cleared as far as Mirza, and his cross came loose to Sam CROFT on the left of the penalty area, and he shot past Jones. 0 - 1.

So perhaps the floodgates would now open? Err, no! A minute later a fairly controversial equaliser came when the assistant referee on the far side flagged for offside, but the referee over-ruled him (judging the player to be not interfering with play) and Marc HUGHES was allowed to shoot past Collis from close range. 1 - 1.

After the fairly dull first half the second period had sparked into life with two goals in as many minutes. Whatever next? Well, a minute later Yemi was upended in the Keynsham area and Mr Cassidy awarded a penalty. To keep up the tension Steve Reed fired low to the left, but the excellent Jones saved superbly at full stretch, and then stopped the shot from the rebound by a Yeovil player following up. Phew!

With an hour gone the pitch now resembled a quagmire. The teams continued to entertain, and Keynsham goal scorer Hughes broke through a saw his shot well parried by Collis for a corner. Yemi then shrugged off several challenges before feeding Williams on the right, but his low cross went behind the Yeovil forwards. Dale Williams was then brought down on the edge of the area, and the ball eventually fell to Steve Reed who shot well over.

With 25 minutes remaining an excellent free kick from Zabek, heading for the top left hand corner, forced a great save from Collis. The ball fell to Carter who, from a fairly tight angle, blasted the ball over.

A Yeovil corner by Thompson was blocked and returned to him. This time he floated the ball over, and Ibe tried to control and make progress but was fouled for a second penalty. Ibe himself got up to take the penalty, and again Jones made an excellent save, but Mark SMITH powered the rebound into the roof of the net from the right hand side of the penalty area. 1 - 2.

Keynsham Town replaced Rawlings with Jay Mitchell on the right of midfield, and Yeovil replaced central midfielder Thompson with Shaun Smith. Keynsham were in no mood to concede and a good turn and shot by Carter forced another good stop from Collis.

Approaching the last quarter of hour, Williams began a move in the Yeovil half, passing to Ibe then running down the right flank to receive the return ball and cross, and then it was again Dale WILLIAMS who had made his way into the middle to receive and control the ball before slotting into the left corner. 1 - 3. Game over?

Following the goal, Keynsham took off French and brought on Phil Short, and Yeovil replaced Welch with Shane Case. What could possibly follow the best goal of the night which sealed the game for Yeovil? How about an even better goal which brought Keynsham back into contention! A corner was taken from the right, and was met by player-manager Gary SILVERTHORNE with a thundering volley from just inside the area which gave Collis no chance. 2 - 3. Game back on!

Coming up to the last ten minutes, and with Jamie Underwood on for Greg Squibb in the final substitution of the night, a good Keynsham attack ended when a Silverthorne shot was well taken by Collis. Nicolas Mirza then had his name taken for what looked to be a fairly tame challenge.

With the final seconds ticking away Kezie Ibe fired a teasing low cross, and the unfortunate Lee ZABEK finally found the net, but at the wrong end for his side. 2-4.

A place in the second round with a trip to Bristol Manor Farm for Yeovil, but credit to Keynsham Town for a battling display with particular mentions for Zabek, Silverthorne and the outstanding Amin Jones in goal. For Yeovil Thompson again showed that he can still perform, and Yemi and Kezie were joined by Dale Williams in causing problems for the Keynsham defence. Youth players Croft, Squibb and Welch again showed their promise, and trialist Mark Smith had an excellent second half after a fairly quiet opening 45 minutes. Steve Collis once again reminded Gary Johnson that he is a goal keeper of great quality.

Robin Evans

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