Five star Bashing for Calne (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Five star Bashing for Calne

10:00am Thursday 18th September 2008 in Football

Football: Calne Town's FA Cup dream is over for another season after suffering a 5-0 defeat at home to Southern League Premier Division side Bashley.

For the Lilywhites the game was the biggest the club had played for many years and hopes of another upset were high after defeating Andover in the last round.

Calne's assistant manager Simon Hillier was philosophical about his side's showing on Saturday.

He said: "It was always going to be a tough task playing a team two leagues above us.

"To be fair to them they did a very professional job on us.

"They only created six or seven chances but they took five of them.

"They scored at crucial times and showed the difference in class."

Hillier admitted Calne needed a performance like the 3-1 Andover win to progress. He said: "In the first 20 minutes we hassled and harried and created a couple of chances.

"But we didn't have any players on the top of their game like the last round and that was what we needed.

"The players worked hard and played their best but on the day it just wasn't enough."

Bashley's first goal was scored on 20 minutes by winger Charlie Knight who finished coolly past keeper Steve Allison in the Calne goal.

Bashley doubled their lead 11 minutes before the interval after Gary Blackwood upended Richard Gillespie in the box.

Gillespie picked himself up and converted from the spot. The third goal came 12 minutes into th second half when Gillespie raced onto a through ball before giving Allison no chance with a clinical finish.

Gillespie was involved in the fourth goal after his header was saved by Allison only for Matt Parnell to prod home the rebound before Chris Knowles got the fifth eight minutes from the end.

Calne's best effort came from a Ben Fitch shot that was deflected over the bar.

Hillier said: "At half-time we told the players the next goal was crucial.

"When their third went in it was pretty much damage limitation at that point.

"But we've had a good run in the competition and earnt some money for the club.

"There's no shame in losing to a side with the quality players they have.

"On Saturday we're playing Cowes on the Isle of Wight in the FA Vase so we want to bounce back as soon as possible."