Coventry Copsewood 0
Holbeach United 2
Second-half strikes from frontmen Jake Clitheroe and Jordan Thomas helped Holbeach United dodge a banana skin in the Buildbase FA Vase on Saturday.
Step six minnows Coventry Copsewood – who were playing their first-ever game in the competition – gave the Tigers an early scare before fizzling out after a red card midway through the first half.
The hosts were infuriated by not being awarded a penalty and seemingly took their anger out on Stuart Muldrew, who was clattered by a very late tackle.
From then on Holbeach picked their hosts off, with substitute Clitheroe firing home from a Matt Warfield corner early in the second period.
The win was completed when Aaron Eyett led a counter attack that was finished by Thomas, who rounded the keeper, late on.
That earned the Tigers £600 in prize money and an away trip to Long Eaton United on November 12.
There was one negative for Holbeach, though, with striker Josh Ford taken off with a suspected broken foot.
Tigers’ player/boss Tom Roberts said: “It was a comfortable win, but we didn’t make it as comfortable as we should have – if that makes sense.
“It was their first-ever game in the FA Vase and they were clearly pumped up for it.
“To be fair to them, they should have had a penalty moments before they had a player sent off for what was a very late challenge on Stuart Muldrew – the lad almost volleyed him.
“Once they had their man sent off in the first half we knew it would be a long waiting game. But what mattered was being patient – and we were.
“To be honest, we weren’t as dominant as we perhaps should have been.
“But in the Vase it’s all about winning and we got the job done in the end.
“We’re on the road at Long Eaton next and we’ll address that one closer to the time.
“It’d be nice to get a home tie, but it really doesn’t make much difference to us.”
Tigers: Portas, Walton, A Jackson, Stevens, Tinkler, Warfield, Muldrew, Jack Smith, Ford, Lockie, Thomas. Subs used: Clitheroe, Eyett, Treacher. Not used: Roberts, Wright.
Attendance: 98.
