THROGMORTON CUP

Wadebridge Town 1 Saltash United 2

SALTASH got out of jail at Bodieve Park on Tuesday evening to claim a home quarter-final tie against Ivybridge Town as this Throgmorton Cup game was finally completed at the 11th time of asking.

'The pitch was atrocious and, to be honest, that suited them more than us,' revealed Ashes manager Kevin Hendy.

'To be honest we were second best for a lot of the game and we weren't really at the races and it took two, completely different, but superbly-taken goals from Marc Thorne to see us through,' admitted Hendy.

'We played poorly and won the game, which is better than our normal luck when we play superbly and get the match pinched from us.

'We have to take the result and not the performance as we are now in the quarter-finals of another cup and that is all that mattered at the end of the day.'

The Bridgers had the only chance of a goalless first half when Chris Wolstencroft's looping header was superbly cleared off the Saltash line by the head of Ashes central defender Dave Smith.

The second half was only two minutes old when the visitors opened the scoring as Danny Lewis sent over a low cross, from the by-line, that found Thorne getting in between two defenders to steer the ball home from close range.

Wadebridge were deservedly level 13 minutes from time, when Aiden Dodd let fly from the edge of the box and the ball flew past Ashes goalkeeper Kenny Griffiths and into the net via the inside of the left-hand post.

Wadebridge stormed forward in numbers and were unlucky as Paul Grills broke free, but his shot hit the crossbar, only for the Bridgers' substitute to fire his follow-up effort agonisingly wide.

Josh Insley then had a clear opportunity with only three minutes of play remaining, but his effort was inches off target.

With the game entering stoppage time, Saltash struck.

Bradley Farnham cushioned the ball down to Thorne, who swivelled and hit a ferocious first- time drive, from the angle of the box, that flew across Payne and into the far top corner.

'I know it is an old adage but that was a goal worthy of winning any game,' praised Hendy, after witnessing the conclusion of his side's jailbreak.