MINERS DIG OUT A VASE VICTORY

Skipp's finish was the only goal of the game and sees the Miners progress to a home tie against Bovey Tracey in a fortnight's time. For Grove, it was another improved performance as they rebuild the side this season and a better performance than the league game two weeks ago which saw the visitors win 4-1.

Manager Jamie Hillman brought in Odd Down midfielder Ellis McDonald during the week and the 21-year-old went straight into the starting lineup, one of five changes to the side that picked up a point at Almondsbury last week. Missing were Gary Shorney, Aidan Jones, Steve Ratcliffe and Jamie Godfrey so in came McDonald, Rob Mallett, Jack Jones, Troy Walters and a welcome return for Luke Crewe wth Regan Burton taking his place on the bench.

The first half saw manager Hillman forced into making two early changes through injuries with Mallet and Jack Jones limping off to be replaced by Giorgio Mancini and Burton inside the first half hour. It left little real options to change things later in the game and Radstock took the lead shortly after when Morgan Skipp slotted home from inside the box.

Craig White had the Grove's best effort before the break but got under his shot and it sailed over the crossbar. After the break, the nearest Radstock came to scoring early on was through the unlikeliest of sources. Visiting keeper Jack Scrivens came out of his box to clear under pressure and his huge kick caught the wind and dropped just the right side of the crossbar for Hengrove's fans.

Troy Walters and Luke Crewe tested Scrivens with routine efforts but in the end, Hengrove had to be grateful to their own keeper Aaron Greatbanks for a fine save late on to deny sub Jack Pearson and keep the score at 0-1.

Next up for the Grove is a home league game next Saturday at Paprika Park against Devizes Town.