Downham Town hosted UCL Premier Side Huntingdon Town in their return to the FA Vase following a tremendous effort by a team of volunteers to ensure that the Ground Grading requirements were met to ensure a successful application.

Huntingdon Town came to the Memorial with a big reputation, for years they have been one of the frontrunners in the UCL so this was likely to be far from an easy ride for the young Hosts.

From the start however it was Town who set the tempo and midfield duo Calvert and Sykes controlled proceedings superbly. Merrishaw and in particular Mantle were tormenting their full backs with trickery and endeavour.

The hosts top two of Smith and Tansley were astounding in their work rate and dominance of the visitors back four; finding themselves bearing down on goal time and time again however Huntingdon stood firm and took their sprightly hosts in goalless at half time.

The second half started in the same vein, and jaw dropping wing play from Mantle allowed Tansley to drill the ball across the 6 yard box for his partner Smith to tap home past the stranded Goalkeeper.

Tansley was demonstrating superb centre forward play all afternoon; holding his man off, getting him turned and chasing lost causes - this was a real display of dominance from last seasons leading scorer and he deservedly got himself a brace of well taken goals to put Town 3 goals up.

A small lapse of concentration gifted the visitors a consolation goal but the game was well and truly put to bed when inspirational Captain Craig Dickson smashed home a Ronaldo-esque Free Kick from a good 30 yards out in the final stages of the match to send his team into the second qualifying round of the national competition.

A truly immense Team display from every single man in Red has ensured that Town repaid the small army of volunteers who helped get the Club back in the Vase. Their reward is another home tie - against another UCL Premier side in Sleaford Town FC next month.

Downham Town FC

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