DAVID BLIZZARD’S second-half strike ensured victory for Falmouth Town in their FA Vase tie with Clevedon Town at Bickland Park on Saturday.

The win over the Western League Premier side meant Falmouth enjoyed a successful return to the competition after a three-year absence.

The North Somerset club took the lead through Lucas Vowles’ first-half header, but James Ward levelled for Town early in the second half before Blizzard struck to send Town into the First Round Proper.

Jordan Annear spied a chance to open the scoring in the 19th minute when he caught visiting goalkeeper Connor Sidley-Adams off his line, with his lob grazing the side netting.

But it was the visitors who took the lead on 26 minutes when Vowles rose brilliantly to head past Ryan Barnes from a corner.

Falmouth grew as the half wore on and threatened to score, with brilliant footwork from Jack Bowyer to set up a Martyn Duff strike a highlight.

Clevedon almost doubled their lead seconds into the second half, with Vowles forces Barnes into a terrific diving save.

But the hosts were level on 52 minutes when Ward got on the end of David Broglino’s corner and powered a header past Sidley-Adams.

Falmouth turned the tie on its head ten minutes later when Annear played Blizzard in to slot into the far corner from the right-hand side of the box and send the majority of the 166 supporters wild.

Annear twice came close to making it 3-1 shortly after when his lob dropped inches wide, before the Falmouth man saw his header cleared off the line.

Clevedon threw everything at their hosts to force an equaliser, and they almost had it three minutes from time when Harry Walton’s effort was defected just wide of Barnes’ post.

Falmouth: R Barnes, D Blizzard, O Moody (H Clarke 63), M Duff, J Cooper, J Ward, L Brabyn, D Broglino, J Bowyer (M Buchan 71), J Annear, T Nixon. Subs (unused): A Williams, T Barwell, A Westgarth.

Clevedon: C Sidley-Adams, T Ashmead, E Nicholson (S Downe 69), H Smith (H Walton 75), G Hayer, C Kingdon, S Camper, M Williams, A Ferris, L Vowles, J Sell (A Camm 83).

  • Falmouth return to SWPL Premier action on Wednesday night when they host St Austell (kick-off 7.30pm).