Season 2014/15 - 1st Qualifying Round

Bowers & Pitsea 4 Codicote 2 (Saturday 6th September 2014)

So my journey to Wembley on May 9th began on Non-League Day in Pitsea as local side Bowers took on Codicote who are from Welwyn Garden City. Bowers play in the Essex Senior League while Codicote play in the Spartan South Midlands Division One, which is one step below Bowers in the non-league system. The home side had the first sight of goal on 6 minutes when Tom Hine drove into the box but his cross shot was well saved by keeper Billy Barnes. Two minutes later and Bowers had another sight of goal when Rob Whitnell drove towards the box and lost the ball but then won it back and managed to make space for a shot but his left footed effort was scuffed well wide. Bowers were caught out on 21 minutes when Codicotes first real effort on goal resulted in them taking the lead. Defender Charlie Marshall played a pin point pass over the defence finding striker Ben La Honore inside the box and he took a touch a fired past Jason Baker with aplomb to make it 0-1. However it didn’t take Bowers too long to level as Codicote’s lead lasted two minutes. Bowers full back Neil Marron attacked down the right and his cross into the box was hit against the bar from a defender and it bounced out to Rob Whitnell who managed to loop a header back towards goal and despite the defenders best attempts to clear the ball it went in via the crossbar for 1-1.

Five minutes later and Bowers had turned the tie around when a lovely Jamie Salmon free kick from the left found centre back Luke Wilson unmarked in the middle of the box and he volleyed past Barnes with his left foot for 2-1. Bowers then nearly undid all the hard work by almost gifting Codicote an eqaliser when a defensive error allowed Joel Mason to be played in on goal but he hit his left footed effort over the crossbar. On 38 minutes Bowers winger Tom Hine cut back and swung in a cross which Rob Whitnell headed towards goal but this was straight at keeper Barnes who gathered easily. Codicote put some more pressure on the Bowers goal five minutes before the break, firstly a free kick pumped into the area was punched clear by Baker and then from the next ball in Baker had to be alert to punch another ball away, this time for a corner, to stop the forward getting a sight of goal. Then on 42 minutes Codicote’s Joel Mason produced a decent stop from Baker down to his right from the edge of the box as the away side were having their best spell of the game. And right on half time they were to level the matchwhen goalscorer Ben La Honore picked up the ball mid way inside Bowers territory and ran towards the area before unleashing a left footed strike from about 20 yards which swerved away from Baker and into the goal, making it 2-2 at the half.

Bowers started the half the stronger and three minutes into it a Llewellyn free kick found the head of his strike partner Whitnell but his header at goal was easy for keeper Barnes. On 55 minutes the away side had an effort on goal when Joel Mason turned and struck the ball from range but Baker easily saved the effort. Two minutes later and Bowers went up the other end and Llewellyn turned his marker allowing space for a shot but his effort was scuffed well wide. Just before the hour mark and again Bowers attacked and Whitnell’s lay off to Llewellyn resulted in the latters effort flying to high and wide. The game was being played at 100 miles an hour as it was a fairly entertaining encounter. On 62 minutes Codicote’s task became more difficult when their midfielder Keith Coughlin dived in on Jamie Salmon and having already been cautioned earlier in the half saw red as he was given his second yellow of the day, meaning the away side had to endure the last half hour with just ten men.

However Bowers found it difficult to break down a stubborn Codicote outfit and if anything it was the away side who created the next two attacks of any note. On 74 minutes dangerman Ben La Honore got into the Bowers box but his left footed effort across goal went just wide of the target. Then on 77 minutes a dangerous corner was punched away brilliantly by Baker under immense pressure from Codicote players inside the six yard box. Bowers were always threatening to break down the Codicote defence eventually as the ten men began to take it’s toll on the away side and sure enough with ten minutes to go Bowers broke through when a great ball into the six yard box found substitute Ashley Wackers-Kyriacou whose effort from point black range was somehow kept out by Barnes although in the effort of palming the ball back out it inadvertently hit defender Ricky Bridge and also Ashley Wackers-Kyriacou and crawled back into the goal despite Barnes trying to keep it out, so it was 3-2.

Bowers gave away a silly free kick with five minutes to go and this was taken by that man Ben La Honore and although it was a decent effort keeper Baker palmed the effort away from goal diving to his right. Bowers sealed the deal with a minute to go when they broke out and Jamie Salmon’s lovely through ball to Ashley Wackers-Kyriacou was slotted past the onrushing keeper Barnes to make it 4-2. A special mention must go to Luke Wilson, Bowers centre back, who was colossal in defence today and also popped up to score Bowers second goal. Him and Jamie Salmon were my picks for best players on the pitch today and they played their part in taking the home side through to play Haverhill Rovers at home in the next round.

Bowers & Pitsea: 1.Jason Baker, 2.Scott Pethers(c), 3.Neil Marron, 4.Luke Wilson, 5.Aaron Russell, 6.Ross Adams, 7.Tom Hine, 8.Jamie Salmon, 9.Rob Whitnell, 10.Martin Llewellyn, 11.Luke Hornsley
Subs: 12.Lewis Blanchett, 14.Sean Hinton, 15.Harley Kee, 16.Dan Brown, 17.Ashley Wackers-Kyriacou

Codicote: 1.Billy Barnes, 2.Charlie Marshall, 3.Paul Donnelly, 4.Ajet Sheku, 5.Mark Bryant(c), 6.Ricky Bridge, 7.Joe Tyler, 8.Keith Coughlin, 9.Ben La Honore, 10.Joel Mason, 11.Liam Errington
Subs: 12.Craig Cawcett, 14.Bailey Chapman-Hearn, 15.Kristain Michalak

Referee: Scott Rudd
Assistant Referees: Martin Bullock, Harry Phillips

Att: 38

So there you have it, a great start to my Vase trail for 2014-15. Six goals and plenty of action to enjoy, let that continue for rounds to come!!! Anyway here all the results from the weekend’s FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round matches:-

Friday 5th September
Crawley Green 3 Thrapston Town 1 (aet)

Saturday 6th September
Colne 2 Penrith AFC 1
Darlington Railway Athletic 0 Sunderland RCA 5
South Shields 1 Willington 0
West Allotment Celtic 1 Eccleshill United 0
Silsden AFC 4 Brandon United 0
Holker Old Boys 3 Norton & Stockton Ancients 0
Hebburn Town 0 Marske United 2
Daisy Hill 3 Newton Aycliffe 2
Birtley Town 2 Thornaby 1
Jarrow Roofing Boldon CA 2 Ryhope CW 3 (aet)
Chester-le-Street Town 3 Knaresborough Town 1
Northallerton Town 0 North Shields 1
Consett AFC 2 Thackley 1
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 1 Billingham Town 1 (aet)
Barnoldswick Town 5 Tow Law Town 1 (aet)
Alsager Town 1 Maltby Main 3
Staveley MW 1 Athersley Recreation 2
Dronfield Town W-O Cammell Laird (walkover for Dronfield Town – Cammell Laird removed)
Rossington Main 2 AFC Blackpool 0
Runcorn Town 11 Glasshoughton Welfare 0
Winsford United 5 Cheadle Town 0
Irlam 1 St Helens Town 2 (aet)
Hemsworth MW 3 Parkgate 2
Stockport Sports 5 Selby Town 5 (aet)
Squires Gate 2 AFC Liverpool 4
Vauxhall Motors 1 Rochdale Town 3
Atherton Collieries 4 Penistone Church 0
Shawbury United 7 Coventry Copsewood 1
Dudley Sports 0 Eccleshall 3
Kirby Muxloe 1 Stafford Town 0
Studley 3 Bilston Town 1
Continental Star 3 Heath Hayes 2
Sporting Khalsa 4 Wolverhampton Casuals 0
Southam United 1 Wednesfield 0 (aet)
Ellesmere Rangers 2 Stone Old Alleynians 2 (aet)
Bewdley Town 3 Coventry Sphinx 4 (aet)
Lichfield City 4 Alvechurch 2 (aet)
Cadbury Athletic 3 Bardon Hill Sports 4 (aet)
Wolverhampton SC 0 Gornal Athletic 5
Shifnal Town 2 Racing Club Warwick 1
Wellington Amateurs 0 Pegasus Juniors 3
Malvern Town 2 Walsall Wood 3
AFC Wulfrunians 3 Black Country Rangers 1
Tipton Town 2 Hinckley AFC 1
Thurnby Nirvana 2 Greenwood Meadows 1
Harborough Town 0 Holbrook Sports 1
Stapenhill 0 South Normanton Athletic 3
Holwell Sports 4 Anstey Nomads 2
Retford United 3 Shirebrook Town 1
Long Eaton United 3 Arnold Town 0
Louth Town 2 Aylestone Park 1 (aet)
Radford 1 Blaby & Whetstone Athletic 2
Cleethorpes Town 5 Loughborough University 2
AFC Mansfield 3 Teversal 2
Thetford Town 2 Ely City 1
Yaxley 2 Swaffham Town 0
Eynesbury Rovers 1 Mildenhall Town 1 (aet)
Kirkley & Pakefield 2 Diss Town 1
Godmanchester Rovers 8 St Neots Town Youth & Saints 0
Bowers & Pitsea 4 Codicote 2
Barking 1 Stanway Rovers 2 (played at Stanway Rovers FC)
Halstead Town 1 FC Broxbourne Borough 2 (aet)
Wivenhoe Town 2 Takeley 1
Hoddesdon Town 2 Sawbridgeworth Town 1
Cornard United 1 FC Romania 2
Basildon United 0 Haverhill Borough 1
Baldock Town 4 Sporting Bengal United 1
Hatfield Town 1 Hertford Town 2
AFC Kempston Rovers 4 Sileby Rangers 0
CB Hounslow United 1 AFC Dunstable 3
Oxhey Jets 4 Bedfont & Feltham 1
Cogenhoe United 1 Bedford 2
Burton Park Wanderers 2 Buckingham Athletic 2 (aet)
Wootton Blue Cross 1 Biggleswade United 7
Broadfields United 0 Harefield United 6
Northampton Spencer 3 Wellingborough Whitworths 1
Langford 2 Spelthorne Sports 2 (aet)
Berkhamsted 2 London Tigers 1
Potton United 0 Winslow United 0 (aet)
Raunds Town 0 Woodford United 2 (aet)
Newport Pagnell Town 3 Bugbrooke St Michaels 1
New College Swindon 3 Fleet Spurs 3 (aet)
Cove 2 Wootton Bassett Town 3
Flackwell Heath 3 Ash United 2
Fairford Town 1 Reading Town 2
Alton Town 1 Tadley Calleva 2
Cheltenham Saracens 1 Milton United 2
Slimbridge AFC 1 Kidlington 0
Woodley Town 3 Badshot Lea 0
Windsor 3 Shrivenham 0
Hartley Wintney 3 Holyport 2
Canterbury City 2 Banstead Athletic 4
Southwick 3 Dorking 2
St Francis Rangers 5 Oakwood 1 (aet)
Wick & Barnham United 4 Haywards Heath Town 0
Holmesdale 4 Colliers Wood United 5
Croydon 3 Phoenix Sports 3 (aet)
Ringmer 4 Saltdean United 1
Horley Town 3 Sevenoaks Town 2
Raynes Park Vale 2 Crowborough Athletic 1
Lancing 4 Mole Valley SCR 1
Dorking Wanderers 3 Chichester City 0
Newhaven 2 Greenwich Borough 6
Epsom Athletic 3 Deal Town 2
Selsey 0 Corinthian 3
Pewsey Vale 0 Melksham Town 4
Amesbury Town 3 Hythe & Dibden 1
Swanage Town & Herston 2 Downton 0
Cribbs 0 Cowes Sports 1
Hamworthy United 6 Winterbourne United 3
Almondsbury UWE 2 Whitchurch United 3
Warminster Town 1 Longwell Green Sports 2 (aet)
Wincanton Town 0 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 5
Andover Town 1 Westbury United 0
Lymington Town 0 Romsey Town 8
Fareham Town 2 Fawley 0
Moneyfields 4 Brockenhurst 0
Roman Glass St George 2 Devizes Town 1
AFC Portchester 2 Bitton AFC 1
Oldland Abbotonians 1 Bradford Town 7
Bridport 5 Totton & Eling 0
Team Solent 3 Cadbury Heath 3 (aet)
Elmore 0 Torpoint Athletic 5
Camelford 0 St Blazey 0 (aet)
Plymouth Parkway 4 Willand Rovers 2
Wells City 0 Brislington 2
Welton Rovers 3 Cheddar 2
Barnstaple Town 5 Elburton Villa 0
Ashton & Backwell United 2 Bishop Sutton 4
AFC St Austell 8 Porthleven 1
Crediton United 0 Saltash United 3
Tavistock AFC 1 Radstock Town 2
Buckland Athletic 1 Cullompton Rangers 0
Newquay 1 Bovey Tracey 0
Stourport Swifts 2 Bromsgrove Sporting 2 (aet)

Sunday 7th September
Fisher 3 Woodstock Sports 3 (aet)
Oldham Boro 0 1874 Northwich 2
Albion Sports 5 Bridlington Town 2
Appleby Frodingham 2 Ashton Town AFC 4 (aet)
Worsbrough Bridge Athletic 3 Pontefract Collieries 2 (aet)
Grimsby Borough 0 Clipstone 6
Irchester United 2 Staines Lammas 2
Glebe 0 Bexhill United 2
Seven Acre & Sidcup 0 Pagham 1

Tuesday 9th September
Buckingham Athletic 3 Burton Park Wanderers 3 (AET, Burton Park Wanderers FC won 4-2 on kicks from the penalty mark)
Fleet Spurs 2 New College Swindon 4 (aet)
Billingham Town 1 Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 0
Selby Town 3 Stockport Sports 1
Bromsgrove Sporting 3 Stourport Swifts 2 (aet)
Mildenhall Town 2 Eynesbury Rovers 0
Staines Lammas 3 Irchester United 1 (tie awarded to Irchester United - Staines Lammas withdrawn)
Spelthorne Sports 4 Langford 1
Winslow United 1 Potton United 2

Wednesday 10th September
Cadbury Heath 2 Team Solent 1 (aet)
Stone Old Alleynians 2 Ellesmere Rangers 1
Phoenix Sports 1 Croydon 0
St Blazey 1 Camelford 1 (AET, St Blazey FC won 5-4 on kicks from the penalty mark)

So we are underway for the FA Vase 2014-15 season, and my trail takes me back to the Len Salmon Stadium for Bowers & Pitsea v Haverhill Rovers.