Season 2014/15 - 4th Round Proper

So finally I get around to writing my review of the Fourth Round Proper of the FA Vase where the last 32 teams still in the competition battled it out to take their place in the last 16 and one more step towards a Wembley finale in May. All 16 teams are now known so here is my review of the Fourth Round as I visited Welling United‘s Park View Road ground to see Erith & Belvedere v Yaxley:-

The Journey

Fairly simple journey to South East London this one. Train from Southend East to Fenchurch Street then walk to Tower Hill tube station to catch Victoria/Circle line to Victoria before taking the train to Welling from there.

Took about two hours in total and once in Welling had a twenty minute walk (via Subway for my free 6 inch sub) to the ground. This was my second visit to Park View Road and it hasn’t changed much with the old main stand over on the far side whilst the newer now main stand sits on the other side and this is where most of the 212 crowd gathered.

The Ground

This being a Conference side’s ground it’s fairly sizable compared to most step five set ups.

The ground is Welling United’s but Erith ground share with them (hence the game was on Sunday as Welling had played the day before). The pitch was in pretty good nick considering and the stand I sat in houses the bulk of the crowd and media and committee members.

The opposite side of the ground is the old main stand which wasn’t really used by anyone. This is the side the dugout’s are situated so at least they don’t have any grief from disgruntled supporters!! Behind each goal are sizable terraces and I believe the ground holds around 5,000,so not bad. Their was a bar underneath the newer stand but I didn’t go into here so cannot tell you what it was like!!! There was also a tea bar serving the normal football grub.

The Match

Erith & Belvedere 1 Yaxley 0 (FA Vase Fourth Round Proper, Sunday 18th January 2015)

The first chance of the contest went to the hosts and it was an ideal start as it resulted in theopening goal as a great run down the left by Walker saw him play a ball inside to Marsh who turned and struck past keeper Butcher from the edge of the area and a 1-0 scoreline.

Yaxley though responded well and on 13 minutes good play from the visitors resulted in Hook hitting just wide of post from long range and then a minute later another shot from range by Yaxley’s Cotton forced home keeper Kamurasi into a decent save.

On 16 minutes another long range effort from the visitors, this time from Hook, forced another save from Kamurasi. The hosts had their second chance of the half on 24 minutes when good play from the tricky Walker down the left saw him find goalscorer Marsh although his effort this time from distance flew high and wide of the Yaxley goal. It was the hosts who were making the better opportunities though and on the half hour mark came close to levelling the tie when some fantastic one touch football resulted in Hook striking an effort against the base of the post with Kamurasi beaten all ends up.

On 34 minutes a chance for the hosts as Erith’s Walker almost capitalised on hesitation at the back before keeper Butcher smothered the ball to snuff out any danger then down the other end Yaxley hook wide after keeper Kamurasi has failed to hold onto a cross.

It was Erith’s turn to strike the woodwork on 38 minutes as full back Matthews overhit a ball back into area and it bounced off the bar and over. Two minutes from the half came Yaxley’s best chance to level the match when they were awarded a penalty after Cobb had burst into the box before being upended for the penalty. Hughes took the spot kick but saw it saved by Kamurasi although it was a pretty poor penalty to be fair, and saw the hosts go into the break still with their one goal lead in tact, somehow.

Half time: Erith & Belvedere 1 Yaxley 0.

The second half started slowly and on 53 minutes a great run down the left by Yaxley’s Cotton saw him drive towards the box before his driven cross just invaded the oncoming Hughes.

Just past the hour mark the hosts’s Alfie May laid in Matthews whose cross was almost turned in by Yaxley centre half Stone but apart from these two chances not a lot else happened as the game had become scrappy.

On 65 minutes Cotton got in behind Erith’s defence but Kamurasi came to the rescue again, coming out to save brilliantly and on 70 minutes great trickery on left by who else than Erith’s Walker saw him flash an effort across goal and wide. With just over ten minutes remaining Yaxley sub Furnell saw his effort deflected wide for a corner which came to nothing after a foul on keeper Kamurasi. Alfie May then pinched the ball of the visitors and charged towards goal but saw his effort blocked for corner. From the second corner of the attack Springett headed a free header well wide.

With three minutes of the ninety left Hughes free kick was headed wide by Carter for Yaxley when well placed and then just as the clock ticked over to 90 minutes Kamurasi makes another point blank save to deny Cotton. He really was keeping his side ahead in this one. Erith defended for their lives in the closing stages as Yaxley threw everything at them in an attempt to force extra time at least but alas the Kent side held on to take their place in the Last 16 after a determined hard fought victory.

Full time: Erith & Belvedere 1 Yaxley 0

Erith & Belvedere: 1.Kamurasi 2.Matthews 3.Craig 4.Richmond 5.Groombridge 6.Johnson 7.Springett 8.L May 9.A May 10.Marsh 11.Walker
Subs: 12.Hales 14.Wilson 15.Minter 16.Parkinson 17.Jackson

Yaxley: 1.Butcher 2.Duncliffe 3.Hipwell 4.Nolan 5.Stone 6.Morris 7.Cobb 8.Hook 9.Carter 10.Hughes 11.Cotton
Subs: 12.Cooke 14.Coleman 15.Hailstone 16.Furnell

Att: 212

Here are some photo’s from the game:-

Post Match

After a lung busting walk/run back to catch the train at Welling I made the same route back via Victoria and Fenchurch Street and arrived home in good time for my Sunday tea. Another enjoyable day was had.

 Fourth Round Proper Results

Shaw Lane Aquaforce did eventually take their place in the 4th Round after they eventually played their outstanding 3rd Round tie at Oakwell, winning 3-2.  Here are the 4th round results:-

Saturday 17th January
Walsall Wood 1 Shaw Lane Aquaforce 1 (aet)
North Shields 4 Consett 1
Thurnby Nirvana 3 Holbeach United 4 (aet)
Chadderton P-P AFC Mansfield
Worksop Town P-P Glossop North End
Heanor Town 0 Dunston UTS 1
Tadcaster Albion 3 Brocton 2
Bodmin Town 0 Phoenix Sports 2
Stanway Rovers 1 Saffron Walden Town 0
Ascot United 4 Colliers Wood United 2 (aet)
Bradford Town 3 Melksham Town 1
Ashford United P-P Norwich United
Greenwich Borough 2 AFC St Austell 3
Flackwell Heath 3 Hullbridge Sports 0
Highworth Town 1 Tunbridge Wells 1 (aet)

Sunday 18th January
Erith & Belvedere 1 Yaxley 0

Tuesday 20th January
Shaw Lane Aquaforce P-P Walsall Wood
Chadderton P-P AFC Mansfield
Ashford United 0 Norwich United 5

Wednesday 21st January
Worksop Town P-P Glossop North End

Saturday 24th January
Shaw Lane Aquaforce P-P Walsall Wood
Chadderton 0 AFC Mansfield 5
Worksop Town 0 Glossop North End 1 (aet)
Tunbridge Wells 2 Highworth Town 2 (aet; Highworth Town won 4-2 on penalties)

Tuesday 27th January
Shaw Lane Aquaforce 4 Walsall Wood 1 (at Worksop Town)

As you can see some games took a while to take place due to the weather in various parts of the UK but the round is now complete!!!

Here is the draw for the Fifth Round Proper with ties taking place on Saturday 7th February:-

Bradford Town v Highworth Town
AFC St Austell v Stanway Rovers
Ascot United v Norwich United
Shaw Lane Aquaforce v Flackwell Heath
Glossop North End v Dunston UTS
Holbeach United v Erith & Belvedere
North Shields v Phoenix Sports
AFC Mansfield v Tadcaster Albion

So there you have it, we are down to the final sixteen sides now, only three wins away from a dream final at Wembley Stadium in May, its getting serious now!!!! I’ll be back soon with my Fifth Round Proper review as I visit Lincolnshire for Holbeach United v Erith & Belvedere. Cant wait!!!!