Season 2014/15 - The Final

So the day had finally arrived, the FA Vase Final at Wembley. After nine months and nine rounds of action I arrived at the home of football for what proved to be a classic final between to good sides in Glossop North End and North Shields.

My journey had taken me from Bowers & Pitsea in Essex to Wembley in Middlesex to Brantham Athletic in suffolk then onto Erith and Belvedere in South London, Holbeach United in deepest Lincolnshire and finally to the small village of Highworth near Swindon and then North Shields up near Newcastle.

It’s been an enjoyable journey to the arch of Wembley and I now looked forward to the finale of my trail. 

And so to the final. Who would prevail in the showpiece event in London, here is what happened:-

Glossop North End 1 North Shields 2 (aet) – The Final (at Wembley Stadium), Saturday 9th May 2015

These sides were evenly matched and both felt they could win the Vase so a good battle was expected. However the first chance didn’t arrive until the 12th minute when a header from Glossop went straight at keeper Bannon. On 18 minutes another chance for the Derbyshire side saw a good ball into the Shields box was headed just over the bar.

On 23 minutes the North East side had their first chance when a corner was headed downwards towards the near post but it was beaten away by keeper Hall. Chances though were at a premium as both sides were cancelling each other out as they looked to strike the first blow in this final.

On 34 minutes a corner from Glossop caused a few problems inside the Shields box and after a bit of pin ball ensued the loose ball was poked just over the bar from close range. Any chances that were being created were coming from Glossop and three minutes before the break another decent ball into the Shields area was headed back into the dangerzone but they made a mess of the header and then Shields went down the other end but saw keeper Hall save.

Just before half time came the best chance of the half by miles when Glossop found themselves with a free shot at goal but keeper Bannon saved well with his legs to keep the scoreline at 0-0. It had been a fairly drab first forty five minutes in truth and it was no surprise the scoreline was 0-0 at the break.

Half Time: Glossop North End 0 North Shields 0

Whatever Mr Fenton said to his boys in the dressing room in the break seemed to work as the North East side came out of the traps quickly and three minutes into the half struck the bar from range in what was a close call to the opening goal. Three minutes later another Shields effort saw keeper Hall tip over brilliantly as the Robins looked the likelier to score.

However it was Glossop who were to take the lead nine minutes into the half when the ball was turned across goal for Tom Bailey to taps home from a yard out at the far post to send his team and supporters wild with delight. The game certainly needed a goal and it now had that and the Derbyshire side had the lead.

Glossop had their tails up understandibly and looked like they could add to their goal and on 67 minutes a great ball into the Shields near post saw the ball headed just wide. Shields though didn’t make it through to the final without guts and determination and with just over ten minutes to go they levelled the tie up once again when Gareth Bainbridge, Shields top scorer this season, headed home from close range to send the North East side mad.

It was an emotional day for Bainbridge after losing his father a few months ago and he always said that he would dedicate any goal he scored to him so this was a lovely moment indeed. It also meant Shields were back in with a shout of winning although the only chance ater that came late on when great defensive blocks from the Shield defence denied Glossop and then a resulting corner caused brief panic although this was cleared and the game headed into extra time.

Full Time: Glossop North End 1 North Shields 1

The Attendance at Wembley was 9,674 which is a decent effort from two northern sides and they were certainly making a good noise and the atmosphere was electric. Five minutes into the first period of extra time Shields netted what proved to be the winner when after Morris had gone on a good run down the right his cross was flicked across goal by Bainbridge for Adam Forster to steer past Hall into the net and send the red and white half of Wembley into hysteria.

Glossop had a decent strike on goal on 100 minutes from outside the box but keeper Bannon got down to save fairly comfortably. A minute before the end of the first period of extra time a good ball into the Shields box was volleyed wide and then Glossop’s captain Young went down in the middle of the park causing some concern. He had concussion and was advised to leave the field and play no further part by the docter which sent Young into a rather angry state, it also meant Glossop were down to ten men as they had used all their substitutes.

The second period was very disjointed with several Shields players going down with cramp and although Glossop threw everyone forward in the last few seconds, including keeper Hall, in search of a goal they could not find a way through and so it was North Shields who prevailed and won the FA Vase for 2015. Well done to them.

Full Time (aet): Glossop North End 1 North Shields 2

Glossop North End (4-1-4-1): 1 Greg Hall; 2 Michael Bowler, 3 Matthew Russell, 4 Kelvin Lugsden, 5 Dave Young (c); 6 Martin Parker; 7 Lee Blackshaw, 18 Samuel Hare, 9 Tom Bailey, 11 Eddie Moran; 10 Kieran Lugsden
Substitutes: 12 Daniel White on for Moran, 61; 16 Samuel Grimshaw on for Blackshaw, 69; 15 Samuel Hind on for Hare, 82.
Subs not used: 14 Benjamin Richardson, 17 Richard Gresty

North Shields (4-2-3-1): 19 Christopher Bannon; 22 Stuart Donnison, 3 John Grey, 5 John Parker, 6 Kevin Hughes (c); 4 Michael McKeown, 10 Ben Richardson; 7 Denver Morris, 11 Dean Holmes, 17 James Luccock; 9 Gareth Bainbridge
Substitutes: 20 Ryan Carr on for Luccock, 59; 14 Adam Forster on for Holmes, 69; 8 Kieran Wrightson on for Bainbridge 106.
Subs not used: 2 Curtis Coppen, 12 Marc Lancaster

Attendance: 9,674

Here are some photos of the day:-

So that’s it for my Vase Trail for 2014-2015. In four months I will begin my next adventure with the 2015-16 Vase Trail. Hope you can join me for that.