Season 2014/15 - Semi Finals 2nd Leg

So this is it then, four teams ninety minutes away from Wembley. Drama, tension and excitement guaranteed. I was at North Shields v Highworth Town in the North East to see if the Wiltshire side could overturn the one goal deficit from the first leg:-

North Shields 2 Highworth Town 0 (Agg 3-0) (FA VaseSemi-Final 2nd Leg, Saturday 28th March 2015)

A sell out crowd of 1,500 packed into Shields tiny Daren Persson Stadium in anticipation of their side progressing through to the final at the twin towers (or should I say the Arch now???!!!) on May 9th after leading 1-0 from the 1st leg a week ago.

However the hosts looked nervous in the first fifteen minutes as they seemed to be slightly overawed by the occasion. The hosts lacked that tempo and the windy conditions were not helping the game one bit. The visitors seemed to settle much quicker and were keeping Shields well at bay despite the hosts attacking with the strong wind in the first half.

The first half hour passed with barely a chance registered in what was a very tight and tense affair. You could sense that nervousness in the crowd as well as the normally boisterous home support was unusually subdued. The first sight of goal went to the hosts when a corner was glanced across the goal but wide but at least it was a chance.

Two minutes later the hosts had another shot at goal when Richardson curled wide from outside the box but it was the first period in the match that Shields had any sort of pressure on the Highworth goal. Three minutes before half time Town keeper Stevens goal kick went out for a throw on near his own corner flag, which kind of explained how strong the wind was, it was causing the players untold problems at times.

This largely led to the lack of quality in the game so far and so at the half it was goal less with the visitors in the knowledge that they would have the wind behind them in the second half so very much all to play for. Shields knew they were definitely in a game and the subdued atmosphere at half time suggested the fans knew that too.

Half Time: North Shields 0 Highworth Town 0 (aggregate 1-0)

Town had an immediate chance at the start of the second period when the ball was played to Clarke who sliced wide from the edge of box in a great position and then up the other end on 52 minutes a great challenge from Worthians centre half Wadieh prevented Richardson striking at goal after he had burst into the box from the right.

It was certainly a much livelier start to the second half and on 57 minutes Towns Davoile struck inches over from distance with Shields keeper Robinson struggling as he saw the ball sail just over. A Highworth corner was almost blown in by the wind but Robinson managed to keep it out but was fouled anyway so it wouldn’t of counted. Shields were now well on the back foot and on 65 minutes Town had yet another chance as a reverse pass inside found Parsons who fired inches over from the right hand side of the box.

Then on 69 minutes came a moment of controversy. A free kick from the visitors by King out on the right was swung in and it seemed to hit the inside of the upper post and somehow didn’t go in when it bounced back into the goalmouth as it was cleared off the line and then from the next cross an effort was hooked over. Some folk have suggested the ball did actually go in as it came back off the stanchion inside the goal but the bottom line was it wasn’t a goal accordingly to the officials.

It certainly was a massive moment and Shields were clinging onto their aggregate lead and the home crowd were more than restless. Shields had their first shot on target on 71 minutes when Banbridge was played in but he scuffed his first time effort into the hands of Stevens, which failed to decrease the nerves inside the stadium.

However on 76 minutes Shields got the breakthrough. After a cross was flicked just wide of the post by a town defender the resulting corner eventually fell too Bainbridge who smashed past Stevens and sent the crowd wild with delight and the relief around the ground was for all to see. This totally changed the atmosphere inside the ground and with six minutes left it was almost two as Lancaster’s ball into the near post just missed the incoming Carr allowing Stevens to gather.

Highworth did their best to rally and on 85 minutes Bahone’s free kick in a decent position went straight into the arms of Robinson and time was now running out for Highworth to score twice to level the tie overall and take it to extra time.

Then with two minutes to go of the ninety Shields sealed their place at Wembley in calamitous circumstances. Stevens tried to clear the ball on the edge of his box but his clearance struck Shields sub Walker and came back off the post but Town failed to properly clear their lines and from another effort keeper Stevens inexplicably spilled the effort and Holmes was on hand to poke the loose ball over the line and send everyone wild and saw every single Shields player run over to celebrate the goal.

It was celebration time now as the hosts knew they were going to Wembley and a minute later Highworth summed up their luck in the tie when a break down the left saw the ball played across goal to Drewitt but he side footed wide when it was easier to score. After four minutes ofstoppage time the referee brought proceedings to a close and the North East side were the ones celebrating.

Hats off to Highworth Town, they were unlucky to lose the game but missed chances and that proved to be the difference in this game. Well done to Shields though they dug in and got the job done which at the end of the day is all that matters.

Full Time: North Shields 2 Highworth Town 0 (aggregate 3-0)

North Shields: 1.Robinson 2.Donnison 3.Lancaster 4.McKeown 5.Parker 6.Hughes 7.Luccock 8.Forster 9.Bainbridge 10.Richardson 11.Holmes
Subs: 12.Coppen 14.Carr 15.Morris 16.Walker 17.Bannon

Highworth Town: 1.Stevens 2.Aikenhead 3.Jackson 4.Taylor 5.Wadieh 6.King 7.Drewitt 8.Davoile 9.Bahone 10.Parsons 11.Clarke
Subs: 12.Joyce 14.Maximen 15.Blackford 16.Tate 17.Eggleton

Attendance: 1,500

Here are some pictures:-

For match highlights go to this link https://youtu.be/crcl8yW7k2Q

Here is what happened in the other semi final tie:-

Glossop North End 0 AFC St Austell 1 (agg 2-1, att: 1,303)

Liam Eddy’s late goal was not enough for brave St Austell as Glossop North End held firm to seal a second Wembley appearance in six years.

Glossop fans would have been fearing the worst when their side was reduced to 10 men just over five minutes into this crucial tie. Left-back Matt Russell was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Neil Slateford.

They rallied though and went on the attack in an attempt to build on that two-goal aggregate lead, with Tom Bailey grazing the outside of the post with 20 minutes played. The one-time Football League club then forced a series of three corners in quick succession, with Jason Carey glancing just over the crossbar.

The Cornish side made it through to the half-hour mark without losing any more ground, and started to look to chip away at the deficit. With Liam Eddy on the ball in advanced positions, they started to pose a threat. St Austell flew out of the blocks after the break, forcing Glossop stopper Greg Hall into an error, but he was able to redeem himself at the second attempt.

The hosts held firm and Dave Young got creative, seeing Jason Chapman off his line and shooting from his own half. The goalkeeper got back just in time, and the Lilywhites continued to attack as puddles started to form on the rain-soaked pitch. They were rewarded with an Eddy goal in the first minute of injury time, the striker netting from close range to set up a frantic finish. But Glossop’s stubborn defensive work was rewarded as they saw out the game and booked a place in the FA Vase final with a 2-1 aggregate victory.

So we now know the final two who will be walking out at Wembley on May 9th. Glossop North End v North Shields. It proves to be a good day out for both sides and it should be a close game too, so no doubt plenty of drama and excitement to come!!