Season 2015/16 - First Round Proper

So its been nearly three weeks since I saw my last Vase tie in this seasons Trail but it's taken me till now to write a review of it as I have been waiting for all the ties to be completed!!!  Anyway back on Saturday October 31^st, Halloween of course, I was back at Broadwater Stadium, home of Berkhamsted for their 1^st Round Proper tie with Northampton Spencer.

The visitors sat towards the bottom end of the United Counties Premier so were looking for a Vase run to kick start their season somewhat.  Berkhamsted sat 3rd in the Spartan South Midlands Premier so it was expected that the hosts would prevail into the next round.

Anyway below is a match report of the game:-

Berkhamsted 5 Northampton Spencer 1 - FA Vase 1st Round Proper, Saturday 31st October 2015

So FA Vase 1st Round Proper day and I was back at Broadwater for Berkhamsted‘s home tie with Northampton Spencer on what was a lovely Halloween afternoon in Hertfordshire.

The hosts are having a good season, sitting third in the Spartan South Midlands Premier, whilst Northampton Spencer are down towards the bottom of the United Counites Division One, a step below the hosts, so a home win was again expected here.

The home side made their intentions clear from the off, beginning the opening five minutes with a high tempo pressing game. On 4 minutes the hosts had a good chance when the ball fell to Farrelly inside the box but he hit his effort way over from a good position. Spencer though are here on merit and they shocked their opponents by taking a sixth minute lead when Liam Tuck rifled home from inside the box after a flick on into his path and the hosts suddenly found themselves behind. Berkhamsted 0 Northampton Spencer 1.

Despite this set back the hosts continued to play this high tempo attacking football and on ten minutes winger Mannion got in down the left for the hosts but his ball to the near post was just missed by O’Donovan but a minute later the home side levelled the tie when centre half Dave Sears headed home a cross and we were back all square. Berkhamsted 1 Northampton Spencer 1.

The game continued at a fast pace and this suited the hosts more and they won a free kick out on the left midway through the half and Mannion’s set play was dangerous and into the six yard box were it was flicked home by Jim Baldry’s head and the hosts now had the lead they deserved. Berkhamsted 2 Northampton Spencer 1.

Three minutes later Nash-Barker, who had replaced the injured O’Donovan early on, forced a good save from Spencer keeper Thomson who got down well to his right to palm away the effort and then just past the half hour mark Spencer headed one just over the top of the hosts bar but it had largely been the home side who had been the better side thus far.

Five minutes before half time Farrelly headed a difficult effort just wide for the hosts but just as we entered first half stoppage time a moment that spiced up the tie when Berko midfielder Hawes challenged Melling with a very hard but fair challenge although he did go in with both feet together and the Spencer side went mad saying he had gone in two footed and were wanting a straight red. The referee sensibly took his time over the decision and gave Hawes a yellow although some referee’s may have given a red. Personally I didn’t think it was too bad. Yes it was a hard challenge but the ball was won in my view. It certainly made the sidelines very spicy indeed as we approached half time.

Avery went close for Spencer at the back post just before half time but it was the hosts who trugged back into the changing rooms ahead at the break.

Half Time Berkhamsted 2 Northampton Spencer 1

Half time seemed to calm down the simmering tension that was building and on 49 minutes good play by Berko’s Chamberlain down the left saw his near post cross cut out by keeper Thomson and then seconds later Nash-Barker did well down the right and crossed for Farrelly whose header deflected over although it resulted in a clash of heads which delayed the game for a minute or so.

Spencer’s McBride went off after the clash of heads with a massive lump on his head and although he wanted to continue his bench said no way. Hopefully the lad is ok and it’s nothing to serious. Anyway from the corner the hosts increased their margin of lead when Chamberlain’s corner was glanced home by Jim Baldry for his second of the game and gave the hosts breathing space in the tie. Berkhamsted 3 Northampton Spencer 1.

Spencer tried in vain to get back into the tie and on 55 minutes only two brilliant defensive blocks denied the visitors and for the next few minutes it was the away side who were doing the pressing although the Berko defence was holding firm.

Jowle came on for the hosts on 65 minutes and was given a great chance to score almost straight away after Spencer keeper Thomson miskicked a clearance to him but the Berko playmaker could only drag his shot well wide. On 73 minutes after some head tennis in the Spencer area Sears volleyed miles wide for the hosts but moments later from Berko’s next attack Josh Chamberlain was played through and he hit his effort across keeper Thomson and in off the post for a deserved goal for the striker. Berkhamsted 4 Northampton Spencer 1.

The visitors continued to try and attack when they could and on 78 minutes Lowery headed over a corner before substitute Pickering headed over another chance for the visitors moments after as the hosts had briefly switched off having established their three goal cushion.

The hosts though were now going for a fifth goal and on 83 minutes good play by Jowle saw him lay off to Chamberlain whose effort from outside the box whistled a foot wide before the same man curled one just over two mins later. Two minutes later Berko’s Nash-Barker went on a brilliant run which saw him cut inside but saw his effort saved down to his right by keeper Thomson. There was nothing he could do about the next effort though as a minute into stoppage time Nash-Barker slipped the ball to Josh Chamberlain who fired past Thomson emphatically to put the seal on the tie once and for all. Berkhamsted 5 Northampton Spencer 1.

There was still time for Tuck to hit the outside of the hosts post three minutes into stoppage time from a free kick but despite the visitors heart and desire they were well beaten by a better side on the day in Berkhamsted so it is the Hertfordshire side who progress into the 2nd Round Proper.

Full Time Berkhamsted 5 Northampton Spencer 1

So a thumping win for the hosts and they now go through to the next round where they have been drawn at home yet again, this time against AFC Kempston Rovers, who knocked out Essex Senior League side Ilford to make this stage of the competition.

Right now here are all the results from the 1st Round Proper of the Vase:-

Friday 30th October

Bishop Auckland 1 South Shields 2

Saturday 31st October

Nuneaton Griff 1 Anstey Nomads 0

West Didsbury & Chorlton 4 Morpeth Town 5

Handsworth Parramore 5 Shildon 4 (aet)

Guisborough Town 8 Armthorpe Welfare 0

Atherton Colleries 2 Newcastle Benfield 0

Stokesley SC 1 Maltby Main 4 (aet)

Silsden 2 Sunderland RCA 4

Rochdale Town 2 1874 Northwich 4

Runcorn Linnets 2 Winsford United 1

Team Northumbria 4 Darlington Railway Athletic 0

Congleton Town 1 Marske United 5

Athersley Recreation 1 Colne 5

Durham City 0 Seaham Red Star 1

Dronfield Town 2 Ashington 3 (aet)

Chester-Le-Street Town 0 Newton Aycliffe 4

Selby Town 1 Hallam 2

Runcorn Town 2 Abbey Hey 0

Hemsworth MW 3 West Auckland Town 2

Northwich Manchester Villa 1 Whitley Bay 1 (aet, at Irlam FC)

Garforth Town 1 Hebburn Town 0

Highgate United 3 Radcliffe Olympic 1

Loughborough University 0 Uttoxeter Town 0 (aet)

Dunkirk 2 Bromsgrove Sporting 1

Pinxton 1 Cradley Town 0

Rocester 0 Hereford 2

Coventry Sphinx 1 Black Country Rangers 1 (aet)

Alsager Town 2 Borrowash Victoria 2 (aet; Alsager Town won 5-4 on penalties)

Wisbech Town 0 Alvechurch 4

Cleethorpes Town 2 Westfields 1

Blackstones 2 Haughmond 3 (aet)

Shirebrook Town 2 Sporting Khalsa 0

Radford 1 AFC Bridgnorth 3

St Andrews 3 Blidworth Welfare 3 (aet)

Coleshill Town 3 Hucknall Town 0

AFC Wulfrunians 4 Harrowby United 2 (aet)

Racing Club Warwick 3 Ellesmere Rangers 2

Quorn 1 Clipstone Welfare 0

Boldmere St Michaels 0 Coventry United 2

Long Eaton United 2 Hinckley AFC 1 (aet)

Stotfold A-A Newmarket Town (match abandoned after 42 minutes due to serious injury)

Cricklewood Wanderers 1 Welwyn Garden City 0

Diss Town 2 Basildon United 3

Barking 4 Tring Athletic 1

Bowers & Pitsea 3 Hanworth Villa 2

Hadley 2 FC Romania 3

Northampton Sileby Rangers 5 Wembley 4

Brantham Athletic 0 Kirkley & Pakefield 4

Gorleston 6 London Tigers 3

Ipswich Wanderers 2 Hoddesdon Town 1

Berkhamsted 5 Northampton Spencer 1

London Colney 2 Great Yarmouth Town 1

Raunds Town 0 Sleaford Town 1

Hertford Town 4 Eynesbury Rovers 3

Godmanchester Rovers 1 Mildenhall Town 1 (aet)

Ilford 0 AFC Kempston Rovers 1

Sporting Bengal United 6 Southall 2

Swaffham Town 1 FC Broxbourne Borough 2

Edgware Town 5 Whitton United 2

Cogenhoe United 0 Biggleswade United 2

Harefield United 0 Greenhouse Sports 3

Eastbourne Town 3 Farnham Town 2 (aet)

Hartley Wintney 3 Wokingham & Emmbrook 1

Worthing United 0 Sutton Common Rovers 1

Knaphill 5 Cray Valley (PM) 4 (aet)

Deal Town 4 Oxford City Nomads 2

Littlehampton Town 1 Tadley Calleva 2

Andover Town 1 Newhaven 2

Cove 0 Canterbury City 5

Corinthian 2 Pagham 3

AFC Croydon Athletic 2 Beckenham Town 2 (aet)

Loxwood 3 Highmoor Ibis 1

Haywards Heath Town 1 Alton Town 0

Kidlington 2 Ashford Town (Middx) 2 (aet)

Bedfont Sports 1 Carterton 4

Lancing 1 Camberley Town 2

Gravesham Borough 0 Hailsham Town 1 (at Hailsham Town FC)

Windsor 3 Croydon 2

Steyning Town 1 Horsham 0 (aet)

Thame United 4 Bridon Ropes 3

Meridan 1 Lordswood 4

Bristol Manor Farm 3 Bridport 0

Moneyfields 1 Corsham Town 0

Witheridge AFC 0 Hallen 1

Horndean 1 Barnstaple Town 3

Lymington Town 2 Wells City 0

Calne Town 2 Salisbury 6

Whitchurch United 2 Welton Rovers 2 (aet)

Team Solent 2 Cadbury Heath 3

Odd Down 2 Camelford 1

Portishead Town 1 Newport (IW) 3

AFC Portchester 1 Abbey Rangers 2

Gillingham Town 0 Hengrove Athletic 0 (aet)

New Milton Town 0 Buckland Athletic 5

Bishop Sutton 0 Torpoint Athletic 3

Fairford Town 0 Brimscombe & Thrupp 1

Sunday 1st November

AFC Dunstable 2 FC Clacton 0 (aet)

Tuesday 3rd November

Stotfold 5 Newmarket Town 0

Replays

Welton Rovers 4 Whitchurch United 0

Whitley Bay 3 Northwich Manchester Villa 1

Mildenhall Town 2 Godmanchester Rovers 1

Ashford Town (Middx) 1 Kidlington 3

Wednesday 4th November

Replays

Uttoxeter Town 3 Loughborough University 2

Black Country Rangers 4 Coventry Sphinx 6 (aet)

Beckenham Town 6 AFC Croydon Athletic 3 (aet)

Saturday 14th November

Plymouth Parkway 6 Blackfield & Langley 0

Tuesday 17th November

Replay

Blidworth Welfare 0 St Andrews 2

And now here are this weekend's 2nd Round Proper ties:-

Friday 20th November

Sutton Commen Rovers Vs Beckenham Town

Atherton Collieries Vs Chadderton

Saturday 21st November

Runcorn Town Vs Garforth Town

North Shields Vs Ashington

Morpeth Town Vs 1874 Northwich

Colne Vs Newton Aycliffe

Seaham Red Star Vs Maltby Main

Handsworth MW Vs Sunderland RCA

Consett AFC Vs South Shields

Whitley Bay Vs Dunston UTS

Marske United Vs Runcorn Linnets

Tadcaster Albion Vs Worksop Town

Guisborough Town Vs Team Northumbria

AFC Mansfield Vs Alsager Town

Walsall Wood Vs Holbeach United

AFC Bridgnorth Vs Alvechurch

Coventry Sphinx Vs Brocton

Coleshill Town Vs Dunkirk

Hereford Vs Haughmond

Long Eaton United Vs Pinxton

Heanor Town Vs Leicester Nirvana

Cleethorpes Town Vs Racing Club Warwick

Quorn Vs AFC Wulfrunians

Nuneaton Griff Vs Highgate United

St Andrews Vs Shirebrook Town

Stotfold Vs AFC Dunstable

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Flackwell Heath

Yaxley Vs London Colney

Sporting Bengal United Vs Sleaford Town

Gorleston Vs FC Romania

Ipswich Wanderers Vs Cricklewood Wanderers

FC Broxbourne Borough Vs Greenhouse Sports

Norwich United Vs Hullbridge Sports

Hertford Town Vs Barking

Biggleswade United Vs Saffron Walden Town

Kirkley & Pakefield Vs Edgware Town

Basildon United Vs Northampton Sileby Rangers

Stanway Rovers Vs Mildenhall Town

Berkhamsted Vs AFC Kempston Rovers

Knaphill Vs Tunbridge Wells

Newhaven Vs Camberley Town

Ashford United Vs Steyning Town

Eastbourne Town Vs Greenwich Borough

Pagham Vs Thame United

Lordswood Vs Carterton

Hailsham Town Vs Ascot United

Tadley Calleva Vs Haywards Heath Town

Kidlington Vs Deal Town

Colliers Wood United Vs Loxwood

Hartley Wintney Vs Windsor

Hallen Vs Moneyfields

Highworth Town Vs Odd Down

Salisbury Vs AFC St Austell

Bradford Town Vs Cadbury Heath

Buckland Athletic Vs Sholing

Welton Rovers Vs Plymouth Parkway

Newport (IW) Vs Abbey Rangers

Bodmin Town Vs Melksham Town

Bristol Manor Farm Vs Lymington Town

Hengrove Athletic Vs Barnstaple Town

Brimscombe & Thrupp Vs Torpoint Athletic

Sunday 22nd November

Coventry United Vs Uttoxeter Town

Canterbury City Vs Erith & Belvedere

That concludes my blog on the First Round Proper.  Last years winners North Shields enter the completion now and start their defence of their title at home to Ashingdon.  I'll be back with my Second Round Proper blog once all the replays and stuff are all done n dusted.  I will also of course bring you a report of the Berkhamsted Vs AFC Kempston Rovers tie that I am attending.  Until then its byeeeeeeeeeeeee.