Season 2015/16 - Fourth Round Proper

So this weekend sees the bulk of the Last 16 take place as Wembley draws ever closer.  There are however a couple of Last 32 matches to conclude due to the weather and as a consequence I won’t be at Berkhamsted this weekend as their opponents are yet to be decided (Morpeth Town or North Shields, who are scheduled to play tomorrow) so I am probably going to go and watch the Camberley Town v Newton Aycliffe Last 16 tie instead as a bonus!!!

Anyway below is a match report of the last game I took in in my Trail, and it was the Last 32 tie between Berkhamsted and Hullbridge Sports:-

Berkhamsted 4 Hullbridge Sports 2 - FA Vase 4th Round Proper, Saturday 9th January 2016

So it was Last 32 time in the FA Vase and another trip to Broadwater, Berkhamsted, as the hosts welcomed ESL side Hullbridge Sports to a rather soggy Hertfordshire.

These teams had met at the same stage two years ago at Hullbridge’s Lower Road ground and it was the ESL side who prevailed in that one after extra time, and it was expected that another tight encounter would play out here to.

However the host were to strike early on as early as the 2nd minute when a ball into Bradley O’Donovan saw the Berko forward turn and strike an instant effort past Jamie Merralls in the visitors goal and give the Spartan South Midland side the advantage.

Hullbridge seemed to still be on the coach still in what was a very lacklustre opening quarter from the ESL side although they did have a sight of goal on 15 minutes when a ball forward onto the boot of Luke Hornsley saw the forwards volley just wide of the hosts goal. Moments later the hosts were back up the other end and saw Adam Mead’s close range header easily saved by Merrells.

The hosts should of doubled their lead midway through the half when a superb ball in from Josh Chamberlain found O’Donovan totally unmarked at the back post but he could only head his effort well over the bar. Three minutes later the tricky hosts winger Alex Campana outpacedSports player manager Rob Hodgson to have a strike at goal which Merrells saved to keep the score at 1-0.

However on the half hour mark the hosts were to double their lead when some great skill byCampana saw him run into the box, beat a man, before firing past Merrells with aplomb, and saw the hosts take a firm grip on proceedings.

Three minutes after this Berko thought they had made it three when the ball fell to Steve Haweswho struck home through a crowd of players from the edge of the box but the lineman’s flag had gone up as a hosts player had been in an offside position in front of the keeper.

It certainly woke the visitors up from their slumber and they were given a route back into the contest eight minutes before half time when after Hornsley was brought down in the box he picked himself up to fire the penalty in off the post and halve the deficit and give the tie a totally different complexion.

So the hosts led at the break in what was a very feisty game so far in front of a good crowd of 246 who had much to discuss over their half time snacks.

Half Time Berkhamsted 2 Hullbridge Sports 1

It was the hosts who had the first sight of goal in the second half eight minutes in when Campana went on another good run at the Sports defence but his final effort was easy for Merrells and then moments later Hornsley managed to get in behind the Berko back line but two good tackles thwarted the Hullbridge forward as they looked to grab an equaliser.

And then just before the hour mark came a moment to forget for Berko keeper Carl Tasker as a ball into the box seemed easy to take for the keeper but the ball somehow squirmed away from his grasp and fell straight to Hornsley who took the gift with both hands and had the simple task of tapping into the empty net and see the tie all square as a result.

Hullbridge had their tails well and truly up now and on 66 minutes Charlie Little fired one just wide for the visitors as it looked like they could now go on and possibly win this tie. With twenty minutes left a scramble in the Hullbridge box eventually saw a header dived on by Merrells as the heavens well and truly opened, adding to the sogginess of the surface, which was playing fairly well it has to be said.

On 73 minutes came a great chance for the visitors as a poor goal kick from Tasker went straight to Hornsley who bared down on goal but saw Tasker redeem himself and make a decent block before the loose ball was cleared away before Hornsley could pounce.

With twelve minutes remaining it was the hosts to miss a great opportunity as the ever threatening Campana sent a ball across the area to Frank Jowle at the back post whose effort was brilliantly tipped wide by Merrells for a corner. And from this corner the hosts regained the lead as O’Donovan’s header came off the post and Campana was on hand to blast in the rebound and leave Hullbridge the task of finding an equaliser with ten or so minutes to go.

So could the visitors find a way back once again? Well as it turned out, no. As Hullbridge pushed forward in search of that leveller they were always going to be short at the back from any counter attacks and sure enough as the game entered stoppage time the hosts sealed the deal as after a great surging run from sub Jordan Gilbert he laid in Campana who took a touch before firing past Merrells for his hat-trick and send his side through to the Last 16 of the FA Vase.

So the hosts eventually came out on top in a cracking cup tie although they were more than pushed all the way by a spirited Hullbridge outfit but in the end proved to strong for the ESL side. A very enjoyable Vase tie yet again!!!

Full Time Berkhamsted 4 Hullbridge Sports 2

So a cracking cup tie saw the hosts progress again but only after a big fight from the Hullbridge boys who at one stage looked likelier to go on and win the tie.  Berkhamsted now host the winner of the Morpeth Town Vs North Shields for a place in the Quarter Finals.  As I said earlier the Morpeth v Shields game is scheduled to take place tomorrow and therefore the Berkhamsted v Morpeth/Shields game will take place next Saturday, all of course weather permitting!!!

Right now here are all the results from the 4th Round Proper of the Vase:-

Saturday 9^th January

Cleethorpes Town 2 Alvechurch 1

Hereford A-A Leicester Nivana (match was abandoned due to waterlogging with the hosts 3-1 up)

AFC Wulfrunians 2 Nuneaton Griff 3

FC Romania 1 Camberley Town 2

Berkhamsted 4 Hullbridge Sports 2

Sunday 10^th January

AFC Dunstable 0 Salisbury 3

Saturday 16^th January

Hereford 6 Leicester Nirvana 0

Coleshill Town 1 Dunston UTS 3 (aet)

Kidlington 3 Knaphill 2

Newport (IW) 1 Ashford United 2 (aet)

Moneyfields 0 Bristol Manor Farm 2

Hartley Wintney 3 Bradford Town 1

Saturday 23^rd January

Sunderland RCA 3 Sleaford Town 2

Newton Aycliffe 2 Marske United 0

Bowers & Pitsea 3 Sutton Common Rovers 0

Ties still to be conluded from the 4^th Round Proper are as follows:-

Saturday 30^th January

Morpeth Town Vs North Shields

Bodmin Town Vs Ipswich Wanderers

And now here are this weekend's 5th Round Proper ties:-

Saturday 30^th January

Sunderland RCA Vs Bristol Manor Farm

Camberley Town Vs Newton Aycliffe

Cleethorpes Town Vs Kidlington

Nuneaton Griff Vs Salisbury

Ashford United Vs Dunston UTS

Hartley Wintney Vs Hereford

That concludes my blog on the Fourth Round Proper.  As I said I will most probably be at Camberley Town’s Krooner Park tomorrow to see their tie with Newton Aycliffe as a bonus game for me!! News of this and my eventual Last 16 tie in the coming weeks will be on my next edition of my Vase blog in a few weeks time.  Until then bye for now.

Season 2015/16 - Third Round Proper

The Vase returns this weekend, tomorrow in fact, as the majority of teams fight it out in the Last 32 of the competition.   However the third round took place on December 12th and I was at the marvellous Catons Lane, Saffron Walden Town FC, as they hosted Berkhamsted who had finally been drawn away hence I finally got to visit another ground in this run!!!  Anyway here is my day in North West Essex:-

The Journey
Well even though I live in the same county as Saffron Walden it's not a short journey on public transport and I chose the two buses option to get there.  Firstly getting the X30 bus from Southend all the way to Stansted Airport and then catching a local bus from there to Walden, which takes around 45 minutes.  Total journey time with connections and the like took around 2-3 hours each way.

The Ground
Catons Lane is a fantastic old ground with masses of history and is also famous for its sloping pitch from one corner to the other.  Here are some pictures of some of the facilties:-

As you can see it has a lovely bar and also a burger bar which serves just about anything you want and for a very good price too!!!!  Certainly well worth a visit for sure.

The Match
Saffron Walden Town 2 Berkhamsted 3 - FA Vase 3rd Round Proper, Saturday 12th December 2015

Walden were without a home win in the league all season whilst their opponents were suffering from injuries and suspensions but a hard fought battle was still expected. The visitors had the first effort on goal after just four minutes when Tom Carter ran down the right hand side and then cut inside and whipped an effort inches wide of the far post.

Chances were at a premium though for the first fifteen minutes and the only other moment came at the other end when a 13th minute long throw into the Berko box was scrambled clear by the visitors. On 19 minutes another long throw caused Berko issues as it was flicked on into the six yard box but was hacked clear. But then after a fairly quiet opening twenty minutes came a breakthrough midway through the half and it came from the visiting side as a great curling effort from Steve Hawes from twenty yards out put the Spartan South Midlands side ahead.

Thereafter the visitors started to take control of the contest and with the wind with them were pressing the hosts further into the own half. On 27 minutes Berko saw a strike go just over the hosts bar as they threatened to go further ahead and ten minutes before half time they almost got that second when great skill by Aaron Nash-Barker saw him beat his man and strike an effort towards the near post which the keeper tipped onto the woodwork.

However with four minutes of the half to go the visitors won a penalty after a foul just inside the box and Adam Mead stepped up to convert and give the visitors a two goal cushion.

They easily saw out the rest of the half and went into the changing room in control of the tie. The hosts knew they would have to be much much better if they were to even threaten any sort of comeback in this one.

Half Time Saffron Walden Town 0 Berkhamsted 2

The hosts, now with the wind in their favour, came out with much more purpose and were back in the contest within two minutes of the restart when a long throw into the six yard box again caused problems and eventually saw the ball poked home by James Thomas to lift the homecrowd and give them life once more.

But the saying goes ‘Your at your most vulnerable when you’ve scored’ and this certainly applied to the hosts as no sooner had they got back into the tie they went two goals behind again two minutes later when Carter curled home a beauty into the top corner to give the visitors breathing space once again.

It had certainly been a mad start to the second half but the hosts were certainly asking the visitors more questions and on 57 minutes a corner from the hosts saw the keeper miss a cross and an effort subsequently cleared off the line and then moments later the Bloods broke down the right but the ball across goal was turned just wide of the far post.

However on the hour mark they were to convert one of their chances as another ball across goal found Jamie Solkhon unmarked at the back post and he duly slotted home and it was game on once again.

Lightning almost struck twice though as Berko almost restored their two goal lead immediately as Carter beat his man on the right and flashed a ball across goal which just invaded the man at the far post. Walden regathered and almost levelled on 66 minutes when a long range effort was brilliantly turned over the bar and then from the resulting corner saw the hosts head wide.

With twenty minutes to go another Walden long throw caused more issues inside the Berko box but again was scrambled clear and saw the visitors break but a poor pass ended that attack, an attack that gave the visiting defence brief rest bite from the hosts who were pouring forward in search of that leveller. On 76 minutes another ball into the Berko box was headed out poorly and saw a volley go just over and then moments later the hosts headed one just wide from another corner as they were giving the visiting side one hell of a battle as Berko were struggling to get out of their own half.

With seven minutes left the battered but non the worse visitors won themselves a free kick on the edge of the Bloods area and so nearly settled this tie once and for all when Mead curled a great effort into the post with the keeper nowhere near it. It certainly would of given the visitors some breathing space going into the final moments of the game.

The hosts though failed to really test the Berko goal too much thereafter and sadly the final moments saw rather unsavoury scenes as Berko’s Hawes saw red, his second booking, after a late challenge which saw both sets of players come together. Passions were running high of course in what was an important tie for both sides. After almost eight minutes of added on time one more ball was sent into the visiting area but saw a headed clearance signal full time and it was Berko who progress into the last 32 although they were pushed all the way by a spirited Saffron Walden side. A cracking cup tie it most certainly was.

Full Time Saffron Walden Town 2 Berkhamsted 3

So a fantastic cup tie was won by the visiting side meaning they went into the hat for the draw that pulled them out at home (AGAIN!!!) to Essex Senior League outfit Hullbridge Sports, a team I know well from my Essex Senior League roots of course.  It's a fascinating match up and I'm thoroughly looking forward to it and fingers crossed the weather doesn't spoil my day to much!!!!

Right now here are all the results from the Third Round Proper of the Vase to date:-
Saturday 12th December
Alsager Town 0 AFC Wulfrunians 2
St Andrews 1 Leicester Nirvana 5
Walsall Wood 0 Alvechurch 3
Hereford 2 Brocton 0
Saffron Walden Town 2 Berkhamsted 3
Hullbridge Sports 2 Stanway Rovers 0
AFC Dunstable 4 Basildon United 0
Edgware Town 0 Ipswich Wanderers 3
Yaxley 3 Sleaford Town 4 (aet)
Hertford Town 0 FC Romania 2
Colliers Wood United 1 Hartley Wintney 3
Thame United 1 Kidlington 2
Ascot United 0 Camberley Town 0 (aet)
Lordswood 1 Ashford United 5
Eastbourne Town 2 Sutton Common Rovers 3
Tadley Calleva 2 Newport (IW) 2 (aet)
Canterbury City 1 Knaphill 3
Moneyfields 0 Brimscombe & Thrupp 0 (aet)
Buckland Athletic 1 Bradford Town 2
Highworth Town 1 Salisbury 5
Bristol Manor Farm 7 Hengrove Athletic 1

Tuesday 15th December
Sunderland RCA 4 Tadcaster Albion 0
Handsworth Parramore 1 Cleethorpes Town 2

Replay
Camberley Town 4 Ascot United 1

Wednesday 16th December
North Shields 1 Runcorn Town 1 (aet)
Uttoxeter Town 3 Coleshill Town 4

Thursday 17th December
Pinxton 3 Nuneaton Griff 4

Saturday 19th December
Replay
Newport (IW) 4 Tadley Calleva 2 (aet)

Tuesday 29th December
Replay
Brimscombe & Thrupp 0 Moneyfields 2

Monday 4th January
Replay
Runcorn Town 0 North Shields 1

There are some Third Round Ties still to be played this weekend due to postponements of previous dates due to waterlogged pitches and here are those matches:-
Saturday 9th January
Marske United Vs Team Northumbria (at Coach Lane, Team Northumbria FC)
Newton Aycliffe P-P Atherton Collieries (new date Tuesday Jan 12th)
South Shields Vs Morpeth Town (pitch inspection 10am Saturday)
Dunston UTS Vs Seaham Red Star (at Consett AFC)
FC Broxbourne Borough Vs Bowers & Pitsea
Welton Rovers Vs Bodmin Town

And here is the Fourth Round Proper fixtures to be played this weekend and next:-
Saturday 9th January
Cleethorpes Town Vs Alvechurch (pitch inspection Saturday morning)
Hereford Vs Leicester Nirvana
AFC Wulfrunians Vs Nuneaton Griff
Sunderland RCA P-P Sleaford Town (pitch inspection next Friday to see if they can play Sat 16th)
Kidlington Vs Knaphill
Newport (IW) Vs Ashford United (There was an “unofficial” inspection today at 12.15pm to asses the state of the playing surface, which was deemed “unplayable, with no immediate future prospects” and a further “official” pitch inspection on Saturday morning at 9am.)
Moneyfields Vs Bristol Manor Farm (pitch inspection 9am Saturday morning)
FC Romania Vs Camberley Town (pitch inspection at 9am Saturday morning)
Berkhamsted Vs Hullbridge Sports (if needed, there will be a pitch inspection at 10.30am Saturday morning) 

Sunday 10th January
AFC Dunstable Vs Salisbury (if needed, there will be a pitch inspection at 9.30am Sunday morning)

Saturday 16th January
South Shields/Morpeth Vs North Shields
Coleshill Town Vs Dunston UTS/Seaham Red Star
Newton Aycliffe/Atherton Collieries Vs Marske United/Team Northumbria
FC Broxbourne Borough/Bowers & Pitsea Vs Sutton Common Rovers
Hartley Wintney Vs Bradford Town
Welton Rovers/Bodmin Town Vs Ipswich Wanderers

As you can see the weather has rather mixed up the FA Vase lately but hopefully all these games can be resolved before the Last 16 round takes place at the end of January, fingers crossed for that!!!

I'll be back with a review of my Last 32 tie at Berkhamsted Vs Hullbridge Sports at Broadwater as well as a results round up and next round fixtures on conclusion of the Fourth Round Proper, until then its cheerio and pray for no rain (or frost!!!).