So we are now down to the Last Eight
remaining sides for the FA Vase now after the Fifth Round was completed over
two weekends. And due to the weather and
various games being postponed more than once I even got the chance to watch not
one but TWO Last 16 round games!!! More about my actual vase trail game between
Berkhamsted and Morpeth Town from Broadwater later but first I made a trip over
to Krooner Park, home of Camberley Town, as they welcomed Northern League side
Newton Aycliffe at the end of January. I should of been at Broadwater, Berkhamsted for their tie against either Morpeth Town or North Shields. Sadly the all North League 4th Round tie still hadn’t been played so
that game was scrubbed.
So
where else could I go? Well I decided to visit FC Romania conquerors Camberley Town, who play their football in
the Cherry Records Combined Counties League. They were up against tough
opposition in the shape of Newton Aycliffe, who play their football in
the tough Northern Premier League in the North East, so this was always going
to be a tough battle. Both
teams are having good seasons too, Camberley sit fourth in their league
whilst Aycliffe are sixth so both sides are used to winning games so it was a
tough one to call prior to the battle commencing.
I
got to the ground quite early around 12.30ish in fact and once I got inside
(after being the first paying spectator to enter!!) I had a nose around what
was a new ground for me. Here are some
pictures I took whilst doing this:-
The
club made me feel very welcome overall (apart from encountering a rather rude
steward outside the ground prior to coming in) but because of this they
apologised and handed me a free club badge and also bought me a nice cup of
coffee so all was forgotten and my faith in humanity restored!!!
I
made my way over to the main stand to take my seat early knowing it would be
fairly full come kick off time and got chatting to some media folk in the press
area. Before you could say boo the kick
off time had come round so we all settled down for what we all thought would be
a good battle between to decent sides. Here is what happened:-
Camberley
Town 5 Newton Aycliffe 0 - FA Vase 5th Round Proper, Saturday 30th January 2016
A
more than decent crowd of 460 were inside Krooner Park to see how this tie
would unfold and less than two minutes into the game Matty Moffat got in on
goal for Aycliffe but hosts keeper Craig Bradshaw managed to save the effort. A
minute or so later after one or two meaty challenges, Perry Coles went in late
on an Aycliffe defender and caused a not to friendly reaction from the visitors
and the hosts frontman was duly booked. It kind of set the tone for the first
half.
There
was certainly no quarter given by either side as their were lots of meaty
challenges going in early on in what was looking like becoming a proper old cup
tie. The hosts were beginning to grow into the tie after the first quarter of an
hour and had a spell were they had saw a few long throws into the box although
these were dealt with by the visitors thus far.
Chances
were at a premium though and midway through the first half Coles tested
visiting keeper James Winter with a long range effort but the keeper easily
caught the ball above his head, but it was a shot at goal at least. Just past
the half hour mark a long ball into the Aycliffe box saw Bobby Dormers header
glance off the bar and over in what was the best chance since the opening
couple of minutes.
However
the game was heading towards the half time break with no goals and very few
chances, however, with five minutes of the half remaining the hosts took a
precious lead when Coles got in behind the defence and struck
an effort which saw keeper Winter tip up into the air but saw the ball loop
into the far corner and gave the hosts first blood in the contest.
A
couple of minutes later though the visitors almost hit back with an equaliser
as a ball into the dangerzone was poked towards the hosts goal but hacked clear
just in a nick of time and then a minute before half time a dangerous corner
from the hosts somehow went through a crowded six yard area and away for a goal kick. So as the half time whistle sounded the match
was very much in the balance still although Camberley held that slender lead.
Half
Time Camberley Town 1 Newton Aycliffe 0
No
one could of predicted what would happen in the second half though. Just two
minutes into it saw the hosts double their lead as Coles turned provider this
time, laying in Robert Lazaczuk who composed himself and slid the ball
under Winter for their second goal. The visitors so nearly got a goal back
almost immediately when a ball pulled back to Stuart Banks saw his effort
deflect inches wide, serving a warning to the hosts that this tie was far from
over.
Lazaczuk
then blasted over for hosts soon after but ten minutes into the half Camberley
grabbed a third goal to really take control of the tie when a long free kick caught
a static visitors defence cold and Coles ran onto the ball and although he saw
his first shot saved by Winter, he followed up to slot home and see the hosts
put one foot into the Last Eight.
There
was still some belief in the Aycliffe side although they were struggling to get
through a now solid hosts defence and on 66 minutes the home side saw one flash
across the six yard box as Aycliffe pushed forward but the home forwards
couldn’t get on the end of it. As the tie went on you could sense the visitors
frustration and this boiled over with fifteen minutes left when Aycliffe
midfielder Ashley Coffey was sent off for what looked like a spit at hosts substitute
Marcus Cousins, who was booked for the foul leading up to it. It left the
visitors with a near impossible mountain to climb.
After
this you could see the belief draining away from the Aycliffe side and the
hosts added two more goals in the last ten minutes to really put gloss on the
scoreline, firstly on 81 minutes when a freekick into the visitors box saw a header
from Matthew Bunyan deflect just wide but from the resulting corner substitute James Hubbard powered home a header at the
far post with his first touch to make it four and then three minutes later it
was five when another Lazaczuk corner went straight in at the far
post as the hosts cruised into the Last 8.
So
it’s Camberley Town who go through to the Quarter Finals of the Vase and they
will surely be a side to avoid going on this performance. Tough on Newton Aycliffe though who did compete well
for the first hour or so but fell away in the end although the 5-0 scoreline
was a tad harsh on them. Still a very enjoyable tie and I look forward to the
next one!!!
Full
Time Camberley Town 5 Newton Aycliffe 0
So in the end a rather one sided
scoreline and not what anyone had predicted prior to the game and certainly not
after the first half either!!! The
Krooner Park side now travel to Hereford in the Last Eight, possibly one of the
hardest ties they could of drawn!!
However it proves to be a memorable day out for the Surrey side and one
they will relish no doubt!!
Right well thankfully Morpeth and North
Shields finally played their 4th Round tie on Monday 1st
February although the tie was switched to Shields although this didn’t deter
the Morpeth side who managed to defeat the current holders of the Vase 2-0 with
ten men for an hour, a great effort!!!
This meant my actual Fifth Round tie could now take place on Saturday 6th
February and it was therefore back to Broadwater, Berkhamsted, to see if the
Herfordshire side could slay the side who had slayed the holders. Here is how this one panned out:-
Berkhamsted
1 Morpeth Town 2 - FA Vase 5th Round Proper, Saturday 6th February 2016
So
for the sixth time in seven rounds of the Vase I was at Broadwater for the Last
16 tie between Berkhamsted and Morpeth Town.
The tie had been
delayed a week due to Morpeth’s tie with North Shields in the previous round having only completed
on Monday and the Northumberland side had defeated the current holders so came
into this one in form. And with only three league defeats all season in what is
a tough league Berkhamsted knew they would face a very stiff challenge.
It
was the visitors who had the first chance on five minutes when skipper Keith Graydon fired an effort just wide from outside
the box whilst the first moment of danger in the Morpeth box came on eleven
minutes when a hosts free kick was just too high for Jim Baldry.
Moments
later Lewis Rodridge found space in the visiting area and forced keeper Karl
Dryden into making a save. However from the resulting corner the hosts took the
lead when Tom Carter saw his downward header find the net
and the Comrades had their noses in front. Berko were enjoying a good spell and
on the quarter hour mark forced Dryden into another decent stop as the hosts
threatened another goal.
The
visitors though started to see more of the ball thereafter without really
creating an opening as the hosts were holding them at arms length. Ten minutes
before the break after a spell of pressure from the visitors the hosts denied
them with a good block before there next effort was deflected over.Chris Swailes headed the resulting corner over the
bar.
Then came a heavy
challenge on Berko full back Dan Edwards from Sean Taylor. It was probably the
first real menacing challenge in the game so far but it resulted in a booking
for the visiting midfielder. The hosts then broke down the left through Josh
Chamberlain and the ball found its way to Alex Campana who saw his effort blocked. Morpeth
full back James Novak then fired over the bar from distance, but the visitors
still hadn’t tested Carl Tasker in the hosts goal as yet.
Then in first half stoppage time came a controversial decision from the
referee when he awarded a penalty to the visitors after Graydon’s free kick
struck Chamberlain on the arm/body in the wall. It looked very harsh indeed but Luke Carr stepped up to convert the spot kick and the visitors had
scored right on half time. The Berko boys were furious and felt hard done by as
they left the field for half time. It did leave the tie perfectly poised
though.
Half
Time Berkhamsted 1 Morpeth Town 1
The goal obviously gave
Morpeth a huge lift and they came out with much more purpose second half and
they also had the wind at their backs too and four minutes into the half they
had good chance when Baldry missed a header and allowed Michael Chilton in to
beat Tasker to the ball but saw his effort blocked. Morpeth though were really
piling on the pressure as the half went on as they looked to turn this tie
around.
On 64 minutes they
did finally take the lead when a corner into the six yard box fell to Chilton who poked home from a yard out and saw
the Northern League side hit the front for the first time. Berko could barely
get out of their own half and almost saw the wind help the visitors out with
just under twenty minutes left when a Graydon free kick from the right touchline
caught the wind and almost found its way into the far corner.
As the game entered
its final ten minutes the hosts did start to get a foothold in the game again
although saw an 83rd minute free kick from Novak curl just over the Berko bar.
The hosts task was made tougher though with four minutes left when full back
Edwards received a second yellow after a poor challenge on Graydon but it
didn’t deter them as they began to put the Morpeth backline under pressure.
With a minute of
normal time left the hosts saw a corner headed just wide by Baldry at the back
post when totally unmarked and into stoppage time Franck Jowle tried one from
long range but struck it straight at Dryden. The hosts went closer still deeper
into stoppage time when Dryden failed to hold onto a cross but Bradley
O’Donovan could only pokes over from close range.
Five minutes into
stoppage saw the hosts win a corner which saw literally every single Berko
player, including keeper Tasker, up for it inside the box. Unbelievably the
Morpeth keeper Dryden pushed the cross against his own bar and saw the ball
drop dangerously into the six yard box before it was scrambled clear by the
visiting defence which was followed by the final whistle.
So Berko were a
whisker away from forcing extra time but it wasn’t to be for the Hertfordshire
side. Morpeth looked solid and strong and did have much the better of the
second half although were pushed all the way today. So it is Morpeth Town who
host Bristol Manor Farm in the the Last Eight of the FA Vase.
Full
Time Berkhamsted 1 Morpeth Town 2
So
the Comrades brave run to the Last 16 comes to an end against a strong Morpeth
side. The penalty decision right on half
time may well have swung this tie in the visitors favour although they were the
better side in the second half. Tough on
the hosts though who battled gamely but fell just short on the day.
Right now
here is a roundup of the other 5th Round Proper ties:- (thanks to thefa.com for the round-ups)
Sunderland
RCA 2 Bristol Manor Farm 3
A Dean Stamp
double helped Bristol Manor Farm to edge past Sunderland RCA 3-2 in a battle of
two in-form sides in the FA Vase fifth round on Saturday afternoon. Sunderland
had lost just one of their last 21 matches heading into the fixture while
Bristol’s last defeat was back on 7 November, so it was perhaps unsurprising
that a compelling encounter ensued at Meadow Park. Wayne Buchanan headed home
Luke Proctor’s corner to give RCA a first-half lead and although Stamp was
clinical to level proceedings, Buchanan was on hand soon after to restore the
advantage. However, great work from
Jordan Metters on 70 minutes enabled Peter Sheppard to dink over the onrushing
goalkeeper before, seven minutes from time, Stamp grabbed his second to send
Bristol Manor Farm into the quarter-finals were they travel to take on Morpeth
Town.
Cleethorpes
Town 1 Kidlington 2
At
the Bradley Football Development Centre, Tom Castle and Lewis Coyle’s goals
were enough to give Kidlington a
2-1 victory over Cleethorpes Town despite
Brody Robertson’s effort and a 95th-minute penalty appeal. Kiddlington now travel to face Bowers & Pitsea
in the Last Eight.
Nuneaton
Griff 0 Salisbury 3
Sam
Wilson fired a hat-trick to give Salisbury a 3-0 win over Nuneaton Griff meaning
the current bookies favourites for the Vase now have a home Quarter Final tie
against Ashford United.
Ashford
United 1 Dunston UTS 1 (aet)
Ashford United and Dunston UTS could
not be separated over 120 minutes, so had to go to a replay at Dunston a week
later.
Ipswich
Wanderers 1 Bowers & Pitsea 1 (aet)
Ipswich Wanderers and Bowers & Pitsea must
meet again after a 1-1 draw at Humber Doucy Lane with both goals in the opening
five minutes. The visitors made a dream
start when Jamie Stevens volleyed in from 20 yards, but Shane Wardley equalised
with a cross-cum-shot soon afterwards. Despite
the frenetic start, neither side could find the second goal in the remaining 85
minutes of normal time or, indeed, extra time, and will replay
Hartley
Wintney 1 Hereford 4
Hereford are
safely into the sixth round as well after they cruised to a 4-1 victory away at Hartley Wintney. Mustapha Bundu handed the Bulls a half-time
lead before striker Mike Symons doubled the advantage in the second half and
Bundu grabbed his second. Ross Cook
pulled one back for the hosts, only to be shown a second yellow card – but not
before Hereford’s Ryan Green had also been sent off. And Joe Tumelty put an end to any hopes
Hartley had of staging a late comeback, netting Hereford’s fourth to wrap up
the scoring.
Replays
Dunston UTS
2 Ashford United 3
Ashford United overturned a two-goal deficit at the break to knock
Dunston UTS out of the FA Vase in dramatic fashion in their fifth-round replay. Steven Richardson put Dunston ahead after half an hour and
the lead was doubled when Mal Morien’s strike deflected into the back of the
net. But Dunston were reduced to 10 men
when substitute Stephen Goddard saw red just a minute after coming on and Shaun
Welford soon pulled one back for Ashford to set up a hectic finish. Michael Phillips popped up to level the
scores three minutes from the end and the fightback was complete in added time
when Ryan Palmer sent in a low cross and Dan Smith prodded the ball into his
own net.
Bowers
& Pitsea 2 Ipswich Wanderers 1 (aet) (at
Canvey Island FC)
Tom Hine’s extra-time strike was enough to dramatically see Bowers
& Pitsea into The FA Vase quarter-finals, as they beat Ipswich Wanderers
2-1 at the Frost Financial Stadium on Wednesday evening. The two had played out an entertaining 1-1
draw in their fifth round clash 11 days ago to set up this replay and Hine
settled another thrilling game to ensure the hosts will face Kidlington in the
last-eight on Saturday. Ipswich arrived
at the ground just 45 minutes before the delayed 8pm kick-off and although they
started slowly, they took the lead against the run of play on 25 minutes. The lively Jack Severy fired in a near-post
cross and Matt Mackenzie was on hand to blast home. But ten minutes before the break, Bowers
& Pitsea got the equaliser that their endeavour deserved as Jack Gardner’s
corner was met by Aaron Deacon, who flicked beyond goalkeeper Callum Deacon. Shane Wardley went close for the visitors
after the break and they should have taken the lead when Martyn Guest could
only parry a Seth Dezgun free-kick but Craig Stuart was unable to poke home
from close-range. The game ultimately
went to extra-time, where Hine netted the decisive goal by bending the ball
beyond Deacon from Lewis Manor’s clever inside pass. Luke Wilson then nodded a Severy corner off
the line at the death to ensure that it is Bowers who will square off with
Kidlington with a Semi-Final spot up for grabs this weekend.
So after
all the drama of the Last 16 the Quarter Final line up looks like this:-
Hereford Vs Camberley Town
Salisbury Vs Ashford United
Morpeth Town Vs Bristol Manor Farm
Bowers & Pitsea Vs Kidlington
Ties are
scheduled to be played on Saturday 20th February.
So that concludes my blog on the Fifth
Round Proper. I’ll be up in the North
East to see Morpeth Town’s tie with Bristol Manor Farm, it proves to be another
tight and tense battle as both teams battle for a place in the Semi-Finals. So until then it’s bye for now.
