Season 2015/16 - Fifth Round Proper

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 4^th Round tie on Monday 1^st 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 6^th 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 20^th 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.