So it was the Last Four of the FA Vase for 2015-16 and Hereford, Salisbury, Morpeth Town and Bowers & Pitsea were all gunning for a chance to play at Wembley in May's showpiece finale. Hereford took on Salisbury, a tie that saw both favourites paired together over two legs, whilst an equally exciting battle would take place as Bowers & Pitsea and Morpeth contested the other two legged semi final. I was at the first leg over at the Aspect Arena for Bowers & Pitsea Vs Morpeth Town and here is a report of that first leg tie:-
Bowers & Pitsea 2 Morpeth Town 2 (FA Vase Semi Final 1st Leg, Saturday 12th March 2016)
Bowers & Pitsea foughtback from two goals down to earn a draw with Morpeth Town,setting up next weeks second leg perfectly.
The hosts will certainly take great heart from the comeback after a first half saw them largely second best and almost out of the tie. The match began in cagey fashion and the first chance did actually fall to the hosts on eight minutes as a ball across to Tom Hine saw him strike his effort across goal and wide.
Two minutes later Bowers forward Lewis Manor almost managed to get in for the hosts but the ball just got away from him and drifted away for a goal kick. And then the visitors struck moments later in the 11th minute when Sean Taylor saw Martin Guest off his line and he duly chipped over him from range for a superb opener and give the North East side the advantage.
On 17 minutes visitors full back James Novak struck over from distance but the Northern League side were now in the ascendency following that goal. Bowers did continue to try and find a leveller and on twenty minutes Luke Wilson saw his effort deflect just wide before the resultant corner saw the same man head just over.
However the travelling supporters were to be celebrating a second Morpeth goal on 33 minutes when Michael Chilton followed up to net a rebound after Guest had saved an initial effort from Taylor and it looked as though Bowers were going to find this one step to far in their Vase quest. They did manage to keep the scoreline at 2-0 as they went into the half time break but knew they had a mountain to climb to get back into this tie.
Half Time Bowers & Pitsea 0 Morpeth Town 2
However the Bowers side came out and decided to take the game to their opponents and pushed them back from the start of the second half and five minutes into it great play from the hosts saw Vinny Durrant volley over first time but it was definitely a sign of intent from the ESL side.
The hosts continued to have a good spell but came up against the brick wall that was the Morpeth defence, led by 45 year old veteran Chris Swailes. Bowers thought they had found a way back into the tie when they saw Aaron Russell convert a forward ball into the box on 67 minutes, but he was correctly flagged offside.
Then two minutes later the visitors almost made it three when after poor defensive work from the hosts, the effort from Morpeth was cleared off the line. It proved pivitol as moments later the hosts were back in this tie when Lewis Manor thumped home a loose ball inside the box and gave the home side a massive lift and it was well deserved after their second half display.
The hosts continued to put ball into the visitors area and the Northumberland outfit were just about dealing with what was coming their way. On 78 minutes Bowers went close to a leveller when a corner was headed across goal and wide by Wilson although the visitors were still looking dangerous at times and moments after this saw a cross flash high across the hosts area but away to safety.
Bowers though kept applying pressure and on 89 minutes finally broke the door down and levelled the tie up when a mis hit shot smashed across the area saw Alfie Hilton convert from close range and send the hosts wild. It really did not look likely at half time but Rob Smalls men just never know when they are beaten. Four minutes of stoppage time elapsed and the referee brought this cracking semi-final 1st leg to a close.
It certainly was a game of two halves and sets up a 2nd leg showdown in the North East in a winner takes all tie for a place at Wembley against either Hereford or Salisbury. It certainly proves to be a exciting day next Saturday.
Full Time Bowers & Pitsea 2 Morpeth Town 2
So a great second half comeback from the hosts. Morpeth would of still fancied their chances in the second leg in Northumberland but no doubt the underdogs from Essex would give it their all in a one off game where anything could happen. Right there was another tie that took place and it was the small matter of the Hereford Vs Salisbury 1st Leg from Edgar Street, here is a report on this one courtesy of thefa.com:-
Hereford 1 Salisbury 0
A Mustapha Bundu header gave Hereford a 1-0 advantage to take to Salisbury. The first half at Edgar Street was tense and cagey with home side Hereford having the better of the early stages in front of a bumper 4,683 crowd.
They fashioned the game’s first chance when a Mike Symons cross found Pablo Heysham in the box, but he headed over.
Symons, affectionately known as The Beast, was a constant threat for the Bulls in the first half;, his direct style causing Salisbury numerous problems.
The away side struggled to make any headway in the match, unsettled by an early injury to defender Calum Brockway who was replaced by Elliot Wheeler in the sixth minute.
Salisbury improved just before half-time, Daniel Demkiv producing a couple of dangerous forays down the right flank.
Hereford felt they should have gone ahead two minutes before half-time, but Heysham’s header was ruled out for handball after much pressure on the officials from Salisbury players.
Not to be denied, Hereford did take the lead just four minutes into the second half through a Mustapha Bundu header.
After good work down the right-hand side by Sam Oates, the Sierra Leone forward rose highest in the box to head home.
Hereford came within inches of doubling their lead on the hour, hitting the woodwork three times in a remarkable passage of play.
Bundu’s first touch was superb and he crossed for Ross Staley who hit the bar his first attempt before hitting the post with the rebound.
Hereford then won a corner moments later which was met by the ever involved Bundu, but his header struck the bar.
Salisbury, who had scored in 40 consecutive games until today, pushed hard for a late equaliser.
Steve Walker passed up a fantastic chance 10 minutes from time when an unmarked header was well saved by Hereford keeper Martin Horsell from point-blank range.
Hereford saw the game out and will take a slender 1-0 advantage to Wiltshire.
Here is a video of Hereford's goal
So both ties were perfectly poised going into the following weekend's 2nd Leg ties. I made the trip North for the match up between Morpeth Town and Bowers & Pitsea for my first ever visit to Craik Park on Morpeth Common. Here is my report on what proved to be a dramatic ending to this tie:-
Morpeth Town 2 Bowers & Pitsea 1 - Aggregate score 4-3 (FA Vase Semi Final 2nd Leg, Saturday 19th March)
I was over at Craik Park in Morpeth to see this epic Semi-Final decided by a stoppage time winner for Morpeth Town, taking them to a Wembley showdown with Hereford in May.
It certainly sent most of the bumper crowd of 1,256 wild after spending much of the afternoon biting their finger nails, especially when Bowers had their best spells either side of half time and during the second half.
The afternoon had started well for the home side as they made their intentions clear from off, looking to once again stamp their authority on this tie. In the very first minute the hosts got into a decent shooting position but Luke Carr hit his effort straight at Martin Guest. However two minutes later ‘Peth’ were to take the lead when a corner played to the edge of the area found Sean Taylor who whipped a wonderful first time effort past Guest and gave his side the ideal start.
Bowers were struggling to contain their opponents and on 12 minutes almost saw the hosts make it two when a cross swung in was headed just over by Michael Chilton. Moments later a ball over the top of the visiting defence found Taylor but he could only hit his effort straight at Guest. The hosts continued to make all the running and midway through the half more good play from Morpeth saw a cross headed wide by Taylor.
However as the game went past the half hour mark Bowers began to settle into the contest more and this saw the tempo drop slightly although the hosts still threatened on 34 minutes when Chilton volleyed wide of the mark and seven minutes before the half time break the hosts sprung forward again and saw Ben Sayer’s eventual effort go over the bar.
It was still only 1-0 though and Bowers knew one chance and they could be level and sure enough with six minutes of the half remaining they did just that when after a loose ball dropped inside the six yard box right in front of Lewis Manor, the striker made no mistake in firing past Karl Dryden and bring the Essex side level in this tie once again.
‘Peth’ did have one more chance in the first period with three minutes of the half remaining when a free kick swung in saw Chris Swailes head his looping effort onto the roof of the net. But as the half came to an end the tie was still in the balance as both teams went in all square.
Half Time Morpeth Town 1 Bowers & Pitsea 1 (aggregate score 3-3)
Just like the First Leg, Bowers came out and started the second half well, knowing a similar performance would give them a great chance at reaching Wembley, and on 52 minutes James Stevens stung the palms of Dryden from range as the ESL outfit looked to make it a now rather uncomfortable afternoon for the hosts and their fans.
Bowers continued their pressure on the ‘Peth’ side although on 66 minutes a decent cross from hosts winger Taylor just invaded Chilton, giving Bowers a reminder that they were still very much a threat, as this tie was very much in the balance still. On 69 minutes the visitors attacked again and saw a Stevens corner almost headed home by Manor, but he could only get a slight touch on the ball and it drifted wide.
Three minutes later the away side saw a long throw into the ‘Peth’ area flicked on by Luke Wilson towards goal but keeper Dryden managed to catch the ball ahead of Manor, who surely would of nodded home had he not done that. Jordan Fry then fired over for the hosts soon after as the home side tried to re gain this tie.
The hosts started to crank up the gears again as we entered the final fifteen crucial minutes of this tie and on 76 minutes a good effort from substitute Dale Pearson saw Guest make a routine catch above his head and then moments later Carr fired well wide from a decent position as ‘Peth’ looked to get their noses in front once again.
Bowers assignment was made tougher with seven minutes of the ninety left when Ross Adams grappled with Keith Graydon and received a second yellow and was sent off, meaning the visitors would have to play the remainder of this tie a man down. Morpeth looked to try and make this numerical advantage count and on 86 minutes saw a great chance for them Taylor found himself all alone in the box, but he could only fire straight at Guest.
Two minutes later the hosts went so close again as a loose ball fell to them inside the six yard box but the effort was somehow fired over the bar. And then came a moment that Bowers substitute Tom Hine may look back on with hindsight. The Bowers winger found himself in on goal and saw keeper Dryden come out and clip his heal as he went around him, but Hine stayed on his feet before eventually firing a shot against the outside of the post from an acute angle.
It was a massive let off for the hosts and the tension inside the ground was palpable but this was somewhat lifted when in the 93rd minute, just four minutes after that huge let off, ‘Peth’ grabbed the winner when Carr converted a Graydon cross to send the masses of home fans wild with delight and bring total devastation to Bowers and their followers.
Football is a game of margins as we know and that was in total evidence today. Congratulations to Morpeth Town on reaching Wembley but commiserations to the Bowers & Pitsea boys, they gave it absolutely everything out there but fell just short in the end. A great cup tie and a wonderful advert for this level of football, good luck to Morpeth Town in the final against Hereford.
Full Time Morpeth Town 2 Bowers & Pitsea 1 (aggregate score 4-3)
Here are video highlights of both legs
The contrasting emotions on both sides was vast as you can imagine. Total elation for the hosts who celebrated their passage to Wembley whilst for the visitors total dejection and personally for me hard to watch as I know alot of the Bowers players and staff/management and to see them in tears coming off the pitch afterwards certainly put a lump in my throat. I made a point of going onto the pitch afterwards and giving as many of them a could a hug and tell them just how proud they should be of thelmselves. It had been a marvellous achievement to reach the semi finals and they could not have tried any harder in this tie against a team arguebly of a standard one or two steps above.
However Morpeth Town must be congratulated for their victory and have a side more than capable of winning the competition. The club are a credit to themselves and were more than complimentary of the Essex side and it was a joy to visit their club. I thank you.
Soooooooo, who would Morpeth Town face in the Finale at Wembley?? Well here is a report of the 2nd Leg tie at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium, again courtesy of thefa.com:-
Salisbury 1 Hereford 2 (aggregate score 1-3)
Striker Mike Symons and Joe Tumelty were the Hereford heroes as they completed a 3-1 aggregate win against Salisbury to reach the FA Vase final.
Former Gloucester City front man Symons poked in a first-half leveller, after Steve Walker had given Whites a lead on the day.
But substitute Tumelty’s cool finish with 11 minutes to go sent the Bulls, and their 650 travelling fans, to Wembley in style.
Hereford, second placed in the Midland Football League Premier Division, took a slim advantage into the match thanks to a first leg goal from Mustapha Bundu.
But Steve Claridge’s hosts put the game back to parity in the 18th minute when Tom Whelan’s deep free-kick found its way to Walker, who managed to find space to bring the ball down and prod in.
Hereford were struggling to keep possession with the hosts pressing high up the pitch, but they put themselves back on the road to Wembley three minutes before half-time.
The goal profit returned after Ross Staley’s shot deflected into the path Symons who tapped in at the back post.
Hereford had never been to Wembley in their previous guise as Hereford United, which folded after 90 years.
Livewire winger Bundu found himself clean through on Charlie Searle’s goal for a golden chance after the break but could not find the angle to beat the ex-Havant gloveman.
Sierra Leone man Bundu was given an even better chance to guarantee Hereford’s route to the final from the spot, after Pablo Hasham was fouled by Whelan, but the wide man saw his penalty saved.
Wessex Premier League leaders Salisbury’s hopes were finally ended when Tumelty was fed by Haysham on the edge of the area, before curling into the bottom corner.
It could have been even more emphatic but Rob Purdie could only strike the post from his clever set piece – but by then the ‘Que Seras’ were being sung by the visiting supporters.
Here are video highlights of the goals
So there you have it, the final of the FA Vase for this season sees Hereford take on Morpeth Town on May 22nd at 12.15pm. No doubt the Hereford side will go in as favourites but I have no doubt that Morpeth Town will have a great chance of beating them and more importantly are more than capable of winning the final. Who will keep their nerve on the day? I can't wait to find out!!! Roll on May 22nd as they say!!!
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