The hosts are currently in a title fight with local rivals North Shields, winners of the Vase two years ago of course, at the top of the Northern League Division One, whilst Newport have scratched around in the mid table region of the United Counties Premier and with the Northern League well known strength and with the hosts favourites for the Vase, this looked likely to go only one way, however as I keep saying this is cup football so anything is possible. Anyway without further ado here is a report of the match:-
South Shields 6 Newport Pagnell Town 1, Buildbase FA Vase Quarter Final, Saturday 18th February 2017
So it was FA Vase Quarter Finals day and I was making the long journey North East for my first visit to Mariners Park, home of Northern League Division One South Shields as they hosted United Counties Premier Newport Pagnell Town.
The home side were the only Northern League side left in the competition and had the favourites tag around their neck for not only this tie but also the whole tournament itself. They knew they would have to treat the visitors with the up-most respect though having seen the Milton Keynes side dispatch fellow Northern League side Sunderland RCA, a team who had held Shields to a 2-2 draw in the league, in the previous round.
However an expectant record crowd of 3,161 crammed into Mariners Park and were almost stunned into silence in just the second minute when the visitors almost got the ideal start when Elliott Sandy controlled a pass and finished past keeper Liam Connell, but the officials had spotted that he had controlled the pass with his arm so the goal was chalked off.
And moments later the hosts found that early goal they so desperately craved when David Foley curled a brilliant effort in off the post to turn up the volume inside the ground. And four minutes later it got even better for the North East side when Wayne Phillips hit an absolute beauty from range to double their lead and the home fans were now bouncing.
It had been an absolute disastrous start for the underdogs who were in danger of being embarrassed as they were getting totally overrun and on 14 minutes hosts full back Craig Baxter forced keeper Mark Osborne into a decent save after a bursting run forward. And midway through the half the hosts did add a third when a corner swung in found centre half Dylan Morse totally free to power home a header as the hosts were in total control.
And on 25 minutes Shields made it four with yet another unbelievable finish as Robert Briggs hit an unstoppable effort into the top corner and even the home crowd around me were in awe of their own side who were putting on one hell of a show for their record home crowd. The visitors had been blown away inside the opening half hour and just had no answer to the hosts who had given them a footballing lesson and had the tie won all bar the shouting.
Half Time South Shields 4 Newport Pagnell Town 0
The one thing Newport Pagnell had to do was try and dig in in the second forty five and make sure it didn’t turn into a major embarrassment and for the opening fifteen minutes of the half the visitors did have more possession but the hosts tempo had dropped somewhat after such a magnificent first half showing and the game had taken on a going through the motions sort of feel you could say.
The hosts had almost become sloppy at times and just past the hour mark Newport should of had a goal back as sloppy defending allowed Darryl Smith in but saw his effort eventually blocked, and then twenty minutes into the half the hosts made it five from nowhere when after Gavin Cogdon was brought down for a penalty, he picked himself up to convert the spot kick and it was party time at Mariners Park.
The hosts were now right back on the front foot again and in the 69th minute a wonderful move ended with Andrew Stephenson blasting over for the hosts however a minute later another wonderful move from Shields ended with Stephenson flicking the ball up to Cogdon to volley home first time in sublime fashion and bring up the home sides sixth.
Shields continued to search for more goals and saw Carl Finnigan get in on goal in the 77th minute but saw the defence gets back to block effort and then five minutes later they went closer still to a seventh when after another chance saw an effort blocked, Foley drilled an effort against the post.
A couple of minutes later Newport saw Sandy hit a weak effort straight at host keeper Connell, and that was the first effort on target from the visitors since that 2nd minute disallowed goal, it really had been one way traffic for the most part. Foley found himself in again but saw visiting keeper Osborne eventually block his effort and then came a rare high for Newport when they did manage to end the game with a goal as Sandy curled a decent effort into the top corner which brought cheers from home fans who could now feel sympathy for the demoralised Pagnell side.
The referee brought proceedings to a close soon after and South Shields now take their place in the Last Four and only one two legged semi-final away from Wembley and on this showing will take some stopping. Commiserations to Newport Pagnell Town who came up against a side who were a class apart today. To reach the Last Eight is still a great achievement though so they should be applauded for that.
Full Time South Shields 6 Newport Pagnell Town 1
Here are some photos from the day:-
So Newport Pagnell Town's marvellous journey ends here after they were swept aside by an excellent South Shields outfit who are going to take some stopping on this showing as I said earlier. Some of the football they played was breathtaking and their finishing was sublime. It was a joy to watch I must say.
Right here is a round up of the other Quarter Final ties:-
Saturday 18th February
Southall 2 Cleethorpes Town 5 (at Hanwell Town FC)
(thanks to Stuart Tree for the image)
NCEL Premier Division Cleethorpes Town saw off a stubborn Southall side to progress through to the Last Four of the Vase at Hanwell Town FC. Southall play in the Spartan South Midlands One which is a step below their opponents and it showed in the first half as the visitors quickly took control as Liam Davis put the Owls in front in the 20th minute. And three minutes later the lead was doubled as Jon Oglesby netted for the Owls and the Lincolnshire side smelt blood. Six minutes before half time Oglesby got his second to make it 3-0 at the break and four minutes into the second period Brody Robertson, who had set up all three of the visitors goals, converted Oglesby's low cross and the Owls had a four goal cushion. Two minutes later the hosts did reduce the arrears and for the next twenty minutes or so put the visitors under some pressure, but they could not force another goal and in the 77th minute saw Davis tap home after a fumble by the home keeper and Cleethorpes four goal cushion was restored. Southall did net a second with eight minutes to go but the tie was already gone and its the Lincolnshire side who progress.Coleshill Town 2 Sporting Khalsa 0
The hosts marched another step closer to Wembley with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Midland League adversaries Sporting Khalsa. Dean Rathbone rounded off a ruthless move to nudge the Colemen in front early on and Bradley Lawley's own goal three minutes before half-time had most of the 939 at Pack Meadow in high spirits. Jordan Nadat and Craig Milligan spurned chances to seal their progress after the interval but other than a couple of late scares, Simon Lyons's men were rarely troubled and therefore took their place in the Last Four of the competition.
Sunday 19th February
Bromsgrove Sporting 2 Buckland Athletic 0
Midland League One side Bromsgrove Sporting defeated Western Premier Buckland Athletic to make the last four of the competition. The visitors might count themselves unfortunate not to have been ahead a half time as in the 16th minute Buckland defender Simon Laughton had the ball in the back of the net but a linesman's flag ended those celebrations and then the visitors won a penalty after Aaron Roberts was penalised, but Lloyd Gardner saw his penalty saved by Nathan Vaughan so the sides went in level at the break. The hosts picked it up in the second half and on the hour mark won a penalty of their own after Reece Hewitt was brought down by keeper Grant Fisher and Liam Spink made no mistake from the spot and Sporting had the advantage. The hosts pressed hard for a second and saw a Jason Cowley shot blocked before Robbie Bunn rattled the bar as the visitors were clinging on somewhat. However the hosts did manage to find that crucial second goal with just over fifteen minutes to go when Chris Lloyd netted from close range after a save by Fisher to send the majority of the near 3,000 crowd inside the stadium into raptures. Sporting then comfortably saw out the final fifteen minutes to take their place in the semi finals.
So joining South Shields in the Last Four are Cleethorpes Town, Coleshill Town and Bromsgrove Sporting. Here is how the semi final draw came out of the hat:-
Saturday 11th March
Semi Final 1st Leg
Bromsgrove Sporting VS Cleethorpes Town
Coleshill Town VS South Shields
Saturday 18th March
Semi Final 2nd Leg
Cleethorpes Town VS Bromsgrove Sporting
South Shields VS Coleshill Town
So four teams remain and are just two games away from Wembley and a chance to win the FA Vase and the semi-finals are sure to be highly charged competitive affairs. I'll be at the two ties between Coleshill Town and South Shields, providing I can obtain a ticket for each game that is!!!! Let's hope that I can as I feel they will be two cracking ties. Three weeks and counting till the 1st Legs!!!
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