Camberley Town 5 Newton Aycliffe 0

FA Vase 5th Round Proper, Saturday 30th January 2016

So the last Saturday in January saw the Fifth Round stage, the Last 16, of the FA Vase and I should of been at Broadwater, Berkhamsted for their tie against either Morpeth Town orNorth Shields. Sadly the all North Eastern 4th Round tie still hasn’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.

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 keeperCraig 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 whenColes 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 Lazaczukwho 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 free kick 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 anotherLazaczuk 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

Wadham Lodge 0 Basildon United 2

Essex Senior League, Saturday 23rd January 2015

I was at the big top of the table clash in the ESL on Saturday in the Matchday Centre as fifth placed Wadham Lodge took on second placed Basildon United.

Both teams are known for their good attacking style of play and the reverse fixture at The Hive earlier in the season had finished 4-3 to the Bees, so goals were again expected in this one.

And from the off both sides made it clear they were going to attack and the hosts almost had the ideal start as a ball to Charlie Georgiou saw the forward slot just wide of the post. The Beesthen went straight up the other end and saw Robert Clark fire just over the bar as the game took on a rather frenetic pace.

On 4 minutes Ben Sartain struck an effort just wide for Basildon whilst up the other end Georgiou poked a cross wide at the near post as the end to end nature of the game continued. On 13 minutes a good move by the visitors saw Brad Warner‘s shot go wide and a minute later Luka Frankis managed to get in for Basildon but after going round keeper Dan Mulrooney he lost his footing and saw the chance go.

Just past the quarter hour mark the Bees attacked again and saw a ball laid back to Warner who fired a great effort at goal but Mulrooney managed to beat away the effort and then on twenty minutes Bees forward Frankis, who was making his debut for the visitors after signing from rivals Bowers, outpaced the defence again but sliced wide. Wadham then went straight up the other end and saw Harry Honesty hit wide of the target.

Midway through this frenetic half a good move from Lodge saw Andre Bennett fire a dangerous ball across the six yard box but no one managed to get on the end of it and then on 26 minutes Frankis dragged one wide from a good position for Basildon. Two minutes later another Lodge chance saw an effort tipped over and then from the next attack a great clearance from the visiting defence denied Georgiou’s close range header.

As the game went past the half hour mark the pace began to slow down slightly after a rather hectic opening but nine minutes before the break Lodge went so close to opening the scoring when after a ball was laid back to Janel Alexander, his effort thumped off the Basildon crossbar and away from danger. Moments later Basildon defender Brendan Cavalier saw an effort tipped over by Mulrooney and then four minutes before half time a Clark free kick was glanced just wide by Basildon centre half Paul Shaves.

So despite both teams creating numerous openings the first half ended goal less.

Half Time Wadham Lodge 0 Basildon United 0

Basildon made a change at the start of the second half as keeper Grant Haywood went off injured so sub keeper Russell Harley took over in goal. Both teams continued their attacking philosophy and seven minutes into the half Sipho Mtyanda dragged one wide from the edge of the box for the Bees.

On 55 minutes Honesty got into the box for Lodge but saw his effort beaten away by Harley and then just before the hour mark a great defensive block denied Basildon before down the other end Georgiou went on great run before firing across goal and wide for hosts.

But then just past the hour mark Basildon struck twice in as many minutes to grab a strong hold on this game. On 61 minutes the visitors finally broke the deadlock when Sartain’s powerful effort was parried into the air by Mulrooney but as the ball landed behind him it spun towards goal and saw Frankis poke home from three yards. Then two minutes later Warner’s effort from inside the box deflected past a wrong-footed Mulrooney and double their money.

In the aftermath of the second goal Basildon manager Craig Gillam was sent off for apparently upsetting the referee but his team were now in a strong position. Lodge almost found a way back into the contest on 68 minutes but saw Basildon keeper Hayward produce a great save to deny a Georgiou curling effort from outside the box.

With just under twenty minutes to go a great run by Mike Finneran, another ex-Bowers player, saw him into the box but his eventual effort go wide of the hosts goal. Wadham were doing alot of pressing themselves but just could not find that end product and one such attack with seven minutes to go when Samuel Owusu burst into the box but his ball across goal was cleared from danger.

The Bees were looking dangerous on the break now and with Eden Nelson and Farhad Nyanjahaving come on their pace was a danger to the hosts and on 84 minutes Sartain broke onto a loose ball but fired a dipping effort over the bar for Basildon before another break three minuteslater saw Clark play a great ball to Mtyanda whose ball to the near post saw Finneran’s effort deflected wide.

Just as the game entered stoppage time the hosts had one final chance when after a corner had bounced around inside the box it eventually fell to Owusu whose effort went wide and the hosts had lost at home for the second time in three games. For the Bees it was a good three points and they stay just one point behind leaders FC Romania with two games in hand.

Full Time Wadham Lodge 0 Basildon United 2

Hullbridge Sports 6 Enfield 1893 2

Essex Senior League, Saturday 16th January 2015

I was over at Lower Road to see if Hullbridge Sports could bounce back from their disappointing FA Vase exit at the hands of Berkhamsted last weekend as they hosted Enfield 1893 in a ESL match on a chilly afternoon in Essex.

Enfield themselves came into this one off the back of a magnificent home win over Ilford last weekend so Hullbridge would have to be on their metal to get the better of the Barrow’s Farm side.

The visitors started the better too and went close a couple of minutes into the contest when Emyr Rowlands saw a deflected shot go inches wide of the hosts goal as the home side struggled to get a foot on the ball early on. The visitors attacked again on 11 minutes and carved out another opening which saw Ibrahim Kagbanda’s effort well saved by Jamie Merrells before the follow up shot was drilled over. It was no surprise therefore when Enfield took a 15th minute lead when after Merrells parried Ashley Blackburn’s effort, Joe Pattison was on hand to follow up and bury the rebound, giving the visitors a deserved lead.

The hosts almost responded immediately but saw Jimmy Cox‘s volley go straight at Jordan Warren from close range and then midway through the half good play from hosts winger Matt Brinklow saw his cross volleyed back across goal by the hosts but no one was on hand to turn the ball home. The hosts carved out another chance on 24 minutes, seeing a cross hooked back into the danger zone for Rory Clark but his header was well saved by Warren.

The visitors though looked lively still and dangerous going forward and a minute later saw a close range effort Rowlands saved well by Merrells, preventing his side from going two goals behind. And then just past the half hour mark the hosts levelled when a Sam Taylor free kick from the right was swung in and headed home at the far post by Reece Brandon.

However the visitors continued to be a menace up front and three minutes later saw them attack down the right through Kadean Campbell, who after breezing past his marker sent a dangerous ball across goal, although sadly for him and his side no one gambled on it and it flew away from danger. Eight minutes before the break Brinklow intercepted a crossfield pass from the visitors but fired his long range effort wide whilst up the other end three minutes later Rowlands mananged to break into the box but saw his effort held by Merrells.

Then came a two goal burst from the hosts just before half time. Firstly with four minutes of the half to go Sports were awarded a penalty after Clark was brought down inside the box by Pattison and Cox converted the spot kick via Warren’s hand and then two minutes into first half stoppage time they added a third when Cox laid a ball across to Harry Skinner whose first time effort beat Warren to his right and nestle in the corner of the net. It was harsh on the visitors who had more than played their part in this contest but it was Hullbridge who went into the break two goals ahead.

Half Time Hullbridge Sports 3 Enfield 1893 1

The next goal was crucial in this contest and two minutes after the restart the visitors created a chance when Lewis Lawford-Page burst into the box, cut inside onto his right foot but struck his effort wide. A minute later the hosts Bradley Morgan fired one across goal but no one was there to convert as both sides looked for that crucial goal.

Just before the hour mark a great ball into the area by the hosts towards Morgan saw the Sports player totally miss the cross when well placed in front of goal but it mattered not as Hullbridge had another two goal burst in five minutes just past the hour mark, firstly on 61 minutes when Clark headed home a cut back from close range and then five minutes later more sloppy play from the visitors saw Brinklow given the freedom of Lower Road to run through andslot past Warren with ease and give the hosts a four goal cushion.

Enfield to their credit kept going and with just over twenty minutes left sloppy defending from the hosts allows Justin Maynard, who was on loan from Basildon United, to strike home past Merrells from just inside the box, and give Neil Blackburn’s side a faint glimmer of hope perhaps.

Sports brought on Charlie Little and with just under fifteen minutes remaining he almost grabbed a goal when he managed to get through on goal but saw his effort glance off the bar and go over. The visitors tried to get another goal back with just over ten minutes to go but saw a good block inside the hosts box deny them, who to be fair were still trying to give it a go.

However with seven minutes to go the game was well and truly finished off when Little did get his goal when after Morgan had given him the ball he turned his marker magnificently before striking an effort past Warren for the hosts sixth. So the points go to Hullbridge who were clinical in front of goal today although the scoreline was slightly harsh on Enfield who had certainly given their opponents a good game but sloppy errors and poor decisions cost them dear. Hullbridge remain in tenth spot whilst Enfield stay in 17th.

Full Time Hullbridge Sports 6 Enfield 1893 2

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