Tuesday night and some FA Vase Second Round Proper action as I made my first visit to Chalk Lane, Cockfosters, as hosts Cockfosters took on Wembley.
Both sides play in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division and sit third and fourth respectively so a good contest was expected.
The match should of taken place on Saturday but due to an unplayable surface at the weekend the match was postponed until this evening. The winners would host Peterborough Sports in the next round of my Vase trail so a tough opponent awaited these two.
However these two would find each other a tough nut to crack no doubt and so it proved. The first effort came after five minutes from the hosts but it was an easy save down to the keepers right before the home side volleyed a cross well over two minutes later as the game had started at a good tempo.
The visitors first opening came on nine minutes when a good ball found the visitors in but a great last ditch challenge thwarted the attacker and then five minutes later came a concerning moment for the visitors keeper as his own defender misplaced a back header beyond him but the keeper managed to chase back and grab the ball, then moments later was forced to save from point blank range as the hosts threatened again.
Midway through the half saw an effort from Wembley come when the ball dropped to them on the edge of the box but saw a decent effort well held by keeper before moments later only a great save from hosts keeper Byfield denied a terrific curling effort which was headed for the top corner.
Eight minutes before the half time break the hosts went close as firstly a defensive block denied an effort on goal then the keeper saved a second effort at the feet of a striker before a minute later another effort from the hosts was saved as they begin to crank up the pressure.
A minute before the break a Wembley corner caused some concern but ended up drifting away for a goal kick and soon after the whistle went for half time and although the hosts were edging the contest the game was finely balanced at the break.
Half Time Cockfosters 0 Wembley 0
Whatever was said to Wembley in the changing rooms at half time woke them up as they began the second half much the better side and seven minutes into it saw a good move end with a weak left footed effort at keeper Byfield.
Moments later and the hosts almost gave the visitors the lead in calamitous fashion as a misunderstanding between defender and keeper almost allowed the visitors to walk into an empty net but the hosts just about recovered the situation, before minutes later the visitors saw a free kick come off the bar as they looked to turn the screw.
Just before the hour mark a good break from the hosts saw a defensive block inside the six yard area deny them however in the 65th minute came the opening goal which went the way of the hosts as the visitors failed to clear the ball into the box and saw the loose ball rammed into the roof of the net by Ben Hart.
But this lead lasted only three minutes as Wembley levelled as Joe Wright netted a rebound after keeper Byfield had saved an initial effort from the visitors, meaning the tie was right back in the melting pot again.
And on 79 minutes came a great chance for the visitors to take the lead when they got in on goal but the effort was dragged wide of the far post and then a minute later came the hosts chance as they broke clear but saw their effort tipped inches wide of the far post.
But the winner was to arrive for one of these sides and with seven minutes left saw the visitors smash home a loose ball inside the box via Byfields hands and give the visitors a passage into Round Three and a home tie with Peterborough Sports on December 3rd.
Full Time Cockfosters 1 Wembley 2
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