May & Baker 0 Swaffham Town 1

Buildbase FA Vase Second Round Proper, Sunday 4th November 2018

A stoppage time winner from substitute Luke Reed saw Swaffham Town defeat May & Baker at Barking Rugby Club to progress through to the Third Round Proper of the Buildbase FA Vase, setting up a home tie with Stowmarket Town at the start of December.

Both sides came into this one fourth in their respective divisions, the hosts in the Eastern Senior League South whilst the visitors were in the North section of that league, so there wasn’t a lot to chose between the sides. 

May & Baker had played a game more to reach this stage though, defeating Burnham Ramblers, Saffron Walden and then North Greenford United, whilst Swaffham had dispatched Framlingham Town and Haverhill Borough to set up this tie.

The hosts then had certainly had the tougher route you could say, and the sides league form leading into this game was very different too, with the hosts having picked up nine points in a week having won three straight, whilst the Norfolk side hadn’t won in three with two draws, and us so called experts felt the hosts were slight favourites going into this tie.

The opening fifteen minutes saw the hosts have the best chance by far when centre half Sam Dickens struck a dipping effort from outside the box onto the top of the bar, and the following period of play saw Baker’s keeper Michael Gooch punch away a decent corner, before the visitors then sent in a dangerous set-play which just invaded all at the far post.

It had been far from a classic though as both sides struggled to really get going, but late on in the half both teams had chances, the visitors seeing a Matthew Gilchrist effort blocked at the back post, and then the hosts went even closer when Kiel Chandler got in but saw his effort brilliantly tipped over by Swaffham keeper Tommy Rix.

It meant the teams went into the break level and with much to think about in their respective changing rooms.

Half Time May & Baker 0 Swaffham Town 0

Baker’s had two terrific chances early on in the second period as they looked to take control of this tie, and they both fell to Connor Okus, firstly when he managed to get through the Swaffham back line before seeing his effort brilliantly saved by Rix, and then moments after a cross to the back post was nodded wide by the midfielder, and left everyone on the hosts side with hands on heads.

But just like the first half chances were few and far between, and any chances that were being created by the hosts as they saw a dangerous cross flicked wide of the far post by a defender, but it looked likely that the game would end up in extra time.

Swaffham, who had not created anything of note in the entire second period so nearly netted with two minutes of the ninety remaining when a ball across to Joe Jackson saw him someone slice wide from point blank range, and May & Baker could breathe a sigh of relief.

Sadly for them they did not heed the warning, as in the 91^st minute Swaffham attacked again and saw the ball fall into the path of substitute Reed who side footed home to send his side into the next round of the competition and end Baker’s marvellous run in this season's Vase.

Full Time May & Baker 0 Swaffham Town 1