West Essex 0 Harwich & Parkeston 0 (West Essex won 5-3 on penalties)

Isuzu FA Vase First Qualifying Round, Friday 26th August

I was over at Wadham Lodge on Friday evening as the FA Vase got underway for the 2022/23 season, and it saw West Essex squeeze past Harwich & Parkeston on penalties to set up a Second Qualifying Round tie at either Romford or Potton United in a months time.

The hosts have started the season well, home league wins over Woodford Town and Buckhurst Hill, the latter a 6-1 victory no less, had come either side of victory over Crawley Green in the FA Cup, which was also at home. But they suffered their first set back of the season as their first away game of the season at the weekend saw them fall to Dunstable Town in the FA Cup, a game they really should not have lost, leaving West very despondent indeed. 

How would they bounce back then? The chance of another cup run in the Vase was now their focus and they welcomed to Wadham Lodge Harwich & Parkeston who were a step lower in the pyramid in the Eastern Counties Division One North and had had a mixed start to their league campaign, losing 4-3 at home on the opening weekend to Cornard United before a goalless draw at Swaffham Town and a 3-0 home win over Norwich CBS saw them come into this one with renewed confidence as they looked to cause a surprise here.

A tough physical battle ensued, and the first period certainly belonged to the hosts, but saw visiting keeper Brad Cook make three brilliant saves to deny the home side, and then when he did not manage to make a save, the post came to the visitors rescue after Marlon Ortiz had got in on goal but failed to make it count, meaning the half would end goalless, and West, who had missed several chances in their FA Cup game the weekend before, were suffering from more failures in front of goal once again.

Harwich & Parkeston's only real effort on goal in the opening period was a looping header that went just over the bar, but they had two wonderful chances early on in the second half, seeing a close range header brilliantly saved by hosts keeper Arthur Leblond, and then moments after that the visitors somehow failed to convert from close range, seeing the ball blocked on the line, it was a huge let off for the hosts.

Another tense and physical half followed, but neither side could force a winner, meaning the tie would go straight to penalties, and after both sides converted their first two spot kicks, West netted to make it 3-2, and then Leblond saved, meaning the hosts had the advantage in the shoot out.

West then made it 4-2, meaning the visitors had to score, they did, but it now left David Bell the chance to clinch the shoot out if he netted Wests fifth and final kick, and he duly did, meaning the hosts had won through to the next round and a tie at either Romford or Potton United.

A relieved hosts are through then, and bounce back from their disappointment from last weekend, whereas Harwich & Parkeston bow out in heart-breaking fashion, it's never nice to loose in a shoot out but they can be proud of their performance in this one, it had been one hell of a shift that was for sure, but sadly it just wasn't enough in the end.

Full time West Essex 0 Harwich & Parkeston 0 (West Essex won 5-3 on penalties)