(Gateshead swinging in a free kick against FC Halifax Town during the FA Trophy Final)
Sunday saw me over at Non League finals day at Wembley for the first time since the 2019 version due to Covid and other commitments, so it was nice to get back to attending this superb occasion where four sets of fans plus plenty of ground hoppers all come together for what is a festival of football at the National Stadium, in fact this was my third visit in eight days!!!
I of course plonked myself in the neutral section for the first time at this event for the 2023 version, and had a very decent view of the action from Club Wembley, and was looking forward to what would hopefully be too decent finals, although as it turned out that wasn't quite the case!!!
Anyway let's see what happened in those two contests.....
Isuzu FA Vase Final - Ascot United Vs Newport Pagnell Town (12.15pm)
It was Combined Counties Premier Division North Champs against United Counties League Premier Division South and current Vase holders Newport Pagnell Town in Part One of the finals day, Ascot had had a brilliant season in racking up 102 points in their 38 games in their division, finishing eighteen point clear of runners up Egham Town, that's 33 wins, so rather impressive.
Newport Pagnell Town themselves were in a rather rare position of having the chance to defend their FA Vase crown from last season, in fact the last side to successfully defend this competition was Whitley Bay when they won it three times on the bounce between 2009 and 2011, this is normally because the Vase winners get promoted to Step Four in that same season they win it, meaning they enter the FA Trophy the following campaign.
Newport Pagnell would be in the Vase again next season though as well as they missed out on promotion after finishing third in their division thus missing out on a play off spot, ending the season thirteen points behind runners up Rugby Town and sixteen points off champions Coventry Sphinx, so they were quite a way behind hence this final was a chance to end the season on a high.
The Berkshire side almost had the perfect start though when inside the opening five minutes Jordan Ajanlekoko saw a glancing header from a Sean McCormack corner cleared off the line at the back post by Newport Pagnell defender Christian Small, but after that the Swans started to grow in confidence and begin to gain a foothold in the game.
Striker Albie Hall had a couple of chances for Newport Pagnell, one which saw a sliding effort at the back post thump against the woodwork, the second time they had struck the post in the opening forty five minutes, and soon after the break Newport Pagnell came close again after Hall's low cross was just out of the reach of Jake Watkinson, whose outstretched boot just failed to connect at the near post.
Ascot started to get on top as the half went on though after weathering the Swans storm, and it was The Yellas turn to strike the woodwork when skipper Dan Bailey rattled the bar with a powerful header, but as the game entered it's final fifteen minutes we all wondered if this was going to go to extra time, just like both sides Quarter Finals and Semi Finals, which by the way went to penalties too.
Their was to be a winner though, and a breakthrough, and it was Ascot who got it as with ten minutes of the ninety to go as a McCormack cross from the right saw substitute Kai Walters meet the ball at the near post and send a glancing header onto his shoulder and across goal into the far corner, cueing mass celebrations from the Yellow and Blue contingent.
The Swans could not muster a response to this meaning the full time whistle being met by an Ascot bench storming onto the field and running over to their fans to celebrate and cap a wonderful season for the Berkshire side, and also meant that Newport Pagnell could not defend their Vase crown and handed it over to their opponents who of course will not be able to defend it next season, but for very good reason of course!!!
Full time Ascot United 1 Newport Pagnell Town 0
After a ninety of so minute gap, more than enough time to have a drink or two plus some lunch, it was time for game number two.....
Isuzu FA Trophy Final - FC Halifax Town Vs Gateshead (4.15pm)
The second game of finals day saw an all Vanarama National League contest and two teams that had finished a couple of points apart in mid table, FC Halifax Town, who of course rose from the ashes of the old Halifax Town who went out of business in 2008 after almost 100 years as a club, finished eleventh and ten points off the play off places whereas Gateshead, who themselves were 72 hours from going out of business only three years ago, finished 14th and two points behind today's opponents.
This was a chance then to turn what had been a fairly solid season for both into a brilliant season with a prestigious trophy in the cabinet, and put the difficult pasts for both behind them too, although FC Halifax Town had tasted FA Trophy success not that long ago when they defeated Grimsby Town at Wembley 1-0 in the 2016 final so were going for a second crown in seven years, which is not bad at all for a club who have only been around in this guise for fifteen years.
The Heed themselves had never reached an FA Trophy final, falling at the semi final stage on three occasions, so after a dramatic win over Barnet in the semi finals they would have been more than relieved to have finally reached the Wembley showdown, so could they possibly win it on their very first time of asking.
If truth be told it was not the best of games and the opening forty five minutes mustered very little in the way of goalmouth action, and it was a game that would be decided by the odd goal, although the only goal of the contest, which arrived just before the break, was rather freakish and kind of summed up the quality of the contest.
It came when a back pass was slightly short and allowed midfielder Jamie Cooke the chance to give himself a chance to jump onto it, Heed keeper James Montgomery attempted to boot the ball clear before Cooke got to the ball, but in doing so blasted the clearance against Cooke and saw the ball end up in the back of the net, it was a mess but Cooke and FC Halifax Town did not care and they had a slender lead.
They could have added to their lead after the break as well, Millenic Alli ran almost the entire length of the field with the ball before unleashing a powerful effort on goal, and Montgomery had to make a superb stop to deny Jack Hunter from point blank range as Gateshead just about stayed in the contest.
The Tynesiders then tried to grab a late leveller after staying in the game and threw everything at The Shaymen in the closing stages, Adam Campbell's half-volley from the edge of the box was kept out by Sam Johnson in the FC Halifax Town goal, but after several minutes of nervy stoppage time, the West Yorkshire side held on to take the honours and end their season in fine style.
Full time FC Halifax Town 1 Gateshead 0
So, that concluded Non League Finals Day for 2023, with almost 30,000 fans enjoying (or not enjoying) their day out, sadly the games were not the best, but still a good day at Wembley and a good way to end the season for 2022/23, unless I decide to do some more games before the end of the month, who knows!!!
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