Isuzu FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round, Sunday 27th August
After no games for two weeks, it was two games in two days (with another one to come tomorrow as well!!!) as game two of the bank holiday weekend saw me over in the Island for a FA Vase tie between Thurlow Nunn First Division South Benfleet and Essex Senior League side Frenford at Canvey Island's Park Lane.
These two sides are familiar with each other having had many battles in the Thurlow Nunn First Division South in past seasons, the hosts were embarking on another season in that division, Step Six in the non league pyramid of course, after missing out on the playoffs by two points last season which was a big disappointment to the club, so they want to put that right this campaign.
They have certainly began the season well, three wins from four league games so far and no goals conceded in those games as well, with their only blemish being a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Southend Manor, but this game against a side a level higher would be a tough test no doubt, although Frenford, who won the Thurlow Nunn South last season, haven't began life at their new level all that well.
In five league games so far they have not managed to pick up a win as yet, and have only picked up two points from a possible fifteen so far, leaving them towards the foot of the division, however it is fine margins of course, and so far the visitors have fallen the wrong side in these cases although they are the only side to stop Woodford Town winning in the league this season so that certainly shows what they can do.
But it was all about FA Vase duty today, the winners would face a trip to Thurlow Nunn Premier side Brantham Athletic in the next round, and before the game there was an impeccably observed minutes silence for Frenford manager David Forbes father, Forbes senior, who sadly lost his battle from illness recently, he will be sorely missed as he was such a big part of the club along with his son and others, rest well Forbes Senior, you were a great man.
After that came the match obviously, and to be honest the opening forty five minutes were not very memorable, both sides lacked any real quality in the final third in what was a scrappy encounter, their was a lot of huffing and puffing, but neither keeper were really tested that much, and you felt it may take either a moment of brilliance, or a mistake (which seemed more likely) that would break the deadlock if it was going to be. (the game would go to penalties if no one could score in the ninety minutes).
Eleven minutes into the second half came that moment of brilliance, as after Frenford had won a free kick about twenty five or so yards out on the left hand side, Dion Johnston surprised all by curling a lovely free kick inside the near post, catching out keeper Charlee Jackson to give the visitors the edge in this one, although with just over fifteen minutes left of the ninety came an even more moment of brilliance.
Frenford were awarded another free kick, this time on the right side of the pitch about the same distance away, Johnston again stood over the ball but this time he was joined by Fabio Nunes, and the latter sent a wonderful left footed free kick into the top corner of the net, giving Jackson no chance whatsoever of saving it, it was a brilliant goal and it saw the visitors now with a fairly comfortable two goal cushion.
And the visitors duly sealed their passage into the next round when they added a third goal four minutes into what turned out to be eleven minutes of stoppage time at the end of the contest when the hosts allowed substitute Nathan Coombes to drive unchallenged towards the penalty area before he struck an effort at goal which keeper Jackson made a mess of in trying to save and allowed it to slip through his grasp and into the bottom corner.
This was not a vintage performance from either side, but two moments of magic and a late third ultimately decided this contest, and it's the visitors who will travel to Brantham Leisure Centre in around a month's time. No doubt Forbes Senior was their in spirit and smiling down on his club today.....
Full time Benfleet 0 Frenford 3
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