Non League Finals Day 2024 - Hassan Nalbant brace hands Romford FA Vase honours in all Essex Senior Final against Great Wakering Rovers, Solihull Moors suffer Wembley shootout heartbreak for second time in six days as Gateshead take FA Trophy

(Great Wakering Rovers form a guard of honour for FA Vase winners Romford, which was in my view the moment of the day at Wembley)

Non League Finals Day 2024, Saturday 11th May

So, another Non League Finals Day had arrived at Wembley on a warm sunny day in North London, but this one for me and a few others was a special one and more special than any other, the reason, well the first game of the day and the Isuzu FA Vase final contest between two Essex Senior League sides in Great Wakering Rovers & Romford.

Ever since the two sides had won dramatic penalty shootouts to win their semi finals, the excitement, and disbelief had been building, it had been forty years since a side from the division had reached the final, Stansted going on to win it in 1984, so for two sides to be playing it out this season was remarkable, and only the fifth time in Vase history that two sides from the same division had done so, amazing!!!

The other game to take place after the Vase final was the Isuzu FA Trophy final to be played out between Gateshead & Solihull Moors, both who finished in the Vanarama National League playoffs, although as is well documented now the former were not allowed to take part in these and this also affected Solihull Moors too in terms of how many games they were eventually to play in that post season competition.

Moors did reach the final of that, losing out to Bromley here at Wembley six days ago on the dreaded penalties, so they were at least looking to end their season with some silverware, as were Gateshead of course who could at least soften the blow of not being able to take part in the playoffs by winning this Trophy and ending their season on a high.

Anyway, it's time to concentrate on the first game, the small matter of an all Essex Senior League contest and the FA Vase final:-

Isuzu FA Vase Final 2024

Great Wakering Rovers Vs Romford

It was a surreal experience watching GWR & Romford fans heading to Wembley and then heading up Wembley way for the FA Vase final I can tell you, having covered these sides and the league for years, to see two of these sides at Wembley was truly amazing, but now the day had arrived I often found myself shaking my head in disbelief, but as you cans see from some photos below, it was official!!!

Seeing Great Wakering Rovers Vs Romford on the signs outside and inside Wembley was surreal too, this was actually happening folks!!! The league and GWR had kindly sourced me a Bobby Moore Lounge ticket for the day so I will be forever grateful for that, so thank you, and going out into the stadium to take in the pre match music and atmosphere and seeing the teams warm up was just another one of those 'is this really happening' moments, and then the teamsheets arrived too, and two familar sides appeared under the 'FA Vase Final' banner, at Wembley, another shake of the head and another wow moment.

Anyway, 12:15 was rapidly approaching meaning the time was almost here, to see the two sides walk out into this famous home of football, and below was that moment, again quite an emotional moment and a another pinch yourself moment too.

What a moment, but there was a football match to be played, and to be played in searing heat as well, to say I was feeling uncomfortable sitting in the baking sun during the first half was an understatement, thank goodness I had sprayed on Factor 50 sun spray before leaving home earlier that day, it was very much needed, imagine how hot it would be for the players competing, would it be a factor or not?

Romford certainly settled the better for sure, and it was they who had the better chances of the opening half, Luis Shamshoum had to make a smart save to deny Finlay Dorrell, and then Pinto saw a shot deflected across goal and just wide of the far post as GWR were living dangerously, Charlie Morris then had a shot which flew off target, and then came a water break which was certainly needed for both the players and us watching too!!! It was thirsty work.

Dorrell then had another chance after getting in behind but could only send his effort wide, Jake Gordon then had GWRs first effort at goal but flew wide, Kris Newby then sent an effort over for Boro before a Harry Talbot effort deflected wide for a corner and then Callum Boylan dragged one harmlessly wide of the Boro goal just before the break, but you felt Romford had definitely had the better of the contest as the players headed into the locker room goalless and with still everything to play for. 

Into the second half then and after diving for the Lounge to try and cool off and get a massive plastic glass of water and ice, I relocated to some shade in the upper reaches of the seats in the Bobby Moore section, anticipating what might come in the second half of this final, well the match was to be decided in the early stages of the half as Romford took a firm grip on proceedings.

After Shamshoum had denied Dorrell once again, Romford broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half when an error allowed Hassan Nalbant to be played in, and the Boro forward made no mistake in cooly finishing past Shamshoum and handing Boro the advatnage, an advantage that was to increase just two minutes later as after Shamshoum had saved, the rebound fell to Sam Deering who made no mistake in finding the net, and Boro were now in dreamland.

Rovers had it all to do and a mountain to climb if they were to get back into this tie, Gordon saw a shot blocked, before a Ben Search cross was headed at goal by Harrison Topliss, but it was straight at Boro keeper Jake Anderson who had very little to do all day if truth be told, and after another water break, Tony Martin saw an effort go wide.

Boro had been comfortable though throughout the whole game, Rovers had just not been at it and as the minutes ticked away towards stoppage time, you could feel that Romford knew they were close, and four minutes into seven added on minutes Nalbant raced clear to apply another cool finish to seal the contest and FA Vase glory for Boro.

Full time Great Wakering Rovers 0 Romford 3

A great occasion then, and one which saw Romford get the better of their fellow ESL opponents, and it was time for the presentations to begin

Rovers went up first and were roundly applauded by all, as you would expect, they had played their part in an amazing FA Vase campaign and to reach the final is an achievement in itself, and then it was time for Romford to go and claim that lovely FA Vase, and then came the moment of the day, Rovers giving the Boro players a guard of honour, a truly class gesture and showed the respect between the two sides, Romford then walked up those famous steps to claim the Vase, Romford, Isuzu FA Vase winners for 2024, well played!!!

It was a truly amazing day for both clubs and the league itself, I for one was very very proud and at times overwhelmed with it all, it's a day I will never ever forget, that's for sure.

And you know what made it even more memorable, take a look below...

Yes, Adam (my co host on the Grassroots Football Show and a good friend too) got to hold the FA Vase afterwards in the lounge when Romford brought it in there to share their success with their loved ones and supporters, it just topped off what had been a superb day, wow.

Anyway, there was another game to enjoy on the day, it was the Isuzu FA Trophy contest between fellow Vanarama National League sides Gateshead & Solihull Moors, at least I could sit back and relax for this one!!!

Isuzu FA Trophy Final

Gateshead Vs Solihull Moors

It was Heed who had the first moment of the game early on when Hannant flashed an effort across the Moors goal but no Heed player was able to gamble on it, Heed then saw Moors defender Whitmore produce a big block to deny Heed an effort on goal, Whitmore then had a chance at the other end but could only send his effort over, before Francis was then denied from close range by Moors player Jay Benn.

Olley then had probably the games best chance thus far when he somehow flashed an effort wide of the Moors goal late on in the first half, but in first half stoppage time Heed managed to get ahead and lead at the break when lovely work from Brown saw him cross for Booty to apply the finshing touch from close range and hand a slender advantage to the North East side at the half.

Could Moors fight back, well they should have levelled two minutes into the second period when Shade's cross was not met fully by Beck before Heed cleared, before Clark's effort was saved by Montgomery from the resulting corner, and then Montgomery produced another good save to deny Boateng from close range and keep Heed ahead.

Heed then had a chance to double their lead after a mistake at the back, but Moors managed to recover, but then with eighteen minutes to go Moors found that leveller to tie this one up when Beck headed home, and then Moors should have gone in front when Sbarra was clean through, but he could only send his effort wide!!!

Heed were then screaming for a penalty late on but it fell on deaf ears, and then Osbourne went close for Moors in stoppage time, but with no one finding a winner, the game was to enter another half an hours action.

It was to be quite an entertaining extra time period too, in the 100th minute Moors were awarded a penalty which Beck tucked away for his second of the contest, but in the 111th minute Heed drew level when Brown volleyed home from close range, and it meant that the FA Trophy Final would go to penalties.

This was deja vu for Moors who saw last Sunday's Promotion Final end 2-2 after extra time and go to penalties, they were up first and saw Warburton score and then see Heed fail to score their first one, early advantage Moors then, well not for long, as Shade missed his kick before Dinanga converted for Heed, 1-1 after two each.

Clark was then denied but Francis was then denied by Moors keeper Hayes, Beck then netted for Moors before Olley then netted for Heed meaning 2-2 after four penalties each, you still with me? Newton, Storey, Mafuta and then another Heed penalty were converted to leave it 4-4 and sudden death, both sets of players and fans nerves were shredded by now, where was this one going?

Labadie then missed for Moors meaning Heed had the chance to win it, but Hayes managed to save that, Whitmore then missed for Moors meaning match point two for Heed, and Brown, who netted the leveller to take it to spot kicks, scored his penalty and Gateshead had won the Isuzu FA Trophy for 2024, hard on Moors who suffered a second successive shootout loss at Wembley in six days. 

Full time Gateshead 2 Solihull Moors 2 (aet, Gateshead won 5-4 on penalties)

So, a dramatic end to a fabulous day, but what a day, lots of memories made and I hope this blog does the day justice, it meant a lot to me and am sure it meant a lot to others too, well done to Romford and Gateshead on their victories, and commiserations to Great Wakering Rovers and Solihull Moors, but all four sides played a huge part in a very memorable day!!! Thank you!!!