Isuzu FA Vase 2nd Round Proper, Saturday 9th/Sunday 10th November
On remembrance weekend the FA Vase took centre stage once again, and there were two all Essex Senior League contests, one of those involving last years winners in the shape of Romford, they had a tricky tie at Takeley, and over in Great Wakering at Burroughs Park, White Ensign welcomed West Essex.
I covered both those games, and with the game at Burroughs Park taking place on the Sunday, my first port of call was Station Road, Takeley, so without further ado, let's see how that tie went as well as the one on Sunday as the ESL were guaranteed at least two sides into the Third Round:-
Saturday November 9th
Takeley Vs Romford
Both these sides were having good seasons, and both were in the top five in the division (4th vs 5th), but today was all about Vase ambitions and for the visitors trying to emulate what they achieved last season when they went and won the whole thing on that memorable day for the Essex Senior League at Wembley in what was an all league final affair against Wakering.
Takeley though would be a very tough assignment for Romford, and that assignment got tougher in the ninth minute when they fell behind, a lovely ball in by Jack Mitchell found Jordan Wescott who sent a wonderful header over Romford keeper and skipper Harry Girling into the far corner, and the hosts had the perfect start.
The rest of the half was played at a terrific tempo with both sides looking to attack at any opportunity, Takeley keeper Jarvis Monk made some impressive saves, as did Girling at the other end as both keepers prevented any further goals in the opening forty five minutes in front of a very healthy 223 crowd at Station Road.
Romford though were to come flying out the blocks at the start of the second period, and levelled in the 48th minute thanks to a lovely side footed finish from Brendan Ocran, and then seven minutes later the visitors were ahead, Jaiden Babalola received the ball outside the box before he fired a wonderful effort into the top corner via the outstretched hand of Monk who could not keep it out, and now Romford were the ones who looked likely to go on and win this tie.
Takeley though managed to regather themselves and in the 69th minute were level after a ball from Coby Miles found Olly Miles down the right hand side, his ball in was not gathered by Girling, and the loose ball was turned home by Mitchell to set up a grandstand last twenty minutes to what had been a terrific tie.
And in the 80th minute the hosts found themselves in front as a corner swung in by Lewis Wicker was misjudged by Girling, and after the ball had gone over him it appeared to hit a defender and end up in the net for an own goal, Takeley's Alfie Attrill was in the mix, but I believe it was an own goal but whatever it was Takeley now had a lead to hold onto.
Could the holders fight back and take this tie to penalties? There was a chunk of stoppage time to be played but their cause was not helped by their keeper and skipper Girling who talked himself into a sin bin deep into added on time meaning the visitors would have to play the remaining time with a man light and an outfielder donning the gloves.
And Takeley managed to see out the remaining minutes to take a very good win and dump last years winners out of the Vase in the process, it had been a cracking cup tie played in the right way too, both sides should be credited for putting on such a show, congratulations to Takeley for coming back from what looked like a losing situation, and commiserations to Romford who looked well set to win after going in front, there will be no Wembley finale for them this season and it's Takeley who reach the Last 64 of the competition.
Full time Takeley 3 Romford 2
Sunday November 10th
White Ensign Vs West Essex
The second all Essex Senior League 2nd Round Proper Vase contest saw 11th placed Ensign hosting 13th placed West, and with only two points between them in the division, this was going to be a tight and well fought battle no doubt, with both sides eying up a place in the last 64 of the competition.
The hosts started well and were in front after just nine minutes, Taylor Jacobi received the ball on the left hand side of the pitch and he was allowed to cut back onto his right foot before he hit an effort at goal which seemed to go under the dive of visiting keeper Lewis Edwards and end up in the net, the keeper just misjudged how much the ball dipped right in front of him and this was enough to see the ball beat him and hand Ensign an early advantage.
West soon settled though after this early set back and game became more even and more what I expected it to be like, tight, physical and well contested, and the match stayed at 1-0 as the teams trudged off at the break, however with around 35 seconds on the second half clock, Ensign caught West cold with a second goal, Riley Weir having the freedom of the penalty area to strike into the bottom corner of the net and hand them a very handy cushion.
These two early goals in each other ultimately won the game for the hosts, it was a very frustrating afternoon for the visitors who had plenty of openings to make this game a totally different one to how it ended, but either poor finishing, solid Ensign defending, or brilliance from keeper Bradley Davison, who on one occasion somehow kept a Yemi Adelani effort out from point blank range (it seemed impossible for him to save it) meant that they would draw a blank in front of goal, sometimes your just destined not to score, and this was one of those days for West.
Ensign though are a young and hungry team who are full of energy and just run and run and run for the cause, they did enough to win in the end and make it through to the Final 64 of the Vase, a terrific achievement for a club who always give their all regardless, so they certainly earned this one that's for sure!!!
Full time White Ensign 2 West Essex 0
There were three other ties involving Essex Senior League and Thurlow Nunn South sides, let's take a brief look at how those fared:-
Brantham Athletic 2 Benfleet 1
Benfleet's Vase run is done for this season after they were beaten at Thurlow Nunn Premier side Brantham Athletic, Ben Dixon put the hosts ahead after just five minutes of the tie, and Calum Griffiths then doubled that lead ten minutes into the second period. Mason Shave did pull one back deep into added on time but it was too little too late for the visitors who crashed out sadly.
Great Wakering Rovers 2 Great Yarmouth Town 2 (Great Yarmouth Town won 4-3 on penalties)
Last years runners up Great Wakering Rovers are out of the competition after they lost a cracking tie against Thurlow Nunn Premier Great Yarmouth Town on penalties at Burroughs Park. Yarmouth went in front after twelve minutes through Sam Adams, Callum Boylan brought the hosts level ten minutes into the second period, Yarmouth though restored their lead twelve minutes from time through Charlie Barber, however, Harrison Topliss forced penalties by levelling in the 87th minute. Rovers of course won the last penalty shoot out here in the Vase when winning last years semi final, but it was not to be this time round as Yarmouth prevailed to progress and mean both last years finalists have fallen at the second round stage.
Rayleigh Town 2 Harpenden Town 4
The one remaining Thurlow Nunn South side left in the competition, Rayleigh Town, succumbed to Spartan South Midlands Premier Harpenden Town at Thames Road after what was a superb cup tie. The visitors grabbed a 20th minute lead when a ball over the top was clinically dispatched by Danny Webb, but Rayleigh levelled just past the half hour mark after Lewis Risk netted after the visitors failed to clear their lines. Harpenden though went back in front right on half time when a counter attack saw Harry Andic slot home, and the visitors increased their lead early in the second period thanks to a cracking finish from Webb, Rayleigh then saw a Ollie Quick penalty saved as the hosts piled on the pressure, but then managed to net from the spot in the 87th minute through Archie Acheampong after Owen Barratt was fouled to set up a grandstand finish. Harpenden though made sure of their progression when they netted deep into stoppage time after a free kick from Dave Keenleyside hit the bar and then was bundled home by Elliot Bailey to finally seal victory in what had been a cracking cup tie.
So, it means that the only two Essex Senior League sides still left in the Vase are Takeley & White Ensign, so watch them draw each other in the next round, hopefully they will get good ties and hopefully they can progress, although the chances of having a side at Wembley this season diminished quite significantly this weekend.
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