Isuzu FA Vase Quarter Finals, Saturday March 1st
It was FA Vase weekend once again, and I decided to take in one of these huge ties and make the trip to Surrey and Church Road, Whyteleafe, for the very first time to take in AFC Whyteleafe's home tie against Bourne Town.
Now the hosts only formed four years ago after the demise of Whyteleafe FC in 2021, AFC were formed and are already on the cusp of promotion to Step Four of the non league pyramid, they are top of the Combined Counties Premier South on goal difference and right in the mix for promotion, and have netted eighty seven goals in the league so far this season.
Bourne Town in contrast are celebrating 142 years as a club, formed back in 1883, so in terms of age these two clubs could not be more different, but that would mean nothing on the pitch today, the visitors are from Lincolnshire and ply their trade in the United Counties Premier North and they are also in the promotion shake up for Step Four, although they are seven points off the leaders so need to step on the gas there if they want automatic promotion.
That was on the bank burner today though as the chance of reaching Wembley and Non League Finals Day could get one step closer and be in touching distance for either of these sides, the Semi Final awaited for the winner, and both knew they had what it took to reach this stage and set up a two legged affair for a chance to play on the hallowed turf under the arch on May 11th.
A bumper crowd of 1,540 turned out for this one although there was still plenty of space inside the ground so it definitely was not overawed too much, and there was four coach loads of visiting fans there to cheer on their side too, so a great effort from all involved, it was the hosts though who certainly settled the quicker and they were the ones who grabbed an early lead.
They attacked down the left and the ball ended up at the feet of Gaspar Mico who duly cut inside onto his right foot, got himself into a decent position to shoot, and fired an effort from the edge of the box into the net past visiting keeper Dan Swan, it was a great strike but it seemed a bit to easy for Mico to get the space and strike off, and in only the eighth minute it seemed the hosts would go on and win this easily.
And if only for a combination of Swan and wasteful finishing, the home side would have increased their lead and potentially ended this tie in the opening forty five minutes, but they didn't and Bourne managed to stay in the game, and once they finally settled, which took quite a while, they did create a decent chance but saw a speculative effort go over the bar, but at half time the hosts were much the better side but had only one goal to show for it, so it was still all to play for in the second period.
Could AFC Whyteleafe go on and take control of this tie then, a second goal you felt would end any chances of Bourne getting back into the game, or would the visitors battle and fight and find a way like they had done in previous rounds to make this stage of the competition, well the hosts tempo and levels seem to drop in the second half and they were no were near as dominant in the second period, and at 1-0 it would only take a moment from the visitors and suddenly it would be anyone's.
To be fair though for the majority of the second period the hosts held onto the ball and it was quite a flat and subdued atmosphere and game considering what was at stake, and it only really got going again towards the end of the game, and Bourne so nearly found that leveller after a period of pressure when a glancing header went inches wide of the post, that was the chance we felt and thereafter the hosts managed to see out the game and take their place in the Final Four.
So, in summary the better team won the contest, but they made hard work of it as they never killed off their opponents who could have easily forced penalties towards the end, and a different result may have been forthcoming, but well done to AFC Whyteleafe in reaching the Semi Finals, and commiserations to Bourne Town but well done for reaching the Last Eight, they need to go on and try and achieve promotion now, so good luck with that.
Full time AFC Whyteleafe 1 Bourne Town 0
So, well done to AFC Whyteleafe on reaching the Semi Finals, shall we see what happened in the other three Quarter Finals and see who joined them in the Final Four:-
Whitstable Town 3 Whitchurch Alport 2
SCEFL Premier Whitstable Town came from 2-0 down after seventeen minutes to net a late late winner to take their place in the semi finals, it looked as though the Shropshire visitors were almost certain to be the ones going through when they made a superb start to this game, Callum Knowles finishing well at the back post after eight minutes before it was two after seventeen minutes when Adam Hailes squared for Harry Bower who found the net.
Whitstable though had other ideas and pulled one back a few minutes later when Ronald Sithole capped a fine run with a good finish, and they found a leveller after the break when Nathan Jerche rounded visiting keeper Jack Sheward before slotting home, and in the first minute of stoppage time the hosts won a penalty which Harvey Smith converted eventually on a rebound after his initial spot kick was saved, to send the majority of the record 2,656 crowd inside The Belmont wild, and the hosts had completed a remarkable turnaround!!!
Hartpury University 2 Erith & Belvedere 1
Hellenic Premier side Hartpury came from behind to reach the Semi Finals of the competition, Erith, one of two SCEFL Premier sides left in the competition, grabbed the lead after eleven minutes when Tommy Whitnell scored, but seven minutes before half time Louis Manning fired into the roof of the net to see the sides go in level at the break.
And just beyond the hour mark Hartpury netted what proved to be the winner when Osborn, who had literally just come on as a substitute, found himself through on goal and he duly rounded the keeper and passed the ball into the empty net and see his side into the Last Four of the competition.
Andover New Street 1 Heanor Town 0
Just one goal was needed to settle this Quarter Final tie, and it came from hosts player Starman Williams just before half time to send the Wessex Premier side into the final four, Heanor, who saw Nice sent off just before the hour mark, did not show up according to their X feed, they were backed by 300 fans though in a crowd of over 1,000 which was a very good effort, but it was the hosts who took their place in the last four.
So, the semi final line up is as follows:-
AFC Whyteleafe (Combined Counties Premier South)
Andover New Street (Wessex Premier)
Hartpury University (Hellenic Premier)
Whitstable Town (SCEFL Premier)
The draw for the semi finals will be made tomorrow (Monday 3rd March) and the two legged semi finals will be played on Saturday March 29th & Saturday April 5th, with the winners playing in the Final at Wembley on Non League Finals Day on Sunday May 11th, good luck to the four sides who have made it this far, well done to all!!!
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