Southend United 2 Aldershot Town 1 - Second half goals from Noor Husin & Gus Scott-Morriss enough to see Southend edge out Shots & net a fourth win in six games to continue charge towards Vanarama National League play-offs

Vanarama National League, Tuesday February 18th

I was back over at Roots Hall to see if Southend could continue their play off charge after picking up some results over the last few games which had left them only six points off the top seven places with fifteen league games remaining, they welcomed relegation threatened Aldershot Town to the Essex Coast in this occasion who themselves were looking to continue a decent run themselves.

The Shots recent run had taken them out of the relegation places and a point above the drop zone, there unbeaten run going back a month was finally ended at Eastleigh last time out, but they were sure to give The Blues a good run in this contest, a contest many expected the hosts to win though, although you can never be so sure in this game of football.

Another decent crowd were in, over 6,500, with 192 hardly soles making the trip from Hampshire, the game was actually delayed to 8pm after the visitors had traffic issues getting to the Essex Coast, and early on it seemed they were still getting to grips with the evening as The Blues had chances to grab an early advantage, however, Shots keeper Dewhurst was not really tested despite the hosts possession, and in fact the best save of the half came from hosts keeper Hayes who had to be smart to palm away an effort after a mistake at the back.

The Blues though were getting up a head of stream in the early exchanges of the second period, and seven minutes into it Southend grabbed the lead when a ball from Jack Bridge into the path of Noor Husin saw the latter control the pass and slot nicely into the bottom corner from inside the box, and the hosts were on their way.

The Shots though then had a decent spell as they tried to level the contest up and prevent themselves from having back to back losses, and on one such occasion somehow failed to net when they struck the inside of the post before the ball was somehow kept out and bundled away from goal, Hayes also had to make a decent save to stop The Shots on another occasion, but Southend managed to survive this spell, and then doubled their money.

It came when a ball into the danger zone saw Macaulay Bonne get a touch to send the ball across the penalty area towards the back post where Gus Scott-Moriss stretched to divert the ball into the bottom corner of the net, and The Blues seemingly were heading towards the three points with relative comfort with just under twenty minutes to go.

It was anything but though as the visitors refused to go away, and with twelve minutes to go they grabbed a goal back with a loose ball fell into the path of Woodhouse and he rammed home a powerful effort to give his side hope with twelve minutes to go and see a nervy end to the contest for the home side.

You could feel the tension in the stadium as the clock ticked down, The Blues were playing on the counter when they could but they could not get out of their half at times as Aldershot were doing all they could to salvage something from the contest, they probably should have done as well when somehow heading wide in the five minutes added on at the end, but The Blues managed to survive and edge to the points after a very hard fought victory.

That's now four wins in their last six league games, a run that has given them a real chance of making the end of season play-offs, they are five points off the top seven now in eighth spot, whereas for Aldershot that's back to back losses now which sees them just above the drop zone still, a point clear in 20th position, an important couple of months to come for both for differing reasons for sure.

Southend United 2 Aldershot Town 1

  

White Ensign 7 FC Clacton 0 - Braces from Billy Bonham-Dare & Chinedu Duru plus one each for Ellis Devereux, Albie Keith & Trevor Harding help White Ensign thrash bottom side FC Clacton at Burroughs Park

Essex Senior League, Saturday February 15th

With my original plan to go and watch Benfleet Vs league leaders Stanway Rovers at Manor Road scuppered due to that game being postponed in the morning, I quickly made alternative plans and popped along to Burroughs Park in Great Wakering for another Essex Senior League between eighth placed White Ensign & bottom side FC Clacton.

Ensign were having a really good solid season and as said above sat in eighth spot in the division at kick off, and effectively the best of the rest after the top seven sides who realistically have a chance of promotion/play offs, so this was a very impressive season indeed for a club who are definitely punching above their weight.

In stark contrast FC Clacton are having a season to forget both on and off the field sadly, their well documented issues off the field certainly cannot be helping the side on the pitch too, they have only mustered ten points all season, only two wins in twenty five league games and nineteen losses, however they were only three points from safety despite this, so with thirteen more games to come, it was still all to play for.

The visitors knew they needed a good start, but they didn't get it as Ensign got themselves ahead after just eight minutes when Ellis Devereux was far too strong for his marker, easily shrugging him off to get in on goal and firing past visiting keeper Michael Bett, making it the perfect start for the hosts, and thereafter dominated the contest for the rest of the half.

Ensign were looking threatening every time they came forward as the visitors just could not deal with them although hap hazard defending wasn't helping their cause, they saw the woodwork come to their rescue a couple of times as the hosts looked to increase their lead, but with eight minutes of the half to go Ensign did find that settling second goal as Albie Keith was allowed to cut onto his right foot and was given all the time and space to pick his spot and curl a beauty of an effort into the top corner, meaning the hosts went into the break two goals to the good.

Did FC Clacton, whose only real effort on goal saw a shot go straight at Bradley Davidson, have any fight or belief left in them? Well, their best chance came pretty much from the second half kick off, but substitute keeper Joe Whitney, on for Davidson at half time, managed to save a close range header from the visitors, had that gone in, who knows, but the game was to be put to bed not long after as Ensign struck twice in no time at all.

Billy Bonham-Dare, who was playing full back today, used his strikers instinct to burst in on goal and slot a finish beyond Bett five minutes into the second period, and then just four minutes after that he pounced again at the back post after he buried a free header from a Jon Evans corner, defensively poor again from the visitors and it was a matter of how many Ensign wanted now as the game was over.

Twenty minutes into the second half a fifth goal arrived for the hosts, Chinedu Duru easily muscling his way into the box before slotting past Bett, and then substitute Trevor Harding's first contribution was to add a sixth goal three minutes later, his shot was straight at Bett but the keeper could only parry the ball up and over himself and see it spin into the goal, he had literally just come on, not a bad introduction to the contest that was now running away from a despondent FC Clacton.

And in the 73rd minute the scoring was completed when Duru got himself a second of the afternoon, another Evans corner found the striker totally unmarked at the back post and he could not miss, heading home from a yard or so out, the defending once again rather shambolic it has to be said, and they certainly looked like a side who have already resigned themselves to the drop.

Fair play to Ensign though, they put their opponents to the sword today, especially second half, and it's another win to add to their tally, their eleventh of the campaign, they remain eighth and the best of the rest, FC Clacton are now nine points from safety with just twelve games remaining, and on this showing you cannot see how they are getting out of this predicament.

Full time White Ensign 7 FC Clacton 0

There were eight other games that took place on Saturday in the division, let's see how those went...

Buckhurst Hill 2 Barking 1

Hosts Hill netted two late goals to turn this one around and defeat play off chasing Barking at Roding Lane, it looked as if Sam Edwards goal just before the half hour would be enough for Barking to take all the spoils, but Nathan Boamah's 88th minute own goal and then Ollie Williams 94th minute winner saw the hosts snatch a dramatic win.

Frenford 0 Great Wakering Rovers 4

Rovers boosted their play off hopes after bouncning back from a disappointing loss in midweek to thump Frenford at The Drive. Ex Frenford striker Raheem Gray returned to haunt his old club by giving his current ones a 13th minute lead before harry Talbot netted on 64 & 69 minutes to give the visitors a three goal cushion. Dominic Locke then added a fourth in the 83rd minute and although Wakering saw Danny Cossington sent off in stoppage time the job had already been done.

Halstead Town 1 Sawbridgeworth Town 3

Sawbo gave their chances of survival a huge boost after they netted victory at Rosemary Lane, Elijah Grant's 26th minute penalty had them ahead at the break before Grant netted again ten minutes into the second half to double their cushion, Nabil Musah then added a third for the visitors just past the hour, and although The Humbugs pulled one back through Tom Graves late on, it was not enough to deny the visitors another big win.

Hullbridge Sports 1 Ilford 2

The Foxes followed up their terrific win in midweek by netting another one against Hullbridge at Lower Road. Mohamed Habib handed the visitors the lead in first half stoppage time before Joel Appiah doubled that cushion twelve minutes into the second period, and although Darnell Williams pulled one back in the 74th minute Ilford were not to be denied all three points.

Little Oakley 2 Takeley 0

Takeley's title and automatic promotion aspirations took another blow today as they lost at The War Memorial Ground against Little Oakley. Daniel Rowe gave Oakley the lead with just over fifteen minutes left before they sealed the points seven minutes later through Jordi Papple.

Romford 2 Saffron Walden Town 1

Hosts Romford netted a big big win in their quest for the play offs after defeating another play off chasing side in Walden at Mayesbrook Park. Charlie Morris handed the home side a ninth minute lead, only to see Jeff Cobblah level for Walden six minutes into the second half, but with just under twenty minutes remaining Praise Ogbebor netted the winner to hand the hosts a very important three points.

West Essex 3 Athletic Newham 0

Hosts West Essex netted three goals without reply to see off Athletic Newham at Wadham Lodge, Jaedon Phillips opening the scoring in the 66th minute before Jayden Alexander doubled that lead with fifteen minutes to go, and the points were sealed with six minutes to go courtesy of Jack Martin's goal.

Woodford Town 2 Stansted 0

Hosts Woodford got back to winning ways as they continue to try and catch Stanway at the top of the division after seeing off struggling Stansted at Ashton's. Bruno Tavares netted his and Town's first goal eight minutes before the break before Tavares netted again with around twenty minutes remaining to seal the points for the home side and seriously harm the visitors survival chances as a result.

Let's see how the table looks after today's results.....

Even though Stanway were not in action today (there game at Benfleet was postponed) they still remain four points ahead having played less games then the ones below, Takeley failed to close the gap after their loss whilst Woodford go back into second on goal difference after their win. Great Wakering are back in the top five after they won, Barking drop out after their dramatic late loss, Walden also fall a place after defeat but still remain in the top five.

Romford gave their play off hopes a huge boost after their big win today, they are six points off them as it stands with a game in hand, realistically only sides in the top seven can probably reach the post season as sides like Ensign, Hill & Newham are too far behind with only eleven or so games remaining in the season.

Down at the bottom and things don't look good for either side in the bottom two, FC Clacton are now nine points from safety whilst Stansted are now six from safety themselves after they both lost and Sawbridgeworth won, realistically the two sides going down will come from the bottom three, but if truth be told you feel the bottom two will be the bottom two come the end of the season unless something dramatic happens in the next couple of months.

Anyway that completes my blog, thanks for reading and thanks for the support you all give me, always appreciated. 
    

Ilford 2 Great Wakering Rovers 0 - Foxes bounce back from weekend disappointment, seeing off promotion chasing Rovers at Cricklefield to record an excellent win, taking them closer to the top ten of the Essex Senior League

Essex Senior League, Wednesday February 12th

It had been over a month since I'd covered any Essex Senior League action, so I decided to put that right and pop over to Cricklefield to see Ilford for the first time since their return to Seven Kings against promotion chasing Great Wakering Rovers.

It's been well documented the issues Ilford have had with other parties concerning Cricklefield, which meant they had to temporarily find another home as they were unable to use the main clubhouse which included the bar and changing rooms, but they have now built a clubhouse at the far end of the stadium, with the changing rooms in a building next to that.

This meant they could return to the ground as they had the required facilities to compete at this level, a welcome relief for all concerned no doubt involved with the club, and I must say the clubhouse is very spacious and serves everything you need, so kudos to them for getting all this sorted, it must have been a very stressful time for them all.

Tonight's game saw them welcome play off chasing Great Wakering Rovers, so they knew they would be in for a tough game, and after they had suffered a disappointing 4-3 home defeat to relegation threatened Sawbridgeworth Town at the weekend they knew that if they could bounce back and get a positive result here, it would not only put more daylight between themselves and the bottom two (currently twelve points) it would also take them only five points off the top ten.

Visitors Wakering though had suffered a rather mixed bag of results since Christmas and this had seen them fall out of the play off places, starting the evening in sixth and a point off those places, so just a point would take them back into the top five in goal difference, but they were obviously searching for all three points no doubt, and many expected them to achieve this in this game.

But this is football after all, and Ilford had other ideas, and after Rovers had had a decent start, and it looked only a matter of time before they grabbed an early lead, Ilford stunned their opponents by grabbing a 14th minute lead as a fortuitous bounce saw Foxes attacker Mo Nur Habib burst through on goal before providing a finish past keeper George Martin and into the bottom corner, advantage Ilford.

And it seemed to change the momentum of the game completely, Ilford gained so much confidence from edging ahead that they could easily have added to that lead, it took Rovers a good while to regain their composure it seemed, and they could have easily gone in level at the break as they created some openings towards the end of the half.

No doubt Bowers & Bunny would have got into their side at half time, they had not been themselves that was for sure and needed to improve after the break if they were to get the result they needed to get back into the top five, but, it was Ilford who doubled their lead just past the hour mark, as after the visitors were denied a penalty after a big shout for one, The Foxes won their own spot kick down the other end, and saw Greg Akpele convert, and the visitors had a mountain to climb just to get a point.

Ilford though were not to let Rovers climb that mountain and defended brilliantly as they had done the whole game, and were always a threat on the counter too, and despite almost ten minutes of added on time, Ilford comfortably saw out the contest to keep a clean sheet and grab a big win too, it just wasn't Rovers night and certainly a bad night at the office, they can play much better than this but are going through a sticky patch right now and will need to address this soon.

Full time Ilford 2 Great Wakering Rovers 0

There were two other games that did take place in midweek in the ESL, both on Tuesday, so let's quickly look at how those panned out:-

Barking 2 Takeley 1

Takeley lost at Mayesbrook Park for the second time in about a month as they fell to Barking, Sam Shaban gave the Blues a 31st minute lead and then doubled that lead with his second of the game with just under twenty minutes to go, George Powell did pull one back a few minutes after but it wasn't enough to prevent the hosts taking the win.

West Essex 2 White Ensign 2

The spoils were shared at Wadham Lodge as West & Ensign shared four goals, Reece Clarke gave West a 16th minute lead but Ensign responded through Riley Weir six minutes later, Zak Oliver then restored the hosts lead five minutes before the break, however, Ellis Deveraux levelled ten minutes after the break to make sure the visitors left with a point.

Right, let's check out the latest table heading into the weekend:-

Those midweek results saw Barking overhaul Wakering and replace them in the top five, and with Wakering's surprise loss at Ilford it means Barking stay in the top five, a point ahead of them, Takeley failed to close the gap to leaders Stanway after their loss at Mayesbrook Park, the the gap remains four points, and Ilford are up to 14th after their superb win at Cricklefield, they must be looking up now rather than down and a top ten position is closer now.

It was confirmed that two would go down recently, hence the relegation line is now above 19th, and those two spots are most likely going to come from the bottom three, who are well adrift of the rest, you cannot see any of the ones above being caught now with over half the games completed.

There is a full round of fixtures scheduled this weekend for the division, weather permitting of course, these are below:-

Saturday February 15th

Benfleet Vs Stanway Rovers

Buckhurst Hill Vs Barking

Frenford Vs Great Wakering Rovers

Halstead Town Vs Sawbridgeworth Town

Hullbridge Sports Vs Ilford

Little Oakley Vs Takeley

Romford Vs Saffron Walden Town

West Essex Vs Athletic Newham

White Ensign Vs FC Clacton

Woodford Town vs Stansted

That you all up to date with the Essex Senior League, thanks for reading!!!

 

Sunderland 2 Watford 2 - Hosts defender Dennis Cirkin nets late leveller as Sunderland share the spoils against Watford in their Sky Bet EFL Championship contest at The Stadium of Light in the North East

Sky Bet EFL Championship, Saturday February 8th

It was that time of year again, off up to the North East with my Step Mum to watch Sunderland at The Stadium Of Light in honour of my late father and her late husband (he has been gone seventeen years this year, how the years fly by eh) to watch his beloved Black Cats and hope and pray they could do the business against Watford in the Sky Bet EFL Championship.

Due to TV coverage (the match was the main lunchtime game on Sky Sports Football) it meant a 12:30pm kick off time so meaning travelling up on the Friday and staying in the Hilton next to the ground, with me having a room overlooking the stadium, which was nice, and a good way to prepare ourselves for the stress and strain of watching Sunderland the following day, it's never normally straightforward and has often ended in disappointment over the years since we have been doing this since my fathers passing in 2008.

We have seen them win on a few occasions though, and there was a bit more optimism this year that we may see a positive outcome in this one as Sunderland have been doing very well this season, they are right in the mix for promotion to the Premier League, and began kick off in fourth spot and just a couple of points off the automatic promotion spots.

There play off spot does look pretty secure now, famous last words!!! I only say this because Sunderland were a massive fourteen points clear of seventh place, and in fact fourteen points clear of fifth, the top four sides had built quite a gap, so those four, including the Black Cats, were the ones battling for automatic promotion realistically.

They welcomed a Watford side to SOL who although in tenth spot and had lost their last three, were only three points off the top six themselves, as is the nature of the championship and how tight it always is, so if they could cause a surprise in this one then they could well find themselves level with the final play off spot.

This wasn't going to be a easy ride then was it, and no doubt ninety minutes of twists and turns emotionally for us as it always is, Sunderland were in happy mood after their triumph at Middlesbrough on Monday night though so needed to take that momentum into this one, and things looked good early on when Sunderland managed to grab the lead in the 16th minute.

Enzo Le Fee's corner was deep and beyond the back post, from where Trai Hume volleyed back across for Luke O'Nien to dive and head home from two yards as the Hornets defence stood and watched. It had been a brilliant start for the hosts and we dared to dream that maybe, just maybe, this would be a routine afternoon for the home side. Le Fee, on loan from Roma of course, had already showed how good a player he was, one of those players who gets you interested every time he gets the ball, a class player indeed.

O'Nien almost scored a second with a glancing header from Hume's cross, but there after they seem to stop the press and allow Watford a lot of the ball, frustrating the home support a bit, althougb despite this Anthony Patterson in the hosts goal barely had much to do, but the Black Cats were stunned just before half time when the visitors equalised.

Mamadou Doumbia, the 18-year-old striker making his first Championship start for Watford, forced a fine save from keeper Patterson with a header and was brought down by Cirkin as he tried to get to the rebound. Penalty, it was a stupid challenge from Cirkin as the striker was running away from goal, so all he had to do was guide him towards the touchline, but it gave the visitors a golden chance to level from nowhere.

And Tom Dele-Bashiru sent Patterson the wrong way from the spot for his first goal since scoring a penalty in the reverse fixture at Vicarage Road in September, a game Watford did actually win, and now we were thinking this will be one of those games again, it nearly got worse in first half stoppage time as well as Ryan Andrews went close to giving Watford the lead when his deflected shot whistled just past the far post.

The home fans were restless to say the least, with some boos at half time being heard around the stadium from the majority of the 41,000 plus crowd, the game was back in the balance after such a positive looking start from the home side, and as we went and got our half time cuppa, we hoped for a better outcome in the second period.

Watford's season looked like it might derail over Christmas and New Year with seven defeats in 10 games, but they threatened a shock win when they went ahead less than a minute after the restart thanks to a magnificent goal from Imran Louza, as after receiving the ball 30 yards out, the Morocco midfielder hit a left-footed shot full of pace and curl that flew into the top corner with Patterson having no chance.

It was a superb goal it has to be said, most of the crowd missed it as they were still coming back from their half time refreshments, but the atmosphere had certainly changed from one of positiveness to despair, they like us were now fearing the worst and the hosts six match unbeaten run looked like it was coming to an end.

The hosts seemed disjointed and Watford were now executing a terrific game plan mastered by boss Tom Cleverley, who has been under huge pressure recently, Sunderland huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser, but Watford seemed comfortable now and if they were to get a third, the game would surely be over, the home fans and myself certainly couldn't see a way back for Sunderland, so I was preparing myself and my soul for a disappointing loss.

However, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris made some changes, and this seemed to galvanize the hosts who began to crank up the pressure on The Hornets, just like the early exchanges in the first period, and in the 89th minute Sunderland's late pressure eventually paid off, and it came from an unlikely source, with left-back Cirkin scoring after Wilson Isidor had flicked on Le Fee's corner. The corner has been completely mis hit, but it turned out to be good enough, could Sunderland go on and net a winner in the five minutes of stoppage time that was to follow.

Well, they should have done, and snatched all three points in injury time but for two crucial saves from Watford's debutant goalkeeper Egil Selvik, who denied both Isidor and substitute Milan Aleksic when one-on-one. It was a crazy and dramatic ending and so nearly ended in the positive outcome we all wanted, but fair play to Selvik who kept his side level as Watford did manage to cling on and earn what was probably a deserved point for them.

Sunderland would have been disappointed not to have won it, although before they levelled they would have taken a point, as it is, the Wearsiders are now seven points behind leaders Leeds, five points behind second-placed the Blades and two points adrift of Burnley in third after drawing a second successive home game, although they are still in a very good spot for the playoffs whatever happens, you'd hope!!!

Anyway, not sure how me or step mum felt afterwards, relieved that they managed to continue their unbeaten run and not lose, or gutted that they could not take one of those late late chances to win it, probably a bit of both, but I for one was exhausted mentally afterwards, and physically too, it does take it out of you doesn't it!!!

No doubt my father was watching from above, miss you so so much Dad, another birthday goes by, he would have been 72 on the day of this game, gone but never forgotten, and I hope your beloved Black Cats can get back to the promised land soon, maybe at the end of the season, who knows.

Full time Sunderland 2 Watford 2

 

Whitstable Town 2 Fleet Town 1 - Goals from Jayden Boulton & Mikey Dalton help Whitstable Town to victory over Fleet Town at The Belmont Ground to reach Isuzu FA Vase Quarter Finals for the very first time

(Whitstable Town full back Jayden Boulton firing the hosts ahead early in the second half)

Isuzu FA Vase Fifth Round Proper, Saturday February 1st

The first day of a new month, February, saw the return of the best competition in the world, The FA Vase, and we were now at the last sixteen stage and one step away from the Quarter Finals, and one step closer to a day out Wembley, serious stuff.

There were eight ties taking place and I decided to make my first ever visit to The Belmont Ground on the Kent coast to take in Whitstable Town Vs Fleet Town, both were at Step Five in the non league pyramid, the hosts playing in the Southern Counties East Premier Division whilst Fleet competed in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South.

Now Whitstable were in the Last 16 for only the second time ever, and the first time for nearly thirty years, they were not exactly setting the league alight, sitting 12th in their division with a very mixed bag of results, however their home form was pretty solid, which might suggest why they had done so well in the Vase as all but two of their ties had been at The Belmont, where they are much stronger.

I actually saw one of those away ties in this years competition, away at another Combined Counties Premier South side in the shape of Corinthian Casuals in the First Qualifying Round, that resulted in a 4-1 success (see my blog on that game here https://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2024/08/corinthian-casuals-1-whitstable-town-4.html), and would be their biggest win in this seasons competition thus far, as then followed several closely fought ties in Kent and one in deepest rural Suffolk, beginning by seeing off fellow SCEFL Premier Hollands & Blair 1-0 at home in the Second Qualifying Round to reach the Proper Rounds of the competition.

Combined Counties Premier North Virginia Water were then beaten 1-0 before fellow SCEFL Premier side Lydd Town were then beaten 2-1, but their most impressive result came in Round Three when they saw off high flying CCPD South Jersey Bulls 2-1 at The Belmont, Whitstable came from behind to win with two goals in the final ten minutes to inflict a rare defeat on a side that had only lost once in the league all season.

And Round Four saw them play away from The Belmont for the first time since the very first Qualifying Round, and they needed penalties to see off Thurlow Nunn Premier Walsham le Willows to reach the Last 16, before they were drawn back at home again for this tie against a Fleet side who are doing well in their division this term, sitting in fifth and just inside the play off zone with only two losses in the league this season.

Now their Vase run has almost all been away from home, after a bye into the Second Qualifying Round their campaign begin at home to Wessex League Division One Hamworthy United where they won 6-2, but since then all their ties have been away from home, the first of those coming in Round One at SCEFL Premier Sutton Athletic where a penalty shoot out was needed to progress.

Rochester was the next port of call as a 1-0 win at Rochester United saw them reach the Third Round Proper for the very first time, and they continued their now historic run in the competition by seeing off Spartan South Midlands Premier Tring Athletic in Hertfordshire, although penalties were needed once again to see Fleet progress, before they then travelled to West Sussex to see off Crawley Down Gatwick in another close 2-1 encounter, and now they are away again in the Last 16, with a trip to the Kent Coast.

So, how would this tie pan out then? Neither side had reached the Quarter Finals of this competition and neither had played each other in the competition before either, there were sure to be plenty of nerves in front of a bumper 1,121 crowd, who could settle the quicker and deal with the pressure of the occasion the best, we would soon find out.

The opening exchanges were cagey, which kind of suggested how big a game this was for both sides, but Whitstable certainly had the better of the openings in the first half thereafter, firing over from a good position after a nice move, and there were two balls fired across goal, one with pace and one a shot that was hit into the ground and went inches wide, and on both occasions just inches away from being poked in at the far stick. And they also saw a lofted effort hit the angle of bar and post, that was three or four good chances that the hosts failed to convert.

Fleet were not without there moments though in the opening half, one effort rocked just wide of the post, and another chance saw them get in behind but the ball across was behind everyone rather than in front, it looked offside when the original ball was played through, but it mattered not as nothing came from it, had it done, there may have been uproar amongst the hosts, it meant the tie was goalless at the break, and still right in the balance.

However, Whitstable flew out of the traps and had taken control of the tie before the hour mark, three minutes into the second period full back Jayden Boulton took aim and fired a lovely effort from outside the box into the far corner, and then eight minutes later in the 56th minute midfielder Mikey Dalton ran onto a ball into the box to fire in off the post and the hosts were now in dreamland and seemed to have one foot in the Quarter Finals.

Fleet though were never going to give up that easily, and they put nerves and doubt back into the hosts support when Ross Stepney managed to head home after a scramble inside the hosts box with 76 minutes on the clock, game back in the balance, and the visitors did hit the woodwork either before or after that goal (I can't remember sorry!!!) but it was certainly a hectic and dramatic ending in store.

The hosts were playing on the counter as Fleet searched for that leveller to take the tie to penalties, they weren't helped when substitute Kai Tanner, who had only come on the pitch in the 66th minute, was sent off for a challenge just outside his box, it meant the visitors would have to play the eight minutes of added on time a man light.

It was tense to say the least, and five minutes into stoppage time Whitstable had a golden chance to seal the deal when they went clean through on goal, but the effort was fired wide, meaning Fleet probably had one last chance to salvage the tie, and nine minutes into added on time a scramble inside the hosts box was not converted by the visitors meaning the hosts could clear and hear that sweet sweet sound of the final whistle, meaning the celebrations could begin.

Commiserations to Fleet Town, their record Vase run was over, fair play to them for getting back into this game and for the run they have had this season, but well done to Whitstable Town who reach the Quarters for the very first time, the club could not have been more hospitable towards me, looking after me and allowing me into the ground for free along with a programme, tea and cake in the boardroom, and a nice key ring with the club badge on it, I couldn't be more happier for them and show any more gratitude towards them for a lovely day.

They now await Monday's Quarter Final draw, the dream continues.....

Full time Whitstable Town 2 Fleet Town 1