Aldershot Town 2 Tadley Calleva 2 - Combined Counties Premier South Tadley Calleva bridge four step gap after an heroic performance saw them twice come from behind to earn Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay against National League Aldershot Town

Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, Saturday 17th October

This weekend saw the final Qualifying round of this season's FA Cup with sixty four sides battling it out for a place in the first round proper where the EFL League One and Two sides join the competition, so that is thirty two non league sides hoping to draw a big name in those divisions if they got through to the next stage.

The competition of course started way back in early August, the Extra Preliminary Round, as sides from Steps Four & Five in the non league pyramid began their journeys, and five of those sides who started way back in that round were still in the competition and harboured hopes of reaching the Proper Rounds of the tournament. These sides have had to navigate their way through five gruelling rounds already, so it's been been some effort for sure!!! 

Two of those sides are Tadley Calleva & SE Dons, who both play in Step Five, the lowest step to enter the competition, Tadley Calleva play in the Combined Counties Premier South, whereas SE Dons, who are making their debut in this competition as well, are in the Southern Counties East Premier, while Stafford Rangers (Northern Premier West), Atherton Collieries (Northern Premier West) and AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Northern Premier Midlands) are all in Step Four.

There were potential then for some 'Cupsets' of course, and none bigger than in the game I was at as I made my way to The Recreation Ground in Aldershot as Tadley Calleva took on a side four levels above themselves, Enterprise National League side Aldershot Town, in what was not only a local derby, but also a contest that had a proper David Vs Goliath vibes, which is what this cup is all about.

Tadley have only played nine league games this season, mainly due to their cup exploits, and have only lost once in those nine contests, winning four and drawing four, and with games in hand are only four points off the play off places, albeit very early in the season still, but obviously the cup run has taken quite a bit of their attention no doubt, and what a journey it's been so far.

There first three ties were all at home against sides from the same Step Five division, the Wessex League, seeing off Bemerton Heath Harlequins, Hamble Club & Laverstock & Ford.  There first away game came in the Second Qualifying Round when they saw off Step Four opposition in the shape of Southern League South Bishops Cleeve, providing their first surprise of the run.

However, they were to cause quite a shock in the Third Qualifying Round, as in front of 898 spectators at their Barlow's Park ground, they saw off Dartford, who are fourth and only three points off the top of the Isthmian Premier, which is Step Three and two levels above, creating quite a memorable afternoon at the club, and setting up a big match today against very tough opponents and who are on a totally different level to anyone they have faced so far.

Yes, The Shots are having a mixed campaign so far in the National League, thirteen games, five wins, three draws & five defeats, but they are a professional outfit and are on paper at least way ahead of their opponents in terms of levels and in the football pyramid, but football isn't played on paper is it, and this is the FA Cup, and we know what can happen in that competition don't we.

Well, it appeared that it was going to be a long afternoon for the visiting side as The Shots didn't take long to get their noses in front, there were only eight minutes on the clock when Marcus Dinanga fired home from close range after a scramble inside the six yard box, and the almost 900 strong visiting support may well have feared the worst after their side had made the worst possible start.

The Shots though could not build on that good start and despite having plenty of the ball and creating further opportunities, they were unable to extend their lead, Tadley had barely threatened if truth be told, a long range effort going a foot or so over the bar their best effort, as they had spent most of the opening forty five minutes hanging on, but in first half stoppage they struck a stunning blow.

A ball from the right hand side was perfect for striker Alfie Burton who stretched to send the ball beyond keeper Nick Hayes who had pretty much had nothing to do in the entire first period except pick the ball out of his net, and send the travelling support into raptures, it was a great moment for the visitors who were now heading into the break level, with the hosts scratching their heads as to how they were not winning this contest. 

Well, the reason was poor execution in the final third, and a hard working visiting side who managed to stay in the contest, and that goal right on half time had given them an extra zip and you could feel and sense the frustrations from the home support who were now fearing that this was not going to be as straightforward an afternoon they envisaged, but the home fans were to be celebrating just before the hour mark when Michael Strickland powered home a header from a corner, and restore the home sides lead.

You felt at this point Aldershot would take control now and go on and rubber stamp their authority and win by a few more goals as Tadley would surely tire as they had put in a lot of effort in this contest, but, this did not happen, as the hosts failed to kill off their plucky and brave opponents, and unbelievably they levelled once again in the 73rd minute, after an almighty scramble inside the six yard box eventually saw Charlie Barlow smash the ball home, and send the visiting support wild once again.

I was now turning into a proper cup tie, a truly marvellous spectacle, unless you were a fan of the home side that is, and Tadley knew they were edging closer and closer to earning a replay, something nobody expected prior to kick off, they continued to defend for their lives and ride their luck as well, which you have to do in these situations away at a side four levels above you, but once again the hosts were wasteful when chances came their way.

And when they did find the net, the flag went up, saving the visitors from going behind once again, and then they had more work to do when the fourth official held up eleven minutes of added on time to come (there had been quite a few stoppages so it was no surprise) but as the minutes ticked by Tadley were getting closer and closer, and then in the 98th minute the underdogs so nearly won it, with only a blinding save from Hayes preventing them from the most incredible moment and win.

However, they managed to earn that replay, after 101 minutes had elapsed, and they could celebrate a marvellous result, it really was a super human effort from the visitors to grab this draw, and on the flip side the hosts were very very disappointed and were booed by their own fans at the final whistle who were less than impressed at being held at home by a Step Five outfit, the magic of the cup once again, don't you just love it!!!

Full time Aldershot Town 2 Tadley Calleva 2

Well, what a fantastic day that was, thank you to Mark Butler and his team for the wonderful hospitality before and after the game in the EBB Lounge, lovely friendly staff, nice food, and a nice atmosphere in there as well between folk who were representing both clubs, and despite the hosts disappointment, they were very complimentary about their opponents today who certainly surprised many in this one.

An heroic effort from the visitors Tadley Calleva, and they now have a huge match at their tiny Barlow's Park ground were they were saying that it only hold's 1,000 people, so that will be full to the brim for sure come Tuesday evening, they certainly earned another go and trying to reach the First Round Proper, and continue their historic run for at least another few days.

Both sides will find out who their opponents will be on Monday night when the draw for the First Round Proper is made, you still have to fancy the shots on getting the job done second time around, but Tadley will have nothing to lose and everything to gain, and at their tiny ground on Tuesday, you just never know, the magic of the cup lives on, and I absolutely love it!!!

Hullbridge Sports 6 Canvey Island 0 / Hutton 3 Braintree Town 2 - Hullbridge Sports thrash a sorry Canvey Island whilst Hutton produce huge shock by seeing off Braintree Town to reach Round Four of the BBC Essex Senior Cup

BBC Essex Senior Cup Third Round, Tuesday 12th/Wednesday 13th October

It was back to the bread and butter of local football back in the UK, after my two and a bit weeks over in Norway, and I returned to action back in blighty with a couple of County Cup ties in the good old county of Essex, in the Third Round of the BBC Essex Senior Cup, and I attended two of the sixteen ties taking place this week in the round, and it all began at Lower Road on Tuesday night.....

Tuesday 13th October

Hullbridge Sports Vs Canvey Island

This tie brought together Essex Senior League highflyers Hullbridge Sports, who had began the season very well indeed, sitting in third spot in the table with seventeen points from their eight leagues games thus far, with only one loss in those games and five wins, visitors Canvey knew they would be in for a tough game, especially as they had not started their campaign quite as well.

Yes, the Gulls are in the league above, the Isthmian North division, but they are fifth bottom and just above the drop zone by a solitary point, having lost six of their ten league games so far and only picking up two wins, it was therefore expected that this was a potential banana skin for Canvey, but they would have still been expected to put up a good showing here and potentially see off their lower league opponents.

However, they were to be outplayed by their opponents in the opening forty five minutes, and it was no surprise and indeed totally deserved when Hullbridge took the lead midway through the first period, a long ball finding Kieran Jones perfectly in stride for him to send an effort beyond Kasey Clark, and then on the half hour mark Nick Dembele doubled the home sides advantage when firing a nice left footed effort across Clark and into the far corner.

Canvey tried to rally late on in the half and saw ex keeper Bobby Mason, now in goal for the hosts, punch away an effort, but it was a rare attempt on goal for the visitors who went into the break with plenty of work to do to try and get back into a tie they were second best in across all areas, the hosts had been superb and probably could have had a bigger lead at the break, but it was a lead that was to increase.

It came nine minutes into the second period, and it was another lovely finish, a ball across the box into the path of Archie McFadden saw him side foot beyond Clark to had the hosts a three goal lead, and a clinical hosts then made it four nil after Fred Agyemang burst clear of the back line to finish beyond Clark with twenty five minutes still to go, it was becoming an embarrassing evening for the visiting side who had no answer to a superb home outfit.

Things then got even worse for the visitors when they saw skipper Elliott Ronto shown a straight red with eleven minutes of the game remaining, and the hosts were to net twice more late on to really rubber stamp this incredible showing, Agyemang netting a second of the night when powering home a close range header in the 88th minute, and then seeing Matas Machovas complete the scoring in stoppage time and seal a wonderful dominant performance.

As good as Hullbridge were, and as impressive as they were, Canvey were equally as poor and disappointing, and will want to forget this night in a hurry, it was a very humbling experience against a side a level below them, although you would have thought Hullbridge were the Step Four side and Canvey Step Five, it was that comprehensive, a very good performance then from the hosts who are now into Round Four of the competition and will be ones to avoid for many.

Full time Hullbridge Sports 6 Canvey Island 0

 

And on Wednesday I was back over at New Lodge to see a tie between Step Five and Step Two, let's see how that one went.....

Wednesday 14th October

Hutton Vs Braintree Town

On paper this looked like a foregone conclusion, Hutton, who are in the Essex Senior League, were taking on a side three leagues above them in the pyramid in the Enterprise National League South, Braintree Town, and with the visitors going strong in this tie as well, surely the visitors would be able to put a difficult start to their season behind them and record a comfortable win here.

Braintree have not had the best of starts to their season in National League South as said, they were only above the drop zone on goal difference after just three wins in their opening eleven games, losing seven of those two, but up against a side who were at their first season in the fifth tier of non league football, you would of felt they would have enough against the hosts.

Hutton themselves had started their season slowly before a great week saw them net back to back wins in the league to kick start their season, so they had momentum heading into this one, but even with that it looked too much to continue this against a side who play at a much higher level, and in the opening twelve minutes, this seemed likely to be the case.

Only five minutes were on the clock when Town went in front, Andre Changunda firing home from inside the box, and when Alfie Matthews header back across goal went in off a defender, it looked as though it would be a long night for the home side, but not a bit of it, Hutton rolled up their sleeves a duly pulled one back immediately, with a ball across goal being converted by Ryley Duggin who was left totally unmarked.

And after Hutton had missed further chances to level, they did manage to equalise midway through the opening half when more poor defending from the visitors saw Johnny Ashman convert from close range, and all of a sudden Hutton were the ones in the ascendency and looking to go in front, some turnaround and not what anyone expected.

It remained level for sometime thereafter, Hutton missed more chances to go in front, Braintree did also miss some really good openings, two being headers that were somehow put wide from close range, and as the second half wore on it looked as if Town were starting to look stronger as the hosts appeared to be tiring, understandably, after all the effort they had put in against a Step Two outfit.

However, this wasn't to be the case, as Hutton then completed the turnaround with seven minutes remaining, a cross from the right finding Adam Vyse, on as a second half substitute, free inside the box to nod home and punish more poor defending from the visiting side, and it meant that Hutton were on the brink of quite an upset.

The hosts then had to dig in to prevent the visitors from finding a late late leveller to take the tie to spot kicks, but they did just that to record an incredible win against Braintree and dump the National League South side out of the County Cup, a superb achievement for the club, and a very embarrassing night for the visitors, especially after starting the contest so well too.

Full time Hutton 3 Braintree Town 2

So, two superb wins for Essex Senior League sides this week against higher league opposition to send them both into Round Four, along with fourteen others sides who also won through this week, here are the results from the other fourteen ties across the week.....

Monday 12th October

Redbridge 5 - 2 Brightlingsea Regent

Tuesday 13th October

Colchester United 2 - 0 Maldon & Tiptree

Little Oakley 4 - 0 Southend United

Rayleigh Town 3 - 2 White Ensign

Concord Rangers 2 - 2 Aveley (Aveley won 4-2 on penalties)

Takeley 0 - 2 Stanway Rovers

Wivenhoe Town 2 - 0 Chelmsford City

Hashtag United 3 - 0 Walthamstow

Witham Town 7 - 1 Bowers & Pitsea

Tilbury 3 - 1 Halstead Town

Brentwood Town 0 - 3 Billericay Town

Waltham Abbey 6 - 0 Basildon Town

Dagenham & Redbridge 6 - 0 Great Wakering Rovers

Wednesday 14th October

Grays Athletic 8 - 0 Hornchurch

Stand out results saw Rayleigh Town knock out White Ensign, that's step six knocking out Step Five, Witham Town smashing seven past fellow Isthmian North side Bowers & Pitsea, and Billericay winning the fierce derby at Brentwood although The Blues look a very decent outfit this season.

Southend United, Chelmsford City & Hornchurch all were beaten at lower league sides although all fielded academy/youth sides hence the results in those games, but valuable experience for those youngsters for sure, other bigger sides like Dagenham & Redbridge & Colchester United took things a bit more seriously and saw off lower league opposition to progress.

The draw for the next round I believe is on Friday 16th October, which will be broadcast live in BBC Essex of course, the main sponsor of the competition.

And enjoyable return to football here then, and good to see two Essex Senior League sides fly the flag for the division too in a very impressive way indeed!!!

Staal Jorpeland 0 Vag 4 - Vag all but secure Norsk Tipping-ligean status for next season with victory at Staal Jorpeland's very picturesque Sparebanken Norge Arena, Madla take a step closer to promotion, Brodd all but safe after big win, Flekkeroy, Vindbjart promotion chances suffer major blow

Norsk Tipping-ligean Avdeling 4, Saturday 10th October

My final weekend and indeed final full day in Norway for this trip saw me take in more Norsk Tipping-ligean Avdeling 4 action as I made my first trip over to Jorpeland, which to get to it by bus from Stavanger required a trip under Horgefjord, through Ryfylketunnelen, which is NINE miles long & is currently the world's longest subsea road tunnel, & the deepest tunnel of any kind, so even before I had reached the game it was already an experience.

My choice of game for this round of fixtures in the division was at Sparebanken Norge Arena Ryfylke, for a game towards the bottom of the division, as Staal Jorpeland were hosting Vag, it was my first visit to their of course and the hosts were very gracious in giving me and club cap and scarf as a thank you for coming to their game, so that was another good reason for picking this one.

It was also quite an important game, especially for the hosts, in terms of strengthening their chances of staying away from the drop zone, but before the action from Jorpeland and the rest of the divisions action on Saturday, their was a game on Friday evening to start the weekend, involving sides in differing needs for the points, let's see what happened shall we.....

Friday 9th October

Flekkeroy 0 Odd 2s 1

Hosts Flekkeroy, or Floy as they are also known, were looking for the points to put pressure on the top two, they sat four points behind second placed Mandelskameratene and six behind leaders Madla who occupied the one promotion spot, so they knew that with only four games to go a win was pretty much needed, visitors Odd 2s were just three points above the drop zone and in need of points to get themselves away from the bottom three.  Well, it appeared as if this one would end goalless and both sides picking up a point, however, that was until the 90th minute when Mikkel Tonheim popped up to net a late winner for the visitors and make it six points in less than a week, and take a giant stride towards safety, and hand the hosts a very damaging defeat, especially if the top two win at the weekend too.

Ok, lets now look at what happened on Saturday, starting at my venue today, Staal Jorpeland's Sparebanken Norge Arena Ryfylke.....

Saturday 10th October

Staal Jorpeland Vs Vag

It's certainly one, if not the most, picturesque ground I've been too in a part of the world that has many, and a nice modern new stand has been built in the last year or so as well, which is very useful when the weather isn't playing ball, although despite the not such great forecast, it turned out to be a very nice day, making the surroundings look even more spectacular. And, as I briefly touched on in the blog intro, this was an important game towards the bottom of the division.

Staal were only three points above the drop zone and had actually dropped to fourth bottom as a result of Odd 2s win the night before, so the hosts were in direct firing line of Hinna and Haugesund 2s, who were in the drop zone and looking to try and pull themselves out of it at Staal's expense.  Vag were also still looking over their shoulders but were in a slightly more comfortable position despite this.

Vag were a further three points ahead of Staal and six clear of the bottom three, so a win here would all but secure safety and football in the fourth tier for next season, defeat would see today's opponents draw level with them and if results below them went against them too, make things very interesting down their for sure with three more rounds to come.

Staal's form heading into this one was mixed to say the least, but they had netted a big win last time out at Hinna in what was a huge six pointer down at the bottom, in fact over the last four games they had picked up seven points, very useful at this time of the season, Vag themselves though were in decent nick over the last few games, with the last five bringing four wins and a draw.

However, when the two sides met earlier in the season, Staal had netted a 1-0 win at Vag's Karuss Kunstgress, the hosts were certainly hoping for something similar today, but how would they cope against a side who had netted fourteen goals in their last five outings, only time would tell as they say.

The hosts should have been ahead early on, Gustav Stople cutting back onto his right foot before bending what looked like a lovely effort into the far corner, but visiting keeper Michael Crowe produced a wonderful save to tip the ball past the far post, and Crowe had to be smart to stop another close range effort from the home side, and this luck in front of goal was to be the story of the day for Staal.

The had plenty of openings but were lacking a cutting edge, Vag themselves also had plenty of attacks too, their best chance was a sitter as well, Salai Mahlaw bursting in down the left but his ball across goal was somehow poked wide of a gaping goal, however, in the 38th minute Vag did edge themselves in front, Daniel Roppestad broke clear down the right hand side and his lovely ball into the danger zone found Christian Wahlstrom who managed to beat his marker and apply a neat finish beyond home keeper Simon Amdal.

Staal then had work to do in the second period to turn this one around, and in first half stoppage time they made their task even more difficult when they went down to ten men, courtesy of a silly challenge from Jarand Veland, who was already on a booking & took out Mahlaw who was about to break down right, and he was duly shown a second yellow and sent for an early bath.

It was certainly a blow for the home side, but, despite these couple of late setbacks in the first period they came out all guns blazing in the second period, and were the better side even though they had a player less, but, yet again chances came and went and their lack of guile in front of goal was costing them, and once Vag had got through this and as the half entered it's final twenty minutes or so, they began to get more of the ball and more attacks against a now tiring home side.

And with ten minutes left it took a majestic ball from substitute Rahmanudin Manan to unlock the home defence, finding Wahlstrom who duly lifted a lovely finish over keeper Amdal for his second of the game, and all but seal the game, it was hard to see the ten man hosts coming back from that, and with Staal now feeling the affects of playing with a man light for the whole second half, and after all the effort they had put in, Vag were picking them off in the final few minutes. 

In the 87th minute a ball through sent another substitute, Ole Fuglestad, clear in on goal, and he lifted over keeper Amdal beautifully for another decent finish, and then in stoppage time a third substitute, Mateusz Radgowski, fired home at the back post after a ball across the box had found him totally free, sealing what in the end looking like a comfortable victory for the visiting side, but it was anything but.

The score line was very harsh on the home side who for large parts of the game were the better side, but, lack of cutting edge up front cost them dear, and tiring legs after a second half with ten men ended up too much in the end and Vag were able to put more gloss on the score line, and take for them a very big win and pretty much seal their survival this season, something that cannot be said for Staal who are still in a battle down at the bottom.

Full time Staal Jorpeland 0 Vag 4

An enjoyable afternoon for me at least, sadly I could not bring Staal Jorpeland any luck, but they certainly made my day special with the free gifts, and also the spectacular views too, certainly a place I will come back to again in the future for sure, the scenery is unbelievably good!!! 

Right, onto the remaining action on Saturday then, with another three games....

Varhaug 1 Madla 3

With the hosts in fifth and nine points behind today's opponents and league leaders Madla, the chances of promotion were almost non existant, but could they dent the visitors chances of promotion by inflicting defeat on them? Madla were of course coming into this having suffered a surprising loss at home last weekend to local rivals Brodd, and really didn't want another negative outcome as it could see them end the weekend off top spot as a result.  Mathias Dessingue handed the visitors a 19th minute lead,  but the hosts levelled just before half time through Arian Odegard, however, Madla were to go on and net a very important win as Sebastian Sandtorv restored their lead early on in the second period & then Jonas Halsne sealed the win with four minutes remaining and take them a step closer to their goal.

Brodd 4 Hinna 0

After Brodd's stunning win at league leaders Madla last weekend, it saw them really strengthen their grip on survival after it took them seven points clear of Hinna who occupied that final relegation spot, Hinna needed wins and help elsewhere to have any chance of survival so this was a must win game, like they all were now, but if Brodd could net a win it would pretty much guarantee their spot in the division next season, and almost consign the visitors to the drop if other results went against them.  Well, it was to be another difficult afternoon for the visitors, they went behind after just six minutes when Vegard Aasen netted for the hosts, and it was two just past the midway point of the first half after Isak Hebnes, the scorer of the winning goal last weekend, netted once again.  Martin Sveingard then made it 3-0 in the 66th minute before the scoring was completed five minutes from time courtesy of Magnus Bergesen, which all but seals Brodd's safety now.

Viking 2s 5 Vindbjart 1

Vindbjart has extra incentive to win at the Lyse Arena in Stavanger, as after Flekkeroy's defeat on Friday night meant that a win for the visitors here would see them leapfrog Floy into third spot and also take them as nearest challengers to the top two, taking them to just two points behind second place and four off the leaders if both slipped up this weekend, whereas Viking 2s were just above mid table in sixth with nothing to play for and were just chilling as their season came to it's conclusion, so the pressure was all on Vindbjart to get a result. Viking led by two at the break courtesy of Sondre Bakken's 13th minute goal & one from Romano Postema right on half time, giving Vindbjart a mountain to climb, and it was one that was to get bigger when Postema added another from the penalty spot just before the hour mark.  Max Hagen then made it 4-0 in the 65th minute, Vindbjart did pull one back through Sander Svela's goal with twelve minutes to go, but Postema then completed his hat-trick late on to seal the deal and all but end the visitors promotion chances.

Let's see how the table looks after the weekend games so far, and ahead of the final two remaining Round 23 fixtures taking place on Sunday & Monday.....

Madla opened up a five point cushion once again but know Mandelskameratene play at home on Sunday against Stabaek 2s, with a win for the second placed side taking them back to two points behind with three rounds remaining, it's looks more than likely to be between those two now to see who wins promotion to the third tier after defeats for Flekkeroy & Vindbjart this weekend.

Down at the bottom, with both Staal Jorpeland and Hinna losing 4-0, it remains the same as before, just the three points between them, Haugesund 2s could climb above Hinna and go just one point behind Staal if they win their bottom two clash at home to Akra on Monday, with anything other than a win for Akra resulting in the bottom side being officially relegated, although they looks inevitable anyway.

It does look like the teams going down will come from the bottom four places now, with teams above that looking more and more likely to have enough points to stay in the division now with just three more rounds to come. Vag & Brodd's wins today certainly all but cemented their status at this level for another year you would have thought.

Anyway that brings to an end a very enjoyable day over in Jorpeland, thanks once again to the club for their gifts, and the spectacular scenery will never been forgotten or topped for a while if ever, it also brings to an end my Norwegian adventure for this edition, so until next time, thank you and goodbye to Norway, and thanks once again for all who took the time to read, it's always very much appreciated.