So it was Last 32 time in the FA Vase and another trip to Broadwater, Berkhamsted, as the hosts welcomed ESL side Hullbridge Sports to a rather soggy Hertfordshire.
These teams had met at the same stage two years ago at Hullbridge’s Lower Road ground and it was the ESL side who prevailed in that one after extra time, and it was expected that another tight encounter would play out here to.
However the host were to strike early on as early as the 2nd minute when a ball into Bradley O’Donovan saw the Berko forward turn and strike an instant effort past Jamie Merralls in the visitors goal and give the Spartan South Midland side the advantage.
Hullbridge seemed to still be on the coach still in what was a very lacklustre opening quarter from the ESL side although they did have a sight of goal on 15 minutes when a ball forward onto the boot of Luke Hornsley saw the forwards volley just wide of the hosts goal. Moments later the hosts were back up the other end and saw Adam Mead’s close range header easily saved by Merrells.
The hosts should of doubled their lead midway through the half when a superb ball in from Josh Chamberlain found O’Donovan totally unmarked at the back post but he could only head his effort well over the bar. Three minutes later the tricky hosts winger Alex Campana outpacedSports player manager Rob Hodgson to have a strike at goal which Merrells saved to keep the score at 1-0.
However on the half hour mark the hosts were to double their lead when some great skill byCampana saw him run into the box, beat a man, before firing past Merrells with aplomb, and saw the hosts take a firm grip on proceedings.
Three minutes after this Berko thought they had made it three when the ball fell to Steve Haweswho struck home through a crowd of players from the edge of the box but the lineman’s flag had gone up as a hosts player had been in an offside position in front of the keeper.
It certainly woke the visitors up from their slumber and they were given a route back into the contest eight minutes before half time when after Hornsley was brought down in the box he picked himself up to fire the penalty in off the post and halve the deficit and give the tie a totally different complexion.
So the hosts led at the break in what was a very feisty game so far in front of a good crowd of 246 who had much to discuss over their half time snacks.
Half Time Berkhamsted 2 Hullbridge Sports 1
It was the hosts who had the first sight of goal in the second half eight minutes in when Campana went on another good run at the Sports defence but his final effort was easy for Merrells and then moments later Hornsley managed to get in behind the Berko back line but two good tackles thwarted the Hullbridge forward as they looked to grab an equaliser.
And then just before the hour mark came a moment to forget for Berko keeper Carl Tasker as a ball into the box seemed easy to take for the keeper but the ball somehow squirmed away from his grasp and fell straight to Hornsley who took the gift with both hands and had the simple task of tapping into the empty net and see the tie all square as a result.
Hullbridge had their tails well and truly up now and on 66 minutes Charlie Little fired one just wide for the visitors as it looked like they could now go on and possibly win this tie. With twenty minutes left a scramble in the Hullbridge box eventually saw a header dived on by Merrells as the heavens well and truly opened, adding to the sogginess of the surface, which was playing fairly well it has to be said.
On 73 minutes came a great chance for the visitors as a poor goal kick from Tasker went straight to Hornsley who bared down on goal but saw Tasker redeem himself and make a decent block before the loose ball was cleared away before Hornsley could pounce.
With twelve minutes remaining it was the hosts to miss a great opportunity as the ever threatening Campana sent a ball across the area to Frank Jowle at the back post whose effort was brilliantly tipped wide by Merrells for a corner. And from this corner the hosts regained the lead as O’Donovan’s header came off the post and Campana was on hand to blast in the rebound and leave Hullbridge the task of finding an equaliser with ten or so minutes to go.
So could the visitors find a way back once again? Well as it turned out, no. As Hullbridge pushed forward in search of that leveller they were always going to be short at the back from any counter attacks and sure enough as the game entered stoppage time the hosts sealed the deal as after a great surging run from sub Jordan Gilbert he laid in Campana who took a touch before firing past Merrells for his hat-trick and send his side through to the Last 16 of the FA Vase.
So the hosts eventually came out on top in a cracking cup tie although they were more than pushed all the way by a spirited Hullbridge outfit but in the end proved to strong for the ESL side. A very enjoyable Vase tie yet again!!!
Full Time Berkhamsted 4 Hullbridge Sports 2
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