I was over at the Aspect Arena on Canvey Island to see Bowers & Pitsea fightback from two goals down to earn a draw with Morpeth Town,setting up next weeks second leg perfectly.
The hosts will certainly take great heart from the comeback after a first half saw them largely second best and almost out of the tie. The match began in cagey fashion and the first chance did actually fall to the hosts on eight minutes as a ball across to Tom Hine saw him strike his effort across goal and wide.
Two minutes later Bowers forward Lewis Manor almost managed to get in for the hosts but the ball just got away from him and drifted away for a goal kick. And then the visitors struck moments later in the 11th minute when Sean Taylor saw Martin Guest off his line and he duly chipped over him from range for a superb opener and give the North East side the advantage.
On 17 minutes visitors full back James Novak struck over from distance but the Northern League side were now in the ascendency following that goal. Bowers did continue to try and find a leveller and on twenty minutes Luke Wilson saw his effort deflect just wide before the resultant corner saw the same man head just over.
However the travelling supporters were to be celebrating a second Morpeth goal on 33 minutes when Michael Chilton followed up to net a rebound after Guest had saved an initial effort from Taylor and it looked as though Bowers were going to find this one step to far in their Vase quest. They did manage to keep the scoreline at 2-0 as they went into the half time break but knew they had a mountain to climb to get back into this tie.
Half Time Bowers & Pitsea 0 Morpeth Town 2
However the Bowers side came out and decided to take the game to their opponents and pushed them back from the start of the second half and five minutes into it great play from the hosts saw Vinny Durrant volley over first time but it was definitely a sign of intent from the ESLside.
The hosts continued to have a good spell but came up against the brick wall that was the Morpeth defence, led by 45 year old veteran Chris Swailes. Bowers thought they had found a way back into the tie when they saw Aaron Russell convert a forward ball into the box on 67 minutes, but he was correctly flagged offside.
Then two minutes later the visitors almost made it three when after poor defensive work from the hosts, the effort from Morpeth was cleared off the line. It proved pivitol as moments later the hosts were back in this tie when Lewis Manor thumped home a loose ball inside the box and gave the home side a massive lift and it was well deserved after their second half display.
The hosts continued to put ball into the visitors area and the Northumberland outfit were just about dealing with what was coming their way. On 78 minutes Bowers went close to a leveller when a corner was headed across goal and wide by Wilson although the visitors were still looking dangerous at times and moments after this saw a cross flash high across the hosts area but away to safety.
Bowers though kept applying pressure and on 89 minutes finally broke the door down and levelled the tie up when a mis hit shot smashed across the area saw Alfie Hilton convert from close range and send the hosts wild. It really did not look likely at half time but Rob Smalls men just never know when they are beaten. Four minutes of stoppage time elapsed and the referee brought this cracking semi-final 1st leg to a close.
It certainly was a game of two halves and sets up a 2nd leg showdown in the North East in a winner takes all tie for a place at Wembley against either Hereford or Salisbury. It certainly proves to be a exciting day next Saturday.
Full Time Bowers & Pitsea 2 Morpeth Town 2
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