Biggleswade 6 Windsor 1

Buildbase FA Vase Fifth Round Proper, Sunday 3rd February 2019

Braces from Ryan Inskip and Lee Northfield helped see Biggleswade into the Quarter-Finals of the Buildbase FA Vase after they netted six second-half goals to see off Windsor at Langford Road.

The hosts came into this tie having only lost one league game all season, sitting second in the Spartan South Midlands with games in hand over Hadley at the top, whilst Windsor are having an average season in the Hellenic Premier, down in 14^th having won eight, drawn five and lost nine of their 22 league matches so far.

So advantage Biggleswade then?  Well this is a Last 16 tie in a major cup competition so it’s not always that straightforward, but it was the hosts who had an early shout for a penalty when it appeared they were bundled over inside the area, but the referee deemed it a fair challenge and played on.

The home side then nodded a looping cross from the left wide of the right-hand post, whilst they also saw an effort blocked wide moments before.  Windsor almost got in themselves but terrific defending saw the danger adverted, and the hosts then flicked a dangerous header across the six-yard box as they had certainly started the better of the two.

Despite this it was the visitors who had the best chance of the half when a ball forward saw them run onto it and in on goal, but the effort was lifted over the bar and the chance for Windsor to take a surprise lead had gone.

The hosts then headed a corner wide before Windsor had another chance late on in the half when after the keeper had flapped at a cross, the eventual loose ball was struck over the top, and it meant the sides went into the break all square and definitely all to play for in this contest.

Half Time Biggleswade 0 Windsor 0

Another bumper crowd of 557 were inside the ground to see if their side could find a goal to take control of this tie, and two minutes into the second period they got their wish when after the referee had played a brilliant advantage, the hosts burst down the right and saw a ball laid across goal find Ryan Inskip who rammed the ball into the roof of the net.

They so nearly doubled their lead but saw a brilliant effort come thumping off the crossbar, before two more efforts were saved by the visiting keeper as Biggleswade looked to turn the screw.

Windsor though then had a brief spell where they believed they could maybe get back in level terms, firstly when a snap shot from the edge of the box was saved, before another ball fired into the dangerzone was deflected away from the box.

And after the hosts had broke and made a right mess of it, the visitors again threatened when they saw another effort well saved, but in the 63^rd minute Biggleswade found a brilliant second when Ryan Inskip struck home a superb effort in off the post and the home side now had breathing space.

Biggleswade could of sealed it shortly after but somehow poked wide from inside the box, however, they did seal the contest with eighteen minutes remaining as a ball squared too Lee Northfield saw the striker compose himself before slotting home and the hosts were on their way to the Last Eight.

The hosts were now relaxed and looking likely to score everytime they went forward, and an effort spilled by the keeper almost saw the hosts gobble up the rebound, but the keeper just about gathered the loose ball.

With twelve minutes left skipper Alex Marsh curled home a superb effort into the top corner to add a fourth for the hosts and they were in party mood now, and it was so nearly five when substitute Leavers pounced on a poor back-pass from the despondent visitors but saw his effort saved.

With seven minutes remaining though it was five when Northfield was laid in and he again composed himself before slotting home his second of the game, and with four minutes left it was six when a free-kick parried by the keeper was slid home at the back post by defender Nick Henebery.

Windsor did manage a consolation when they were awarded a penalty after a foul, and saw Matt Stockill convert, but it was too little too late as the hosts breezed into the Quarters of the Vase and kept their dream of Wembley alive.

Full Time Biggleswade 6 Windsor 1