Chertsey Town 0 Northwich Victoria 0 (aet; aggregate 1-1; Chertsey Town won 5-3 on penalties)

Buildbase FA Vase Semi Final 2nd Leg, Saturday 30th March 2019

Chertsey Town held their nerve to win a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Northwich Victoria at a packed Alwyns Lane to set up an FA Vase Final clash with Cray Valley (PM) on Non League Finals Day in May, this after a goalless draw saw the sides level after 210 minutes of action.

The sides had drawn 1-1 back in Cheshire last weekend so had set this second leg up perfectly, and I crowd of 1,807 packed into Chertsey’s tiny Alwyns Lane ground with the majority hoping to see the hosts complete the job and win through to May’s final.

But Northwich would prove a tough nut to crack, and backed by 200 or so fans who had travelled from Cheshire, they knew they were capable of winning this tie themselves, and it was they who had the first effort which saw Chertsey keeper Nick Jupp have to make a smart save to his left to keep out a header.

The hosts responded and saw the dangerous Dale Binns send in a ball which found Jake Baxter, but the forward could only flick wide of the near post, before Northwich saw Robert Dorans get into the box but he could only drag his effort wide of the far post.

Doran then sent a dangerous ball into the six yard box but a host defender just managed to get in front of any attackers and flick the ball clear of danger, before a Chertsey corner saw Lewis Driver head goalwards, but it was straight at Vic’s keeper Daniel Taberner who saved comfortably.

And then a good Chertsey move ended with a cross being overhit, and it meant the teams went into the changing rooms still locked to together on aggregate and still with all to play for in this tie.

Half Time Chertsey Town 0 Northwich Victoria 0 (aggregate score 1-1)

Thev visitors saw a couple of early second half efforts blocked before down the other end Binns almost caught Taberner out at his near post, however the keeper managed to get down well to save the effort that was creeping in.

The home side then swung in a free kick which looped off a defender and just wide of the far post, and from the resulting corner The Curfews sent another header wide of the target, and then a powerful effort from centre half Michael Peacock from miles out flew a foot or so wide of the Northwich net.

Northwich then attacked and saw a Doran effort blocked before the loose ball fell to Joel Brownhill but he could only lift his effort over, and then Vic attacked again and saw a Brownhill backheel go into the path of the incoming Ryan Winder, but he could only fire straight at Jupp.

Jupp then had to make a brilliant save to deny Brownhill after the Vic’s attacker and jinked his way past a couple of defenders, whilst down the other end Driver sent a powerful header at goal but saw Taberner save well above his head.

The hosts then sent another effort at goal, but this was straight at Taberner, before the visitors keeper made a terrific stop to his right to keep out another Driver effort before Baxter then got in for the hosts but saw his lofted effort saved by Taberner once again.

Chertsey were then screaming for what looked like a stonewall penalty, but the referee waved play on, and then the hosts headed wide soon after as they finished strongly, but they could not find a late winner meaning the tie would go to extra time.

Full Time (after 90 minutes) Chertsey Town 0 Northwich Victoria 0 (aggregate score 1-1)

So could either side find a winner in the extra half hour, well Doran had a good chance for the visitors early in the period but could only lift over, before Chertsey pounced on some sloppy defensive work from Vic and laid in Baxter, but he could only send his half volley over the bar.

Peacock then headed a hosts corner over, before down the other end substitute Jordan Darr found himself in on goal for the visitors but struck his effort straight at Jupp, and it meant we still had no goals heading into the final fifteen minutes of this tie.

The second period of extra time saw Chertsey somehow pass up an opportunity as a ball right across the face of goal hit someone on the line before falling into the grateful arms of Taberner, whilst Northwich so nearly won it themselves two minutes from the end when Doran found himself in, but his effort was saved by a sprawling Jupp.

It all meant the tie would have to be decided on the dreaded penalty shoot-out, and at 2-1 to the hosts Northwich missed their second, handing the advantage to the home side.  Each side then converted their next two penalties meaning The Curfews could win it by netting their final spot kick.

And they kept their nerve to convert and win the shootout 5-3 and cue mass celebrations amongst the home contingent as players, fans, management all piled on top of each other, whilst Northwich fell to the floor in despair, it was a shame their had to be a looser here, as both sides gave absolutely everything in this one.

But it’s Chertsey Town who reach Wembley to take on Cray Valley (PM) and make it all southern final for the first time for years.  Should be a good final that on Non League Finals Day in May.

Full Time (aet) Chertsey Town 0 Northwich Victoria 0 (aggregate score 1-1; Chertsey Town won 5-3 on penalties) 

Essex County FA Female Finals Day (at Parkside, Aveley FC)

(Bowers & Pitsea holding aloft the Essex Women's Challenge Trophy after they defeated Lawford 3-2 in the final game of the day at Aveley's Parkside Stadium)

Sunday 24th March 2019

It was Female Finals Day over at Aveley’s Parkside Stadium, and I was invited along to attend this event by the Essex County FA due to my involvement with the Grassroots Football Show on East London Radio as of course we cover the County Women’s leagues as part of a Women’s round up section on the show every Thursday.

There were three games taking place during the course of the day, first up it was the Essex U14s Girls Cup Final at 10am, then that was followed by the Essex U16s Girls Cup Final at 1pm, and then finally the finale at 4pm saw the Essex Women’s Trophy Final.

I’ll admit I didn’t make the first game as this was a bit to early for me as after two long days prior to today I needed some extra sleep, but I did see the second and third games after arriving at the ground at around 12:30pm.

So without further ado, here is what happened in those finals: -

10am – Essex U14s Girls Cup Final

Billericay Town 2 Tigers 0

Town’s U14s secured the Essex U14s Trophy after they netted two first half goals to see off Tigers.  They grabbed a seventh minute lead after Elise Jennings fired home from fifteen yards, but Tigers so nearly levelled midway through the half when Freya Higginbottom got through on goal but saw Billericay keeper Serena Hand make the save.  Lucy Ogden then dragged wide for Billericay before they doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark when Jennings netted her second of the contest, seeing her free-kick find the net.  Lily Wolstenholm then went close for Town but saw Tigers keeper Hannah Jacobs make a good block, before Higginbottom forced Town keeper Hand into a good save to keep Tigers out.  Jennings then fired wide from range for the Blues, but it was Billericay who triumphed in the first match of the day to secure the trophy.

1pm – Essex U16s Girls Cup Final

Billericay Town 3 C & K Basildon 1

Billericay’s U16s made it a double for the club on Female Finals Day as after the U14s success in the game before, the U16s came from behind to defeat C & K Basildon to secure the U16s Trophy.  The first opening of the game saw Billericay’s Hannah Humm curl just off target, before a Billericay corner from Robyn Moody found Bryony Barran but she could only head wide at the far post.  Early in the second half though C & K took the lead when Amelie Kohndon spun and converted from six yards out, but that lead didn’t last long as Freya Fuller capitalised on an error to slot home the equaliser.  Fuller then looped a header inches over the C & K goal, before Billericay got their noses in front when Barron rifled high into the roof of the net, and it was three for Town in the 72^nd minute as Mya Turner played an excellent ball through to Sienna Sherman, and she finished well to seal the contest and make sure Billericay took the Trophy.

4pm – Essex Women’s Trophy Final

Bowers & Pitsea 3 Lawford 2

Bowers & Pitsea fought off a second half comeback from Lawford to edge this Essex County Trophy Final to round of Female Finals Day with a cracking contest.  Lawford so nearly took a ninth minute lead when Daisy Canny was played in but after rounding Bowers keeper Charlotte Stephens, she could only send her angled effort against the post, before Bowers then had a chance when Sophie Dowman back heeled wide of the near post after Eloise Ives had sent in a decent low cross towards the near post.   Midway through the first half though Bowers did break the deadlock when a ball laid across the box to Holly Moore saw her fire a brilliant effort into the top corner, and it was so close to a second on the half-hour mark when Georgia Fraser saw her long-range effort tipped onto the bar by Lawford keeper Jamie Newstead.  But Fraser wasn’t to be denied four minutes later though as she doubled Bowers lead after bursting through to rifle home via Newstead’s hand, and Bowers were looking good at the break.  Lawford though came out a different side after the break and were the better side in the early exchanges, and after Canny had brought a fine save out of Bowers keeper Stephens, they pulled a deserved goal back in the 65^th minute as Tess Ryan’s long range free-kick flew into the top corner, and it was very much game on.  Lawford continued to have the better of the play but Bowers were always dangerous going forward, and with five minutes left they looked to have sealed this one when Moore struck home another excellent effort into the top corner, but Lawford weren’t done just yet and pulled one back two minutes later when Canny managed to fire home from close range, setting up a tense finish.  Bowers though managed to hold onto the lead and in doing so won the Essex Women’s Trophy for 2018-19. 

It brought to an end a very good and enjoyable Female Finals Day, and well played to all six teams involved who served up some decent fare.  Well played all!!!

I did snap some photos of the Bowers & Pitsea Vs Lawford final so here are those below:-

Canterbury City 1 Cray Valley (PM) 1 (Cray Valley (PM) won 2-1 on aggregate)

Buildbase FA Vase Semi-Final Second Leg, Saturday 23rd March 2019

Cray Valley (PM) will be at Non League Finals Day on May 19^th at Wembley Stadium after they held off a determined Canterbury City to edge an epic all Kent League FA Vase Semi-Final tie 2-1 on aggregate after the sides played out a 1-1 draw at Faversham’s Salters Lane Stadium.

Cray had won the first leg at their Badgers Sports Ground last weekend 1-0 thanks to a Flack goal early in the second half, so Canterbury knew they had to get the first goal in this one to make the job in hand more manageable, as an early Cray goal would have made it much harder for the home side you felt.

The second leg was delayed by ten minutes due to the amount of people queuing to get into Salters Lane, and a crowd of 1,274 packed into Faversham’s ground to see how this all Kent League semi-final tie would end up.  It was most certainly the talk of the town these past couple of weeks.

When the game did eventually kick off at 3.10pm, the hosts gave the ball straight to the visitors and saw Edgar drive at the penalty area, but his effort at goal was scuffed well wide, before down the other end Ibrahim, who had replaced Walker in goal after he had injured himself in the first leg, had to punch a hosts long-throw clear as City looked to try and build some early pressure.

And the ex-Gibraltar international almost had an embarrassing moment between the sticks when a ball back to him saw the ball bobble and almost saw the Cray keeper let it slip into the net, but he managed to remain composed and clear the ball away, but it was a heart in mouth moment for the visitors.

A dangerous ball into the Cray area saw Dawodu try and get on the end of it, and he claimed he was impeded by a defender whilst doing this, but the referee waved his claims away, much to his disgust, and the hosts continued to attack and saw a terrible defensive clearance go straight to Grant and he just needed to hit a first time effort at goal, but took a touch and saw the chance disappear.

And then Canterbury went even closer to taking the lead when Lee thumped a brilliant effort against the underside of the bar with Ibrahim no where near it, and the visitors breathed a sigh of relief once again in this tie.

The visitors then did win a corner and saw Potter head a goalbound effort against a defender, before Tomlin then briefly got in for the visitors, but good defending saw him onto his weaker side and he could only send a lofted effort over the far side of the target.

It meant this contest remained goalless at the break on the day, and with Cray still holding that slender of aggregate leads overall, but it was still all to play for that was for sure.

Half Time Canterbury City 0 Cray Valley (PM) 0 (aggregate 0-1)

The hosts went close again a minute or two into the second period when a long-throw into the box looped out to Dawodu who sent a looping header towards goal and it had to be tipped over smartly by Ibrahim, before Cooper sent in another long-throw where it was flicked onto the visitors back-post where Lawrence was waiting, but a defender managed to just nip in to clear.

Flack, scorer of the only goal in the tie overall up to now, then went oh so close for Cray, when he fired a shot from outside the box just wide of the post, before a cross to the hosts back stick saw Lisbie loft a header back across goal and over the bar as Cray looked to try and kill this tie once and for all.

City were still pressing though for that illusive goal though but were finding Cray resolute in defence and dangerous on the counter, and the hosts saw a Cooper free-kick punched clear by Ibrahim as they knew they had only twenty-five minutes or so to hold out.

Cray knew that one goal could end this contest, and they fired an effort miles over before a misunderstanding between two Canterbury defenders allowed Lisbie an opening, but his finish was woeful, slicing wide of the near post, but with twenty minutes remaining the hosts weren’t so lucky.

This is because Cray found the breakthrough to double their lead overall in the tie, as after full-back Smith had seen a point-blank effort saved by Delo, the loose ball rebound into the path of Tomlin who swept home a first-time effort into the far corner, and Canterbury now needed to find two goals in the final quarter of the game to force extra time.

To their credit they did not throw in the towel, and in keeping with their performance over the tie so far it wasn’t surprising to say the least, and they saw substitute Tenyur drive at the penalty area and burst into the box before overhitting a cross, and then Gorham got free inside the box but his cut-back was awful and straight at a defender.

The hosts then headed a corner wide of the near post but with a minute left of the ninety they finally breached the Cray backline when after a scramble inside the box, Sayer acrobatically fired home and the hosts had four minutes of stoppage time to find another to force extra time.

And they so nearly found a second moments later when Cooper somehow headed over from point blank range and most of the ground thought it had gone in, it was mighty close and Cray, not for the first time, breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The visitors almost put the tie to bed moments later themselves as substitute Babola went on a brilliant solo run and it took a decent near post save from Delo to thwart him from sealing this tie in spectacular style, it had been a mad few minutes it has to be said, and the atmosphere was insane.

But after four and a bit minutes had been played of stoppage time, the referee brought proceedings to a close as Cray cleared another hosts attack, and the Eltham side will play either Northwich Victoria or Chertsey Town at Wembley in the Final on May 19^th.

Both sides should be proud of their efforts over the two games, a brilliant battle and played in the right way, the South East Counties Football League should be equally proud of how their teams did in this tie, they were a credit to their league.

Full Time Canterbury City 1 Cray Valley (PM) 1 (Cray Valley (PM) won 2-1 on aggregate)

England 5 Czech Republic 0

UEFA European Championship Qualifying Group A, Friday 22nd March 2019

Raheem Sterling put in a MOTM performance as his hat-trick helped England thrash Czech Republic at Wembley to get their Euro 2020 Qualifying campaign off to a perfect start.

England had had a brilliant 2018, reaching the World Cup Semi-Finals before reaching the final four of the Nations League after brilliant wins over Spain and Croatia, so they knew they had to back that up with a solid and decent display in these qualifiers.

The Three Lions have been drawn in a group with Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Kosovo and although on paper this looked like a breeze, these teams have the capabilities to surprise, so it’s certainly not a foregone conclusion.

The Czech’s came into this one looking to qualify for their seventh straight Euro’s, but were in mixed form, winning three and loosing three of their last six, and they finished runners-up to Ukraine, who they lost too both times, in their Nations League campaign, although they did beat Slovakia home and away in that competition.

A crowd of just over 82,000 were in attendance to see how this young and exciting England team would deal with a side who seemed early on to just be content to let England have plenty of possession but hold firm when they tried to penetrate their back-line.

There was also an early blow for the Three Lions when Eric Dier limped off after just a quarter of an hour, and he will now miss the Montenegro game on Monday as a result, although Ross Barkley did come on in his place, a very able replacement it has to be said.

The game did take a while to get going, and it was the Czech’s who had the first shot at goal, a wayward one mind, midway through the half, and that seem to awaken the hosts who went right down the other end to break the deadlock, as after an exquisite pass from Harry Kane had released Jadon Sancho, his square ball across goal saw Sterling slide in to convert and England had broken the Czech’s resistance.

That seemed to ease any nerves/doubts in and around the stadium and the hosts continued to dominate, and bang on half-time got an all important second when after the brilliant Sterling had been taken out by two Czech defenders, Kane stepped up to plant the spot-kick into the corner, this despite keeper Jiri Pavlenka getting a big right-hand to the ball, and the Three Lions now had a comfortable two-goal cushion at the break.  So far so good for Gareth’s men.

Half Time England 2 Czech Republic 0

The Czech’s to their credit came out early on in the second half with renewed vigour, and so nearly pulled a goal back when a free kick was flicked inches wide of the far post, before another effort from close range was struck straight at Jordan Pickford, had it been either side of him it would certainly have been 2-1.

And moments later the Czech’s struck another decent effort straight at Pickford, and you began to wonder if the visitors were going to get themselves back into the contest, as had any one of those three efforts had found the net, it would have been very much game on.

England hadn’t come out of the dressing room for the opening few minutes of the half, but they soon found their rhythm again and should of made it three but saw a close range effort somehow blocked, and you felt a third England goal was needed now to kill the game once and for all.

Well on 62 minutes that man Sterling found that third goal, his second of the evening, as he pounced on a loose ball to curl brilliantly into the far corner, and you felt that was that and the visitors had no way back from this now.

England were enjoying themselves now and broke on the Czech’s in the 69^th minute before Sterling received the ball on the left, cut inside and sent an effort at goal which took a huge deflection off Ondrej Celustka, wrong-footing keeper Pavlenka, and finding the net to complete the Manchester City playmaker’s hat-trick.

Manager Southgate immediately took off Sterling to a standing ovation, he had been brilliant and deservedly won the MOTM award, and he was replaced by another exciting talent in Callum Hudson-Odoi, who was making his Three Lions debut.

He looked at home straight away, causing the visitors all kinds of problems with his pace and skilful play, and he had a hand in England’s fifth and final goal when his shot was saved by Pavlenka, but unfortunately for the Czech’s straight into the path of defender Tomas Kalas who turned the ball back past his keeper and into the net.  It kind of summed up the visitors evening.

So a brilliant way to begin our Euro 2020 campaign, and plenty to be excited about as an England fan too, it’s Montenegro next in Podgorica on Monday, somewhere England haven’t won in two meetings, so they will have to be at their best and also be wary of the opposition.  But it looks as though Gareth and the boys have their heads screwed on so to speak, so things are looking good.

For the Czech's this is not a good start to their campaign, and although they showed flashes of what they are capable of here, they were well and truly outclassed by this England side.  They don't play their next Qualifier until June 7th, where they hosts Bulgaria, and with the Bulgarian's drawing their opening game, this looks like a big game already.

Full Time England 5 Czech Republic 0 

Cray Valley (PM) 1 Canterbury City 0

Buildbase FA Vase Semi-Final First Leg, Sunday 17th March 2019

Ryan Flack’s 54^th minute strike was enough for Cray Valley (PM) to defeat fellow Kent League side Canterbury City in their Buildbase FA Vase Semi-Final First Leg encounter at Badgers Sports Ground, meaning the hosts take a slender lead into next weekend’s second leg in Faversham.

The sides sit 2^nd and 8^th in the Southern Counties East Football League although the head to head records suggested a home win here, and to be honest most felt the home side started as favourites to win this two-legged affair.

But this is cup football and a huge semi-final, and also the teams knew each other fairly well considering they do come from the same division, so this could easily pan out differently to what people felt it would.

And a record crowd for Cray Valley (PM) of 663 were in attendance to see if their sides could gain an advantage to take into next weekend’s second leg, and it was the visitors who had the first effort at goal when Adam Woolcott’s long-range effort was straight down the hosts keeper Andy Walker’s throat.

The hosts then sent in a cross towards Kevin Lisbie, but the ex-football league forward, now at the ripe old age of 41, could not get his head to the cross, before a visitors throw on was flicked into the area by Mobalaja Dawodu caused issues before it was eventually cleared, and then soon after Dean Grant headed wide of the home sides post.

Oliver Lee then burst through the hosts defence but his effort at goal was weak and straight at Walker, before down the other end Ashley Sains sent a header towards the Canterbury goal but after a scramble, the ball ended going out for a goal kick.

The visitors then managed to get in down the left through Dawodu but again saw Walker beat away the effort, meaning the game remained goalless at the break although the visitors would have been the happier of the two sides thus far.

Half Time Cray Valley (PM) 0 Canterbury City 0

The hosts attacked early on in the second period and saw a Gavin Tomlin effort deflect across the dangerzone and away, before down the other end Grant got in down the right but his cross was cut-out before keeper Walker dived on top of the ball to snuff out any further danger.

Nine minutes into the second half though came the breakthrough, and it was the hosts who grabbed it, as Flack ran at the back-line of Canterbury, but they backed off, allowing the attacker to run to the edge of the area before sending a bobbled effort into the corner of the net and seeing Cray grab the advantage.

The hosts were screaming for a penalty after claiming a foul inside the box, but the referee deemed it simulation which resulted in a booking for the home side, and then a free-kick into the Canterbury box saw Sains climb to send a header at goal, but it was weak and was fairly comfortable for Jack Delo to save.

After that initial burst after their goal, the hosts saw Canterbury begin to threaten again, and after Grant had sent an effort straight at Walker, the visitors missed a golden chance when after Grant had got in down the left, he cut the ball back to Dawodu who only had to tap home, but he totally miscued his effort straight into the grateful arms of Walker.

The hosts themselves then had a golden chance to take control of the tie when Tomlin managed to get in after a defensive slip, but he saw his first effort saved by Delo before his second goal-bound attempt was blocked, and then Tomlin got down the right soon after and crossed for Anthony Edgar whose first-time flick sailed just over the Canterbury bar.

Grant then attacked down the hosts right, but saw his effort deflect over the bar, before the visitors went close again as a ball into the six-yard box was almost converted by Grant, but brilliant defending thwarted him.

Cray seemed happy to hold onto what they had as the game entered it’s final few minutes, but they almost paid the price as Canterbury missed two golden chances in stoppage time to level up the tie, firstly when Grant ran onto a flick on but saw his effort saved by Walker, before full-back Ryan Cooper also got in but again Walker was there to beat away the effort.

It all meant the hosts held on just about to win this first leg and take a slender one-goal advantage to Faversham’s Salters Lane Stadium next weekend, but the visitors, who will feel they should have been at least level going into the second leg, will have high hopes of turning this one around.  It’s all set up nicely isn’t it!!!

Full Time Cray Valley (PM) 1 Canterbury City 0