It was another edition of Non League Finals Day at Wembley
Stadium, and this year it saw Combined Counties League champions Chertsey Town
do battle with Southern Counties East champions Cray Valley (PM) in the
Buildbase FA Vase final, whilst Vanarama National play-off finalists AFC Fylde
took on Vanarama National champions Leyton Orient in the Buildbase FA Trophy
Final. So three of the four sides were
gunning for league and cup double success meaning the games had extra incentives
for those sides no doubt.
The first final was the FA Vase Final, so lets see how that
one panned out:-
Buildbase FA Vase Final
(12:15pm)
Chertsey Town Vs Cray
Valley (PM)
Both these sides had won their respective leagues after
making this final back in March, meaning both sides will be plying their trade
in the Bostick League next season at Step Four, so this would be their last
Vase outing for at least a season. The
double was also on for both too so who would be able to deal with the nerves in
what was a big occasion for both sides?? Chertsey were certainly the side most
people fancied to win this one, but both had battled through tough semi-finals
to be here so they certainly had earned their place at Wembley and were both
capable of lifting the trophy. The Curfews
certainly settled the better of the two sides early on and it was them who were
threatening in the opening twenty minutes, but once Cray settled they began to
take control of the contest, and nine minutes before the break got their noses
in front when after Gavin Tomlin had shrugged off his marker, he cut inside and
fired an effort inside the near post to give the South London side a surprise
lead. They couldn’t though get to the
break ahead as just three minutes later Chertsey found a leveller as after Sam
Flegg headed against the post, the ball came back to him and he reacted quickest
to poke home the loose ball, and it meant the sides went into the break all
square.
Half Time Chertsey
Town 1 Cray Valley (PM) 1
So who could wrestle control in the second period? Cray had certainly grown into the contest as it
had gone on, but Chertsey missed two great chances early on in the half, but
Cray came back to have openings of their own during the second half, but The
Curfews certainly were missing the better ones.
A quiet period ensued before the final few minutes saw both teams go for
the winner, and after Chertsey had gone close again, Cray came so so close to
winning the tie with the final play, but saw Anthony Edgar’s effort thump
against the bar and see the game go into extra time. The opening extra time period looked to be
ending all square, that was until Chertsey were awarded a penalty after a foul
inside the box, and Jake Baxter stepped up to slot the ball into the bottom
corner and The Curfews now led this final and were just fifteen minutes away
from glory. Could Cray find a way back in
the final period of extra time? Well, ultimately
no as with three minutes of time to play Chertsey finally sealed their victory
when centre half Quincy Rowe played a one two before slotting a beautiful
effort into the far corner to finally end Cray’s charge, and although Chertsey
then hit the post to almost make it four soon after, they end the season as
double winners. It also turned out to be
Dave Anderson’s last game in charge too as he announced his retirement after
the game, it certainly was a decent way to bow out as an FA Vase winner at
Wembley.
Full Time Chertsey
Town 3 Cray Valley (PM) 1 (aet)
Right onto the second game of the day, and it saw an all
Vanarama National contest between AFC Fylde and Leyton Orient:-
Buildbase FA Trophy
Final (4:15pm)
AFC Fylde Vs Leyton
Orient
Orient were looking to complete a memorable season with FA
Trophy success, the East End club had won the Vanarama National League title to
win promotion back into the SkyBet Football League at the beginning of May,
whilst Fylde were back at the National Stadium for a second successive weekend
after they had lost the National League play-off final to Salford City last
weekend. Fylde were hoping to end their
season with a Trophy with a better result here then, and they were also going
for a bit of history in this one too as after winning the FA Vase years ago as
Kirkham & Wesham, they were looking to be the first club to win both Vase
and Trophy, it had never been done before.
But backed by over 20,000 noisy fans, Orient were many peoples tips to
win this one and compete the double, but the first half actually belonged to
Fylde who missed four brilliant chances to net, whilst any openings Orient did
find were wayward, although in all seriousness Orient were glad to make the
break level as their opponents should really have been at least a goal or two
in front.
Half Time AFC Fylde 0
Leyton Orient 0
The second period saw a different O’s side come out after
what had been a rather disappointing first one, and they hit the post twice in
the early proceedings of the half and also saw another flicked finish go over
the bar, and on the hour mark Fylde made them pay by grabbing the lead on the
hour mark in spectacular style as Danny Rowe curled a free-kick over the wall
and into the top corner and the underdogs had the advantage. Orient continued to dominate the second
period though and you felt it wasn’t going to be their day when after another
effort had struck the post, the rebound seemed destined for the net until Matt
Harrold got in the way and blocked his own teammates effort on the goal line,
seeing the flag go up in the process, in what was a moment Fylde could breathe
a huge sigh of relief. With the O’s
pushing for a leveller, Fylde at times found gaps in the Orient defence, and
one such moment almost sealed their victory but the effort curled away from
goal and wide. Orient kept pushing by found
their opponents a tough nut to break through, and after several minutes of
stoppage time the whistle went and AFC Fylde created history by winning the FA
Trophy here today. They do indeed become
the first club to win both the FA Vase and FA Trophy in the history of the
competitions and after last weekend’s disappointment this was a nice way to end
their season.
Full Time AFC Fylde 1
Leyton Orient 0
So another brilliant day at Wembley, and with 42,962 coming
through the gate over the two finals it was certainly well attended by all
concerned, so well done to all who made this happen. Congratulations to both winners Chertsey Town
and AFC Fylde, whilst commiserations to the loosing finalists Cray Valley (PM)
and Leyton Orient, although both losing clubs do have a league title and promotion to soften the blow.
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