May & Baker 2 Little Oakley 2 (May & Baker won 6-5 on penalties)

Buildbase FA Vase Second Qualifying Round, Friday 9th October 2020 

Friday night saw me over at Parkside for an all Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South FA Vase Second Qualifying Round contest between May & Baker and Little Oakley, and it saw the hosts twice come from behind to eventually take the tie on penalties to progress.

This was only Bakers third game of the season in all competitions, they had drawn their only league game so far against Harwich & Parkeston and won at Redbridge in the previous round of the Vase to set up this all Eastern Senior South tie.

Oakley were playing in their eighth game of the season so were some way ahead in competitive action than their opponents, and they had made a superb start to their campaign, sitting top of their division having won five wins from six starts, and they had also won in the previous round of this competition against Stotfold.

So a tough assignment for the hosts you felt, although the visitors knew they would have to play well to win this tie too, and the first half certainly suggested this would be a tight contest with plenty of chances for both.

The hosts forced visiting keeper Daniel Joyce into a couple of decent stops, and also saw Carl Patten somehow scuff wide from point blank range, whilst down the other end Jack Riddell made a couple of stops to prevent the visitors from taking the lead, one which saw him tip an effort onto the post before it flew across the box and was cleared eventually.

With six minutes of the half remaining though Oakley edged ahead in this contest after Greg Rodger drove into the box before firing a left footed effort at goal which saw Riddell get his hands too but fail to prevent it finding the net, and the visitors were in front.

But they were not to go into the break ahead as Bakers pulled level just four minutes later and it was a superb goal too, as Rob Bagnall fired an effort from range towards the top corner, and although keeper Joyce got a big hand to it he could not prevent the ball finding the net, and it meant the sides went into the half time break all square.

Half Time May & Baker 1 Little Oakley 1

Oakley began the second half well and found themselves back in front seven minutes into the period when Luke Mayhew got in down the left before cutting inside and firing an effort towards the bottom corner, and although Riddell got a hand on it, he could only divert the ball into the bottom corner.

Oakley had their chances to increase the lead too, seeing one such effort cleared off the line before Mayhew got in down the left again and burst into the box and looked certain to score before he sent his effort wide of the far post, and then a cut back was blasted over the bar too when again it looked as if the visitors would increase their advantage.

The hosts were not without their second half chances too and saw Joyce save well from one attempt, and then the home side somehow headed wide at the far post when it looked easier to score, it was certainly a game of missed chances for both, but the hosts were to find a leveller with nine minutes to go.

This came when lovely work down the right flank by substitute Gabriel Odili saw his cross loop up into the air and fall perfectly for Darren Seymour at the back post and he stooped to head home from close range and send the home bench and supporters around that area wild with delight.

The final few minutes saw Oakley so nearly win the tie, as a ball to the back post was sent at goal but keeper Riddell somehow stopped it from point blank range and force the ball out for a corner, it was a tremendous stop, meaning the tie would indeed go to penalties.

After both teams had netted five perfect penalties, Oakley saw their sixth one saved by Riddell, meaning Bagnall, who had netted that cracker to level in the first period for the hosts, had the chance to net the winning penalty in the shoot-out, which he duly did, and send the hosts into the next round of the FA Vase.

A superb cup tie indeed at Parkside this evening, and quite a scalp for the hosts in only their third competitive game of the season.  Also, would like to thank Bakers joint manager Jordan Harris from giving me a lift to the game, and to Reserve team manager Jimmy Donald for giving me a lift back to Billericay after, always very much appreciated!!!

Full Time May & Baker 2 Little Oakley 2 (May & Baker won 6-5 on penalties)