Canvey Island 3 Burgess Hill Town 0

Buildbase FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round, Saturday 30th October

My latest Road To Wembley edition in the FA Trophy came from Park Lane and saw Isthmian North leaders Canvey Island net three early second half goals to see off Isthmian South East side Burgess Hill Town in front of 352 on the Island.

Canvey have been flying this season and are still unbeaten in the league after nine games, sitting top of the pile as a result, and they had seen off fellow Isthmian North side Coggeshall Town & Southern League South Central Ware to reach this stage, and would have been fairly confident of seeing off another Isthmian side Hill who were third bottom in the South East table.

But, the visitors have been in good form recently and were unbeaten in four, including the last round of this competition to reach this stage, a penalty shoot out win over Sevenoaks Town, so they were not to be taken lightly that was for sure. And with both sides backed by noisy support, this was set up to be a decent cup tie in a good atmosphere.

The hosts, who came into this one as favourites still, had the better of the opening half hour, and should have been in front inside two minutes but saw Elliott Ronto somehow send a close range header against the inside of the post, before Evans Kouassi then burst in but saw his effort well saved by Taylor Seymour.

And Matthew Price then cracked a wonderful left footed effort against the visitors bar as the hosts continued to threaten an opener, but as the half entered its latter stages the visitors did cause some alarm in the Canvey contingent, seeing two long range efforts deflected over, before a free kick from Lewis Taylor saw Bobby Mason get down well to save, and then moments after that free kick Pat Harding somehow put over at the back post with the goal gaping, it was a warning to Canvey that Hill could catch them out if they lost concentration, but it gave the visitors some confidence going into the break all square after ending the half well.

But the contest was to be settled in a devastating nine minute spell from the home side early in the second period, taking the lead five minutes after the break when a poor header clear found Harrison Chatting who lobbed the ball into the box, and Kouassi was quickest to react to loft the ball over Seymour before bundling home, and then barely a minute later Kouassi returned the favour to Chatting with the former playing in the latter to ram home a lovely left footed finish.

And then just before the hour mark came a wonderful goal, as Conor Hubble whipped a Beckham like free kick over the wall and into the far top corner, giving keeper Seymour absolutely no chance at all, you could have had two keepers in the goal and they would not have got near it, it was a wonder strike and pretty much sealed this contest with half an hour still to play.

It had certainly knocked the stuffing out of the visitors who had hoped their decent showing towards the end of the first half would have seen them kick on and maybe surprise their opponents, but The Gulls cruised through the remainder of the game to take their place in the First Round Proper of the competition and await their opponents in Monday's draw. 

Full time Canvey Island 3 Burgess Hill Town 0

   

Great Yarmouth Town 1 Buckhurst Hill 5

Buildbase FA Vase First Round Proper, Saturday 23rd October

Saturday saw me make the long trip up to Norfolk for a second weekend in succession, this time it was to the seaside town of Great Yarmouth, for a first trip to The Wellesley for my latest instalment of my FA Vase Road To Wembley, and it saw the visitors put in a vintage performance to outclass their opponents to reach Round Two.

It was a very early start for me, leaving my flat at 6.30am for the beautiful surrounding of Buckhurst Hill, this was because I had been invited to travel on the coach with the club to Yarmouth, which left the club soon after 9am, so a nice gesture from the club who expected no money from anybody for it, so for this I thank them immensely, which saved me a lot of money, so always grateful for that.

And soon after we left chairman Simon Cornwell stood up to do a speech and he spoke from the heart and it showed how proud he was of what the club had achieved over the last few years, and it reminded me how much this day meant to him and the club, travelling to an FA Vase First Round Proper contest on a coach, unthinkable only a few years ago, so this was another big day for the club, and I was honoured and blessed to be part of it.

Cornwell spoke to me during our stop off too and about the plans he had laid out going forward, he is certainly a forward thinker and with him at the helm the club will go far, that is for sure, it's nice to see a chairman who deeply cares about his club, and the club deeply care about him too, so this is refreshing to see, that is for sure.

On arrival around an hour or so later at The Wellesley we were greeted by some friendly Yarmouth committee who directed us into the ground, and once in I got to see for the first time the old main stand many had been telling me about, and what a stand it is, it was officially opened on 11th June 1892 and is thought to be the oldest surviving Football Grandstand in England, so that is some feat indeed, marvellous stuff.

It felt like you had gone back in time as well, there was a lovely old covered terrace on the far side too, which is were I ended up standing, and the wooden park benches in front of the main stand, plus the Tea Hut next to the stand with very friendly people to serve you, it was a marvellous place to be, absolutely loved the ground, so well worth a visit if you have not been before.

Anyway shall we talk about the game and the clubs involved? The hosts sat third bottom in the Thurlow Nunn Division One North having picked up eight points from nine games, but most of their five defeats had been by the odd goal, and they had defeated Thurlow Nunn Premier side Walsham le Willows 1-0 at home in the last round of this competition, so they were not to be taken lightly that was for sure.

Buckhurst themselves were having a superb first season as a senior club, they were four points off the leaders with two games in hand having only lost once in twelve league games, winning nine of those, and netting thirty seven times in those games and only conceding six, on paper at least it seemed there would be only one winner in this tie, but this is cup football and you never can tell what could happen.

The visitors had already netted ten goals in their two Vase ties so far this season too, and after just four minutes of this tie they had two more as it seemed the contest could already be over inside five minutes.

Skipper Suleyman Zuhdu set the tone by curling home a delightful right footed effort after just three minutes, and then he just a minute later he fired home a second from inside the box, and you already feared for the home side as the visitors are a side who do not let up, the hosts could not live with the visitors pace and one touch passing, and Zuhdu so nearly had his hat-trick when after one such move from deep inside the own half saw him thump a powerful effort against the bar.

The football being played by the visitors was some of the best I had seen this season, it would have caused many clubs at Step Four and Five problems, so poor old Yarmouth had no chance of dealing with it, and just past the midway point of the first period it was 0-3 when Zuhdu turned provider, squaring across the goal line for Sonny Shilling to slide home at the far post, the hosts looked shell shocked and were looking at each other, they were being mesmerised by what was total football from the visiting side.

More chances come and went for the visitors, including Zuhdu striking the bar with another effort, but moments before the break came a rare lapse from the visitors when a poor header back saw Brady Philpott sneak in to slot home, and from nowhere the hosts had been given a small lifeline, the visitors were fuming, they had been utterly dominant but had potentially handed the hosts a route back into the contest.

No doubt some choice words were said about that incident at the end of the first period in the Buckhurst changing room, and they wanted to come out and put it right and make sure The Bloaters had no chance of getting back into the game, and seven minutes after the break came a fourth goal for Hill as a wonderful pass from Alfie Harris saw Nathan Sollosi, who did not have to break stride, slot first time across goal into the far corner, it was a wonderful finish and pass, and the visitors had quickly restored their three goal cushion.

The hosts body language wasn't great, that goal had knocked the stuffing out of them, and it got worse for them just past the hour mark when more superb play from the visitors saw a lovely pass from Nathan Sollosi found Keaton Moore on the left whose lovely pass into the box found Shilling who side footed home is second of the contest and Buckhurst's fifth of the afternoon, it was a brilliant goal it really was, a joy to watch, unless you were anything to do with Yarmouth!!!

The visitors probably took their foot of the gas a bit thereafter, the tie was more than won by now, Yarmouth's number nine Kyle Baker looked useful and hard working, but he had no service whatsoever as the hosts barely threatened the visitors solid back line throughout, it had been a tough afternoon for the home side, and at one point one of their players shouted to the referee 'How Long left?' which kind of summed up their mood, they just wanted the pain to end.

Buckhurst did have more chances to add more goals, but could not, however it has been a vintage performance by them and had totally outclassed their opponents today to take their spot in Round Two of the competition. Fair play to Yarmouth though who were very complimentary in defeat, and their hospitality throughout had been second to none so thank you for that. They even gave us a create of beers for the journey home, a very nice touch indeed.

That journey home was fun filled too, lots of beers and music flowing, and karaoke being done at the back of the coach by several playing and staff members of the club, even manager Mark Williams sung some Elvis!!! Brilliant stuff and shows the togetherness of this team, if the draw favours them going forward they can go very far in this competition, nobody will relish drawing them in the next round that is for sure.

Finally, just want to thank Buckhurst Hill for allowing me to be part of their day, it was very much appreciated so many thanks for that, look forward to the next chapter in the Vase this season!!!

Full time Great Yarmouth Town 1 Buckhurst Hill 5

  

Benfleet 1 Wivenhoe Town 4

Essex Senior Cup Preliminary Round, Wednesday 20th October

I was over Park Lane for another Essex Senior Cup Preliminary tie on Wednesday and it saw a Jack Mead brace help Wivenhoe Town set up a First Round tie at Holland after victory over Benfleet in soaking wet conditions on Canvey Island.

I had seen Holland defeat Barkingside on Monday night at Cricklefield (blog here) to set up a home tie at Dulwich Road against the winners of this game, and like Monday's game this was an all Thurlow Nunn Division One South contest, and these two were both in the top five of the league table as well, so no doubt it would be a competitive fixture.

The first half was played in dry conditions (before the deluge of rain arrived at half time) and it was the visitors who probably edged the opening half, and they held the half time lead courtesy of a goal midway through the half from full back Mead, who received a pass from the right as he charged into the box, kept his composure and slotted home.

Benfleet though managed to level three minutes after the restart though as a ball swung into the six yard box found Billy Bonham-Dare who headed into the far corner to continue his decent goal scoring spell in the last few games, and the game remained level heading into the final fifteen minutes with both sides trying to keep their footing on what was now a very slippery pitch due to all the rain that was now falling.

However, with twelve minutes remaining Mason Shave was given a straight red card by the referee after scything down an attacker who was attempting to run in on goal, although their was a covering defender with him so not sure it was a red card offence, anyway, from the resultant free-kick George Hart curled the ball into the top corner to restore The Dragons advantage.

That advantage was to grow seven minutes later as Wivenhoe grabbed a third to pretty much seal this one, as after Lewis Sonnex had invaded a sliding challenge to get clear down the right, his cut back found it's way to Tyler Kemp who took a touch and fired home from the edge of the box despite the defences best attempts to block the effort.

The visitors though had enough time to make it three goals in eleven minutes and add gloss to the scoreline when a sloppy pass from the hosts across their own eighteen yard box allowed Mead to steal in to intercept the pass, drive into the box and produce a neat finish from the angle, and The Dragons were most definitely into the next round now.

That wasn't the last act of the game though and another talking point came deep into stoppage time as Bonham-Dare was given a second yellow for apparent dissent after being unhappy at how he had been treated by an opponent, which did not go down well with the home support in the stand or the hosts themselves, but they would end the game with nine men on a night they will want to forget.

The Dragons though thoroughly deserved their victory overall, and they will have a trip to Holland to look forward to in the coming weeks. Benfleet now turn their attentions to a big FA Vase tie at the weekend and will want to quickly get this defeat out of their minds.

Full time Benfleet 1 Wivenhoe Town 4

Buckhurst Hill 3 Brimsdown 1

Thurlow Nunn Division One South, Tuesday 19th October

I was over at Roding Lane for an historic evening on Tuesday night as Buckhurst Hill played their very first match under lights at the ground, and it saw a brace from Nathan Sollosi help them come from behind to defeat a very hard working Brimsdown.

I have watched Buckhurst Hill rise from the Junior football ranks up to where they now play, and have seen there ground transform over the last couple of seasons, and to see it with lights, and stand, turnstile, tea bar, the already decent club house and fencing along the stand side of the ground, it's amazing how well the club continue to build and build both on and off the pitch.

And with this being an historic night for the hosts, a crowd in excess of three figures turned up to watch what many thought would be a routine home victory against a Brimsdown side who sat bottom of the table, but the visitors are much changed now since those early dark days at the start of the season, and they certainly have been much more competitive of late.

And sure enough just before the quarter hour mark the hosts, who had made some changes to their usual line up, found themselves behind after Chirosi Basden's effort from outside the box deflected off teammate Ricardo Price and wrong footed Hill keeper Daniel Blockley, ending up in the net. The hosts were adamant Price was offside, but after referee Fabio Roque had discussed with his assistant on the far side, the goal was allowed to stand, and Brimsdown had the lead.

The hosts had most of the play and attacking intent, but they were not at their best and saw either visiting keeper Ali Dogan in the way or misfiring efforts see them remain frustrated, but finally after an hour's play they found the net when Nathan Sollosi smashed home from inside the box, and now the hosts felt they could go on and win this one.

Hill boss Mark Williams introduced main man Suleyman Zuhdu and also another normal starter in the shape of Sonny Shilling, and their introduction certainly helped the old Hill to return as they began to play how everyone knew they could, and with twelve minutes remaining they hit the front when Shilling buried from close range, this after keeper Dogan, who had made some brilliant stops prior to the goal, had stopped an initial effort from the Hill attacker. 

Brimsdown though were still very much in the game and at 2-1 did force the hosts back a bit at times, but they were unable to find a spark and restore parity, and then in stoppage time saw Nathan Sollosi, who had had another superb game, lobbed a stranded Dogan from the edge of the box to finally seal this contest and hand hill another victory in what has been a superb debut senior season so far.

Fair play to Brimsdown though, who certainly were more than competitive against one of the better sides in the division, and on this showing will not be down at the bottom for long, that is for sure, plenty of positives for them to take from this defeat.

Full time Buckhurst Hill 3 Brimsdown 1

 

Barkingside 2 Holland 3

Essex Senior Cup Preliminary Round, Monday 18th October

Monday evening saw me over at Cricklefield Stadium for a Preliminary Round contest in the Essex Senior Cup, and it saw Holland see off a late comeback by Barkingside to take their place in the First Round of the competition, setting up a home tie against either Benfleet or Wivenhoe Town.

This was an all Thurlow Nunn South Division tie, and both sides were in mid table with 22 points a piece, so it was expected to be a tight game, although the first period was devoid of much quality although it was the hosts who had the majority of any chances that materialised.

Side struck a long range effort just wide before they saw another effort from a decent position go straight at the keeper, and they also curled a decent effort just wide of the far post too, Holland themselves took a while to muster any real efforts of note, but when they did they were probably the best two chances thus far, which came late in the half.

Firstly one of their attackers got in on goal but then sliced horribly wide, and then a cross was volleyed inches wide of the same post, it was a prelude to what was to happen in the first part of the second period which saw the visitors dominate and take complete control of the tie.

After the visitors had saw a header thump against the bar and the rebound somehow blocked, they managed to take the lead eight minutes after the break when a cross seemed to just hit the attacker and roll towards goal, but two defenders and the keeper made a right mess of trying to clear it, and it ended up in the net, and a Holland lead.

A minute later that lead was doubled as a simple ball into the box saw the attacker jump and beat the keeper to the cross and loop home a header, and the hosts were now in a bit of a hole, they hadn't really come out of the changing rooms so far this period and were all over the show, and just before the midway point of the half it looked like game over as the visitors strolled through to slot home, 0-3 with around twenty five left, no chance of a comeback surely.

Well, how silly was I, because Barkingside decided to wake up thereafter and almost pulled off a very unlikely comeback, after they had struck the post and seen the rebound almost loop over the keeper who used his 'Go Gadget' arms to reach up and pluck the ball from the sky, Side did pull one back in spectacular style following a very decent half volley from outside the box with just under twenty remaining.

And six minutes later it was 2-3 when the hosts managed to thump an effort across goal from inside the box and in off the post, it was very much game on now and only one team looked like getting another goal, Holland were clinging on now after being in total control only twelve minutes earlier.

Side did almost find that leveller in stoppage time but fired wide of the upright, and it meant Holland did hold on to take their place in the next round, they await the winners of the Benfleet Vs Wivenhoe Town tie on Wednesday, a game I will be at myself. Well played Holland then, and also well played Barkingside for almost pulling off a comeback, although they will be kicking themselves for that lacklustre opening period of the second half which ultimately cost them here.

Full time Barkingside 2 Holland 3

Kings Lynn Town 2 Peterborough Sports 1

Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, Saturday 16th October

Saturday saw me make my first ever trip to The Walks where Vanarama National Kings Lynn came from behind to defeat Southern League Premier Central leaders Peterborough Sports to reach the First Round Proper of the competition.

The Linnets have had a difficult start to their National League campaign, and are only out of the bottom three on goal difference, whereas Sports were having a tremendous season having picked up 25 out of a possible 33 so far in the Southern League Premier Central Division, which is two steps below the National League.

Despite the gap in the pyramid, many, including some of the home stewards in the ground I spoke to prior to kick off, felt Lynn would struggle to beat their lower league opposition, confidence wasn't exactly high in the hosts camp and they were coming up against a very ambitious Sports side who had a couple of ex-Linnets in the squad.

One of those players was Michael Gash, who had already netted several times for the visitors in this seasons competition, this was the visitors fourth game already and this was their third straight away tie, and they had got to this stage with wins over Haringey Borough, Great Wakering Rovers & AFC Dunstable, whereas Lynn were taking part in their first FA Cup outing this term.

So how would this one pan out, it certainly had the makings of an intriguing cup tie that was for sure, and the visitors were backed by a decent following amongst the 1,013 that had attended, and the hosts had an early chance when Rowley ran onto a superb through ball from Clunan, however the former could on loft over the onrushing keeper and wide, but in the 17th minute the hosts were to find themselves behind.

And it was who else but Gash who found some space inside the box to fire into the bottom corner, it was almost inevitable that he would find the net against his former club, and he had now put Lynn into a hole they needed to climb out of, if confidence was low before kick off, it wasn't being helped right now, whereas Sports were in dreamland.

Lynn did respond quite well and saw a Clunan header go wide before a Jones cross was met by the head of Omotayo, but he could only place this into the side netting, but as the half entered it's last ten or so minutes, Sports did have openings to double their lead, with the best one seeing Gash put a ball into the box but the header was straight at the keeper.

But Lynn were to find a leveller themselves in first half stoppage time, as after a McGavin corner saw a header tipped over for another corner, McGavin swung another one into the box and Omotayo sent a powerful header at goal and saw it nestle in the top corner, and the hosts were level at the best possible time going into the changing room.

Sports would have been frustrated with conceding right at the end of the half, and they would have been even more frustrated at not restoring their lead early in the second period and but for a brilliant close range stop from Lynn keeper Paul Jones to deny Ferris, the visitors would have been back in front, and they nearly fell behind soon after when Linton put in a great ball to the near post where Rowley could only put wide.

Rowley collided with a defender in the process and after several minutes of treatment had to be stretchered off, which was not good to see, I have since heard that there is no break/fracture of the ankle, so that is some good news at least, but he will hopefully be back soon for the home side, anyway just past the hour mark Lynn did go in front, and it was Rowley's replacement Barrett, who was making his debut, who created the goal.

The substitute's brilliant skill eventually saw McGavin, creator of the first goal of course, run onto the end of the deflected effort from Barrett and slot a lovely finish across the keeper and into the far corner, sending the home crowd into celebration mode, they were around half an hour plus a lot of stoppage time away from a First Round berth.

Sports were not going to give up easily though, and after a couple of flashpoints, the second one a rather poor challenge from Sports Stevenson on Coleman which resulted in a yellow card for the visiting player, the visitors missed some guilt edged chances to level the tie up, Fernandez somehow blocked a goal bound effort on the line, and then Jones had to make a smart stop from the resulting corner.

Nicholson then shot wide of the hosts post after a mistake from Linton, and then Richard Jones put an effort over the bar as the game entered ten minutes of stoppage time, mainly due to the stoppage for Rowley's treatment, but despite some nervy minutes for the home crowd, they held on to take their place in the next round.

A great effort from Peterborough Sports though and to be honest were very unlucky to have lost this tie, they bow out but can hold their heads high, whereas Kings Lynn will breathe a sigh of relief that they got through, and they have been drawn at home to League Two Walsall in three weekends time, can they upset the League Two strugglers? We shall find out soon enough...

Full time Kings Lynn Town 2 Peterborough Sports 1