Isuzu FA Vase Fourth Round Proper, Saturday 17th January
I made my first ever trip to Rothamsted Park, home of Harpenden Town, as they hosted a very important match in the FA Vase against last season winners, Whitstable Town, in the Last 32 of the competition.
Harpenden were in the midst of a record Vase run, and if they could knock out last season's winners of the competition, then they would be in dreamland, however, that was going to prove a tough assignment as Whitstable are flying this season, eleven points clear at the top of the Southern Counties East Premier, and on a thirteen match unbeaten run too, so to say they came into this contest with confidence was probably an understatement.
Harpenden themselves had lost more than they had won in the Spartan South Midlands Premier and sat down in tenth in that division, so if you looked at form and where each side were in their respective divisions, then an easy away win was on the cards right, well, we all know that isn't always the case, especially in a big Last 32 tie in a national competition, anything can happen on the day, that's what makes cup football so exciting, right?
So, how did Harpenden reach this stage of the competition this season, well after thrashing Wisbech Town 6-1 away in the First Round Proper, they then went to high flying Essex Senior League Little Oakley and recorded a very decent 1-0 win there before they then saw off Haringey Borough at Rothamsted Park 3-2, setting up today's match against Whitstable, the visitors came in at the Second Round Proper stage and needed an injury time goal to squeeze past Infinity and prevent themselves from a penalty shoot out in that one.
And then last time out in the Third Round they saw off Eastbourne United 3-0 at home, the visitors had only last four games all season in all competitions and as said they were heavy favourites to progress in this tie as well, but no doubt Harpenden would draw on that spirit and grit that had got them to this stage of the competition, so it wasn't a fore gone conclusion for sure.
A very decent crowd of 743 were in attendance too, the second highest crowd of the hosts history, and a sizable contingent had travelled from the Kent coast and were making all the noise as they tried to encourage their side to grab the perfect start, well after sixteen minutes they were celebrating as their side grabbed the opener, hosts keeper Alfie Bomfield had made a superb save moments earlier to prevent the visitors from going ahead, but he could do nothing to stop Javaun Splatt's close range volley, this after Bomfield had saved an initial effort, advantage Whitstable.
The visitors looked the more dangerous of the two sides, Splatt is an international for British Virgin Islands and you could see his quality for sure, the hosts didn't create too much themselves although they did go close with a long range effort and were more than holding their own against a quality opponent, and the game was still in the balance at half time as The Oysters held a slender lead.
Harpenden did actually start the second half well, but they were given a sucker punch just past the hour mark when a lovely cross to the far post found Splatt who nodded home across goal into the far corner, and at that point you felt it was how many the visitors would get, but fair play to the hosts, they rallied and were soon back in the game themselves.
That's because with just over fifteen minutes to go a ball into the box found it's away to midfielder Conor Clarke who produced a wonderful volley beyond visiting keeper Daniel Colmer, and suddenly it was game on again and you could feel the nerves from the visitors and their support, could the hosts produce an unlikely comeback, they were certainly giving everything they had and causing some alarm in the visitors back line.
Well, with ten minutes to go the tie was as good as done, and Whitstable managed to net a very scrappy third, after a scramble inside the six yard eventually saw Nathan Jeche on hand to turn the ball home, Harpenden continued to try and find a second goal to perhaps give them a sniff of a comeback, but they were always in danger of a visiting counter attack as they tried to push forward.
And, in the 89th minute came probably the best goal of the game, saving the best till last you could say, as Bradley Schafer curled a beauty from outside the box across the keeper and in off the far post, a beautiful way for the visitors to cap their afternoon, but it was a flattering score line for them and a harsh one on the hosts who had certainly more than played their part in this cup tie.
Congratulations then to Whitstable Town who are a handful of games away from another Wembley outing, a lot of football to be played between now and then obviously, and a promotion charge to boot, but it will take a very very good side to stop them for sure and a league and vase double is still very much on.
Also when done to Harpenden on their fine Vase run this season, they left everything out there today and should be proud of how they battled and played in this one, also a very welcoming club indeed so thank you for that as well, and a banging strips and chips too from the caterers there today too, was certainly well received, another top day!!!
Full time Harpenden Town 1 Whitstable Town 4
Before I go, there were obviously another fifteen scheduled ties today, although only thirteen of them actually finished/went ahead, so here are today's results in the FA Vase Fourth Round:-
Droylsden 2-1 Sherwood Colliery
South Liverpool 2-5 Winsford United
Chadderton 0-2 North Shields
West Didsbury & Chorlton 1-0 Nelson
Coventry United 6-0 GNG Oadby Town
Bilston Town 1-0 Gresley Rovers
Heather St John 0-4 Gornal Athletic
Reading City 1-2 Lymore Gardens
Benfleet 0-2 Punjab United
Cockfosters 2-1 Crawley Down Gatwick
Hallen 1-1 Hythe & Dibden (Hallen won 4-2 on penalties)
Barnstaple Town 1-2 AFC Stoneham
Downton 0-0 Slimbridge AFC (Downton won 4-3 on penalties)
The two ties that did not go ahead or finish were as follows:-
Windsor & Eton P-P Fisher (This game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch)
Great Yarmouth Town A-A Haywards Heath Town (This match was abandoned ten minutes into the second half with the score 1-1 due to thick fog rolling in off the Norfolk coast, meaning the game could not continue)
This means both these ties will now be played next Saturday, which is 24th January, so fingers crossed both can get played and then complete this round and also complete the last 16 draw, which will be made on Monday 19th January.
Well done to all sides who progressed into the hat for Round Five, Wembley for them gets ever closer and continues the dream of walking out onto the hallowed Wembley turf in May. Thanks to all who took the time to read this blog, it's very much appreciated!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment