Non League Finals Day, Wembley Stadium, Sunday 17th May
It was that time of year again as the two biggest national non league competitions took centre stage for a day at Wembley as both the FA Vase & FA Trophy finals took place and four sides had not only the chance to have a day out at Wembley with their fans, they also had a chance to win a Trophy and end their seasons on a high.
First up was the lunchtime fare of the FA Vase, and this season it saw Wessex League Premier runaway champions AFC Stoneham & Spartan South Midlands Premier play off final runners up Cockfosters, let's see how that one panned out.....
Isuzu FA Vase Final
AFC Stoneham Vs Cockfosters
Eastleigh based AFC Stoneham went into this final as favourites no doubt, they had played out a wonderful season so far, winning the Wessex League Premier by fourteen points and netting 109 goals in their thirty eight games, meaning they won promotion to the next level, Cockfosters though had themselves played out a more than decent campaign, finishing fourth in the Spartan South Midlands Premier.
This meant a play off place was earnt, but they did lose the final meaning they failed to win promotion to Step Four, Fosters though did knock out last years Vase winners Whitstable Town on route to this final, and Whitstable ran away with the SCEFL Premier this season, so Fosters would be no pushovers for AFC Stoneham you would have thought, and this is a one off final at Wembley, so it was who could hold their nerve on the day.
AFC Stoneham came into this competition in the second round proper and saw off Kidlington, Cinderford Town, Barnstaple Town, before they knocked out Haywards Heath Town on penalties, who were many people favourites for the competition, and then beat Coventry United & then Hallan 6-1 on aggregate in the semi final, Fosters though came in a few rounds before today's opponents.
It was the second round qualifying for them, and they saw off Long Melford, Tring Athletic (just, 12-11 on penalties!!!), AFC Welwyn, also on penalties, SOUL Tower Hamlets, you guessed it, on penalties, Crawley Down Gatwick, then the holders Whitstable Town on penalties as mentioned above, before seeing off Droylsden and then winning their semi final tie against Punjab United 3-1 on aggregate, so that was four shoot out wins on their way to Wembley, this side have got big balls and character clearly!!!
Would this be enough against what was clearly a very very good AFC Stoneham outfit? Well, clearly AFC Stoneham were not at their best in this final, and by half time Cockfosters would probably have been the happier of the two sides, they had pretty much nullified any threat from the South Coast side, and had probably looked the more threating of the two sides in what was probably one of the worst halves of football I've seen for a while.
Now that is no disrespect to both sides, but whether the occasion had got to them, especially AFC Stoneham, who knows, it was a huge occasion for both sides, so nerves and not wanting to make mistakes were understandable, but it was a hard watch in the first forty five minutes, the second period was slightly better, although that wasn't difficult, again Fosters created the best of whatever openings came long, including one that saw a miskick come off the bar.
However, as the second half went on, AFC Stoneham began to get more of the ball and put pressure on the Fosters side, and they had two great opportunities to win it, firstly seeing a looping header come back off the bar, and then seeing the keeper make a brilliant save to deny them in the final ten minutes, meaning this final would have to be decided on penalties kicks as they did away with extra time this year at finals day, thank goodness!!!
Penalties were no stranger to Cockfosters, this was their fifth shootout in this seasons tournament alone, but this was Wembley and a major final, so that hit's different, AFC Stoneham had only had one shootout on route but they quickly took control of it and at 4-2 Fosters needed to score to keep the shoot out going and at least make AFC Stoneham score to win it, but they blazed over meaning the Eastleigh side were Vase winners for 2026!!!
Not the best of games then, but AFC Stoneham didn't care and celebrated accordingly with their fans, Cockfosters just came up short in the end, but they did stop their opponents scoring in this one, which is a very rare thing this season, what a run it's been for them, but their has to be a winner and a loser, and today was AFC Stoneham's day!!!
Full time AFC Stoneham 0 Cockfosters 0 (AFC Stoneham won 4-2 on penalties)
Onto the second game of the day then, the FA Trophy Final, and this brought together my local side, Southend United, who were up against fellow National League outfit Wealdstone, let's see how that one fared.....
Isuzu FA Trophy Final
Southend United Vs Wealdstone
The last few years for my local side Southend United has been turbulent to say the least, at least off the field, but despite all the problems off the field the team have been superb and this was their second Wembley final in two seasons, they had qualified for the play offs last season, losing out to Oldham Athletic here at Wembley in a dramatic play off final, and although they had finished sixth this season to qualify again, they lost out in the eliminator to Scunthorpe United, meaning another season in the National League.
For Wealdstone it was a much tougher campaign on the field this season, for the majority of their National League campaign they were looking down rather than up and in a relegation battle or worry at least, I saw them play at Braintree Town a couple of months ago and had Town won that game they would have only been three points behind Stones and they were in the bottom four, but, Stones thrashed them in that game and never looked back, ending the season 15th and fourteen points above those relegation spots.
Both these sides had come into the competition at the Third Round Proper stage, The Blues had seen off Truro City, Bath City, Chatham Town & Horsham before winning at Southport in the semi final, The Stones had seen off Cheshunt, Dagenham & Redbridge, Forest Green Rovers, Kidderminster Harriers (on penalties) before they won their semi final at home to Marine, both had to battle in many of those ties to get here, so both final spots were well earned.
Now, Southend had finished twenty five points above Wealdstone in the league, however, Wealdstone had played them twice at Grosvenor Vale this season and won both times, 3-2 in the league and 1-0 in the FA Cup, Southend had won the most recent meeting, the final day of the league season, 2-1 at Roots Hall, so all three games had been close, and Stones did hold the upper hand in meetings this season, so this final was expected to be rather close and could possibly go either way, hard one to call then?
The Essex side certainly started the game well, and they were mighty close to grabbing an early lead after a good move saw them get in on goal and fire a effort across goal that looked destined for the bottom corner, but a faint touch from the keeper saw it thump off the post, but Southend continued to have the better of the early exchanges as Wealdstone were yet to settle.
Southend were backed by a huge following who were creating a good atmosphere, but Stones did actually end the first half the stronger, and only a brilliant one handed save denied them the lead late on in the half, another half where no goals were scored, the only time the ball did find the net was after the referee had blown for a foul on the Stones keeper, meaning Southend were denied, and left me sitting there wondering whether or not I was going to see a goal at all today, the game was certainly set up nicely for the second period, could someone find a winner in this one?
The second half was again very competitive as expected, but neither side could find their shooting boots once again, both sides were now attacking the ends their support was, but it could not provide a winning moment, and for the second time today it saw a goalless draw have to be settled by penalties, as just like the Vase final, this game also had no extra time, thankfully!!!
It was now the turn of Southend & Wealdstone players, management & support to go through the nerve shredding spot kicks for the prize, and it was Southend, who won the toss to take the penalties in front of their support, take control of the shootout after they scored their first two and Stones see their first two saved, it all resulted in Southend having the chance to net victory if they netted their final kick, and they duly did to win the shootout 4-2 and celebrate wildly in front of their huge support.
A great day for Southend then, but commiserations to Wealdstone who more than played their part in this one, another close game against their opponents but they ultimately fell short today, but they can be proud of their achievements this campaign overall.
It's Southend United's day though, and a much deserved one for the club after all they have been through!!!
Full time Southend United 0 Wealdstone 0 (Southend United won 4-2 on penalties)
So, that completes Non League Finals Day for another year, on the pitch it certainly wasn't one of the best that's for sure, no goals and two penalty shoot outs, but still a good day out and a good atmosphere, especially in the second game, and an overall crowd of just over 43,000 came to watch too, goal starved but a day out at Wembley and a first for some, I always enjoy these days and I look forward to next May when I can do it all again and hopefully see some goals!!!
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