Isuzu FA Vase Second Round Proper, Friday 30th October
My weekend football came on Friday night this weekend as I took in my first FA Vase contest of the season (I have been away for every other round so far!!!) and it came from Parkside in Aveley as Thurlow Nunn South Lymore Gardens took on Spartan South Midlands Premier Biggleswade United, the visitors therefore one step above their opponents in the pyramid.
Both sides are having similar seasons so far in their respective divisions, Lymore sit eighth in their division with seven wins from their thirteen league games so far, whereas Biggleswade sit in seventh spot with six wins from their twelve games thus far, and both sit just outside the play off zones too.
However, it was Vase action this evening, and Lymore were heading into their second campaign in the competition having reached the Last 16 in their debut Vase campaign last season, hence they came into the competition at this stage, whereas for Biggleswade, this was their fourth Vase tie of the season, after starting in the Qualifying Rounds.
All their games had been away from home, but in those three games they had netted an astonishing SEVENTEEN goals in the process, a 6-0 win at Arlesey Town was followed by a 4-1 win at Great Wakering Rovers, and then in the last round they netted a 7-2 win at FC Peterborough, so to say they were coming into this Vase tie with confidence was an understatement, and up against an attack minded hosts, this proved to be some contest under the lights.
Yes Biggleswade may have started as favourites being the Step Five side against a Step Six outfit, but Lymore showed last season that means nothing, and the hosts thought they had headed themselves in front in the 13th minute, only to see the flag go up for offside, and barely a minute later, the visitors were ahead themselves, Scott Metcalf slotted home the rebound after hosts keeper Michael Doyle had saved, handing the early advantage to the visitors.
The hosts though should have levelled when a wonderful long range effort thumped off the inside of the post, and then moments after that Biggleswade could and should of doubled their lead, it was a breathless contest, as expected, Lymore then saw another goal chalked off for offside after they tapped home following a save from visiting keeper Karl Daley, leaving the hosts more than frustrated.
It meant the visitors would lead at the break, but Lymore thought they had levelled almost immediately after the restart, but this time the goal was chalked off for a handball, so that was three goals disallowed now, it certainly was not their night, their cause was then helped a bit when Liam Smyth was sin binned for the visitors when after a penalty shout was turned down, he complained to much at the referee who sent him off for ten minutes.
And Lymore managed to take advantage of this by finally netting a legal goal, a deflected effort from outside the box by Wisley Baltazar, and the hosts were now level and totally in the ascendency, but, they just could not put that ball in the net, and as the half went on you felt it may come back to bite them hard, and sure enough it did.
The visitors to their credit battled hard and managed to stay in the game, and as the clock struck ninety minutes, they netted the winner, Smyth, who had been sin binned earlier in the half, was the man to strike, firing beyond Doyle to send his side into the hat for the next round, yes it was the definition of a 'Smash and Grab', but it mattered not as they did enough as it turned out to take the win.
So, Lymore's run ends before it even begins, they certainly did not deserve to lose this game for sure, but if you don't take your opportunities, this can happen, and Biggleswade took their chance when it came, and took maximum advantage of their luck and their opponents poor finishing, a great contest and a very enjoyable watch, not a bad way to spend a Friday night for sure!!!
Full time Lymore Gardens 1 Biggleswade United 2
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