DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER WE EXIT VASE ON PENS

As a supporter there is nothing worse than going out of a cup competition on penalties especially when you have the disadvantage of playing away and you have done well to come back from a goal behind to level the scores. A replay back home would in my opinion be fairer but the rules state that the game must go to penalties and that applies to everyone and so you have to accept them. What made it even more agonising was that the penalty shoot-out was a marathon session with the home side eventually booking their place in the next round by scoring 12 pens to our 11. This was the second year running that we have gone out of the FA Vase this way after we lost 4-2 on penalties last year against Fleet Town after a 2-2 draw at home with our goals that day coming from Dylan Fitzpatrick and Kieran Turner.

This was our 64th game in the FA Vase, a competition which is much loved amongst our supporters as it has provided us with the chance to play against clubs from other Leagues in other parts of the country and has provided us with some memorable days out. Unfortunately we will miss the joy of hearing who we will play in the next round, that privilege will go to Cockfosters and we wish them every success in the competition.

Our hosts suffered a surprise defeat the previous Saturday going down 4-2 at lowly Dunstable Town in the Challenge Trophy but before then they had been on an excellent run of form winning 5 and drawing 1 of their previous 6 games so we knew that we would be in for a tough afternoon and they were certainly the better team in the first half. Cockfosters got off to a good start with their commanding centre back JJ Cruz trying his luck with a long range shot in the 6th minute that had Josh Ameganvi scrambling across his goal but luckily for us it went wide. Soon afterwards Josh showed quick reactions to tip over a close range header from George Hughes following a corner.

The game was played at a very fast pace and our opponents were looking dangerous from set pieces and following a free kick in the 22nd minute they hit the bar with our defence clearing the danger. We hardly laid a glove on them but we did defend well and Josh was given plenty of protection that allowed us to see out the first half without any damage done. HT Score 0-0.

We were a different proposition after the break and we started to cause our hosts plenty of problems particularly down their right flank. In the 54th minute Greg Deer sent Finn Rolfe away with a fine pass down our left wing and his dangerous cross was only partially cleared by the home defence to Dylan Whitelock’s whose shot was smothered by a defender who appeared to keep hold of the ball with his arms. It certainly looked like a clear penalty but the Officials obviously disagreed.

If we were going to concede a goal it was likely to come from a set piece and sure enough our opponents opened the scoring on the hour mark when we failed to clear a free kick with the ball falling kindly to George Beattie who slotted the ball home at the far post. Score 1-0.

Despite this set back our lads showed great character to come back and equalise 6 minutes later with a corker from Dylan Fitzpatrick. Max Hercules whipped over a searching cross which was only partially cleared by the home defence to a waiting Dylan Fitzpatrick who from just outside the area volleyed the ball into the top right hand corner of the net giving our former keeper Connor Sansom no chance at all. Score 1-1.

Dylan had a similar opportunity 9 minutes later but this time his shot went over the bar. The last 15 minutes or so went by with few scoring opportunities for either side and the game then went to penalties where there was a remarkable level of quality finishing with every penalty on target and only 5 missed out of 28 taken, with Cockfosters running out winners with 12 penalties to our 11. FT Score 1-1 (Pens 12-11).

There was a much better performance from the players in the second half and on another day it could have been us glued to the internet to see who we would play in the next round. Amazingly we will be back at Chalk Lane on Saturday to play Cockfosters for a Premier League game but before then we face Hertford Town at home on Tuesday night in the Herts Senior Challenge Cup so we have some exciting challenges coming up.

TEAM,
TA: Josh Ameganvi, James Kimber, Liam Mann (Mason Clarke HT), Greg Deer, Dylan Fitzpatrick, Finn Rolfe (Blake Argent 75), Frankie Hercules, Harry Beaumont, Jack Harvey (Capt), Max Hercules, Dylan Whitelock (Bailey Osborne 64). Subs Not Used: Pablo Kalamaras, Jonas Kalonda.

Scorers:

C: George Beattie (60)

TA: Dylan Fitzpatrick (66)

Crowd: 115