This season’s Isuzu FA Vase competition started last weekend and your Reporting Team took in the First Qualifying Round match on Saturday, 24th August between Bedfont Sports and Langley.    

Langley are a fairly new club, having been formed in 2010. They currently play at non-league step 6. They are based in Slough but currently ground share at Uxbridge FC’s Honeycroft Stadium. Langley started life in the East Berkshire League, progressed through the Hellenic League and were transferred to the Combined Counties League Division One, prior to the 2021-22 season.

Bedfont Sports started the match well and were quickly two goals up. However, Langley matched their hosts for the remainder of the first half, which was goalless. They received a setback, almost immediately after the interval, when a red card reduced them to ten men. Nevertheless they continued to resist strongly well into the second half. Then Sports scored 3 times in the 4th quarter to register a convincing victory.

Bedfont Sports went onto the offensive immediately. Carlos Bain’s shot was blocked. Then Tyler Robinson netted from close range in the 6th minute to put them ahead.

Langley keeper, Seth Hutchinson saved from Jared Myers and then from Tyler Robinson.

At the other end, Emmanuel Limpo made a run and released George Dewhurst, whose progress was halted by Bedfont captain, Connagh Wilks’ timely tackle.

Sports doubled their lead in the 14th minute. Josh Eatwell burst up the left wing at a rate of knots and set up Tyler Robinson for his second goal.

Langley fought back. A move involving George Dewhurst, Sam Saunders and Emmanuel Limpo finished with Sports’ keeper, Terry Buss saving Emmanuel’s low shot. Then Emmanuel again worked himself into a shooting position but Terry saved low down again.

Emmanuel tried again with a shot on the turn, which cleared the crossbar.

Play moved swiftly from end to end. Sam Saunders was prominent for Langley, covering a lot of ground and instigating some promising attacks.

Tyler Robinson headed a long kick upfield from Terry Buss on to Jared Myers, who was thwarted by Seth Hutchinson.

Langley’s Daniel Kone rode a challenge from Connagh Wilks but shot narrowly wide, under pressure.

Tyler Robinson and Jared Myers played a good one-two to set up George Frise, whose header went too high.

Sam Saunders took a freekick from wide on the left, which was defended for a corner on the right. Sam, whose work rate was phenomenal, went across to take the kick, which was headed out to Daniel Kone. Daniel’s shot from around 30 yards was blocked.

Half time score: Bedfont Sports 2 Langley 0

Langley were reduced to 10 players in the 48th minute, after Adam Roberts over-reacted to a tackle from Sports’ Carlos Bain. Adam received a red card and Carlos a yellow one.

Jared cut in and fired in a shot which keeper Seth Hutchinson saved with his feet.

George Frise’s well struck drive from 25 yards in the crowded penalty area took a deflection, which diverted it just past the diving goalkeeper and wide of the upright.

George Frise put Khyreece Smith-Reid through but the latter’s close-range shot was kept out by the keeper.

Seth Hutchinson left his penalty area to take the ball on his chest and thwart Carlos Bain.

Teddy Ralph broke clear for Langley but his lob from outside the box was just too high.   

Tyler Robinson couldn’t get to Jake Woods’ cross, which the keeper gathered.

Jared Myers beat an opponent, made himself room and shot through a crowd of defenders for Sports’ 3rd goal in the 72nd minute.

Bedfont continued their sustained attack. Jared’s shot was narrowly wide.

In the 79th minute, Josh Eatwell intercepted a pass and ran 40 yards before hitting the ball past the diving keeper for Sports’ 4th goal.

Seth Hutchinson did well to push Jake Woods’ in-swinging freekick out from under his crossbar.

Connagh Wilks completed the scoring in the 89th minute, by heading home from Jake Woods’ corner kick.

Final score: Bedfont Sports 5 Langley 0

TEAM LINE-UPS

Bedfont Sports: Terry Buss, Trisdon Andrews (William Wickham 46 mins), Josh Eatwell, George Maxwell (Jude Jakes-McKay 67), Josh Nunez, Khyreece Smith-Reid (Jake Woods 63), George Frise, Tyler Robinson (Ben Bell 72), Carlos Bain (Oscar Kruczkiewicz 82), Jared Myers and Connagh Wilks (capt).

Langley: Seth Hutchinson, Chevy Hart (capt), Olusshegan Otowe (Connor McShane 59), Nathan White (Zakharia Belbachir 68), Daniel Kone, Adeshola Onasanya (Amaran Subraminam 71), Sam Saunders, James Simmonds (Jason Bloor 70), Emmanuel Limpo (Teddy Ralph 59), Adam Roberts and George Dewhurst.

Referee: Bimi Sherifi, who had a good game.

Attendance: 91

In the 2nd Qualifying Round, scheduled for Saturday, 21st September, Bedfont Sports will contest the most local of local derbies (excluding those involving ground-sharing clubs), when they entertain neighbours Bedfont.

Two other Middlesex clubs were successful in their FA Vase matches last weekend. Staines & Lammas won 2-1 at Amersham Town. Their winning goal came in added time, from a penalty by Joshua Hooks. Matthew Hogg scored their other goal.Wembley also recorded an away victory, beating NW London 2-0, through goals by Yes Smith and Nathan Osaiji.

The three wins by Middlesex clubs were balanced by three defeats. Rising Ballers Kensington exited via a penalty shootout, following a goalless home draw with Bugbrook St Michaels.

Spartans Youth lost 3-2 away at Kempston Rovers, to a goal scored in added time and Hillingdon Borough went down 5-0 at Holyport.

Incidentally, on the following day, we attended an FA Vase tie, between Wokingham Town and Cheltenham Saracens. Although it did not feature a Middlesex club, it did have one of our referees, Rob Alderton, controlling an eventful 3-3 draw and the subsequent penalty shoot-.out, in his usual calm and meticulous manner.

Report: Jim Taylor

Photography: Chris Benn

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