BEDFONT SPORTS UNFORTUNATE IN FA VASE
Five Middlesex clubs were involved in the Second Round Proper of the Isuzu FA Vase, which was contested last weekend. Your Reporting Team visited Bedfont Sports FC for their game against Jersey Bulls, on a murky Saturday, 9th November.
Jersey Bulls FC was formed in August 2018 and currently play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South. Like Bedfont Sports, who play in CCL Premier Division North, the Bulls have fallen behind with their league fixtures and have 3-4 matches in hand over most of their rivals. Nevertheless, they have won 10 of their 14 matches and have drawn the other 4, scoring 32 goals and conceding just 6.
The Bulls play at the Springfield Stadium in St Helier, which has a capacity of 7000, with a grandstand which seats 992.
They reached the 5th Round Proper of the FA Vase in both of the last 2 seasons and were exempted until the current round this season.
Bedfont Sports played two home games in this season’s qualifying competition, beating Langley Sports 5-0 and very near neighbours Bedfont 3-0. They then travelled to Penn & Tylers Green in the First Round Proper, where they won 2-0.
We were treated to a very good, evenly balanced cup-tie, which could easily have gone either way. The proceedings were very easy on the eye with both sides playing an attractive passing game. The play moved rapidly from end to end, with the ball hardly seeming to settle in midfield. The shortage of goals was largely attributable to excellent defending and capable goalkeeping by both teams. It eventually became apparent that, if a goal was scored, it would come from either a flash of brilliance or from an accident.
Unfortunately for Bedfont Sports, it was the latter. With less than 10 minutes of normal time remaining, a low cross was deflected by a home defender, into his own net. A second goal followed, against a stretched Sports’ defence, in the 90th minute.
There was early action in both penalty areas. A saving tackle gave Bulls a corner in the first minute. Then, at the other end, Jared Myers broke up the right and was fouled. The resulting freekick passed outside the far post for a goal-kick.
James Carr’s run up the wing for the Bulls found the unmarked Toby Ritzema, who headed over the crossbar. Then Kieran Lester shot narrowly wide for the visitors.
Fraser Barlow chased a pass up the left and having managed to keep it in play, he crossed to Jack Boyle, who volleyed narrowly wide.
Jared Myers was extending the visiting defence with some good runs on the right, often finishing with dangerous crosses. He was then released into the Bulls’ box but was foiled by Fraser Barlow’s saving tackle.
Frankie Beckles dealt impressively with Jack Boyle’s high cross.
Fraser Barlow crossed high to the Sports’ far post but Josh Eatwell headed away for a corner. Frankie caught the resulting corner kick, taken by Joe Kilshaw.
Tyler Robinson released Jared Myers, who was eventually halted by the combined efforts of several defenders.
Tyler then released a fierce drive from around 25 yards, which Euan Van der Vliet parried.
After a raid in which several Bulls’ attackers had manoeuvred unsuccessfully to get into a shooting position, Toby Ritzema managed to do so, but fired narrowly wide.
Jared Myers made another run but his pull-back was intercepted by James Queree.
With the halftime break imminent, Tyler Robinson broke clear up the middle and sped into the box, where he was brought down by an opponent who made no contact with the ball. Unfortunately, the referee, who was left trailing by the pace of events and was therefore not very well placed to make a judgement, waved away the Bedfont appeals for a penalty.
Half-time score: Bedfont Sports 0 Jersey Bulls 0
James Carr attacked up the wing for the Bulls but his low cross was blocked at the cost of a corner.
Bedfont’s Chris Sawyer was cautioned for bringing down Fraser Barlow wide on the left. The resulting freekick was taken high up by Frankie Beckles.
James Carr’s diving header, from a cross from the left went wide.
Bulls’ Jonny Quesne made a vital block to deny Jared Myers, who had cut in and delivered his shot from close range.
A good move set up Jude Jakes-McKay, whose drive was deflected for a corner. This produced another corner, which Euan Van der Vliet pushed out from the angle beneath his crossbar. The ball went to Jared Myers, who fired narrowly wide.
The deadlock was broken in the 81st minute, when Jonny Le Quesne’s low cross into the crowded goalmouth, from the bulls’ right, bounced into the net off a Sports’ defender.
Sports pressed forward without success and conceded again in the 90th minute, when Jack Boyle collected a loose ball and placed it into their net.
The Bulls nearly added a 3rd goal in added time but a shot by Francis Lekimimati was blocked on the goal-line.
Final score: Bedfont Sports 0 Jersey Bulls 2
TEAM LINE-UPS
Bedfont Sports: Frankie Beckles, Trisdon Andrews, Josh Eatwell (capt) (Charlie Cushion 90+1 mins), George Frise, Ollie Davison, Jake Woods, Chris Sawyer (George Maxwell 58), Tyler Robinson, Jude Jakes-McKay, Jared Myers (Efraim Difuamna-Ngungi 77) and Adam Sewell (Jamie Pike 83).
Unused substitute: London Brookshaw
Manager: Barry Chapman
Assistant Manager: Alfie Chapman
Coaches: Marc Gorman, Luke Russell and George Woodbridge.
Physio: Javon Charles.
Jersey Bulls: Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, Fraser Barlow, James Queree (capt), Harry Curtis, Luke Watson, Toby Ritzema (Sammy Sutcliffe 89), Joe Kilshaw, Kieran Lester (Francis Lekimimati 74), Jack Boyle and James Carr.
Unused substitutes: Rai Dos Santos and Adam Lester.
Manager: Elliot Powell
Physio: D Buesnel.
Referee: Liam Click.
Other Matches: It was mainly a disappointing day for Middlesex clubs in the FA Vase. Spelthorne Sports were the only one of our 5 involved, to progress to the 3rd Round Proper. They were victorious by 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out against Holmesdale, following a 1-1 home draw. Congratulations to them. They had also won their other 2 matches in the FA Vase this season in a similar manner, beating London Samuri Rovers (away) and Holyport (home), both after 1-1 draws.
Harefield United lost 3-1 away to AFC Whyteleafe, despite leading at the interval through a Lenny Farhall goal. Both North Greenford United and Hilltop, who had enjoyed runs to the Quarter Finals last season and were playing their first matches in this season’s competition, both made an immediate exit this time round . North Greenford United lost 2-0 away to Epsom & Ewell, while Hilltop went down 5-0 at Windsor & Eton.
Spelthorne Sports have a home tie against Egham Town in the 3rd Round Proper.
Report: Jim Taylor