BEDFONT SPORTS MARCH ON IN FA VASE
Six Middlesex clubs were involved in the First Round Proper of the Isuzu FA Vase, which was contested last weekend. Your Reporting Team travelled to the Chilterns, on Saturday, 19th October to take in Bedfont Sports’ away tie with Penn & Tylers Green. The latter club’s pleasant French School Meadow ground is in the scenic village of Penn, not far from High Wycombe.
Penn & Tylers Green are a thriving and welcoming club, which currently plays at step 6 of the Non-League Pyramid in Division One of the Combined Counties League, a step below Bedfont Sports. The club was established in 1905. In 1984 it was a founding member of the Chiltonian League, which merged into the Hellenic League in 2000. They were subsequently transferred into the Spartan South Midlands League and then into the Combined Counties League
They have reached the 1st Round Proper of the FA Vase for the first time this season. They beat Raunds Town 4-2 away and Moulton 4-1 at home in the qualifying rounds.
Bedfont Sports have played two home games in the qualifying competition, which they have won without conceding a goal. They beat Langley Sports 5-0 and neighbours Bedfont 3-0.
Bedfont Sports emerged as 2-0 winners in this match, which was the first time that the 2 clubs have met in the FA Vase. An evenly balanced but previously unremarkable first half finished with Sports taking the lead in its closing minutes. A much more eventful second period saw Penn striving for an equaliser. However, their efforts were in vain and Bedfont, who were dangerous on the break throughout, increased the frequency of their attacks as the half progressed and clinched the match with a second goal, in the time added on.
Penn & Tylers Green forced a corner in the second minute. Jamie Essex got his head to the kick but Max Webb cleared.
Bedfont Sports’ George Frise shot just wide from outside the box.
Sports’ keeper, Frankie Beckles saved headers by Cory Hathaway and then by James Barnett, both from corner kicks. Jamie Essex headed over from a corner.
Bedfont skipper, Connagh Wilks headed over the bar from Jake Woods’ freekick, which had been awarded for a foul on Tyler Robinson.
Jared Myers just failed to connect with Jake Woods’ low cross, in front of goal.
Tyler Robinson fired narrowly wide from outside the box.
Bedfont Sports took the lead in the 44th minute, through Jude Jakes McKay, who beat the home defence to a low ball from the right, to net from close range.
Half time score: Penn & Tylers Green 0 Bedfont Sports 1
Home keeper, Sam Butcher left his area to kick clear from Tyler Robinson. He then beat Jared Myers to a through ball.
Frankie Beckles dived to save at James Barnett’s feet.
A defender headed Jared Myers’ corner from the left out for another corner. That one, also taken by Jared, was headed over the crossbar by Joe Smith.
Penn were attacking down the wings, feeding their wide players with long cross-field balls. They went close several times through crosses from the left.
The centre, following a good run down the Sports’ left by Josh Eatwell, found Tyler Robinson’s head but Sam Butler saved at close range. Then Sam pushed Jude Jakes-McKay’s cross shot for a corner.
Sports were now making some clear chances. Khyreece Smith-Reid cut in from the left but his shot was blocked at close range by the goalkeeper. Khyreece then tested Sam Butcher with a low acute angled drive. Tyler Robinson fired past the upright and then brought two good saves from Sam Butcher.
Finally, in the 92nd minute, Tyler Robinson collected a pass to put himself into a 1 on 1 situation with the home goalkeeper. He nearly went down, as a result of the custodian’s challenge but he regained his balance and netted.
Final score: Penn & Tylers Green 0 Bedfont Sports 2
TEAM LINE-UPS
Penn & Tylers Green: Sam Butcher, Brandon Eaton, Alfie Branwhite, Aaron Jewell, Jamie Essex (capt), Cory Hathaway, Jed Layman (Josh Pedley 57 mins), Dave Pearce, James Barnett (Kyle Dawes 80), Fabian Driffell (Sydney Woods 63) and Lennon Moore.
Unused substitutes: David Hoar, Tyler Gregory.
Joint Managers: Giovanni Sepede and James Pritchard
Physio: Imogen Sanders.
Bedfont Sports: Frankie Beckles, Josh Eatwell, Max Webb, Joe Smith, London Brookshaw (Khyreece Smith-Reid 72), George Frise, Tyler Robinson (Oliver Davison 90+3), Jude Jakes-McKay, Jared Myers (George Maxwell 75), Connagh Wilks (capt) and Jake Woods.
Unused substitutes: Chris Sawyer and Marvin Wood.
Managers: Barry Chapman
Assistant Manager: Alfie Chapman
Coaches: Mark Gorman and Luke Russell
Physio: Javon Charles.
Referee: Daniel Jones
Assistant Referees: Darren Kerr and Darren Manning.
Other Matches:
Two of the other Middlesex clubs involved in this round of the FA Vase progressed to Round 2 Proper.
Harefield United travelled down to Sussex and registered an impressive 3-0 win against Wick, with 2 goals from Lenny Farhall and one from Jack Hutchinson. There were 9 cautions in this match, 5 of them for Harefield players. Also, Wick had a player red-carded just before the end. Spelthorne won a penalty shoot-out for the second FA Vase match in succession. They were successful against Holyport this time, after a 1-1 home draw, in which they had equalised with an 85th minute penalty.
Our 3 successes were balanced by 3 defeats. British Airways lost 1-0, to a goal scored in the 5th minute by Faversham Town Wembley lost 2-0 at home to Crawley Down Gatwick. Brook House took a first half lead against Windsor & Eton, through a goal scored by Lewis Davis but then conceded 3 times late in the match.
The draw for the 2nd round proper has given Bedfont Sports and Spelthorne Sports home ties against Jersey Bulls and Holmesdale respectively. Harefield United will have to travel to AFC Whyteleafe. Hilltop and North Greenford United, who were both exempt until this round following their performances in last season’s competition, have away matches. Hilltop will visit Windsor & Eton and North Greenford United are at Epsom & Ewell.
Report: Jim Taylor
Photography: Chris Benn