Saturday 7th December

[Munchkin]

For their part New Bradwell were clearly figuring out how to play without recently-departed, lightning fast forward Freddie Yinka-Kehinde.

Where's he gone?

[Savagebee]

Saturday 7^th December

FA CARLSBERG VASE THIRD ROUND PROPER

 

5-0 Hanwell Town v Lordswood

 

A great result for the club we played really well the players and management did the club proud today like they have done all this season.

 

[Rhodes]

Saturday 7^th December

FA CARLSBERG VASE THIRD ROUND PROPER

3-2* Hadleigh United v Welwyn Garden City

A report on this one:

 

http://www.hadleigh-utd.co.uk/itweb.php?page=1stmatches

[Rhodes]

FA CARLSBERG VASE THIRD ROUND PROPER

2-2* Brightlingsea Regent v Colney Heath

A report from another Forum:

 

FA Carlsberg Vase, Third Round Proper

Brightlingsea Regent 2(2)-(0)2 Colney Heath*

*After Extra Time. Score after 90 minutes 2-2

North Road, Brightlingsea, Essex

Attendance: 120

Admission: £6 inc. programme (yet to read)

 

Well, I generally wouldn't criticise officials for making errors (as they are human, after all), but at least two bad decisions have probably cost Brightlingsea going one better than last season and reaching the last 32 of the Vase for the first time in their history. That said, they probably should still have won this tie, regardless of the performance of the referee, only to let a 2-0 lead with about two minutes of normal time left. Would not expect them to progress in the replay back in Hertfordshire on tuesday, as I think Colney Heath - who disappointed for large periods - will play a lot better back at home.

 

After a nervous start, Brightlingsea settled down, and took the lead soon after the half hour mark, when a throw-in came off a Colney Heath head in the box, and fell kindly to a Brightlingsea player to tee-up his colleague to fire home from close range. That sparked the game into life, and the visitors went close a few times in quick succession - notably when the keeper had to pull off a good save after a big deflection off one of his defenders following a ball into the box. Soon after though, and from almost identical fashion to the opener, Brightlingsea scored a second, and looked to be in the driving seat.

Then, just before half time, contentious moment number 1. Soon after the second goal, a Brightlingsea player bursts clear, but as he goes into the box, appears to be fouled by a Heath defender, albeit going down a little easily. The linesman right beside the incident, flags, however the referee some distance away, overrules his assistant, to the annoyance of the home side. If that was 3-0, it would be game over.

 

The second half sees the visitors step things up a bit, although on numerous occasions, Brightlingsea came close to finishing the tie off, but failed to be ruthless in the final third, as well as miss a few good chances. For their part, the Spartan South Midlands League side were kept out by some pretty good defending, and a couple of decent saves from the home keeper. They also missed a couple of pretty simple chances, and when a header unmarked from close range went over the top with about five minutes left, it looked like their FA Vase run was coming to an end. Then, with about two minutes left, Brightlingsea fail to deal with a 'dead' ball' on the edge of their box following a corner, and the ball into the box was headed in. 2-1, but the controversy was to rear its ugly head in added time - not once, but twice.

First of all, the visitors were awarded a penalty. I assumed it was because the keeper had impeded a player going for a through-ball, just inside the box, which would have been cheap. However it seems it was now for handball. I couldn't see it from my side, but there were appeals it was an away player who handled it. With the penalty scored, extra time was imminent. Yet, in probably the worst decision of them all, a Brightlingsea player was clearly fouled in the box, with a defender flying in and getting nowhere near the ball. Somehow the officials did not give it, and the hosts were absolutely enraged. For once I could sympathise.

 

No such refereeing controversy in extra time. Both sides had a few half chances to win it, with Colney Heath missing a great opportunity in the second period to avoid a replay. They will be the happier of the two teams however, and I expect they will be 'on it' much more in Tuesday's replay. If there hadn't had been some bad decisions by the man in the middle though, they may not have got another opportunity.

 

Fundraising campaigns are underway to raise the cash to get the tight North Road ground up to step 4 grading, although that might be mission impossible?