FA Vase Fourth Round - Saturday 14 January

[Rhodes]

On 19/01/2023 at 20:27, Rhodes said:

Saturday 21 January 

FA Vase Fourth Round
Newport Pagnell Town v Leighton Town

Bad news:

Edited January 21, 2023 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Let's continue to use this thread for the three re-arranged Fourth Round ties on Saturday involving the remaining SSML Club's in the competition, will it be third time lucky:

Saturday 28 January (all kick off 3.00pm)

FA Vase Fourth Round
Biggleswade United v Coventry Sphinx
Newport Pagnell Town v Leighton Town
Tring Athletic v Walsall Wood

Edited January 26, 2023 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 26/01/2023 at 14:43, Rhodes said:

Saturday 28 January 

FA Vase Fourth Round
Tring Athletic v Walsall Wood

Walsall Wood hosted a friendly fixture on Tuesday evening to limber up for the tie at Cow Lane on Saturday, they drew 1-1 against Step 3 Bromsgrove Sporting and, worryingly, looked in very good shape as well as being eight points clear at the top of the Midland League Premier Division. I am assuming last week's programme will still be used:

https://issuu.com/tringafc/docs/2023.01.21_walsall_wood  

Edited January 27, 2023 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

A disappointing afternoon:

Saturday 28 January

FA Vase Fourth Round
Biggleswade United 1 Coventry Sphinx 5
Newport Pagnell Town 1 Leighton Town 1 (Newport Pagnell Town win 7-6 on pens)
Tring Athletic A Walsall Wood (abandoned on 80 mins, floodlight failure)

Edited January 30, 2023 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

5 minutes ago, Rhodes said:

Saturday 28 January

FA Vase Fourth Round
Tring Athletic A Walsall Wood (abandoned on 80 mins, floodlight failure)

A groundhopper from another Forum was in attendance, he sums it up saying 'it seems like a jinxed fixture':

FA Vase - Round 4
Tring Athletic v Walsall Wood 1-1 (ht 1-1)
Abandoned on 78 minutes
Venue: Cow Lane, Tring (ko. 15.00hrs)
Entry: £8/5, programme online only
Attendance: 340
For three quarters of this game an away win seemed nailed on, but just as Tring were clawing their way back the lights went out. The tie looked like going to form as Walsall Wood are top of their Division with 51 points from 22 games, while Tring have a mere 32 points from the same number of games. The visitors went close within three minutes of kick off and as the chances piled up, the opening goal seemed inevitable. The pressure was building in the Tring defence and the dam finally burst on 35 minutes when Daniel Gyasi cut in from the left and powered a shot into the top corner. Tring had rarely created a decent chance up to this point so it was a surprise when they equalised almost immediately. The ball was crossed into the box and the visiting keeper reached the ball above a crowd of players but only pushed it towards Godlove Oppong who turned and fired the ball into the net.
Walsall Wood started the second half by winning a penalty that Jai Verma placed too close to post and it bounced away to safety. For the next twenty minutes the visitors continued to press but good chances were become less frequent, and Tring started to get a foothold in the game. The hosts went close a couple of times and finally it felt like a cup tie that could be won by either side. And then the lights went.
We waited half an hour before three of the four floodlights came back on, and then went off again. Quarter of hour later they tried again and got a different combination of three floodlights going. So that was it, two postponements and now an abandonment. Not sure I'll go to the replay, it seems like a jinxed fixture.

[Rhodes]

20 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Saturday 28 January
FA Vase Fourth Round
Biggleswade United 1 Coventry Sphinx 5

A groundhopper from another Forum was at Second Meadow:

FA Vase 4th Round
Biggleswade United 1 Coventry Sphinx 5 (H/T 0-2)
Admission: £6/£4, Programmes: £1, Att: 326
My first visit to BU for some 20 years. On my previous visit, also for a Vase match, Biggleswade Town were also playing in the Vase at an adjoining ground (playing area of the latter still in place but little or no evidence of previous infrastructure). Since that visit, BU have clearly made a number of ground improvements with the pitch now fully enclosed and a lengthy seated stand on one side. This was a record run in the Vase for them and they made the most of the day, producing what I understand was a rare printed programme. Having already purchased one from behind the bar, I was approached by another seller en route to the turnstiles and also asked if I wanted to purchase one by the turnstile operator. One hopes they were not left with too much stock at the end.
From a neutral perspective, a rather disappointing one sided match for this stage of the competition, although all credit to CV for a strong display and they look capable of going further. Throughout the match, CV always looked dangerous in attack against a hesitant defence that was probably not helped by the home keeper, Ollie Leslie, having to be substituted, because of injury, on 33 mins. Having said that sub keeper Tom Wyant performed creditably and cannot be faulted with any of the subsequent goals. CV had a couple of early efforts ruled out for offside but finally broke the deadlock on 23 mins through Jordan Hayward. Just on half time it looked as if the hosts had got a surprise equaliser, somewhat against the run of play, only for it to ruled out for what must have been a marginal offside decision. CV then got a 2nd on 45 + 4, through Callum Stewart. The match was effectively over early in the 2nd half when CV extended their lead with two goals in 3 mins (50 & 53 mins) through Louis Guest and Max Johnson. It then looked a case of how many but BU kept battling and surprisingly reduced the arrears on 57 mins, with one of the best goals of the game through midfielder Conor Inskip, He received a loose ball from just outside the centre of the area hitting a good shot from some 25 yards out that bent away from the CV keeper to nestle in the right had corner of the net. There was to be no comeback though and CV completed the scoring with Stewart bagging another goal on 77 mins. In all honesty the score could have been far higher.
The ground is roughly a 20 min walk from the railway station and I was back well on time to make the 17.30 train which went direct to London Bridge, enabling to make a connection to my local station and was back home by 19.15.

[Rhodes]

On 29/01/2023 at 14:49, Rhodes said:

Saturday 28 January

FA Vase Fourth Round
Biggleswade United 1 Coventry Sphinx 5

There was a report in the Non League Paper on Sunday:

[Rhodes]

In an interesting development the Tring Athletic v Walsall Wood FA Vase Fourth Round tie, abandoned on Saturday due to floodlight failure, will be replayed on Saturday (4 February) but at Walsall Wood's Titan Recruitment Stadium home. You can't blame Walsall Wood for pressing the FA for a reversal of the tie having made three 'aborted' January visits to Cow Lane, and they have been successful with seemingly no complaints from the Tring Athletic hierarchy.

https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/non-league/2023/01/31/walsall-wood-want-home-fixture-after-new-fa-vase-frustration/

[Rhodes]

What a result and performance by Tring Athletic yesterday to win 2-1 at high flying Midland League Premier Division Walsall Wood, they now host North West Counties League Premier Division Bury AFC in a Fifth Round tie next Saturday (11 February):

Saturday 4 February

FA Vase Fourth Round
Walsall Wood 1 Tring Athletic 2

[Rhodes]

A lengthy report from a groundhopper from another Forum:

Walsall Wood 1 v 2 Tring Athletic - FA Vase 4th Round
Programme 32 pages £2.00 - Admission £6.00 (nc) - Att. Nothing official seen. However, the turnout was less than expected perhaps in the region of 230. The Clubhouse was almost uninhabited on arrival just before 14.00.
An unnecessarily overlong day being out of the door at 06.20 and return to The Riverbank timed at 23.40 for what seemed an interminable trek which felt by the end that the trip had been to the furthest reaches of the North East or Devon rather than four miles north of Walsall. There was of course the need to save a few pounds on the journeys and a few hostelries to visit in addition to a first time visit to Oak Park.
Contest was reasonable enough but there was only occasional glimpses that we were watching a later round Vase tie and at times the lack of quality in both teams play gave the impression that what was being viewed was a league match between two teams in the lower reaches of a division. At times, I noted an occasional lack of confidence with the hosts which for team that was top of a Level 5 Division surprised, though duly noted that the previous midweek they had lost at home to Wolverhampton Social who occupy one of the relegation positions in the Midland Alliance. Tring defended well with Harrison Cornick particularly impressing in the middle of the defence but with a tendency to constantly play deep, there was the anticipation that the hosts would pose more of a threat in the final third but this was only the case over the course of the second half.
The first half was much more tentative with the flow of play hindered by the obligatory numerous stoppages but also by an uneven and heavy pitch that reminded of the lumps and bumps of Cricklefield. Little to note until what was the only occasion of individual inventiveness led to the visitors taking the lead. Saw Tring in the previous round at Dunstable Town and noted that Godlove Oppong's creativity was an important reason in their win and on this occasion, an excellent touch in a very restricted area far out on the touchline took Carter Lycett out of the defensive equation, intelligent pass inside to Leo Farruch whose first time shot from the edge of the area had the accuracy and the power to find the far corner beyond Callum Smith's dive to give the visitors the lead.
Little in the way of a response from Walsall Wood and it took them over half an hour for them to pose any actual threat to the Tring goal but on this occasion Joey Barlow's near post header travelled wide of the post. Barlow was much closer later in the half as a half volley from him rebounded off of the angle after the Tring defence uncharacteristically failed to clear. Overall the Walsall Wood first half performance rarely impressed and it lacked the ingenuity to unlock an effective defence.
The second half initially showed more in the way of directness in relation to the hosts attacks and they were level within four minutes of the restart with a ball forward being flicked on Barlow sending Jai Verma clear of a trailing Tring defence and Verma placed his shot wide of the advancing Oscar Frost to level. This was a rare occasion where a more direct approach of the hosts coincided with a defensive failing from Tring and Walsall Wood attacks were often frustrated by an uncompromising defence. There were still opportunities for the hosts and I am sure that Kevin Monteiro rued missing the only clear cut second half chance for Walsall Wood after he broke through the home defence and with only Frost between him and putting the hosts in front he rushed his shot which travelled high over the bar. A tantalising cross from Joshua Mansell was just beyond the diving head of Monteiro, but as the minutes ebbed away it looked a probability that the only outcome to separate the two teams would be the IMHO unwelcome penalty competition. Thankfully, this was avoided but given that the hosts had the better of second half play, it surprised that the winning goal came from Tring. The visitors posed little in the way of second half threat but a perfectly struck curling free kick from Frankie Hercules taken from a distance that was thought to be too far out to be of any danger was touched around the post by Smith. From the corner, Giuseppe Delgrandio headed forward and Oppong bundled the ball over the line for what was an untidy goal to win an untidy match. Last few minutes plus the eight additional minutes added on by the referee saw the obligatory Walsall Wood pressure which saw headers from Lycett clip the top of the bar and from Lewis Riley-Stewart which was narrowly over the bar. Could understand the frustrations of the Tring bench as to the amount of additional time added on, but the shouty approach from the Tring bench towards the fourth official who attempted to undertake his role in a relaxed and at times humorous manner was one of the more unpleasant aspects of the afternoon, especially as the profanities from that area reached a stoppage time peak.
As was the case with Corsham's victory the previous Saturday, I was of the opinion that potential Vase winners were not being viewed here, though I am sure that AFC Bury who now travel to Tring in the next round will be wary of a trip into uncharted South Midlands League territory and the beauty of the Vase is that it is very difficult to compare clubs from different equivalent status leagues. A tie that for its sheer uniqueness appeals however weather permitting the next Vase journey will hopefully be in the direction of CV3 next Saturday.
Oak Park situated just off the main Lichfield Road which runs through the middle of Walsall Wood was very easy to locate. The stand is of a certain wooden vintage and the steepness of the rows of seats were not the easiest for aged limbs to negotiate and then descend post match. The end nearest the entrance is fully covered the entire length and also of interest was the presence out of the ground of a reduced in size reproduction of a colliery wheel indicating the site of Walsall Wood Colliery which shut in 1964. Prior I was unaware that coal mining was part of the industrial landscape of this area, thinking that pits were found around Hednesford and also around Nuneaton but not so near to Walsall. Ground easily accessible using NX West Midlands bus No.10 from Walsall Bus station, though on the return journey just missed a service back to Walsall and noted that the greyest of grey skies that had prevailed over the course of the day emitted a chill which was more typical of February weather than the previous balmy days.
Arrived into Walsall just before 11.00 and before the journey out to Oak Park, ventured to St Matthews Hall (JDW) which from this angle had a good array of ales with the local Backyard Brewery being well represented with their Blonde being one of the ales of the day as was the porter from Hinckley's New Buildings Brewery. From there it was onwards to the Fountain Inn which despite it being listed as the Backyard Brewery tap had none of their ales available, however the Green Duck Brewery Hypnotized was more than acceptable. Concluded the pre match trail at Pretty Bricks where Beartown Brewery ales were very much in evidence. Disappointed with the post match trip to the Black Country Arms which although has thirteen hand pumps sells ales from well known regional breweries rather than having an ale or two from a local microbrewery. The APA from Ilkeston's Muirhouse Brewery was unremarkable and the post match imbibing concluded back at St Matthews Hall with a reacquaintance with the Backyard (Brewery) Blonde.
The understanding this end (though I could be incorrect after reading a previous post) was that there were no direct train services between London Marylebone and Birmingham Snow Hill, therefore in order to save a few pennies, travel was made via the West Midlands Trains services between Euston and New Street. Cheap at £21.75 return factoring the Senior Railcard discount but ponderously slow taking well over two hours on each leg of the journey. For an unknown reason despite the service on the return leg being very busy, Coach 8 at the rear was virtually empty allowing the previous nights sleep debt to be partially made up and also for the essential task of the recharging of the phone to occur. Rest of journey without issue, but the day just seemed to be never ending with too many hours taken up for so few miles travelled.

[Rhodes]

On 05/02/2023 at 15:37, Rhodes said:

Saturday 4 February

FA Vase Fourth Round
Walsall Wood 1 Tring Athletic 2

Highlights, firstly from the embarrassing abandonment at Cow Lane on Saturday 28 January and then, exactly six minutes into the video, highlights from Tring Athletic's excellent 2-1 win at Oak Park in Walsall the following week: