The FA Vase – First Round Proper
Venue: Mayesbrook Park
Attendance: 65
2018-19 Season – Match 22
Sunday 14th October 2018 – 2pm KO
West Essex: Red & Black Striped Shirts, White Shorts, Red Socks
Godmanchester Rovers: Blue & White Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
Goddy overcome West to progress in the FA Vase
Report & Photo by Scott W (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
On a soggy day at Mayesbrook Park, Essex Senior League side West Essex welcomed Thurlow Nunn Premier outfit Godmanchester Rovers in a FA Vase First Round tie. The hosts named Izzy Ogedi-Uzokwe as they focal point once again with Symeon Taylor, Joe Lefley and Cameron Gray in supporting roles. Godmanchester, or ‘Goddy’ as they are affectionately also known, are enjoying a very good season thus far in the TN Premier and fielded Niall Conroy between the posts and a front two of Austen Diaper and skipper Mike Hyem with Tom Spark and Matty Allen on the flanks.
The visitors started the match brightly with winger Tom Spark firing an early warning shot wide of the post on 5 minutes. West goalkeeper Jack Coker was called into action again seconds later as Goddy full-back Joe Furness’ sweet free-kick was palmed away well when it was heading for the far corner.
Godmanchester did break the deadlock ten minutes in as midfielder Simon Unwin broke free from the home defence to get a tap-in after good work by winger Matty Allen on the right. Ollie Drake’s side built on that as they pushed forward and showed their potent attacking strength, on the quarter-hour Unwin’s ball in found centre-back Charlie Bowen though he fizzed a header wide.
West didn’t quite create too many stone-wall openings though they did force visiting stopper Niall Conroy into action and full-back Ben Leo’s drilled effort which sailed wide did remind Goddy that their lead was thin. The hosts levelled the contest as the ball found its way to substitute NIck Walk who smashed in a class low strike into the corner, past Conroy, nine minutes before the break. West finished the half stongly as captain Tom MacLeod spurned two half-chances to give Kwame Kwateng’s side a surprise lead.
Half-Time: West Essex 1 – 1 Godmanchester Rovers
Into the second half and only two minutes in, Goddy substitute Buster Harradine’s terrific 25-yard strike forced Coker into another good save. The visitors sensed they had the better of the match and Coker maintained his good form, denying efforts from forward Mike Hyem, Allan and Spark. Goddy were’t going to be denied though as Harradine powered a header past Coker on 69 minutes to put the Thurlow Nunn side back ahead to cue joyous scenes in front of the travelling support.
MacLeod headed wide for the hosts in the latter stages though unfortunately they didn’t have the energy or much joy going forward and all told, Godmanchester deserved to progress into the next round.
Full-Time: West Essex 1 – 2 Godmanchester Rovers
Teams
West Essex | Manager: Kwame Kwateng
Jack Coker (GK), Sanchez Hardy, Ben Leo (Samraj Gill 73′), Tom Macleod (Capt), Josh French, Greg Fredericks, Callum Bloss (Nick Walk 26′), Symeon Taylor, Izzy Ogedi-Uzokwe (Tom Woodbridge 80′), Joe Lefley, Cameron Gray
Goal-scorer: Nick Walk [36′]
Booked: Leo | Subs Not Used: Forster, Bromley
Godmanchester Rovers | Manager: Ollie Drake
Niall Conroy (GK), Reec King, Joe Furness, Chris Hyem, Charlie Bowen, Ross Munro, Matty Allen (Tom Moran 87′), Simon Unwin (Buster Harradine 44′), Austen Diaper (Tom Lloyd 90’+2), Mike Hyem (Capt), Tom Spark
Goal-scorers: Simon Unwin [10′], Buster Harradine [69′]
Booked: Furness, Spark | Subs Not Used: Walker, Palmer
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