(Photo by Andy Wilkins @wilkins_media)

Buildbase FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round

Walthamstow seem to enjoy putting their fans through the mincer at the moment; one week after beating Cockfosters in the FA Cup they then go through the same route in the FA Vase. Of course opponents Harwich & Parkeston will feel even more aggrived as they were leading through a superb Adam Hampson strike until the final minute when Jon Clements equalised; then went and found themselved dumped as Stow won the shoot-out 5-4. St Margaretsbury fell behind to an Issouf Coulibaly goal, but drew level via Dominic Wynter-Stephens. However this time around it was an ESL side that found their Vase campaign ended on penalties as London Colney went on to win it 6-5. Saffron Walden Town lost on penalties after a real ding-dong battle with Whitton United. The Bloods were handed a 15^th minute lead by Lewis Francis. Tom Bradlaugh cancelled that one out just before the break, but just before the hour mark Craig Calver again placed the hosts in the driving seat. Whitton United again equalised, this time by Reece Dobson on 75 minutes, but the hosts again took the lead on 81 minutes via Gavin Cockman. George Day popped up to equalise in stoppage time, with the penalty shoot out then going the way of the Thurlow Nunn League side who run out 4-1 winners. Sporting Bengal United are starting to become turnaround merchants. They followed up Tuesday night’s incredible last minute turnaround with something a little similar in their Vase game with Sawbridgeworth Town. The only difference was that this time out Sporting Bengal opened the scoring in the 13^th minute via Shara Barnett. But Connor Clarke levelled up in the 22^nd minute. Two goals in in five minutes from Jake Skeet placed the Robins into a 3-1 lead. But Barnett pulled one back on 74 minutes and then completed his hat-trick three minutes from time to draw Sporting Bengal level. This time the turnaround was completed via the penalty method as Sporting Bengal won the shoot-out 4-2. Cockfosters won their all-ESL Vase tie at Southend Manor 1-0. The goal came four minutes from time:Josh Fajobi supplied it. And the other all-ESL encounter went the way of Hashtag United who brushed Takeley aside with a 3-1 win – having won the League encounter by the same score line in midweek! The Tags opened the scoring in the 23^rd minute via a Ross Gleed penalty. Harry Honesty chipped in with a brace, with Elliott Long scoring the Takeley reply.One of the most interesting Vase ties had to be Hadley, based in Barnet, against Hadleigh United based in. Both are pronounced the same way, but it was the ESL based side who earned bagging rights with a 2-0 victory; Luke Alfano and Alfie Bartram scoring a goal apiece. Hoddesdon Town beat Langford 3-2 with the winning goal for the Lilywhites being a gift from Nathan Wing who scored an own goal. The visitors had taken the lead in the 14^th minute through James Elkington. Olly Sharman equalised in the 26^th minute, but the Lilywhites again fell behind to a Joss Cliss goal at the half-hour mark. But within 8 minutes Hoddesdon were back on equal terms thanks to Harrison Rookard. The winner then came fifteen minutes from time – and as they all count means Hoddesdon now take their place in the next round. Clapton will be joining them after a 4-2 away success at Brimsdown. Daniel Emovon, Kyle Thompson and Nicki Dembale notched the goals with the tally being rounded-up by an own goal. Redbridge meanwhile fell to Eastern Senior League outfit May & Baker pulled off a Vase shock in a game that saw both teams have a player each shown the red card. As for the goal action that all took place in the opening 45 minutes. Edward Cooper opened the scoring in the 11^th minute, followed by Henry Osei on 26 minutes to hand the visitors a 2-0 lead. Sam Dickens pulled on back just past the half-hour mark, but Osei notched his second right on the stroke of half time; the goal in the end proving to also be the winner for the Step 6 side. Enfield also lost out to a team from the Eastern Senior League as two second half goals in the space of three minutes enabled Holland to move on after a 2-0 success over the E’s.