UCL Review 2012-13_9a2d718c

FA VASE REVIEW: TULIPS REACH LAST SIXTEEN

Spalding were our best performers in the national competition reaching the last sixteen of the Vase for the third time, but falling short of their best run to the quarter finals.

Only nine of the league’s 33 entries were involved in the First Qualifying Round and it was two all domestic ties which produced the most eye catching results. An all Premier Division encounter saw Desborough beat Huntingdon 5-1 at Jubilee Park with a Jon Mitchell brace and singles from Adam Randall, Tom Mills and Dan Kitching. Bugbrooke strengthened their giant killing reputation with a 3-0 success at Premier side Wellingborough, Lee Wilson, Will Briscoe and George Hunt sharing the goals. Two Danny Watson goals and one from Cameron Clark gave AFC Kempston a 3-2 win over Stotfold in their Bedfordshire derby, Josh Ford and Matt Barber both scored twice in Boston Town’s 4-3 win over Loughborough University, Alex McMillan, Rob Barnett and Ben Barton gave Harborough a 3-1 verdict at home to Barrow Town and Thrapston progressed 2-1 at March with Iain Blaikie their two goal matchwinner. Only casualties to outside opposition at this stage were Rothwell Corinthians, beaten 2-1 at Godmanchester. The Second Qualifying Round proved disappointing with a dozen clubs exiting the Wembley trail and just nine clubs making progress, There were five all domestic ties in this round but no real surprises. Ryan Cottingham, Jamie O’Neill and an own goal gave Stewarts & Lloyds a 3-1 win over Raunds, while Ash Brand and Luke Hipwell were on the scoresheet in Yaxley’s 2-1 success at Bugbrooke. Desborough beat a second league rival with Kevin Byrne and Adam Randall on target in a 2-0 defeat of Irchester while Lorand Borbely and Matt Barber took Boston Town through 2-0 at Harborough. An all Division One encounter saw Eynesbury get the better of hosts Rushden & Higham 3-0, James Freshwater, Jack Weeden and Ben Cole sharing the goals. Spalding started their run with a 2-0 victory at Lutterworth Athletic, Shane Tolley scoring both goals while there was a memorable Vase debut for AFC Rushden & Diamonds who beat Fakenham 4-1 at the Dog & Duck with two goals from Alfie Taylor and singles from Jack Wisniewski and Jake Newman. Luke Bartley and Liam Tuck took Northampton Spencer through 2-0 at Downham while a single Liam Tunstall goal gave Sleaford the verdict at Blaby & Whetstone. Among the casualties were Division One sides Thrapston, Potton and Whitworth while Cogenhoe exited to a late home winner at Dereham, AFC Kempston went out as Cockfosters avenged an earlier FA Cup defeat by the Walnut Boys, and Blackstones lost at home to Holbrook. One of the ties of the round saw Holbeach lose by a single goal at the experienced Basford side. The first batch of exempt clubs joined the fray in Round One, but two of the quartet made immediate exits to other UCL sides. Premier champions Long Buckby went out at Northampton Spencer in a replay, Paul Pickering the Millers matchwinner, while Quorn were beaten 2-1 at Deeping where Simon Ashton and Alex Beck gave Rangers the verdict. Shepshed did make a winning start though, beating Blidworth 2-0 with Leon Cole and Justin Jenkins on the mark. Shane Tolley was again in fine form for Spalding, his matchwinning hat trick against Northern Counties East champions Retford including a stoppage time winner, while Boston Town progressed 2-1 at Dunkirk with Simon Mowbray scoring both. Desborough’s Michael Byrne was another hat trick man in Art Tarn’s 6-0 success at Swaffham with Richard Scott, Dan Kitching and Kevin Byrne also on the scoresheet. An all UCL tie saw AFC Rushden & Diamonds win 2-1 at higher grade Yaxley with Deven Ellwood and Ben Morgan scoring the vital goals. It was the end of the line though for Eynesbury who went down 2-0 at Ely, Sleaford who were beaten 3- 1 at Sutton Town and Stewarts & Lloyds who went down 4-1 at their FA Cup conquerors Dereham. The arrival of four more exempt clubs made for a powerful eleven club UCL representation in Round Two, but this stage proved a major disappointment as eight made their exits from the national competition. The previous campaign’s two quarter finalists both made first hurdle exits on this occasion. Peterborough Northern Star lost 3-1 at home to a Dunstable side which would complete the season unbeaten in the Spartan South Midlands League while consistent Vase performers St Ives were able to concentrate on their promotion bid after losing 2-1 at Wisbech in a replay. 24