Buildbase FA Vase 2ndRound Qualifying
Ash United 2
(Cameron Bradbury, Joran Devenney)
Bashley 6
(Harry Morgan x2, Harry McGrath, Cameron Beard x2, Harry Bunce)
Attendance: Unknown
The Third Generation Services Stadium (Shawfield Stadium)(1stVisit)
The FA Vase is a wonderful competition. Pitting the clubs at Step 5 & 6 of the Non-League system against each other with the ultimate goal of reaching the final on the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium. The cup was founded in 1974 off the back of the FA Amateur Cup when the lines between professional and amateur had truly blurred and many could say this was around the time that the ‘semi-pro player’ was born.
Fast-forward just shy of half a century and the cup offers not only a bit of added income through prize money, but the chance of a Wembley final. If any player can’t be motivated by the chance to play at Wembley Stadium, then a new hobby on your weekends should be on the cards.
The competition offers teams some respite from the league and despite the regionalised draws in the early rounds, a chance to pit your wits against teams from other leagues. Today’s match up saw Combined Counties Division One’s Ash United take on Wessex Premier side Bashley. A potential ‘cupset’ for the hosts and a potential banana skin for the visitors.
Statistics
It has been a busy month, and this is my eighth game in ten days. October has also been good for new grounds with the Shawfield Stadium my fourth new ‘tick’ of the month so far. Maybe this month turns into a 31-game month, but there is plenty of time for that.
With this being my first trip to this particular corner of Aldershot and the first-time watching Ash United.
Despite Bashley being fairly local to me, they are not a team that I get to see all too often. I have seen them four times in total (including today). In that time, they have won two and lost two.
Whilst following the FA Cup from start to finish looks unlikely, I could certainly have a go at following the Vase from start to finish. I did two games in the previous round as Fawley lost 4-3 to Ringwood Town, whilst Romsey Town beat Selsey 4-0.
The Ground
The Shawfield Stadium is as lovely as a ground is going to get in the tenth tier of English football. From the crest mosic on the wall, to the friendly welcome at the turnstile, it was a good first impression when I arrived. Once inside the ground, you enter behind the goal where there is a covered walkway that is partly caged to protect against wayward shots. The only seated stand is just around the corner, in line with the penalty area and seats a good amount of people and offers a decent view. It is also worth mentioning that the ground is dog friendly! The rest of the ground is open and uncovered but plenty of space to watch the game from. Opposite the main stand are the two dugouts which back onto conifers that neatly border two sides of the grounds. There is a little bit more cover up the corner directly outside the clubhouse/ tea bar which is also where the team line ups were written onto a whiteboard attached to the wall. Pin badges were available on the turnstile, however I realised too late and managed to pick one up in the clubhouse at the end of the game.
All in all, this is a lovely little ground and one that everyone connected with the club can be proud off.
The Game
Bashley sailed into the next round of the FA Vase after they came from behind to beat Ash United 6-2 in the second round of qualifying.
Cameron Bradbury had put the hosts ahead before a first-half double from Harry Morgan put the visitors 2-1 up at the break. In the second half, four goals in a mad six-minute spell put Bashley 6-1 up. With the result all but confirmed, Ash did manage to grab a second with five minutes remaining to end the game 6-2.
The visitors started the game with an early penalty as Cameron Rowthorn was brought down by Bashley goalkeeper Sam Thompson inside the area. Bradbury stepped up and despite Thompson diving the right way, the ball nestled into the back of the net.
Ash were in the ascendency as Luke Cairns saw his shot saved by Thompson to keep the score at 1-0. At the other end, Beard’s volley sailed oved the bar as the ball bounced around the Ash penalty area from a corner.
Bashley did pull the score level on 29 minutes when Harry McGrath played a nice through ball to Harry Morgan who slotted the shot low into the bottom corner from a tight angle. Buoyed from their equaliser, Bashley went looking for another goal as McGrath fired one over before Beard hit the crossbar from close range moments later.
On the stroke of halftime, Bashley were awarded a penalty when Abdul Samad went through the back of Morgan inside the box. Morgan stepped up and smashed the ball low into the corner to put the Wessex side ahead.
Within seconds of the restart, Ash went agonisingly close to equalising when Bradbury raced through and with just the ‘keeper to beat, his shot ricocheted back off the inside of the post and out.
Both sides made changes as Bashley’s Jamie Webber was replaced by Jack Smith and Ash United’s Cameron Robertson was replaced by Tom Bale.
Bashley extended their lead on 63 minutes when McGrath turned Jordan Devanney inside out before drilling a wonderful strike into the top corner for 3-1.
Beard made it 4-1 less than a minute later when a throw in bamboozled the Ash defence and Beard raced past Samad before finishing past Jamie Cunningham.
Ash United had completely self-destructed when Bashley netted their third goal in three minutes to make it 5-1. Bunce and Morgan combined in the build-up to set up Beard who grabbed his second of the afternoon.
The sixth goal came four minutes later when Bunce did well to hold off Stanley Chilton before firing the shot into the net.
Ash made their remaining two substitutes as Callum Deverill and Neil Hardy replaced Shah Jangeer-Khan and Cairns.
McGrath forced a good save from Cunningham as Bashley went in search of a seventh goal. However, it was Ash United who were to score next when Bradbury was clattered by Brad Morris on the edge of the area and United captain, Devenney stepped up and curled a beautiful free kick around the wall and past Thompson from 22-yards.
Line Ups:
Ash United: 1. Jamie Cunningham; 2. Emeka Nwaubani; 3. Stanley Chilton; 4. Shah Jangeer-Khan; 5. Jordan Devanney ©: 6. Abdul Samad; 7. Luke Cairns; 8. Cameron Robertson; 9. Cameron Bradbury; 10. Ben Wyatt; 11. Cameron Rowthorn. SUBS: 12. Josh Kipping; 14. Thomas Bale; 15. Ryan Green; 16. Callum Deverill; 17. Neil Hardy.
Bashley: 13. Sam Thompson; 7. Harry Bunce; 8. Brad Morris; 10. Harry Morgan; 11. Harry McGrath; 12. Daniel Thompson; 14. Liam Farrugia; 15. Jamie Webber; 16. Lewis Ross; 17. Cameron Beard; 18. Brad Strickland. SUBS: 1. Harry Gravett; 2. Tom Betts; 3. Jack Smith; 5. Lewis Aimson; 9. Conor Whiteley.
2020/21 Games: 50
2020/21 Grounds: 38
New Grounds this season: 15
Total Grounds Visited: 304 (72)
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