There is something about the FA Vase that must stir the blood of our players because they again put on a superb performance to take us into the 3rd Round for the 9th time. To get this far we have beaten Dunstable Town (5-2) and Saffron Walden (3-0) both away and we have now clocked up 12 goals in three games with Harry Shepherd leading the way with 5 of them.

This was our first ever game against Harleston Town who hail from Norfolk which is a round trip of 240 miles. They play in the Premier Division of the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League which is the same level as us. Their League form has been patchy, although they did beat Brantham Athletic 5-3 at home last Saturday, but they have done really well in the national cups. In the FA Cup they got through 2 rounds before losing to Biggleswade Town who play at a higher level in the Southern League Premier Division whist they have also done well in the FA Vase winning three matches to reach this stage.

We certainly got off to a cracking start scoring three times before we had even reached the half hour mark and all from corners taken from the right by Frankie Hercules our set piece specialist who therefore achieved the distinction of having three assists in less than 30 minutes.

The first goal came in the 7th minute when Frankie spotted that Harry Beaumont was unmarked just outside the box and Harry duly responded by pinging a terrific shot past the keeper who had no chance. Score 1-0.

The second goal arrived 5 minutes later and was a carbon copy of the first with Frankie this time picking out Harry Shepherd who scored with a bit of help from a deflection. It puts Shep back at the top of the scorers list with 12 goals which is a tremendous return from a midfielder and demonstrates what a great season he is having. Score 2-0.

Goal number three was different with Frankie this time picking out Greg Deer who pulled away to the back post and then sent a precise header into the far corner of the net, above the defender standing on the line. Score 3-0.

Other chances were created with Kieran Turner forcing a very good save from keeper Elliot Pride who did well to palm his shot away. Soon afterwards George Carbery’s header found the side netting after the keeper had failed to catch Frankie’s free kick, Then Benji, who latched onto a pass down the right from Jack Harvey, knocked the ball past the keeper but the defender did well to get back and clear the danger although he nearly scored an OG.

A terrific first half for us ended with a commanding three goal advantage. HT Score 3-0.

Our guests had hardly laid a glove on us during the first half but it was inevitable that they would come out for the second period in a much more determined mood. After only 3 minutes from the restart their tricky winger Panache Mundawarara had a shooting opportunity to the right of our goal but he smashed his shot well wide. Then Archie Davis, who had been hardly been stretched got down quickly to grab a potentially dangerous cross from the right wing.

Harleston were given a potential life line when Robbie Taylor was fouled in the area but Josh Durham hit the base of the post from a penalty with a colleague firing the ricochet well over the bar. But our opponents were not to be denied when in the 56th minute George Barber picked the ball up just inside our half then slalomed his way through the centre of our midfield and defence and poked the ball past Archie. Score 3-1.

It was a terrific goal and gave Harleston a slither of hope and they responded by enjoying a lot of possession and looking more dangerous in attack especially when they pushed their big centre back up front. But we have more goals in our armoury these days and we grabbed a 4th just 7 minutes later.

Young James Sales started the move then latched onto a lovely pass down the left wing from Harry Shepherd before crossing for Benji Kakembo to score this 9th goal of the season. Score 4-1.

Despite the uphill task facing them Harleston kept going and went close when their leading scorer Robbie Taylor hit the bar following a lovely move. Bailey Osborne will wonder how he didn’t score when he rounded the keeper but the game by then was all but over. FT Score 4-1.

Full credit to our guests for the much improved performance in the second half after what must have been a disappointing first period for them and we wish then all the best for the rest of the season.

We will now wait with baited breath to see who we will meet in the next round when the draw is made on Monday lunchtime. This was a terrific performance from the players in front of a very good crowd of nearly 300 which is our second highest crowd in the Vase after the game against Bury. It was a great occasion with a terrific atmosphere and there was a superb buzz in the Clubhouse afterwards. There also was a nice touch when we had a town crier making the announcements before the game. Harry Beaumont was picked as Man of the Match by sponsors JGE Truck and Plant which was fully deserved because he has been outstanding this season.

Our next game will be a cup encounter away on Saturday at Arlesey Town who are 4th in the table and are having a good season.

Finally the pitch looked in really good condition and we can thank Darrell Bodimeade for that.

Team:

TA: Archie Davis, Harry Jones, George Carbery (Capt), Greg Deer, Mason Clarke (James Sales 57), Jack Harvey (Noah Butler 79) , Harry Beaumont, Frankie Hercules (Max Hercules 56), Harry Shepherd, Ben Kakembo (Bailey Osborne 68), Kieran Turner (Jonah Howgego 74).

Scorers:

TA: Harry Beaumont (7), Harry Shepherd (12), Greg Deer (23), Benji Kakembo (63)

HT: George Barber (56)

Crowd: 294

Sponsors Man of the Match: Harry Beaumont.