18/11/06: FA Carlsberg Vase 2nd Round

Leverstock Green 1 Woodbridge Town 0

(after extra time)

 

Leverstock Green reached the third round of the FA Vase for the first time in their history thanks to a fluked goal from James Armstrong four minutes from the end of extra time. It was a cruel way for visitors Woodbridge to lose what had been a marvellously entertaining game between two sides who could not have been more closely matched. Both sides squandered numerous chances to win the game, but Leverstock’s achievement was even greater given that they played for nearly an hour with only ten men.

 

From the outset it was clear that this was going to be a better Leverstock performance than the previous week’s disappointment. In the 6th minute Armstrong hit a ball across the face of goal which Allan Arthur just failed to connect with, and from the resulting corner Louis West shot just wide. Two minutes later West set up Lee Johnson for a header which was well saved by Woodbridge keeper Marcus Garnham.

 

Green suffered an early blow when Steve Boad had to leave the game injured on 18 minutes, and his replacement Darren Caseman picked up a yellow card for a mistimed tackle within five minutes of coming on. Woodbridge went close with a couple of shots before Green threatened again towards the end of the half. A stinging shot from Caseman was superbly tipped away by Garnham on 40 minutes, and in the last minute of the half Caseman got on the end of a cross from Armstrong, but Garnham saved his header.

 

In the opening minute of the second half, Armstrong put in a great tackle to win the ball from Mark Roper, and crossed to the far post but Arthur headed wide. On 54 minutes the visitors missed a golden opportunity to take the lead. Allicion Blake’s pass put Joseph Francis through, and his cross to the far post found Jonathan Bickers unmarked with the goal at his mercy, but he put the ball over the bar when it looked easier to score. Within a minute at the other end Garnham did well to parry a fierce shot from John Pedder, and saved again when Josh Price didn’t quite make full contact on his effort from the rebound.

 

In the 64th minute another mistimed tackle from Caseman saw him somewhat harshly receive his marching orders with a second yellow card, and Green were left to battle on with ten men. Woodbridge had another chance on 76 minutes when Blake put Ben Seaman through on goal, but Green keeper James Dewick produced a great save to keep out his shot. Three minutes from the end of normal time Green looked set to win it when Armstrong was clean through. His shot beat Garnham but agonisingly hit the post. In the last minute Dewick pulled off another great save to turn away Seaman’s shot from a narrow angle.

 

The game went into extra time, but there was a 30 minute delay before the extra period could start due to one of the linesmen being unable to continue through injury. With nobody else willing to take on the job, the players had to wait for Green’s club linesman Callum Wilson to return from the reserves’ match at Colney Heath. The delay didn’t seem to affect the players as they picked up from where they had left off. Adam Hallissey came off the bench and was through on goal in the third minute, but ran the ball too far into the keeper’s hands. Armstrong was through again on 9 minutes and ran the ball past Garnham but just wide of the post. Garnham saved a header from Hallissey, and was relieved when Chris Burr shot wide when Armstrong set him up with a great chance. There had also been plenty of goalmouth action at the other end, with Blake going closest with a shot that hit the post.

 

The action continued in the second period. Dewick produced another outstanding save to dive at the feet of Blake when he was clean through, and a minute later saved a free kick from the same player. It looked like Green were facing a long trip for a replay on Tuesday night until four minutes from time. Armstrong had been flagged offside countless times, but for once got the benefit of the doubt to go clear down the right. From the right edge of the penalty area, he sent over what was intended to be a cross for Hallissey at the far post, but instead the ball curled over the outstretched arm of Garnham straight into the top corner of the net, and at last the deadlock was broken. The exhausted ten men saw out the remaining minutes to complete a memorable victory in a match that will be remembered for some time.

 

Team: Dewick, Sangster (Burr), Leslie, West, Johnson, Boad (Caseman), Price (Hallissey), Welling, Armstrong, Arthur, Pedder.