FA VASE PREVIEW

This coming Saturday the season’s FA Vase Competition reaches the quarter final stage with Hamworthy United flying the Wessex League flag, just two matches away from Wembley.

Hamworthy’s opponents at the County Ground are Southall who presently occupy fourth place in the Combined Counties Premier Division North, a division that includes Tadley Calleva who were moved from the Wessex League in the close season restructuring. Southall play their home matches at the ground of fellow Combined Counties side Ashford Town (Middlesex).

The Club lost its ground in Southall in the early 1990’s and have had a number of ground shares in recent years though there is now talk of a new ground in the Southall area. As previously mentioned, they are currently in fourth place in the table with 47 points, some 25 points behind the runaway leaders, Hanworth Villa.

Both Hamworthy and Southall have played six matches to reach this stage of the Competition with Southall having had the good fortune to have played five of the six at home. In the second Qualifying Round they comfortably defeated HOUNSLOW CB UTD from their own League by five goals to one earning a First Round Proper tie with Southern Counties East (the old Kent League) side ERITH AND BELVEDERE, winning by three goals to nil.

Next up, from the same League and currently topping the table, were CHATHAM TOWN and after the sides had shared four goals in normal time Southall triumphed three one in the penalty shoot-out.

The Third Round Proper was their only away tie to date with a trip to GUILDFORD CITY who are in the Combined Counties Premier Division South and again penalties were needed to decide the outcome after neither side had managed a goal. This time Southall progressed by a four three margin.

The Draw for the Fourth Round Proper sent Western League CLEVEDON TOWN, based on the edge of the Bristol Channel, up to Surrey and yet again the penalty shoot out was the decider, Southall winning by five four after the match finished at one all.

Perhaps not surprisingly, given the previous Rounds, the Fifth Round tie was also decided on penalties after a goalless draw with STANSFIELD. Based in Chislehurst in Kent, Stansfield are in Division One of the South East Counties League and had done extremely well to reach that advanced stage of the Competition.

Hamworthy started their own Wembley trail with a trip to Wiltshire and Hellenic League Premier Division CORSHAM TOWN and after a Harvey Wright goal ensured a one all draw, the penalty shoot out ended in a four two victory. It was Western League opposition in the First Round Proper with an away tie at CADBURY HEATH in Bristol and again a one all draw, Lee Francis on target, before what was an undoubtedly nervous penalty shoot out ended six five in the visitors’ favour.

Another away draw, but closer to home, in the next Round with Wessex League Division One ANDOVER NEW STREET the hosts and a two one victory courtesy of goals from Lee Francis and Max Wilcock took them in to the Third Round Proper and the fourth away tie in a row.

This time the Destination was Royal Wootton Bassett, also from the Hellenic Premier League Premier Division, and a three one win in normal time with the goals coming from Eddie Hodge, Jack Lovell and Max Wilcock. Finally, they came out of the hat first with a home tie against GLEBE from Kent and the South East Combination League.

A hard-fought tie ended in a best of five goals victory with Jamie Beasley, Steve Devlin and Eddie Hodge the marksmen, the last two having come off the bench. Happily, they received another home draw in the Fifth Round and more South East Counties opponents in the shape of TUNBRIDGE WELLS who were in mid table – Glebe were in third place – and it was a three one victory for the Hammers with Bailey Rowe taking the honours with a hat trick.

Southall reached the Vase Final way back in 1985/86, losing to Halesowen and reached the quarter finals in 2016/17. This is unknown territory for Hamworthy having previously reached the Fourth Round in 2018/19 before losing to Willand.

No games are easy at this stage of the competition, but hopefully home advantage will give Hamworthy the edge - and the good wishes of the Wessex League go with them.