FA Vase Second Round
Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 177
With my partner unusually working today, I wanted to take advantage by taking in a football game, and although staying more local to watch a women's game was tempting, in the end I elected to drive to south London for an interesting looking FA Vase tie between two in-form teams, with a giantkilling a possibility for the home side.
Today would be my first visit to Foxbury Avenue since 2015, when I watched landlords Glebe against Eltham Palace - who were taken over by Stansfeld in 2016. Located just off the A20, visitors pass along a lane from the passing road into the complex, where there are a couple of car parks for visitors, and beyond which, the lane is acccessible to only players and officials, passing by some practice pitches up to the clubhouse, which is situated outside of the main ground. It's attractive from the outside, and well-appointed inside, with a decent bar area, hot food window, and other space to mingle. Presumably as a consequence of COVID times, additional covered area has been added along the front, and picnic tables have been placed on the grassy area to the front of the building. A short path leads from the clubhouse to the entrance turnstiles, where a decent 24 page programme was available for purchase, and pleasingly it sold out. On my previous visit, there was only one metallic all-seater stand between the entrance and the half way line. That has been augmented with additional cover for standing alongside it, more of a home-made affair, and a similar stand has been erected towards the corner flag behind the far end from the entrance. There has been plenty of signage added onto the perimeter fencing around the ground, as well as to the pitchside railing, and a large sign for landlord club Glebe is positoned behind the goal. Indeed, there is no mistaking that Glebe are the home club here, with the name and badge plastered everywhere inside, outside and around the ground, and good on them for giving the ground identity. Unfortunately, the only evidence of Stansfeld's presence at the ground is a solitary sign on the perimeter fence. There is quite a pronounced slope from end to end, and for an area located within Greater London, there is a surprisingly rural, green and peaceful feel and background to the ground.
Stansfeld have had a great start to their season in the Step 6 Southern Counties League Division One, topping the table by four points following eleven win and three draws from their opening 14 league games, and had won their last five games in all competitions. today was the second time in successive seasons that they reached the FA Vase Second Round. It would be a tall order to progress further than they ever had before, coming up against a Step 5 club, from the Combined Counties League Premier Division South, who are also doing very well this season. They were in second place, following ten wins and three draws from their 14 league games, and were unbeaten in their previous seven games in all competitions . To reach this round, Stansfeld had beaten fellow Step 6 outfits Bagshot at home, Worthing United away and Staplehurst & Monarchs at home. Badshot Lea were drawn away from home for each of thei previous four rounds, easing to a 0-10 win at Devizes Town, before overcoming Godalming Town on penalties and then beating Fisher 1-2.
On a bright but noticeably colder day than of late, the game had an explosive beginning, with the home side taking the lead within the first minute, when Rob Hughes struck a lovely half-volley just outside the area to send the ball whistling in off the underside of the bar. They came close to doubling their lead in the fifth minute when the ball was played towards the outer right corner of the penalty area into the path of Ollie Milton, and with the keeper rushing out to close him down, Milton saw his lob land into the outer side netting. But on 12 minutes, Stansfeld did open up a two goal lead when player-coach Joe Minter fired a free kick from a central position just outside the penalty area against the underside of the bar, and Ollie Milton reacted first to head the ball into an unguarded net from close range. The hosts were taking full advantage of kicking down the slope in the first half, but rather against the run of play, Badshot Lea pulled a goal back on 19 minutes, when a free kick from right on the line of the right hand side of the penalty area was played in, flicked on and Billy Upton bundled the ball home.
From this point onwards, the visitors dominated possession, patiently building up play from the back, bur rarely really threatened to grab an equaliser. On 63 minutes, it was the visitor's turn to see a free kick come back off the woodwork, but unfortunately for them, the ball bounced to safety. They also saw a goalbound shot cleared by a defender on 84 minutes, but in the end, Stansfeld on quite comfortably to seal their progress to the next round, where they will meet another Combined Counties League Premier Division South side in Frimley Green. A historic day for Stansfeld, progressing further than ever before in their short history, and a lucrative day for landlords Glebe, who saw their clubhouse packed and doing a roaring trade before, during and long after the game.
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