Fairford edge past Saracens on penalties to advance in the FA Vase
Cheltenham Saracens’ FA Vase run came to an end on Saturday afternoon when Fairford Town came from behind to eventually win the tie on penalties, writes Alfie Richmond.
With both sides advancing from the first round qualifying, the draw for this week’s FA Vase action didn’t disappoint; throwing up an enticing fixture between two strong sides looking to progress in the competition.
Hosts Cheltenham Saracens had won their last three games, putting them top of the Hellenic Division One table. However, Hellenic Prem opposition Fairford Town had won their last three away games prior to kick-off, making for a fascinating tie.
Just six minutes into the game, Saracens came close through Tom Hoskins. The ball dropped invitingly for the defender after a Josh Aldridge corner, but he couldn’t keep his effort under the bar.
Tom Chamberlain of Fairford did brilliantly on 28 minutes to deny Ryan Dobbins an effort on goal with a well-timed challenge. Both sides were yet to test either keeper.
Seven minutes remained of the first half when Chamberlain sent a free-kick just over the bar for the visitors – the closest they had come so far in a half that lacked any cutting edge.
But just three minutes before the break, the home side took the lead. Joe Richards brilliantly slid Essa Abbally through down the left, whose low-driven cross found Dobbins for a tap-in — a well worked goal by Saracens.
The away side began the second half brightly, in a bid to level the scoring. On 52 minutes, Chamberlain sent a ball forward that spun into the path of Dan Grieve, who was denied excellently by Harvey Need in the Sarries net.
On 70 minutes, Sarries new man Callum Dark missed a great chance to give the hosts a two-goal lead. The ball was worked well into Dark on the left, who opted for the right-footed attempt, which lofted over the bar.
Four minutes later, the visitors got their equaliser through their substitutes. Sol Pryce’s initial effort was blocked by Need, only for the ball to drop to Ollie Bradbury who prodded home to an empty net, making for an intriguing last 15.
Hoskins, who had been brilliant all afternoon, denied Alfie Presley a clear strike on goal in the 83rd minute, putting his body on the line once again.
Fairford were down to ten men with five minutes remaining, when the referee sin-binned Adam Corcoran following a controversial free-kick awarded to the hosts.
With the very last kick of the game, Presley was denied once again, this time by Sabally. After 90 minutes nothing could separate the sides, and the tie was to be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Fairford won the toss, and it was Presley to step up first. Need got a hand to it, but it wasn’t enough – but Ryan Dobbins stepped up to make it 1-1 on penalties.
Danny Way rattled the crossbar before Richards and Sol Pryce exchanged converted efforts to leave the shoot-out level at 2-2.
Connor Johns produced a crucial save to keep out Archie Alder, but opposite number Need denied Bradbury.
And after Essa Sabally skied his effort, Finn Hopkins put Fairford ahead with a calm effort.
Josh Aldridge took the shoot-out to sudden death, with Harrison Edwards, Callum Dark and Ollie Case all scoring.
Connor Stalley had to score and did! With former Sarries man, Luke Hitchman making it 6-5 to Fairford on penalties.
Austin Parker stepped up needing to score, but dragged his effort wide to see Jamie Reid and Sam Collier’s side through to the next round.
With the first round proper taking place on October 18th, Fairford await to find out their opponents.
In the meantime, another cup tie lies ahead on Tuesday night when they host Bishops Cleeve in the GFA-Senior Challenge Cup, whilst Saracens are also back in cup action next Tuesday, hosting Alcester Town in the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup, after taking a trip to Bewdley Town next weekend.
Cheltenham Saracens: Need; Stalley, Sabally, Parker ©, Hoskins, Callinan, James, Aldridge, Dobbins, J.Chamberlain, Richards.
Subs: Comerford, Alder (81’), Dark (62’), Marszalek, Barnes-Wills (73’).
Fairford Town: Johns; Birkett, Case, Hitchman ©, Corcoran, Hall, Grieve, Presley, Shumba, T. Chamberlain, Odiero.
Subs: Way (59’), Pryce (59’), Hopkins (68’), Bradbury (68’), Edwards (68’)
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Tom Hoskins (Cheltenham Saracens)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s results in and around Gloucestershire right here
