Buildbase FA Vase Quarter Final - Northwich Victoria 3 Sholing 1 (after extra time)
Sat 23rd February 2019 | FA Challenge Vase | By Ian Templeman
Two goals in extra time from Ryan Winder and Daryhill Mason sealed Northwich Victoria's place in the last four of the Buildbase FA Vase.
In an edgy and close fought encounter, the afternoon began badly for Vics when Sholing, runaway league leaders in the Sydenhams Wessex League, took the lead in the 27th minute with a fine finish from striker Lee Wort.
But Wort was also involved in another pivotal moment in the game two minutes before half time, when he was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Vics's skipper Brad Cooke.
Within a minute of the game restarting, Cooke got on the end of a Ryan Winder cross to send a glancing header into the net and pull Vics level at the break.
With no further scoring in the second 45 minutes, the game moved into extra time, with the ten men of Sholing always looking a threat.
But deep into the second half of extra time, the goals from Winder and Mason turned the tie in favour of the home side.
Vics captain Brad Cooke summed up the mood in the camp afterwards.
"It's unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable", he said.
"It was a tough game, they are a top side and everyone wrote us off again, but we have done it. We just had to dig in.
"We've got a great set of lads here, and now we just have to go again".
Manager Steve Wilkes admitted that for a time, he felt the afternoon would not end well for his side.
"I thought we had blown it. I said that to my staff at the start of the second half of extra time", said Steve.
"Credit to the players, as I didn't think we played all that well.
"We've got injuries, so we patched them up today, and we've gone to toe to toe with a very good Sholing side who won (the Vase) four years ago.
"When they went down to ten men I think we thought that we had won it, but they are a good side, they have gone 23 or 24 games in the league unbeaten.
"We knew we were fitter than them, but we were giving the ball away, and kept playing wrong passes, and I was just hoping that one chance would fall to somebody.
"They played better in the second half than we did, they made us work hard, but when you look in the paper tomorrow it will say Northwich Vics 3 Sholing 1 and that is all that matters.
"I am so pleased for the players and for the fans as well, and the journey isn't over yet.
"We've got two more tough games to come, and we're just looking forward to the draw on Monday now".
It was a game that took a while to ignite, as a cagey opening 25 minutes saw both sides size one another up without creating much near either goal.
The first clear cut chance led to the opening goal in the 27th minute, when a long clearance from Sholing keeper Ryan Gosney caught out the Vics defence, and Lee Wort seized on the loose ball, advanced in on goal and beat Danny Taberner with a low shot to put the visitors ahead.
But Vics were given a lifeline just before half time, with skipper Brad Cooke at the heart of the action.
Cooke was on the receiving end of a late tackle by Sholing goalscorer Wort, who was shown a straight red card for the challenge, and within a minute after recovering, Cooke levelled for Vics when he got on the end of a long ball into the box by Ryan Winder and glanced a header into the far corner of the net.
With Vics having a man advantage, it might have been expected that they would take the attacking initiative in the second half, but as it transpired it was Sholing who created the best of the chances.
The impressive Dan Mason, scorer of 49 goals this season, always carried a threat and led the line well, and was well supported by Alex Sawyer and Jake Hoole who both tested Vics keeper Danny Taberner.
But once extra time began, there was always a chance that Vics one-man advantage would be crucial, and they finally made the breakthrough with just eight minutes remaining, thanks to a fine solo effort from Ryan Winder.
The Vics man went on surging run down the left wing that took him into the box, and fired in a shot that took a deflection on its way into the net.
A minute later Daryhll Mason almost increased the lead with a wickedly curling shot that beat the keeper and rebounded off the inside of the post, but the Vics man was not to be denied, as he added a third goal four minutes from time.
Substitute Jordan Darr was the creator, with his run to the bye line and cut back finding Mason in space, and his well struck shot hit the back of the net to round off a memorable afternoon for everyone in the home camp.
Buildbase FA Vase Quarter Final - Northwich Victoria 3 Sholing 1 (after extra time)
Sat 23rd February 2019 | FA Challenge Vase
By Ian Templeman
Two goals in extra time from Ryan Winder and Daryhill Mason sealed Northwich Victoria's place in the last four of the Buildbase FA Vase.
In an edgy and close fought encounter, the afternoon began badly for Vics when Sholing, runaway league leaders in the Sydenhams Wessex League, took the lead in the 27th minute with a fine finish from striker Lee Wort.
But Wort was also involved in another pivotal moment in the game two minutes before half time, when he was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Vics's skipper Brad Cooke.
Within a minute of the game restarting, Cooke got on the end of a Ryan Winder cross to send a glancing header into the net and pull Vics level at the break.
With no further scoring in the second 45 minutes, the game moved into extra time, with the ten men of Sholing always looking a threat.
But deep into the second half of extra time, the goals from Winder and Mason turned the tie in favour of the home side.
Vics captain Brad Cooke summed up the mood in the camp afterwards.
"It's unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable", he said.
"It was a tough game, they are a top side and everyone wrote us off again, but we have done it. We just had to dig in.
"We've got a great set of lads here, and now we just have to go again".
Manager Steve Wilkes admitted that for a time, he felt the afternoon would not end well for his side.
"I thought we had blown it. I said that to my staff at the start of the second half of extra time", said Steve.
"Credit to the players, as I didn't think we played all that well.
"We've got injuries, so we patched them up today, and we've gone to toe to toe with a very good Sholing side who won (the Vase) four years ago.
"When they went down to ten men I think we thought that we had won it, but they are a good side, they have gone 23 or 24 games in the league unbeaten.
"We knew we were fitter than them, but we were giving the ball away, and kept playing wrong passes, and I was just hoping that one chance would fall to somebody.
"They played better in the second half than we did, they made us work hard, but when you look in the paper tomorrow it will say Northwich Vics 3 Sholing 1 and that is all that matters.
"I am so pleased for the players and for the fans as well, and the journey isn't over yet.
"We've got two more tough games to come, and we're just looking forward to the draw on Monday now".
It was a game that took a while to ignite, as a cagey opening 25 minutes saw both sides size one another up without creating much near either goal.
The first clear cut chance led to the opening goal in the 27th minute, when a long clearance from Sholing keeper Ryan Gosney caught out the Vics defence, and Lee Wort seized on the loose ball, advanced in on goal and beat Danny Taberner with a low shot to put the visitors ahead.
But Vics were given a lifeline just before half time, with skipper Brad Cooke at the heart of the action.
Cooke was on the receiving end of a late tackle by Sholing goalscorer Wort, who was shown a straight red card for the challenge, and within a minute after recovering, Cooke levelled for Vics when he got on the end of a long ball into the box by Ryan Winder and glanced a header into the far corner of the net.
With Vics having a man advantage, it might have been expected that they would take the attacking initiative in the second half, but as it transpired it was Sholing who created the best of the chances.
The impressive Dan Mason, scorer of 49 goals this season, always carried a threat and led the line well, and was well supported by Alex Sawyer and Jake Hoole who both tested Vics keeper Danny Taberner.
But once extra time began, there was always a chance that Vics one-man advantage would be crucial, and they finally made the breakthrough with just eight minutes remaining, thanks to a fine solo effort from Ryan Winder.
The Vics man went on surging run down the left wing that took him into the box, and fired in a shot that took a deflection on its way into the net.
A minute later Daryhll Mason almost increased the lead with a wickedly curling shot that beat the keeper and rebounded off the inside of the post, but the Vics man was not to be denied, as he added a third goal four minutes from time.
Substitute Jordan Darr was the creator, with his run to the bye line and cut back finding Mason in space, and his well struck shot hit the back of the net to round off a memorable afternoon for everyone in the home camp.
