Vase despair for Vics with shoot out defeat
Sat 30th March 2019 | FA Challenge Vase | By Ian Templeman
Northwich Victoria's FA Vase journey ended in the most heartbreaking fashion possible, losing in a penalty shoot out to Chertsey Town in the Buildbase FA Vase semi-final.
After last week's 1-1 draw in the first leg at Wincham Park, neither side managed a goal in both 90 minutes of normal time and a further 30 minutes of extra time.
Therefore, the teams level on aggregate it had to be penalties that decided who made the trip to Wembley for the final on the 19th May, and Chertsey converted all five of their spot kicks to win the shoot out 5-3.
The first leg last Sunday suggested that there was little to choose between the two sides, and the second leg was no different, with neither side really deserving to lose.
It was, however, a tremendous game of football that was end to end, nervy, tense and fascinating in equal measure, with great saves, a good number of chances, and total commitment from both sets of players.
Sadly, though, there was also a sting in the tail and a dramatic finish that proved to be so tough to take for Vics and their travelling support.
Despite the disappointment, Vics manager Steve Wilkes praised his players afterwards.
"The lads have been fantastic over the two games", he said.
"We were out on our feet after 80 minutes, but the character of the lads got them back in it for the last ten minutes of normal time, we regrouped, and Danny Taberner has made a worldie save with a few minutes to go.
"We're obviously disappointed but I couldn't have asked any more of my players and my staff, but unfortunately we've just come up short. When you look in the paper tomorrow you'll see we lost on penalties.
"We had a tough call to make with the starting eleven. We left Harvey Whyte out who scored the goal last week, and that was a big decision, but Matthew Clarke came in for 120 minutes and they haven't scored, so it was justified.
"The players left everything and more on the pitch. I said to them in the dressing room I am proud to call myself Northwich Victoria's manager at this moment in time, even though it's hurting like hell.
"At the end of the game I think all my players were crying, supporters too, but at the end the supporters were saying 'thanks for giving us our football club back'.
"If that is what we have achieved this season, hopefully we can move on to bigger and better things next season.
"But we can't feel sorry for ourselves too long, we want to finish third in the league.
"We've got eleven league games left and a semi-final against 1874 a week on Thursday, and two games in three days now, Barnoldswick on Monday and Litherland REMYCA on Wednesday.
"We all had a chat in the changing room after the game, and said it's important that we all stick together as a team, and in the next few games we need to do all we can to finish as high in the league as possible".
Over the course of the game, Chertsey enjoyed the larger share of the possession, but the main reason that the game ended goalless after extra time was due largely to outstanding performances from both goalkeepers.
Vics' custodian Danny Taberner and his opposite number Nick Jupp in the Chertsey goal both had terrific games, with Jupp being hailed by his Chertsey team mates afterwards as their man of the match.
In front of a large crowd at the Alwyns Lane ground, the spectators saw a cagey opening 20 minutes from both sides, with the one chance created falling to Vics, Robert Doran being denied by Jupp in the Chertsey goal with a good save from a header off a Ryan Winder free-kick.
As the half wore on, Chertsey began to look more threatening and won a series of corners, but clear cut chances remained at a premium by the time the interval arrived.
Ten minutes after the break, Danny Taberner got down to gather a Dale Binns effort, and at the midway point there was more action around the Vics goal with a Sam Flegg header and a Michael Peacock both missing the target.
In the final 20 minutes, both goalkeepers stepped up to the mark to produce quality saves and keep the scoresheet blank.
Chertsey's Nick Jupp dealt comfortably with a Ryan Winder shot, but a few minutes later he produced a moment of real quality with a great reflex save from a Joel Brownhill shot.
As the game entered the closing minutes of the 90, at the other end Danny Taberner produced two saves in as many minutes to keep Vics in the tie, twice denying Chertsey's Lewis Driver.
The first save was a well struck effort by Driver after good lead up play from Binns and Guentchev which Taberner dealt with superbly, and a minute later Taberner again broke home hearts when he sprinted out to block an attempted lob.
Vics survived a huge shout for a Chertsey penalty after leading scorer Jake Baxter went down in the box, but the referee waved play on and the opening 90 minutes ended soon afterwards.
Chertsey had begun to turn the screw towards the end of normal time, and when extra time began they continued to pile on the pressure.
Seven minutes in, Chertsey heads were in hands when Jake Baxter, scorer of 31 goals this season, hit a shot that clipped the top of the crossbar from a Lubomir Guentchev pass with only Taberner to beat.
Five minutes later, Chertsey's Michael Peacock headed over from an Andy Crossley corner kick, but Vics finally responded with a chance of their own, with substitute Jordan Darr shooting straight at Chertsey keeper Jupp.
Two minutes after the restart Chertsey again passed up a great chance, with a well worked set piece playing Guentchev through, but his low cross across the face of goal evaded attackers and defenders alike.
But despite the play flowing from end to end, and players on both sides visibly tiring, neither side was able to make the vital breakthrough, and it had to be penalties that decided the winners.
Chertsey's Jake Baxter, Lubomir Guentchev, Dave Taylor, Andy Crossley and Sam Murphy all converted their spot kicks to clinch the Curfews' place in the final against Cray Valley PM on Sunday 19th May, leaving Vics to contemplate what might have been.
Vase despair for Vics with shoot out defeat
Sat 30th March 2019 | FA Challenge Vase
By Ian Templeman
Northwich Victoria's FA Vase journey ended in the most heartbreaking fashion possible, losing in a penalty shoot out to Chertsey Town in the Buildbase FA Vase semi-final.
After last week's 1-1 draw in the first leg at Wincham Park, neither side managed a goal in both 90 minutes of normal time and a further 30 minutes of extra time.
Therefore, the teams level on aggregate it had to be penalties that decided who made the trip to Wembley for the final on the 19th May, and Chertsey converted all five of their spot kicks to win the shoot out 5-3.
The first leg last Sunday suggested that there was little to choose between the two sides, and the second leg was no different, with neither side really deserving to lose.
It was, however, a tremendous game of football that was end to end, nervy, tense and fascinating in equal measure, with great saves, a good number of chances, and total commitment from both sets of players.
Sadly, though, there was also a sting in the tail and a dramatic finish that proved to be so tough to take for Vics and their travelling support.
Despite the disappointment, Vics manager Steve Wilkes praised his players afterwards.
"The lads have been fantastic over the two games", he said.
"We were out on our feet after 80 minutes, but the character of the lads got them back in it for the last ten minutes of normal time, we regrouped, and Danny Taberner has made a worldie save with a few minutes to go.
"We're obviously disappointed but I couldn't have asked any more of my players and my staff, but unfortunately we've just come up short. When you look in the paper tomorrow you'll see we lost on penalties.
"We had a tough call to make with the starting eleven. We left Harvey Whyte out who scored the goal last week, and that was a big decision, but Matthew Clarke came in for 120 minutes and they haven't scored, so it was justified.
"The players left everything and more on the pitch. I said to them in the dressing room I am proud to call myself Northwich Victoria's manager at this moment in time, even though it's hurting like hell.
"At the end of the game I think all my players were crying, supporters too, but at the end the supporters were saying 'thanks for giving us our football club back'.
"If that is what we have achieved this season, hopefully we can move on to bigger and better things next season.
"But we can't feel sorry for ourselves too long, we want to finish third in the league.
"We've got eleven league games left and a semi-final against 1874 a week on Thursday, and two games in three days now, Barnoldswick on Monday and Litherland REMYCA on Wednesday.
"We all had a chat in the changing room after the game, and said it's important that we all stick together as a team, and in the next few games we need to do all we can to finish as high in the league as possible".
Over the course of the game, Chertsey enjoyed the larger share of the possession, but the main reason that the game ended goalless after extra time was due largely to outstanding performances from both goalkeepers.
Vics' custodian Danny Taberner and his opposite number Nick Jupp in the Chertsey goal both had terrific games, with Jupp being hailed by his Chertsey team mates afterwards as their man of the match.
In front of a large crowd at the Alwyns Lane ground, the spectators saw a cagey opening 20 minutes from both sides, with the one chance created falling to Vics, Robert Doran being denied by Jupp in the Chertsey goal with a good save from a header off a Ryan Winder free-kick.
As the half wore on, Chertsey began to look more threatening and won a series of corners, but clear cut chances remained at a premium by the time the interval arrived.
Ten minutes after the break, Danny Taberner got down to gather a Dale Binns effort, and at the midway point there was more action around the Vics goal with a Sam Flegg header and a Michael Peacock both missing the target.
In the final 20 minutes, both goalkeepers stepped up to the mark to produce quality saves and keep the scoresheet blank.
Chertsey's Nick Jupp dealt comfortably with a Ryan Winder shot, but a few minutes later he produced a moment of real quality with a great reflex save from a Joel Brownhill shot.
As the game entered the closing minutes of the 90, at the other end Danny Taberner produced two saves in as many minutes to keep Vics in the tie, twice denying Chertsey's Lewis Driver.
The first save was a well struck effort by Driver after good lead up play from Binns and Guentchev which Taberner dealt with superbly, and a minute later Taberner again broke home hearts when he sprinted out to block an attempted lob.
Vics survived a huge shout for a Chertsey penalty after leading scorer Jake Baxter went down in the box, but the referee waved play on and the opening 90 minutes ended soon afterwards.
Chertsey had begun to turn the screw towards the end of normal time, and when extra time began they continued to pile on the pressure.
Seven minutes in, Chertsey heads were in hands when Jake Baxter, scorer of 31 goals this season, hit a shot that clipped the top of the crossbar from a Lubomir Guentchev pass with only Taberner to beat.
Five minutes later, Chertsey's Michael Peacock headed over from an Andy Crossley corner kick, but Vics finally responded with a chance of their own, with substitute Jordan Darr shooting straight at Chertsey keeper Jupp.
Two minutes after the restart Chertsey again passed up a great chance, with a well worked set piece playing Guentchev through, but his low cross across the face of goal evaded attackers and defenders alike.
But despite the play flowing from end to end, and players on both sides visibly tiring, neither side was able to make the vital breakthrough, and it had to be penalties that decided the winners.
Chertsey's Jake Baxter, Lubomir Guentchev, Dave Taylor, Andy Crossley and Sam Murphy all converted their spot kicks to clinch the Curfews' place in the final against Cray Valley PM on Sunday 19th May, leaving Vics to contemplate what might have been.
