FA VASE - THE LONG ROAD TO WEMBLEY BEGINS

The 2011/12 FA Carlsberg Vase got underway this weekend with a hose of local sides in First Qualifying Round action. Here are the results featuring Essex Senior and Spartan South Midlands sides -

SATURDAY 
Barking             2 Crawley Green                    0   50 
Basildon United     1 Wootton Blue Cross               1   43
Berkhamsted         1 Stotfold                         0  113 
Bowers and Pitsea   4 Hertford Town                    3*  73   
Broxbourne Borough  2 Burnham Ramblers                 3*  81 
Cranfield United    2 Haringey and Waltham Development 6   73 
Hatfield Town       2 Sporting Bengal United           3   28 
Hillingdon Borough  7 AFC Wallingford                  0   31 
Hoddesdon Town      6 Kentish Town                     0   62
Holmer Green        4 Newbury                          5*  42 
Hullbridge Sports   2 Colney Heath                     1   21 
Kidlington          3 Buckingham Athletic              1   53 
London Colney       0 Codicote                         2   65 
Reading Town        1 Harefield United                 0   55
Sawbridgeworth Town 5 Wodson Park                      4   45
St Margaretsbury    1 Langford                         0   52 
Takeley             2 Cockfosters                      0   81 
Welwyn GC           1 Bedford                          2   30 
Winslow United      2 Holyport                         1   73 
* denotes after extra time

SUNDAY 
Canning Town        1 Eton Manor                       1*   
London Lions        1 London APSA                      2
* denotes after extra time   

It was a disappointing Saturday afternoon for the Spartan South Midlands League (SSMFL) with only Winslow United, Bedford, St Margaretsbury, Hoddesdon Town and Hillingdon Borough making it through to the next round. Bedford, St Mags and Hoddy all defeated fellow SSMFL teams.

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE 9 SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE 0

It was contrasting fortunes for the Essex Senior League sides as Barking, Bowers and Pitsea, Burnham Ramblers, Haringey and Waltham, Sporting Bengal United, Hullbridge Sports, Sawbridgeworth Town and Takeley all won with only Basildon United drawing at home to Wootton Blue Cross. The Bees facing a midweek replay in Bedfordshire after the 1-1 scoreline at Gardiners Close.

The magic of the FA Cup didn't continue into the Vase for Stotfold as they went down 1-0 at Berkhamsted.

Codicote, this season's only representatives from the Hertfordshire Senior County League, recorded a good 0-2 at London Colney to earn a home game with SSMFL side Biggleswade United in the Second Qualfying Round.

This afternoon was the same story as the Essex Senior League overcame SSMFL at Goffs Lane when London APSA beat London Lions 1-2. The other match this afternoon saw the only team from the Essex Olympian League in Canning Town gain a creditable draw against ESL side Eton Manor. The match played at Aveley FC's ground ended 1-1 after extra time.

The Second Qualifying Round matches are due to take place on the weekend of the 23rd/24th and 25th September.