FA VASE 2011/12 - UPDATE

TEAMS LEFT IN THE COMPETITION 
STEP FIVE 
ASHINGTON              - 9th in STL NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE 
BETHNAL GREEN UNITED   - 8th in ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE 
BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA   - 13th in STL NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE 
BINFIELD               - 5th in UHLSPORT HELLENIC PREMIER DIVISION
BITTON                 - 3rd in TOOLSTATION WESTERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
BOURNEMOUTH FC         - 10th in SYDENHAMS WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION 
DUNSTON UTS            - 3rd in STL NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE 
ENFIELD 1893           - 1st in ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE 
GRESLEY                - 4th in BAKER JOINER MIDLANDS ALLIANCE 
HANWORTH VILLA*        - 6th in CHERRY RED COMBINED COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION
HERNE BAY*             - 1st in KENT HURLIMANN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
ILFRACOMBE TOWN*       - 13th in TOOLSTATION WESTERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
LARKHALL ATHLETIC*     - 2nd in TOOLSTATION WESTERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN   - 6th in CHROMASPORTS UNITED COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION
NEWCASTLE BENFIELD     - 10th in STL NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE 
PETERBOROUGH NS        - 3rd in CHROMASPORTS UNITED COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION
ROYSTON TOWN           - 1st in SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE 
READING TOWN           - 8th in UHLSPORT HELLENIC PREMIER DIVISION
RUNCORN TOWN           - 4th in NORTH WEST COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION
SHORTWOOD UNITED       - 4th in UHLSPORT HELLENIC PREMIER DIVISION
SOUTHEND MANOR*        - 4th in ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE 
SOUTH PARK             - 7th in CHERRY RED COMBINED COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION
STAVELEY MW            - 7th in BARIS NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST PREMIER DIVISION
ST IVES TOWN           - 7th in CHROMASPORTS UNITED COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION 
THREE BRIDGES*         - 6th in SUSSEX COUNTY LEAGUE 
TIPTON TOWN*           - 15th in BAKER JOINER MIDLAND ALLIANCE
TIVIDALE*              - 8th in BAKER JOINER MIDLAND ALLIANCE 
TUNBRIDGE WELLS*       - 5th in KENT HURLIMANN PREMIER DIVISION
VCD ATHLETIC*          - 4th in KENT HURLIMANN PREMIER DIVISION 
WEST AUCKLAND TOWN     - 2nd in STL NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE 
WHITLEY BAY            - 5th in STL NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
WILLAND ROVERS         - 1st in TOOLSTATION WESTERN PREMIER DIVISION  
WISBECH TOWN           - 5th in RIDGEONS EASTERN COUNTIES LEAGUE 
 

STEP SIX 
AMPTHILL TOWN          - 2nd in SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS DIVISION ONE 
BROCTON*               - 10th in ATHIUM MIDLAND COMBINATION PREMIER DIVISION
HOLBROOK SPORTS*       - 10th in EAST MIDLANDS COUNTIES LEAGUE 
NORTON UNITED*         - 4th in NORTH WEST COUNTIES DIVISION ONE
OADBY TOWN*            - 5th in EAST MIDLANDS COUNTIES LEAGUE 
OLD WOODSTOCK TOWN    - 2nd in UHLSPORT HELLENIC DIVISION ONE (WEST)

* denotes clubs facing third round replays 

The Third Round of the FA Vase with Carlsberg took place yesterday with Spartan South Midlands League Division One side Ampthill Town taking the plaudits as one of only two guaranteed step six sides through to the next round. The Bedfordshire side went to the Sussex coast to face Lancing of the Sussex County League Division One (Step 5) and came away with an impressive 1-3 win.It certainly has been a great season so far for manager Craig Bicknell who joined the club in the summer from 2010/11 SSML Division Two champion's Padbury United. All four sides the club have defeated so far in the Vase have been from Step five.

Step six will also be represented by either Holdbrook Sports or Norton United who replay this midweek after a 1-1 draw and Old Woodstock Town who beat local rival's Wantage Town this Sunday afternoon by a scoreline of 1-0 . Brocton and Oadby Town could also make it but they have replays against Step five sides.

AMPTHILL TOWN'S FA VASE RUN 2011/12 

2nd Qualifying Round   - Barkingside                       D 1-1  75
2nd Qualifying Round R - BARKINGSIDE                       W 1-0  62
First Round            - Basildon United                   W 4-0  43
Second Round           - HARINGEY AND WALTHAM DEVELOPMENT  W 3-2 120
Third Round            - Lancing                           W 3-1 140
Fourth Round           - ???

The STL Northern League is well represented once again with five teams through including Whitley Bay who are bidding to lift the Vase for the fourth consecutive year. They are joined by Billingham Synthonia, Dunston UTS, Newcastle Benfield and West Auckland Town who are all definetaly through to the Fourth Round.

Despite the local rivalry and history of the two Enfield clubs which has been well written about elsewhere, the cold end is big enough to say congratulations to Enfield 1893 FC on their win at Long Buckby. The Buck's have won all fifteen of their league games so far this season and have been unbeaten at home in their last 19 league and cup games. Prior to yesterday their last defeat at their home Station Road ground came way back on Saturday 15th January 2011 when Boston Town won a league game 1-2. They are joined by fellow Essex Senior League side Bethnal Green United and possibly Southend Manor who face a tough trip to Sussex County League side Three Bridges after their 0-0 draw yesterday.

Royston Town are the only other side left representing the Spartan South Midlands League after their 1-2 win at Haringey Borough.

Only Wisbech Town are left flying the flag for the Eastern Counties League which is different from previous years for a league that has been traditionally strong in the Vase.

The draw for the Fourth Round takes place tomorrow. Check out the FA website here for more details.