What an afternoon it was for Biggleswade FC today as they made it through to the Quarter-Finals of the Buildbase FA Vase with a 1-0 victory over Stowmarket Town. The visitors were backed by a huge following who had made the journey down from Suffolk - the crowd was announced as 527 and I would estimate around 250 to 300 for backing The Old Gold and Blacks.
It was a really tight game which could of gone either way but I think one of the turning points was in the 64th minute when Stowmarket centre-forward Ollie Canfer who had held the ball up and linked up play well was substituted as he had picked up a knock - this allowed Biggleswade FC had a little more possession in the crucial midfield area
Shortly after that it was former Leiston midfielder Leon Ottley-Gooch who could of opened the scoring when his close range header was expertly tipped away by FC keeper Dan Childs.
The talking point of the first half had come in the 39th minute when Child's had come out to challenge for the ball and at first glance appeared to handle outside the box and then come together with Canfer. With many of the visiting fans calling for a handball outside the box and the denying of a goal scoring opportunity the referee booked Childs.
The video has provoked lots of debate on twitter and we can now see there was no handball.....I think! Childs did catch the Canfer with an arm afterwards so perhaps this was what the booking was for. One thing is for certain the referee had one look at that in real time so it's a great example of what a tough job they have - I've looked at it over 20 times and still can't decide for sure!
On 87 minutes it was FC's Pat McCafferty who broke the hearts of the travelling fans and sent the home fans ecstatic. He placed a header into the net at the far post following a free kick from the right hand side to send his side into the quarter-finals.
FC could of had another goal on the break with two chances as Stowmarket piled forward looking for an equaliser.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Congratulations to everyone involved with Biggleswade FC - The club are doing the Spartan South Midlands League very proud - Could they make it all the way to Wembley?
The fans, players and management of Stowmarket Town will be gutted their Wembley dream is over but for a club who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Isthmian League last season the future looks very bright indeed. I expect to see them playing at Step Four of the non-league ladder very soon and being in third place in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division they could go up this season.
There were some really good performances from each side today. I thought Sam Nunn in central defence for Stowmarket Town was immense - He has played many games at Step three and four for Lowestoft Town, Needham Market and Bury Town. Likewise young Spanish defender Benat Pena was outstanding for the home side - He played for Bedford FC in the SSMFL Division One prior to his move to Biggleswade FC.
The Quarter-Final draw is due to be made tomorrow at 12.15pm and will be broadcast live on TalkSport2.
Biggleswade's next game is at home to Oxhey Jets in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division next Saturday. Stowmarket Town are back in Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division action in all important home game against Wroxham who are currently in seventh place in the table.
BUILDBASE FA VASE FOURTH ROUND RESULTS
SATURDAY
Godmanchester Rovers 1-0 Sporting Khalsa (252)
Irlam 4-0 Cadbury Athletic (320)
Hebburn Town 2-1 Shepshed Dynamo (795)
Newcastle Benfield 2-3 Northwich Victoria (360)
Sunderland RCA 0-1 West Auckland Town (264)
Coventry United 3-2 Leicester Nirvana(159)
Deeping Rangers 4-0 Eastwood Community (432)
Histon 2-1 Lye Town (276)
Willand Rovers 1-0 Hamworthy United (234)
AFC Uckfield Town 1-4 Windsor (138)
Cribbs 0-2 Sholing (155)
Bearsted 1-2 Abbey Rangers (250)
Chertsey Town 5-0 AFC St Austell (501)
Cray Valley (PM) 3-1 Baffins Milton Rovers (139)
Sunday
Biggleswade FC 1 Stowmarket Town 0 (527)
Canterbury City 3 Newport Pagnell Town (259)
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