The Buildbase FA Vase Quarter Finals are almost upon us as both Bracknell Town and Windsor get ready for their first ever Vase Quarter Finals having never reached this stage before.
In fairness, both Bracknell and the then known as Windsor & Eton FC spent many years at step four so would have played in the FA Trophy instead but its certainly an exciting time for fans of both clubs.
The Robins were exempt until the First Round Proper by virtue of their league placing last year but Windsor entered at the First Round Qualifying having come through every possible round to get this far. You can see how much both sides could win here.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at how both sides reached the Quarter Finals as we review the story of the FA Vase so far.
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First Round Qualifying
- Bracknell Town BYE
- Windsor 2-1 Devizes Town
After a scoreless first half, Barry Hayles opened the scoring before Nadir Shafi added a second goal with about twnety minutes left to play. Devizes pulled a goal back almost immediately but Windsor held on to win through.
Second Round Qualifying
- Bracknell Town BYE
- Windsor 8-0 Whitchurch United
A thumping victory for Windsor with braces for Andrew Ingram, Nadir Shafi and Ricardo Cannon. Kieron Knight and Jack Denton also on the score-sheet.
First Round Proper
- Bracknell Town 6-2 Buckingham Athletic
- Flackwell Heath 2-5 Windsor
Despite the scoreline this was not as comfortable for the Robins as it seemed. Adam Cornell fired home a hat-trick alongside Carl Garstang’s brilliant overhead kick and goals from Liam Ferdinand and TJ Bohane on his return to the club.
Robbie Carter had equalised after Cornell’s opener from the penalty spot and he also made it two each as Bracknell started nervously although they finished strongly.
Dean Allen put the home side ahead early but first half goals from Windsor’s Kieron Knight, Luke Brooks-Smith and Ashley Smith saw the visitors ahead at the interval. Ricardo Cannon extended the lead and although Tom Willment reduced arrears to two goals, Jack Denton made sure of the victory with a fifth goal.
Second Round Proper
- Bracknell Town 8-0 Cricklewood Wanderers
- Erith Town 1-2 Windsor
Braces apiece for Khalid Senussi and TJ Bohane were added to by Carl Davies, Adam Cornell, Jamie McClurg and Jon Bennett as Bracknell cast aside the step seven side.
Two Barry Hayles assists helped Windsor win through. Firstly Hayles deflection was scored by Nadir Shafi and although Dan Palfrey equalised soon afterwards, Hayles chested a right wing cross down to Jack Denton who volleyed in the winner.
Third Round Proper
- Lordswood 0-1 Bracknell Town
- Walton & Hersham 1-2 Windsor
An early Joe Grant goal was enough for Bracknell to progress but Lordswood battled throughout and very nearly grabbed a late leveller.
It looked as though Windsor might exit the competition when Malachi Thomas opened the scoring in the 72ns minute but Mick Woodham’s side fought back with Bradley Pearce levelling three minutes before the end and Pearce sparked wild scenes as he notched the winning goal two minutes into stoppage time.
Fourth Round Proper
- Blackfield & Langley 3-3 Bracknell Town AET (tie was level at 2-2 after 90 minutes)
- Eastbourne Town 1-3 Windsor
Bracknell trailed three times in this match but Seb Bowerman and then Jamie McClurg with a great goal ensured extra time would follow. Yet again the Robins went behind but TJ Bohane struck to send the match back to a replay at Larges Lane.
Not for the first time, Windsor found themselves trailing as Evan Archibald put the hosts ahead in front of a crowd of nearly 600. Kieran Knight’s penalty and Nadir Shafi turned it around for the visitors with substitute Matt Stockhill ensuring the victory seven minute into time added on.
Fourth Round Proper Replay
- Bracknell Town 2-1 Blackfield & Langley
Two first half goals sent the Robins on their way. Firstly, Seb Bowerman crossed for TJ Bohane to score before Bowerman fired home a penalty after Jamie McClurg had been bundled over in the area.
The visitors pulled one back late on also from the penalty spot but Jeff Lamb and Paul McGrotty’s side held on.
Fifth Round Proper
- Coleshill Town 2-4 Bracknell Town AET (tie was level at 1-1 after 90 minutes)
- Windsor 2-0 Hamble
Seb Bowerman opened the scoring after five minutes but Bracknell only held a solitary goal lead going into the break despite a hatful of chances. The hosts levelled shortly after the restart before substitute Adam Cornell’s perfectly good goal was wrongly ruled out for offside as the tie headed into extra time.
Cornell and Joe Grant gave the visitors a cushion but Coleshill pulled a goal back with a minute remaining only for Jon Bennett to break free before being hauled down and Bowerman made no mistake from the spot.
Aside from beating Whitchurch 8-0 this was probably Windsor’s most comfortable victory so far with a goal in each half ensuring progression into the Quarter Finals. Jack Denton’s cross was smartly turned home by Ricardo Cannon on the turn before man of the match Denton struck a wonderful solo goal.
Bracknell Town Buildbase FA Vase Scorers
- TJ Bohane – 5
- Adam Cornell – 5
- Seb Bowerman – 4
- Joe Grant – 2
- Jamie McClurg – 2
- Khalid Senussi – 2
- Jon Bennett – 1
- Carl Davies – 1
- Carl Garstang – 1
- Liam Ferdinand – 1
Windsor Buildbase FA Vase Scorers
- Nadir Shafi – 5
- Ricardo Cannon – 4
- Jack Denton – 4
- Kieran Knight – 3
- Andrew Ingram – 2
- Bradley Pearce – 2
- Luke Brooks-Smith – 1
- Barry Hayles – 1
- Ashley Smith – 1
- Matty Stockill – 1
Main image: Seb Bowerman celebrates against Coleshill Town by Neil Graham.
