Broadbridge Heath reached the first round proper of the FA Vase for the first time in a game that had everything for the neutral spectator, but was an emotional roller coaster for those involved with both clubs.
Croydon Athletic arrived having gone top of the Southern Counties East League after defeating Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday and Heath were without the injured Rob Godfrey, Marlon Maxwell and Scott Weller and the unavailable Martyn Flack, Jamie Craven, Tim Martin and top scorer Devon Fender. However, the good news was the return, after injury, of Stuart Chester. Connor Evento took over in goal and Jack McNab partnered George Cousins up front.
The visitors set their stall out from the start, getting the ball forward early to their pacey wide men and centre forward, and putting Heath under pressure when they tried to get their passing game going. Heath just seemed to have weathered the storm when Oloyede got behind Kyle Sim and crossed for Green to smash the ball home to give Croydon the lead.
The lead only lasted 9 minutes as Shaun Findlay’s ball found Stuart Chester at the far post whose cross shot was handled and Tom Bold put the penalty away at the second attempt after Ameyew was penalised for being at least a yard off his line when saving Bold’s first effort. A couple of minutes later Heath appeared to have an even better shout for a penalty, with another handball, but their appeals were ignored by the referee. There was still time for Evento to brilliantly tip Green’s shot on to the bar and a couple of flare ups involving Croydon’s Tom Penson as the tension began to show.
The second half was slightly less frantic but still no quarter was being given by either side. Heath lost Danny Attwater to a groin injury and Chester moved across as Andre Eckana came on at right back and began to make dangerous raids down the right. Darren Helsdown replaced Jack McNab shortly after he had hit the post after good work from Findlay and Heath began to get on top. However Croydon were still dangerous on the break and Evento saved his side with a point blank block from Oloyede. Then Eckana scampered down the left, exchanged passes with Dan Sandell and was brought down by Penson when clear through. The defender received a second yellow card and Croydon were down to 10 men. Heath were unable to make the advantage tell and Croydon still posed a threat as the whistle went for 90 minutes signalling extra time.
Croydon were beginning to tire and with Helsdown’s non-stop chasing up front the pressure began to tell and from a Findlay free kick Sim thundered a header against the woodwork and Chester reacted quickest to put Heath into the lead. With a man advantage and the visitors tiring Heath looked good for the win. But Croydon would not lie down and following a Heath free kick goalkeeper Ameyew launched a huge kick which Luis Vieira Medina latched onto and lobbed the ball over Evento to draw the sides level.
The second half of extra time started with Medina again getting behind the Heath rearguard and the chasing Sim’s challenge ended with the Croydon man on the floor and the referee having no hesitation in sending Heaths 18 year old defender off. So we were now playing 10 v 10.
The last period of the game started with Heath on the attack and with 9 minutes remaining Helsdown’s battling won him the ball and he cleverly put in Cousins who raced clear of the defence and finished clinically. Croydon now had nothing to lose and threw everything at Heath but with Findlay now alongside Chester Evento’s goal was not seriously threatened and with Copestake replacing the exhausted Cousins, Heath were through to next round. A very tough game and a replay, which although would have meant several players coming back to availability, would have been every bit as hard fought, had been avoided.
Every Heath player had to step up to the mark in this game and this should auger well for the rest of the season. We now await the draw for the first round proper. How far can the Bears go?
Meanwhile it’s Littlehampton at home on Tuesday.