Cockfosters 4 - 0 Hadley Wood & Wingate

By Andy Gerlis

Hadley Wood and Wingate were unceremoniously dumped out of the FA Vase in the Second Qualifying Round, losing 4-0 away to a strong Cockfosters FC side.

Ioannis Varouxakis’ hat trick put the game out of sight before Gary Simmonds volleyed home the final nail in the coffin.

The Blues fought well against a strong side, but were ultimately restricted to speculative chances and never managed to get a foothold in the game.

The draw for the First Round Proper will be completed on Monday 26th September.

Hadley Wood and Wingate came into this game off the back off a disappointing run of results that has left them winless since the first weekend of September, conceding 13 goals and scoring 2 over their last four games.

It’s always tough to take on higher league opposition and a strong start from the Blues was vital if they were to take anything away from the game.

But Cypriot international Varouxakis handed the hosts the lead just seven minutes in, latching on to a through ball and slotting home under Weinrabe.

Christian Artimadis, fresh from scoring 2 goals in Wingate and Finchley Under 18s FA Youth Cup victory over Buckingham Athletic midweek, came closest to scoring for the Blues but saw his header hacked clear off the line with goalkeeper Tautis Poniskatis well beaten.

The clearance sailed out of the box and straight to the feet of Varouxakis, once again clean through on goal, with the strike rounding Weinrabe and slotting the ball into an empty net to double Cockfosters’ lead.

The second half began to turn in to the Weinrabe v Varouxakis show with the goalkeeper doing everything in his power to deny the striker his hat trick.

Twice Wingate’s number one was forced to come off his line to deny the Cypriot - once with his legs and once with his hands – but it was to prove to be in vain.

Unmarked inside the six yard box, Varouxakis rose to meet a header and placed the ball past an outstretched Weinrabe to take home the match ball.

But Cockfosters weren’t finished. Hadley Wood’s attempt at clearing an 83rd minute corner dropped perfectly for Gary Simmonds to volley into the bottom corner to ensure there was no way back for Frankie Webb’s men.

Jake Mead saw a late header held well by Ponsikatis but, in truth, the damage was already done.

A spirited performance from the Blues but one they will want to forget in a hurry before facing Hillingdon Borough on Saturday 1st October.

Hadley Wood and Wingate:

Weinrabe (GK), Walton-Owen, Agyei Danquah, Hadjithemistou, Marriott (Mandeville, 76), Cazaubon (Mead, 45), Dujon, Artimadis (Guppy, 53’), Dawkins, Bartram, Kyprianou

Unused Subs: Kouroushi, Lyttle

Booked: Mead