Southall 2-5 Cleethorpes Town

By Matt Jones

Cleethorpes Town incredible run in this season's Buildbase FA Vase continued as the Owls booked their place in the semi finals with a 5-2 win against Southall in London.

The match began slowly as the teams sussed each other out with both sides obviously realising the importance of the tie as a place in the Wembley final looms ever nearer. The first real chance of the game fell to the home side after 17 minutes as Cleethorpes goalkeeper Liam Higton dived to his left to save Jack Bennett's well hit shot.

Cleethorpes took the lead after 21 minutes after a quick break from a Southall corner, Brody Robertson used his pace to advance down the right hand side before crossing low to Liam Davis who fired home from close range. The Owls increased their advantage just 3 minutes later as Robertson broke quickly again, this time down the left before squaring the ball to Jon Oglesby who doubled the lead with a neat finish.

The visitors threatened again as Marc Cooper crossed the ball low across the goal with the outstretched Robertson just failing to connect.

A chance for Southall striker Liam Hind was well blocked by Matt Bloomer before the Owls scored again 3 minutes before half time as Oglesby pounced on a defensive lapse and then a fumble by Southall goalkeeper Michael Power-Simpson to shoot into the empty net.

Hind had a couple of early chances for Southall at the start of the second half, the closest being a shot from 18 yards that flew wide before the tie was effectively over after 49 minutes as Cleethorpes scored again. Alex Flett's precision 35 yard pass found Oglesby who skilfully beat defender Danny Bennell before crossing for Robertson to find the net.

To their credit, Southall never gave up and pulled a goal back almost immediately as Hind found himself free inside the penalty area before finishing past Higton.

Cooper's powerful shot for Clee was deflected for a corner before Southall hit back as striker Rowan Vine headed wide from close range.

Higton produced a great fingertip save moments later to push away Vine's shot with Bennett hitting the rebound into the side netting.

The visitors restored their 4 goal lead with 77 minutes played as Davis took advantage of a mistake by goalkeeper Power-Simpson With the setting sun in his eyes the stopper made a complete hash of Lowe's cross, spilling the ball which allowed Davis to curl the ball home from an acute angle.

The scoring was completed with 8 minutes remaining as Southall reduced the arrears again as Vine hit a bending 18 yard shot past Higton and into the corner.

The home side pressed in the remaining time but came up against a resolute Clee defence that held firm, allowing the Owls to make it to the last 4 for the first time in the clubs history.

While attention will obviously be on Monday's draw for the two legged semi final the team will now have to focus on Saturday's huge match in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division when the league leading Owls will welcome second placed Pickering Town to Bradley. Kick off will be at 3pm,