FA Vase First Qualifying Round
Risborough Rangers FC 1-7 Flackwell Heath FC

A repeat of last seasons FA Vase First Qualifying Round Fixture but this time it was Risborough’s turn to host.
Flackwell came into the game on a great run, winning all four of their opening games this season, with notable wins in the FA Cup, knocking two Step 4 sides out in the process.
Risborough have had a rockier start to their season but do come into this game having won their last two league games. In recent seasons Risborough have got the better of the Heathens but a much improved Flackwell came in to the game as slight favourites as both teams looked to get their name in the hat for the next round.

The game kicked off in stormy conditions and it didn’t take long for Flackwell to open the scoring, in the fifth minute Phil Pryor beat his man and sent a thunderous header inside the back post, his run timed to perfection to meet the cross from Kieran Jordan.
Despite the goal the game continued as it started with some exciting end to end football, but neither side able to create a real goal scoring opportunity.
As predicted the two teams fiercely battled for every ball and on 30 minutes that eagerness to make the tackle resulted in Marcus Mealing being bought down in the box, with nohesittion the Referee awarded Flackwell a penalty. Mealing who took a knock from the hefty challenge dusted himself off and cooly slotted home the spot, beating the keeper in the bottom left corner and doubling the Heathens lead going in to the break.

Half Time
Risborough Rangers 0 - 2 Flackwell Heath

The second half started as keenly contested as the first and it wasn’t long before Flackwell broke the Risborough back line. Jethro Odumosu providing one of his trademark runs speeding past the last man, the Heathens forward looked clear through on goal but the Risborough defender, who was undoubtedly the last man, sent the forward tumbling to the ground in desperation.
After some deliberation with the linesman the referee finally showed the inevitable red card to the Risborough defender and awarded a free kick on the edge of the 18 yard box. The dead ball was bent towards the top right hand corner by Mealing but a good hand from the busy Risborough keeper gave the visitors another corner on 51 minutes.
Matty Ayres duly hung the ball up in to the box where the charging Flackwell Heath skipper Jamie Essex evaded everyone and powered the header home making it 0-3 to Flackwell.
With the red card and third goal coming so soon after half time it all but snuffed out any chance of a Risborough comeback.
The home team didn’t give up though and on 54 minutes a promising attack was thwarted by Flackwell’s Jack Brooker coming well out of his box to try and stop the approaching forward who had broken free of there Heathend defence. A slightly wreckless challenge clipped the Risborough man and sent him sprawling. It looked like the Heathens stopper could be in trouble but again after some deliberation from the referee and linesman Brooker received a yellow card as the officials must have seen the covering defenders.
any worries about a miracle comeback were soon put to bed, Flackwell super sub Abdellah El Jalaoui came on to make it 0-4 with a composed finished after finding himself one on one with the keeper.

It was party time now for the Heathens and Matthew Ayres got in on the scoring making it 0-5 on 85 minutes with a lovely left footed shot that curled past the keeper into the top left corner.
In to injury time and Flackwell kept up their relentless pressure, the Heathens midfield trio of Mepham, Shakespeare and M.Ayres didn’t stop running all game and were key to this victory. In the fifth minute of injury time Callum Mapley took advantage of a loose ball on the edge of the opposing box to smash home a trademark power shot to make it 0-6.
The ten men of Risborough still never gave up and competed for everything, even in the 7th minute of injury time the Risborough forward closed down Flackwell’s Jack Brooker, who unnecessarily tried a Cruyff turn and was dispossessed by the forward who then slotted home into an empty net to give the home side a consolation goal.
Straight back up the other end with injury time seeming to go on forever, El Jalaoui applied some pressure of his own, after sending the Risborough backline sprawling he found himself in front of goal, his first shot cannoned off the post but he made no mistake in smashing home the rebound to earn himself a brace and make the score 1-7.

The whistle finally went with Flackwell turning out deserved winners, an outstanding team performance, delivering a worthy display for all the travelling away fans. An entertaining local derby and a great advert for local football, with the two sides set to meet another three times this year I’m sure their rivalry will continue to entertain.
With no time to sit back and enjoy the win Flackwell now set there sights on continuing their great run of form this Monday with a tricky league fixture at home to Hilltop FC before hosting Farnham Town FC in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round next Saturday.

Match Report: Mark Glynn