North Greenford comfortably won this Buildbase FA Vase First Qualifying Round Replay against Spartan South Midlands Premier League side Stotfold by four goals to nil following a dominant second half display in which United made the most of their one man advantage after Eagles defender Kamal Romain had been sent off for a last man challenge on Blues striker Anthony O’Connor.

Greenford took the lead at the end of an engaging opening fifteen minutes when a well-worked move out on the left involving Sandro Costa and Glenn Yala, saw Yala deliver a pinpoint cross into the box. The ball was met by United captain Danny Vincent who produced a neat header that beat Stotfold keeper Harry Pilsworth at his near post.

Two minutes later Yala came close to adding a second for the Blues with a fierce drive that narrowly missed the target. The remainder of the period, however, was fairly evenly matched with Stotfold coming agonisingly close to grabbing an equaliser on thirty-two minutes when their forwards were unable to get on the end of a ball driven invitingly across the home six-yard box.

There was a similar lively start to the second half with chances being created at both ends. On fifty minutes Anthony O’Connor met an excellent Costa delivery but was unable to direct his header towards the goal.

Two minutes later the Blues number 9 was fouled by Romain with referee Peter Stillwell having no hesitation in showing the Stotfold centre-back a straight red card.

On 57 minutes Costa ended an excellent run with a slide-rule through pass to O’Connor who kept his composure to round Pilsworth and stroke the ball into the back of the empty Eagles net.

O’Connor then went on to extend Greenford’s lead some twenty minutes from time finishing off another accurate Yala cross into the danger area from close range.

United’s fourth was scored on 83 minutes by substitute Charlie Conner after Pilsworth had only been able to parry a fierce O’Connor strike.

On the stroke of full-time a penalty was then awarded after O’Connor had been fouled inside the visitors area, but he was denied what would have been a deserved hat-trick when, reading O’Connor’s intentions and diving low to his right, Pilsworth saved the spot kick.

Greenford’s win has earned the club a Second Qualifying Round tie against another Spartan South Midlands Premier League side Oxhey Jets in the Buildbase FA Vase on Saturday week, 24th September.

NGU Team: Ben Clargo, Nikolas Muller, Carl Bower, Ruddock Yala, Matt Travis, Guy Ansah-Palmer, Alfie Cain, Danny Vincent (captain) (Chris Barnes 82), Anthony O’Connor, Glenn Yala (Charlie Conner 80), Sandro Costa (Andre Swaries 75)

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