The Real FA Cup Awards 2010.

The Nominations Are: Click Link For All Polls

Best Player:
Sanchez Ming – Dulwich Hamlet
Marcel Jones – Enfield 1893
Ryan Ashe – Wealdstone
Jack King – Farnborough
Danny Forrest – Crawley
Danny Kedwell – AFC Wimbledon
Sam Duncum – Ilkeston

Best Game:
Broxbourne Borough V&E 1 Enfield 1893 4
Ashford Town (Mx) 2 Hendon 2 (9-8 on pens)
Farnborough 2 Hastings 1
Dartford 1 Chelmsford City 4
AFC Wimbledon 2 Crawley Town 1
Wealdstone 2 Rotherham 3

Best Ground: This one is not easy either.
Champion Hill – Dulwich Hamlet
Princes Park – Dartford
Beveree Stadium – Hampton & Richmond Borough

Most Helpful Club:
Wembley
Basildon United
Wealdstone
AFC Wimbledon
Sevenoaks

Team Of The Tournament:
Lowestoft Town
AFC Wimbledon
Tooting & Mitcham United
Aylesbury
Wealdstone
Enfield 1893
Forest Green

Best game so far? Probably AFC Wimbledon 3 Crawley Town 1, with AFC down to ten men and seemingly out they raised the bar, raised their game and put a shell-shocked Crawley to the sword. Notable mention also for Broxbourne Borough V&E 1 Enfield 1893 4, a game where the quality exceeded the apparent lowly status of the teams present.

Through the Christmas and New Year period, before the Cup kicks off again, we’re going to look back, briefly, round-by-round, at the games we’ve been to and see how the teams we’ve seen have fared since we saw them.

Extra Preliminary Round:

Since we visited Wembley FC on that lovely sunny summer day things have been a bit rocky for them. The cup defeat didn’t initially seem to affect them too much and they won their next 2 league games. However, after those games they lost 9 on the bounce, only halting the run with a draw at home to Sandhurst Town before then going on to lose 2 more. For most of that run the Lions’ pride have been bereft of realfacup interview star Andy Walker through injury.

Despite this tawdry run, they last week managed a jaw-dropping, and perhaps season-turning, 5-4 home victory over Raynes Park Vale that lifted them off the bottom. Despite the rank results in the league, Wembley managed 4 rounds in the FA Vase beating Wootton Blue Cross, St Margaresbury and Langford before crashing out to Hoddesdon in round 2.

Basildon United, on the other hand, currently lie 6th in the Essex Senior League. Although victorious in this round of the FA Cup, Basildon lost 3-0 away at Erith in the Preliminary Round so their cup was fairly short lived this time round. An indifferent November has cost them because they were at one point level with leaders Burnham Ramblers but have now slipped 5 points behind. Any promotion is going to be tricky as the leaders and teams around the Bees have games in hand.

Runners up in both of the last two seasons, eternal bridesmaids Enfield 1893 find themselves in familiar territory just a few points off the top. They are just above Basildon on goal difference and are currently best placed to catch the leaders. After Enfield had taken their landlords, Broxbourne, to pieces their season stagnated a little but has really picked up in recent weeks. Since they lost 5-0 to league leaders Bethnal Green in early October Enfield have won 5 drawn 2 and lost just 1 game , a run that has taken them to within a point of second place and with 2 games in hand.

Enfield have got to at least the 2nd Qualifying Round in 6 of the last 10 years but this season saw the most games they’ve played in the cup for 10 years. In the Preliminary Round they beat Crawley Green 7-0 and followed that up with 3-3 and 1-1 draws with Halstead Town in the 1st Qualifying Round before winning a penalty shoot out. In the 2nd Qualifying Round Enfield were visited by a high flying Chelmsford City side three leagues above them and got well and truly battered 0-5. They did also get to the 2nd Round of the Vase before losing, oddly, to Cambridge Regional College.

Finally, Broxbourne Borough V&E. The vanquished BBVE are doing very well this season. The Boro’ lie 4th in the Spartan South Midlands Premier five points off the promotion places but, tucked in nicely, with a game in hand. BBVE have won their last three league games racking up 9 goals but also got knocked out of the FA Vase in the 1st Round, losing to Stotfold.

It seems a long time ago that we watched these games, both were watched in warm sunshine on Saturday afternoons. Now though, as the windfall leaves start to be swept from non-league grounds, the waterlog sets it and the frost starts to bite, three of the four teams we saw in the Extra Preliminary Round are getting the decorations ready. Wembley, on the other hand, might need some charity this Christmas. Next time round, we catch up with the teams we saw in the Preliminary Round, Chertsey, Met Police, Sevenoaks and our local boys Dulwich Hamlet.

With the replays out of the way and the Sevenoaks trophy cabinet extension not yet required this year, we have a look back at the round and what’s in store next. Not quite. There are still two outstanding ties:

Willand Rovers v Falmouth & Lymington Town v Hallen

Willand got bogged down in simple bad weather and Hallen’s team bus got stuck in a jam after an accident in traffic on the way to the game.

There is one other outstanding issue that is altogether less savoury and not to do with the elements or misfortune. Holbrook Miner’s Welfare 1-0 victory over Belper Town was marred by shenanigans at stumps. At the final whistle a home ‘fan’ was said to have confronted a Belper player. The Belper coach intervened and was headbutted by the ‘fan’. The plot thickened when the Holbrook manager confirmed a reserve team player had been suspended pending investigation. Was this the perpetrator? Who knows but Holbrook will be nervous that they might not get to their 1st Qualifying Round match away at Rainworth.

When you consider how many times big matches go to penalties, it’s odd that only 4 did in the Preliminary Round. Faverham v Merstham was the pick, 2-2, 4-4 and then 5-4 on pens to the home side. Those four teams are unlikely to hold too many fears for their opponents in the next round. The ones that will be are 7-goal Enfield Town 1893 and Poole Town, along with 6 goal winners, FC Halifax, Bamber Bridge, VT and Gillingham Town.

Of the few teams we’ve seen so far, Enfield 1893 seem to be the team to watch. 12 goals in two games and Halstead have their work cut out in Q1. We’re tempted to go. Then again, we might fancy a bit of a crowd in this round and Dartford averaged over 1000 fans last season so they may take a few to Chipstead, who didn’t. The biggest crowd of the round could well be at Farnborough .v. Hastings. Not a local derby but both get pretty big crowds and it isn’t a long journey.

So, which of these are going to win therealfacup POLL in this round and will we have to travel further this time?

Choose Your Weapon: Which match shall we go to in Qualifying Round 1?

[poll id="5"]

HANDBAGS!

It is a shame, therefore, that we missed the first 10 minutes thanks to London traffic and the Broxbourne car park being rammed. That said, from what we could gather we missed 10 minutes of two heavyweight boxers sizing each other up with jabs and much dancing round the ring.

And more pics to follow

It was quickly clear that Enfield were the footballing side and Broxbourne were a slightly more pragmatic outfit but very effective with it. Enfield were increasingly retaining possession and using it fruitfully. The first notable action was Enfield’s left winger Marcel Jones crossing for Guy Bonwick to head high over the bar. On the other wing Orcan squeezed past the fullback and played inside to Jeremiah Nkrumah who was poorly marked but headed disappointingly wide. That should have been 0-1 and Nkrumah acknowledged this with head hung. A few minutes later an Enfield corner from Jones caused chaos in the Broxbourne defence but after a few ricochets and rebounds the ball was hacked away.

Amid the Enfield possession, Broxbourne were still offering a little on the counter and one such foray saw Michael Nathan blast the ball directly into Neil Hughes’ face. It was one of those slaps that can a very red face and some smelling salts but Hughes manned up and carried on. That unintentional little bit of pain and perhaps the possession that Enfield were enjoying proved the ignition the game needed to go from compelling to exciting.

After 20 minutes the first of several elbows appeared. I think an accidental cuff but Danny Swift clearly caught Jones on the jaw with a flailing limb. Jones was himself dangerous though, he was quick, fleet of foot, a good passer and determined. A few minutes later Enfield centre back Wes Borghys went all Bobby Moore and strode out of defence. He then turned into Paul Scholes to surge on further and then returned to being a centre back when splashing a rather damp shot that the keeper easily dived on.

Jones was at it again muscling his way past Swift and bursting away down the left. It was a great contest between these two and, although beaten, Swift hadn’t been left for dead. Jones’ momentary glance up to see who was available was sufficient for Swift to slide, eel-like, into a tackle to pull off a great block that went for a corner.

Despite the possession and a few half chances, Enfield’s inability to pierce Broxbourne’s shell was starting to frustrate. Jones again turned Swift but this time headed off inside chasing a long free kick. The ball was too long and ran out of play. “This is ridiculous, man” shouted Jones to no one in particular but amusingly audible to us. It summed up the fact that despite the pressure and some very good play, Enfield were yet to properly test the keeper.

Jones Through?

Despite the Enfield frustration, the tie was engaging as a spectacle, two different styles efficiently displayed. There was good control, accurate passing, both long and short, some great tackling and astute organisation and that meant it was, technically, a very good game to watch. It just lacked the cherry of a goal.

With half an hour gone Enfield’s Adilson Lopes returned to the pitch after a brief sojourn for treatment on a head wound, possibly from another flailing elbow. Showing no ill effects he surged through the Broxbourne midfield and fizzed a shot just over the Broxbourne crossbar. It was pretty close but far away enough that the keeper both had it covered and let it go.

The referee here was much more officious than yesterday at Wembley but this was perhaps borne of necessity. It was after all a local derby, there’d been a few niggly tackles, the players were being vocal, there had been some shenanigans and the locals were beefing up the tension with some noise. He was dealing with it all pretty well, if pedantically at times.

Enfield were more at home with the ball on the deck but had also resorted to one or two long balls. One was controlled by the Broxbourne keeper Obey Murefu just outside his box, he dummied, he pushed the ball to one side, beat a man, took another touch and dispatched it upfield. Very composed, if slightly risky, from the net minder.

Captain Michael Nathan was not so composed when he laid a back pass not woefully short but catastrophically short. Nkrumah burst past the stranded defender and round the keeper before tucking the ball away. It was 0-1 Enfield and that was the first obvious sign that we were watching a lower league fixture. Although not uncommon in the Premier league, I suppose the defensive error belied the distinct lack of mistakes in the game thus far.

Arty Goalkick

Broxbourne 0 Enfield 2

I could feel cliché’s coursing through my veins and Broxbourne helped them on. They came out fighting after the blow of the second goal and the next ten minutes were end to end. From a corner, Tony Burke had a shot charged down and Enfield also played some threatening crossfield balls that never quite turned into chances. Broxbourne won a free kick and Osborn skimmed it flat but not fiercely to the back post, the ball evaded both old gold and blue shirts and then the keeper before swishing the inside of the Enfield net.

Broxbourne 1 Enfield 2 on the stroke of half time. It would be harsh to say that Broxbourne didn’t deserve something because they played their part in an entertaining first half but Enfield had played the more purposeful and incisive football and perhaps deserved a 2 goal lead. Either way, the game was on for the second period.

The club bar was rammed at half time, big queues for tea and a scrum for a pint. In my humble opinion, the glitterball was a tad small, local girl Posh Spice certainly wouldn’t have been happy with it, but the friendly atmosphere and pool table made up for it. It was a welcoming gaff and one I’d not mind going back to if they got some ale in. There appeared to be a few WAGs in attendance too, not Posh.

The delay made us a little tardy for the second half and I emerged with about 30 seconds of the half gone to see a two man scuffle expand in to four and then a small fight before descending into a bubbly 16 man huddle/group hug/handbag throwing competition. It was difficult to tell whose arms windmilled and whose legs kicked but the ref settled on yellows for Matt & Lee Mitchell for Broxbourne and Oshin for Enfield. I think some of them can consider themselves fortunate to still be on the pitch but that did turn the game up to 11 for a quarter of an hour or so.

The first footballing action of the second half saw Matt Mitchell fire in a long range freekick and Enfield keeper Steve Wright palm it round the post. We thought he could perhaps have held on to it but, again, there were so few genuine mistakes that maybe we were being too critical. Wright’s defence certainly seemed happier than his murderous namesake’s.

The game was getting spicy but had been affected by the brawl and was now niggly and the players were watching their backs for hacks, which resulted in bad control and misplaced passes.

The game got back on track with some fine play by Kemble and Burke linking well down Broxbourne’s left, exchanging passes from half way line to touchline. The left back surged past the final defender but pushed the ball too far and it was parried by the keeper and cleared. However, although a lot of Broxbourne’s play was giving the right back a testing work out thanks to some accurate channel balls, Benmore was just about keeping them at bay with some timely late tackles.

After another long ball down a channel was cleared, an Enfield midfielder shouted to his team mates that was “all they’ve fucking got”. He wasn’t wrong but to be unfair to Broxbourne, but they had a sizeable centre forward with significant presence who was also pretty quick. They also had two wingers who could play a bit, one of whom clearly had the measure of the full back. Yes, they were very direct and not as pleasing on the eye as Enfield but they were a good side.

Half way through the second half Broxbourne were now shading it and the scoreline was probably a more accurate reflection of the game. Bar a long range effort from the left back that sailed over the bar, Enfield hadn’t threatened much. Nicky Marsh on the Broxbourne right was now having more joy and within a few short minutes got behind Bananarama’s Keiran Woodward three times. First he overcooked an admittedly difficult through ball, then he got the ball in well but it was hacked clear. The third move saw him beat the full back for pace and chip a cross to the penalty spot. Unfortunately for Bradford the ball was slightly behind him and he did well to get his right foot round it but only grazed the bar from 10 yards out. It was perhaps Broxbourne’s best chance of the game.

Bradford Blazes Over

With all subs on and 10 minutes left Broxbourne were running out of both time and ideas. They’d tried everything but had only really had one good chance. As time wore on, Enfield started to get more possession from out-balls to the flanks, one of the midfielders set off down the right hand side. He appeared more intent on holding the ball up rather than a serious attack but he looped over a deep, speculative cross which sub Hussain headed tamely back towards goal. After a solid game Murefu stepped across to take the ball and inexplicably palmed the ball into the corner of his own net. Disaster.

Broxbourne 1 Enfield 3.

The gasket had blown off the head of steam that Broxbourne had built. That signalled proverbial throwing of the sink at Enfield bit it didn’t get anywhere. There were a few skirmishes, some handbags and an unsightly kick from an Enfield player aimed at the head above a blue shirt. It was half hearted and nowhere near the player in question so the ref settled for a stern word. The Broxbourne midfield had given up, they were no longer supporting what were now four forwards and no longer covering the defenders. As a result, Enfield were easing more pressure by playing the ball wide to each touchline to run the clock down.

One such pass around 90 minutes saw Orcan try some tricks on the point of the box. He jinked quite lazily past one to kill time and keep possession but sighted a small gap to the far post, pushed the ball round the last defender and lashed a shot across the keeper and high into the far corner. Great finish, it was simply too ferocious to stop.

Broxbourne 1 Enfield 4
MOM: Marcel Jones – Enfield
Att: 189

Orcan’s Enfield team mates mobbed him, they knew that was it. The scoreline a tad flattering but the result not in question. On that evidence Enfield could be serious contenders to cause an upset and should be one to watch. An attacking flair that belied their status and a defensive solidity in the face of some sturdy attacking saw them come through a stern test. Broxbourne should also do well this season, they are a decent side and this was a cracking game. A good afternoon out.