Great Wakering Rovers 2 – 0 Falmouth Town MATCH REPORT

Wakering produce fine display to make the Vase Semi-Finals

Great Wakering Rovers 2 – 0 Falmouth Town

at Burroughs Park | FA Vase - Quarter-Final | Saturday 9 March

Match Report by Scott W [@ScottMHC14]

After an enforced break, the Non-League road this season returned with a huge game in the FA Vase Quarter-Finals. Great Wakering Rovers welcomed top-four Western League side Falmouth Town who made the long trip from Cornwall & so did a strong contingent of their supporters, respect to them. Great Wakering were looking to extend this best run in the FA Vase in the competition’s history and named a strong side. The early stages of this match were understandably tight, but Falmouth looked that little bit more assured in terms of possession. Chances though were had for both teams. Visiting winger Luke Brabyn had a good chance just three minutes into the match, while GWR forward Harry Talbot’s early chance was straight at Town stopper Morgan Coxhead. Andrew Westgarth’s side were keen to get down the channels and on nine minutes, a fine run by winger Oliver Walker down the left ended with the ball blocked for a corner, from which strong centre-back Tom Annear’s header was safely gathered by Rovers custodian Luis Shamshoum.

As the half went on, Wakering started to keep the ball better and a curling effort on goal from skipper Ben Search narrowly missed the right side of the net. Falmouth were indebted to their goalkeeper just past the half hour as fierce strike by winger Jake Gordon was superbly saved by Coxhead. The visitors responded at the other end, buoyed by their sizeable travelling support, as centre forward Jordan Annear’s effort was just over the woodwork & Cameron Hutchison’s decent strike was gathered by the impressive Shamshoum.

HT: Great Wakering 0 – 0 Falmouth Town

After the break, the tension continued to rise with some tough tackles going in. The home side emerged with a renewed purpose and the visitors were thankful for Coxhead’s intervention again as another good run by Talbot ended with a low drive with a low drive which the goalkeeper did well to deny. Ultimately though, the energetic forward would not be denied as on sixty-five minutes, Wakering did break the stalemate. A fine cross from Gordon from the right side managed to catch the Falmouth defence unawares and found Talbot, who calmly struck low into the net, past Coxhead – much to the delight of the considerable home support. Falmouth still were useful going forward though the Rovers backline were in a miserly mood, particularly stalwart defender Perry Dunn who made several important tackles to deny the spirited visitors.

With time beginning to tick down, Wakering earned a spot-kick as substitute Max Gnandi managed to keep the ball in play and was bundled over in the penalty area and referee Morgan Conn immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Talbot shouldered the responsibility and his spot-kick found the left side of the net. That moment really did put the pressure on the Cornish side and although replacement Kian Thomas did well to test Shamshoum with moments to go, there was no denying Great Wakering their day and the celebrations began at the final whistle.

Full-Time: Great Wakering Rovers 2 – 0 Falmouth Town

To summarise this game, Great Wakering made the most of an improved second-half display to continue this dream Vase run, although you have to respect Falmouth Town’s work rate and they showed enough to suggest exactly why they have had a very good season in League & Vase – particularly defensively.

For victors Wakering, the stand-out mentions start with two-goal hero Harry Talbot who certainly enjoyed his day, showing good pace, commitment and composure to swing this game in the favour of his team. Forward Ben Search also had a good game, nearly getting on the score-sheet himself as well and looking to get involved in midfield and attack. Centre-back Perry Dunn had a very good game also, raising his game for the big occasion and was a commanding presence in defence. Finally, a word for goalkeeper Luis Shamshoum who perhaps did not have sprawling saves to make but did exude calmness and good positioning to make it tough to get past him.

For Falmouth, I thought centre-back Tom Annear was a strong presence in defence, particularly in the first hour when his defence rebuffed a lot of promising attacks from the hosts. Winger Luke Brabyn also showed pace and good passing too as he tested the Rovers left side well. Goalkeeper Morgan Coxhead made several good saves also to effectively keep his team in the Vase tie and full-back Jacob Grange also did well to shut-out a strong forward line for most of the match with good work rate, positioning and a few good interceptions too. So Great Wakering took their place in the last four, added further prize money & joined fellow Essex Senior side Romford in the draw. The journey continues with the two-legged Semi-Finals. Wish both sides well in that.
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Teams

Great Wakering Rovers | Manager: Marcus Bowers | Assistant: Lee Bunn |

Starting XI (Subs): 1 Luis Shamshoum (GK), 2 Kingdom Dawson, 3 Jack Nolde, 5 Harrison Topliss, 6 Perry Dunn, 4 Thomas Barton, 8 Charlie Kendall, 7 Harry Talbot, 9 Callum Boylan (17 Max Gnandi 71’), 10 Ben Search (Capt) (12 Danny Cossington 90’+1), 11 Jake Gordon (15 Caiden Imbert-Thomas 81’)

Goal-scorer: Harry Talbot [65’ & 80’ (Pen)]

Booked: Topliss, Gordon | Sub Not Used: Jenkins, Johnson, McDonald, Burgess
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Falmouth Town | Manager: Andrew Westgarth | Assistant: James Miller

Starting XI (Subs): 1 Morgan Coxhead (GK), 2 Jacob Grange, 3 Bradley Leivers, 5 Tom Annear, 6 James Ward (Capt), 4 Andreas Calleja-Stayne, 8 Jared Sims (15 Tom Fisher 76’), 7 Luke Brabyn, 9 Jordan Annear (14 Kian Thomas 76’), 10 Cameron Hutchison, 11 Oliver Walker (12 Jack Webber 60’)

Booked: Calleja-Stayne | Sub Not Used: Wharton, McCarthy, Barnes

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Referee: Morgan Conn
Assistants: Joanne Horwood & Nathan Briggs
Fourth Official: Joshua Evans