Having seen the Vase Final go to extra time it brought the second game of the afternoon that little bit closer. The one problem with Wembley Stadium hosting both games is you can’t leave and re-enter in between each one.
We were in the Club Wembley section in the second tier. One thing it doesn’t seem to pride itself upon is the food offering, even worse than being in the lower section in my opinion.
Having already seen the side I wanted to win the Vase come up trumps, game number two pitted Aldershot Town and Spennymoor Town for the FA Trophy. I have a vested interest in the Shots, for the last two years I’ve written a programme column for them and the highest ranked club in my portfolio.
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But having seen Moors lift the Vase back in 2013 could they become the one of the very few to win both major non-league competitions? A tough ask as a part time outfit against full time counterparts.
Once again, the sun blazed down to add the extra to the proceedings. The Shots didn’t really stamp their authority on the game, Moors had a couple of good opportunities to make their opponents pay but as the part time teams find in the National League you have to make them count because they don’t come around too often.
Credit to the National League North outfit, they certainly made their opponents work hard to fashion anything at all, half time though it was a blank scoreline.
You felt then Aldershot hadn’t even gotten out of first gear, it was comfortable but they needed to raise it and get a proper foothold in the game.
And sure enough within two minutes of the re-start they had their goal. James Henry powered away from the Moors defence and crossed for former Bee Jack Barham to net for the game’s opening goal.
The zip that followed didn’t allow Moors to get themselves back into it, needing to press forward for an equaliser but wary of the Shots threat they were caught a little in no man’s land.
The second goal didn’t arrive until just under 20 minutes from time, centre back Dan Ellison with a super header from a corner making the Moors task that little bit harder.
The goal of the game arrived on 87 minutes, Josh Barrett with superb technique on the half volley, left footed past the keeper and the trophy heading to the EBB Stadium on this the Shots first ever visit to Wembley Stadium.
Certainly a clear difference second half between the full timers and part timers, Shots have been able to train every day for a week since their final game of the season for example, whilst although Moors might been able to squeeze in an extra session or two it’s never enough time.
Of course pleased for all the people I know at the club, including their assistant manager Hugo Langton, Tommy and his staff have taken some stick this year after what you could say was overachieving last season, must be nice to put some icing on the cake.
So, that’s the season completed for me in person, few more play-off’s to watch to crown the end by the time I head off on holiday. If you haven’t been a paying subscriber through the summer before, don’t fret!
The blog’s keep on rolling because non-league football never stops providing the angles and the talking points through the close season so rest assure you’ll get plenty of reading material coming your way.
