Saturday 7th December 2013 – FA Carlsberg Vase 3rd Round Proper
Borough’s first real attack after 7 minutes brought success as Anthony McDonald angled a header into the roof of the net from a difficult angle at the far post. For the remainder of the half the visitor’s keeper was not put to any severe test while Borough’s stopper Ashley Harris had kept them ahead with two acrobatic turn aways of close range efforts. The pattern after the interval was much the same with Brantham looking the more dangerous and it was rather against the run of play when Michael Deane doubled the lead as he glanced a header accurately and low into the corner when he met a deep diagonal ball from the left. Five minutes later it should have been game over when Borough were awarded a penalty but visiting ‘keeper Ryan Bedingfield guessed right and beat out Cedric Lakole’s effort with a dive low to his right. No doubt buoyed by their let-off the visitors gave an admirable display of keeping going in adversity and deservedly forced their way back into the game although in truth the Borough defence did not make them work too hard for either of their goals as a needlessly conceded corner was bundled home from close range by Jack Sibbons two minutes after the penalty miss and substitute Ben Deacon equalised with a free header from the six yard line after 80 minutes. Borough were perhaps quite fortunate to reach extra time as in stoppage time Harris raced out of goal to beat a forward to a long through ball and fouled him inches outside the area, picking up only a yellow card as defenders were racing across. The free kick came to nothing but it mattered not as Brantham continued their revival and it was no surprise when a sweeping move down the right seven minutes into the first period of extra time concluded with a low ball across the box which Deacon drove home from a central position ten yards out. For all their frantic late onslaught in the final extra time period Borough never managed to get any effort needing heroics from Bedingfield on target and the better team overall proceeded to the fourth round draw.
Borough squad:- Ashley HARRIS, Charles DOUSE , Cedric LAKOLE
Christopher BENJAMIN (Deniz MEHMET), Joseph O’CEARUILL,
Daniel GUDGEON , Michael DEANE (Dewayne CLARKE), Nick NICOU,
Dean FENTON, Daniel WALKER, Anthony McDONALD (Lawrence CONSTANTI)
Unused Substitutes Darrell COX, Austin BYFIELD (GK)
Borough return to League action on December 14th with a visit to Cheshunt’s stadium to meet FC Romania who ground share there and are currently third in the table but Borough are only seven points behind them with four games in hand. On Tuesday 17th (7.45pm) they will be at home to Great Wakering Rovers in the 2nd Round of the Gordon Brasted Trophy (a knock out competition exclusively for Essex Senior League Clubs)
