Saturday 11th November 2023
FA Vase 2nd Round
West Didsbury & Chorlton 2
McKnight 47
Cook 90+1
Albion Sports 1
Basi 2
Attendance: 689
West line-up:
1 Hughes, 2 Cook (c), 3 Hancock (15 Graham 71), 4 Schofield (12 Delaney 90+3), 5 Hampson, 6 Foulds, 7 Ford, 8 Dickinson, 9 Elliott, 10 McKnight, 11 Matthews (17 Billingsley 57). Subs not used: 14 Taylor, 16 Burke, 18 Grimshaw, 19 Swift.
An injury-time winner from Captain Cook sent West through to the 3rd Round, ending a losing run and a goal drought in the process.
West returned to FA Vase action exactly seven months after exiting the 2022/23 edition. Standing in their path were Albion Sports, sitting third in the Northern Counties East Premier Division. With only four defeats on their record so far this season, the Lions promised to be a tough test for a West side looking to use last season's run to the quarter-finals as motivation for a fresh charge towards Wembley
West's starting line-up saw three changes to the side that started the defeat to Bury a fortnight earlier, with Connor Hancock and Sam Dickinson replacing the suspended duo of Matt Smyth and Rhain Davis, while Oli Ford came in for Lewis Billingsley.
Albion started strongly and had already looked at West's goal before making a breakthrough after little more than a minute, captain BASI rose unmarked to meet a cross from the right with a powerful header that gave Wynne no chance.
The Lions would have been disappointed to not extend their lead but went in ahead at half-time, with West unable to make any impression in attack.
With West now goalless in over six hours, the first action of the second half was unerring in more ways than one. Billy Matthews was tripped as he neared Albion's box and, with a great sense of deja vu, West's #10 lined up a free kick 25 years out, to the left of the Shed, and curled an unstoppable effort into the top-right corner beyond the despairing dive. Darren McKNIGHT emulating Rhain Davis' winner against FC Isle of Man to notch his sixth of the season and first since returning from injury.
The goal lifted Brookburn Road and West played with greater energy - Elliott coming closest to a second, heading Billingsley delicate cross onto the bar from close range. Albion looked a different team, showing little of the verve and control that had seen them dominate the first half.
We looked to be heading for penalties - a fifth Vase shootout inside 12 months - but Elliott's cutback found COOK a dozen yards out and West's captain swept the ball home in front of the adoring Shed to grab a spot in the 3rd Round, a trip to Emley in December.
Your Burton Road Brewing Co Supporter of the Match was Dom and his Player of the Match was Matt Cook.
Listen to the Chris Rowley interview here, sponsored by Steve Eckersley.
Browse the full match gallery, by Si Cook and Chris Michell, below.
Weekend results
Saturday 11th November 2023
The Isuzu FA Vase 2nd Round
Carlisle City 2-1 Cheadle Town
Eccleshill United 2-2 Charnock Richard
Charnock Richard won 4-2 on pens
Ramsbottom United 2-2 Bottesford Town
Ramsbottom United won 5-4 on pens
Seaham Red Star 1-6 Irlam
West Didsbury & Chorlton 2-1 Albion Sports
Whickham 1-0 Bury
NWCFL Premier Division
Barnoldswick Town P-P Wythenshawe Town
Postponed due to waterlogged pitch
FC Isle of Man 1-0 Pilkington
Glossop North End 1-2 Lower Breck
Litherland REMYCA 2-3 Kendal Town
Longridge Town 1-4 Wythenshawe
Padiham 1-1 Colne
Prestwich Heys 4-2 Squires Gate
Skelmersdale United 3-3 Chadderton
Saturday 11th November 2023