Lakenheath defeat rivals Mildenhall in the first time since the 1970s
FOLLOWING MATCH REPORT FROM TABFB:
https://www.tabfb.co.uk/post/fa-vase-1st-round-proper-mildenhall-town-1-2-lakenheath
When this draw was made, I knew I had to be there. Two local Brecks teams going head-to-head, a big local derby with only 5 miles separating them, and both well known for their air bases (I did overhear someone christening this the airbase derby!), all the ingredients for a memorable cup tie. Traditionally, Mildenhall Town are the bigger team, having played Step 4 football recently, and being home, they would be going into the tie as the favourites. However, their plucky neighbours Lakenheath have risen up from the Cambridgeshire leagues to now be competing in the same league as Mildenhall, to play at Step 5 for the first time in their history, and are now more than a match, sitting a respectable position in mid-table in the Thurlow Nunn Premier. Lakenheath have also tasted recent cup success, winning the Suffolk Senior Cup in the summer, so know their way around a knockout game. I was certainly expecting an intense, competitive game between these two local clubs. It should be noted that Avis was stand-in captain for Lakenheath today, as usual captain Hawley was unable to play due to concussion.
I picked up one of the FA Vase matchday special programmes, I think it must have cost £1.50 as I paid £10.50 at the gate for entry and a programme.
From the kick-off, the game got off to a quick start, with both teams looking to take the lead early. In the 3rd minute, Mildenhall hit the post directly from a Hitch corner, Phillips was close to the rebound, but the ball just evaded him. In the following minute Lakenheath had a huge chance of their own, a Bailey through-ball put Thulborn through on goal, but his weak effort was comfortably saved by Pope. In the 6th minute, a poor Lakenheath clearance fell to Brown who blasted a shot goal-bound that was tipped over for a corner by Lakenheath keeper Beckwith. In the 10th minute, another poor Lakenheath clearance led to a Mildenhall corner, Coakley whipped the ball in, and Phillips, coming in at the far post, hit the side netting.
The frantic start from both teams inevitably led to a goal, and in the 12th minute it fell to the visitors Lakenheath from some good play from Thulborn down the left flank, he sent the defender the wrong way and powered a low ball across the goal that was blasted in by the onrushing Avis, a fast, devastating attack from Lakenheath to put them 1-0 up.
Having gone down, Mildenhall stepped up the intensity, and Lakenheath, although they tried to attack, were forced to weather wave-after-wave of Mildenhall attacks. In the 14th minute, a cross from Phillips was headed by Nolan, but it was straight at Beckwith and caused him no issues. In the 18th minute, Nolan intercepted a poor pass, ran through on goal and fired a stinging shot that required safe hands from Beckwith to keep the ball under control. In the 22nd minute, a powerful shot from Call was turned away for a corner. Coakley took the corner and it was was curling in at the far post, but Lakenheath had placed a defender there, and it was cleared off the line. In the 31st minute, Steed fired a ball across the box, defender Grogan tried to cut it out, but it came awkwardly off him and deflected goal-bound, but luckily it was straight at Beckwith. In the 34th minute, Manels and Brown linked up well down left flank to get past the Lakenheath defenders, Brown drove the ball into Call, but his close range strike was well stopped by Beckwith, an excellent save.
Lakenheath, having defended resolutely, almost went 2-0 up in the 40th minute, a lovely dink from Bailey played Thulborn through on goal, and seeing goalkeeper Pope rushing out, he chipped the ball over him, and for a moment it looked like it was going in, but it failed to dip in time and went narrowly over the crossbar, very unlucky, would have been a lovely goal. With half-time beckoning, the Mildenhall pressure finally forced a couple of costly mistakes from Lakenheath, they lost the ball in a dangerous position in midfield, Hitch played through Call, he flashed a ball across goal, a Lakenheath defender took a touch at the far post, but it was heavy and fell right into the path of Brown who obligingly smashed the ball in to equalise for Mildenhall.
The equaliser forced a big reaction from Lakenheath, and in the 2nd minute of injury time, an incisive ball from McIntosh was cut across the field, picked up by Webber who had made a great run, he took one touch to take him through on goal, and slotted home past Pope with his second touch, a very well taken goal from the youngster, and an excellent reaction from Lakenheath. Shortly after this, the referee blew for half-time.
Despite Mildenhall chasing the game, Lakenheath had the first good chance of the second half, coming in the 51st minute. Clarke threaded a ball through to Thulborn who fired his shot across goal, narrowly wide of the far post. After this, much like the first half, Mildenhall went on to have the majority of the play and chances, putting the Lakenheath defenders and goal under immense pressure.
In the 55th minute, a Nolan ball in rebounded off Bailey, towards goal, but again it went down Beckwith's throat and he collected the ball. In the 56th minute, Brown done some good work down left wing, passed to Call who fired a low powerful shot at the near post, but Beckwith was able to get down and keep hold of the ball, another decent save from the big man. In the 63rd minute, Phillips whipped in a good ball, it was headed back by Green across the box and attacker Brown was millimetres away from making contact for what could have been the equaliser. In the 64th minute, substitute Stewart played Call through, he flashed a well hit strike across goal, I was expecting the side-netting to bulge, but it went agonisingly wide for the Mildenhall faithful.
In the 67th minute, there was a bad challenge by Mildenhall captain Butcher on Bailey, who slid in with studs up. He was given a yellow but it could have been a red as it was very similar to the red card I saw given during the Bury Town vs Coggeshall Town game, he should certainly consider himself lucky. Lakenheath had a rare 2nd half chance in the 72nd minute, McIntosh skimmed a dangerous ball across the box, but it just evaded the two Lakenheath attackers. In the 77th minute, Stewart tried to run onto a long ball from Coakley, but he was narrowly beaten to the ball by Beckwith.
A huge passage of play began in the 86th minute. Mildenhall substitute Chaplin stole the ball off Lakenheath deep in their half, on the left wing, he drove into the box and was brought down, and the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Back from injury, substitute Stewart stepped up to take it, but it was magnificently saved, and held, by Beckwith, who was having a brilliant day between the sticks for Lakenheath. The penalty save gave Lakenheath a lift, and Mildenhall struggled to carve out further chances. In the dying embers of the game, 5 minutes into injury time, a dangerous ball was fired across the Lakenheath goal but it went out and was awarded as a corner despite the Lakenheath protests. Everyone went forward for this late corner, but Lakenheath cleared and released McIntosh, he ran through on an open goal, elected to pass the ball into the net from 20 yards out but somehow missed the target, but the referee stepped in to spare his blushes and blew his whistle to signal the end of the game.
That game was everything I had expected, hard-fought, intense and packed full of great play, but ultimately, Lakenheath were more decisive in front of goal, and goalkeeper Beckwith was almost impenetrable, an outstanding performance seeing him rightfully being awarded man-of-the-match. Congratulations have to go again to this current Lakenheath team, breaking more records today, they are now into the 2nd round proper of the FA Vase for the first time in their history, and they also beat Mildenhall for the first time in around 50 years, both wonderful achievements. Looking at Mildenhall, they played well and dominated possession and territory for large parts of the game, but they found the Lakenheath defence difficult to breakdown, and when they did get through they did not take their chances. I look forward to the FA Vase draw on Monday, I will watch keenly to see who Lakenheath draw, and if not too far, I will try and make my way to the historic game. Finally, a thanks to both teams for a thoroughly entertaining cup tie and local derby, football how it should be played.
Line-ups:
MILDENHALL TOWN: Josh Pope, Charlie Hitch, Casey Phillips, Luke Butcher (C), Darryl Coakley, Alex Steed, Kaine Manels, Matthew Green, Dan Brown, Tanner Call, Ben Nolan. SUBS: Scott Chaplin, Natty Stewart, Ben Barlow, Kush Benyu, Aaron Hamer.
LAKENHEATH: Charlie Beckwith, Fin Logan, Sam Peters, Lee Hammond, Dean Grogan, Teddy Webber, Alex McIntosh, Ross Bailey, Shaun Avis (C), Reece Clarke, Tom Thulborn. SUBS: Nick Castellan, Euan Banks, Brandon Morris.