FA VASE PREVIEW: FLACKWELL HEATH v COCKFOSTERS...

Flackwell Heath v Cockfosters

FA Vase, Saturday 22nd October 2016

This clash sees the Hellenic League tussle with the Spartan South Midlands League and old friends Paul Shone and Dean Barker meeting up as opposing managers.

Flackwell Heath lie second in their division with 27 points from 15 games, although only a third of those matches have been played at their Wilks Park ground. The 5 home league games have resulted in a mixed bag of results though, winning only 2, losing 2 and drawing 1 with a low goals tally of 9 to 6. 

Cockfosters lie fourth in their division, having played 8 away matches with some impressive statistics. They have won 6 times on the road, losing just once and drawing once, their goals tally being 18 to 11 and amassing 19 out of the 24 points on offer. 

Those details suggest that the Cockers might play with more attacking freedom away from home, whereas the Flackers haven't really established themselves on their own patch as yet.

Flackwell Heath manager PAUL SHONE penned a few words about the clash for me and his comments appear below:

PAUL SHONE AT LONGLEVENS LAST SATURDAY...

"Looking forward to Saturday when we lock horns with Cockfosters in the FA Vase, who are managed by two old pals of mine: Dean Barker and Gary Simmonds from back in my younger days of Bucks Uni!!!! 

On paper it looks like being a decent match-up. They are going great in their league and up in until last night, I think they were on 8 games unbeaten, with a very similar record to ours. 

The FA Vase is great to be involved in, especially when you are from the highest ranked leagues in it, so if the draw is kind and you can get past a few early rounds, it takes you into unfamiliar places to play teams from all over the country, which is great. 

On our season so far, it's been a mixed bag. After taking over in the summer from Graham Malcom who has gone off to sunny Spain, I brought in the very close friend of mine Sean Kelleher to assist me with Ben Hudell helping out alongside. Both have settled in very well. 

Also I brought in 5 new players but we got off to an OK start. Some games we have been excellent in and others, er, well the less I say about them the better! 

I'll be honest: we should be a bit better off points-wise on the board from certain games. The league looks like a very open one this year so if we can stay around the top and put a run together after the turn of the year, we will have another look at it..."

PAUL SHONE, MANAGER, FLACKWELL HEATH... 

To balance things up, I spoke to Cockfosters manager Dean Barker on Wednesday evening and he seemed particularly pleased with the way his young team have been performing. He feels that they are 'punching above their weight' in their division but expects his players to improve as the season wears on.

He knows that the Flackers are more experienced than his lads, players he has gathered from Ryman League and National League South clubs, among others but he feels that although the Vase game will be a stern test, both teams are likely to attack and provide some good entertainment for the spectators.

Until Tuesday's home defeat to Hoddesdon Town, the Cockers had been on an eleven match unbeaten run and that defeat was a choker, coming from a 90th minute goal.

Dean reckons that the FA Vase is the FA Cup for this level of football and the staff and players really enjoy being involved in these one-off matches. A coach has been booked to carry players, staff and fans to Flackwell Heath on Saturday and although there will be banter between Paul Shone and himself, there will be no unpleasantness. (Yeah, right...)

Dean said he was taken under Paul's wing many years back and they have remained in contact ever since, finding it strange that they have been paired in the FA Vase.

Dean sent me the image below to add to this article... Thanks, mate!

Thanks to Dean for ringing me and I do have something in common with him: we are both trained P.E. teachers... 

From my point of view, I saw Flackwell Heath lose at home to Thame United recently and in truth, following an early goal, things simply went downhill for the frustrated players and they were deservedly beaten on the day, despite some questionable officiating.

I ventured to Longlevens last Saturday, where the team squandered a two-goal lead but then a 0-3 win at Binfield on Monday night has probably offered new hope to the Flackers. The images below show the celebrations after the two goals at Longlevens, scored by Jamie Essex and skipper Ben Sturgess...

So, my offering...

I recall the nursery rhyme 'Doctor Foster' and this appears below, with a new second verse:

Dr Cockfoster…

Doctor Foster

Went to Gloucester

In a shower of rain;

He stepped in a puddle

Right up to his middle

And never went there again!

Team Cockfosters,

Avoiding Gloucester,

Are off to play in Bucks;

In the Vase they’ll compete

And the Flackers they’ll meet,

But those Cockers, they won’t give a fig…

Pete Ray...

(A fig? Is that right?)