By Dan Thurogood

 

BOWERS & Pitsea are into the last 16 of the FA Vase following a 3-0 win over Sutton Common Rovers as they continued to make history in the competition.

Second-half goals from Lewis Manor, Vinny Durrant and Alfie Hilton were the difference and booked Bowers place in the fifth round.

The first-half was very much a midfield battle on a boggy pitch, as both sides struggled to create chances. The best of them fell after 10 minutes to the Combined Counties Premier League side.

Sutton’s Richard Smith sent in a high cross from the left which Bowers defender Luke Wilson misjudged, but Andrew White’s shot was well tipped round the post by goalkeeper Martyn Guest.

The opening goal of the game came just before the hour. The danger seemed to have been cleared for Sutton, but a mistimed clearance by Nehemiah Adams allowed Manor, restored to the side after injury, to take control and slide home into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Durrant got the second for Bowers with just over 20 minutes remaining. Chris Bryan flashed an effort across the box and Durrant tapped in at the far post.

Bowers saved their best until last. A well timed one-two between Durrant and Harley Kee split the Rovers defence and Durrant squared for Hilton to tap past the despairing keeper Harvey Cheadle.

And the result delighted Bowers boss Rob Small.

“The pitch wasn’t the best but we dealt with the conditions much better,” he said. “We put in a lot of big lads today to adapt our game and made sure we loaded the box when we had opportunities.

“Sutton are used to playing on a 3G pitch and we knew we could expose weaknesses today. I’m a bit worried I’m going to get a soaking in the dressing room!”

Basildon United were looking to return to the top of the Essex Senior League, but they weren’t going to have it easy against fifth-placed Wadham Lodge.

But they got the win they needed, with Luca Frankis opening the scoring on his debut for the club, having signed from Bowers & Pitsea.

And Brad Warner made the result safe 10 minutes later to lift Basildon to within a point of first-placed FC Romania.

Hullbridge Sports’ game against Sporting Bengal United was postponed, as was Southend Manor’s match against Burnham Ramblers, although controversially.

The referee only decided the Southchurch Arena pitch was unplayable 10 minutes before kick-off, which frustrated manager Stuart Marshall.

“It was very poor from the official,” he said. “There wasn’t any water on the pitch and he said the goal mouth area was too soft. Both teams had warmed up and were ready to play.”