Ilford FC 1-1 Benfleet FC (4-3 Pens) – FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
Cricklefield Stadium
Ilford were forced to win a penalty shoot-out after coming back against a battling Benfleet side, improving in the second half after falling behind to eventually secure a place in the First Round Proper of the FA Vase.
17-year-old goalkeeper Josh Blackburn was the hero in the penalty shootout, saving two Benfleet penalties after an impressive performance which kept Ilford in the tie.
A Poor First-Half
Ilford will not be happy with their first-half performance as Benfleet made them look the team from the lower division early on.
The visitors created the first chance of the game, a long ball over the top of Ilford’s defence led to Ben Foord having a shot parried out for a corner. The resulting corner saw the ball trickle over the line, but it was disallowed for an offside spotted by the assistant.
Ilford continued to struggle going forward and it was Benfleet who created more chances. First, a superb dipping effort from Jamie Brown needed an equally excellent save from Blackburn in the 16th minute.
The teenager was then called into action again shortly after, rushing off his line to stop Mason Shave in a one-on-one before the loose ball was pounced on by Foord, whose shot was tipped away once again by Blackburn.
Foord continued to trouble the Foxes back-line though and in the 24th minute he was rewarded with a free-kick after being held back by Bailey Hossack, offering Benfleet another chance to trouble Ilford from a set-piece. The delivery was excellent, landing perfectly for Benfleet captain Aaron Russell to poke home.
Ilford very nearly went two goals down, a wayward back pass presenting Foord with another opportunity which Blackburn again denied.
It wasn’t until the 38th minute that Ilford created anything close to a goalscoring opportunity. Dimi Christou’s free-kick had been cleared by Benfleet, but the ball fell to returning club captain, Steve Sylvester-Ajudua whose shot was blocked.
The Foxes finished the half on the attack, Dion Lewis-Kirwan threatening down the right wing, delivering a cross for goalscoring talisman Yemi Adelani to connect with at the back post, but somehow a Benfleet defender kept it out when it looked for all the world like Ilford had equalized.
Half Time – Ilford 0-1 Benfleet
A Second-Half Fightback
Benfleet started the second half on the front foot, winning a couple of corners, the latter of which saw a shot go agonisingly wide.
Despite the early Benfleet pressure, Ilford had looked sharper, and they were rewarded when a throw-in led to a rare lapse of concentration in the Benfleet box, failing to deal with a pinpoint Jerrod Cobbolah cross which met an unmarked Adelani at the back post who planted a header past the keeper to draw the hosts level.
Ilford continued to look lively after that without creating too much, but they looked more resilient at the back.
The Foxes began to use their pace and fitness more effectively in the second half and created a good opportunity when Lewis – Kirwan made his way into the box, but his effort was parried well by the visiting goalkeeper.
With the game going quiet and looking certain to go to penalties, Adelani had a late chance to win it as he managed to beat the Benfleet defence, but he found himself unable to control the ball well and lashed a shot wide of goal. The game was to be decided on penalties.
The Shoot-Out
Russell stepped up first for Benfleet and confidently put it past Blackburn, but Adelami replied with a good penalty of his own.
Blackburn then produced the final two saves of his Man of the Match performance, first from Sunny Hartman and then from Benfleet’s dangerman Foord, who Blackburn had the better of all game.
Ilford then threatened to allow Benfleet back into the shoot-out, as Kirwan-Lewis hit his penalty too close to Benfleet’s keeper, but Sylvester-Ajudua made no mistake with Ilford’s fourth.
And when Benfleet’s Sam Dolieu scored Benfleet’s fifth penalty, it was down to second-half substitute Larry Akanbi to confidently convert Ilford’s winning penalty.
Full Time – Ilford 1-1 Benfleet, Ilford win 4-3 on penalties
This result see’s The Foxes host FC Clacton in the next round of the FA Vase, and they will hope it gives them some confidence going into Wednesday nights huge game against table topping Cockfosters in the league.
Team
Ilford FC – Blackburn, Sylvester – Adujua, Brookman, Mosuro, Hossack, Sarr, Lewis – Kirwan, Cobblah (Walker), Agyemang (Akanbi), Christou. Adelani
Unused Subs – Cardona, Ishanzadeh, Steele, Hannam
