League’s Vase dream ends with West’s loss

THERE will be no Northern League club in the FA Vase final for the first time in moe than a decade.

Since Kirkham and Wesham beat Lowestoft Town in the 2008 final, the likes of Whitley Bay, North Shields, Dunston UTS and Morpeth Town have made their way to Wembley and brought the Vase back to the region.

However, West Auckland Town’s home defeat against Combined Counties Premier Division title challengers Chertsey Town means the league will not be represented at the home of English football in May.

The Curfews looked bright and bubbly going forward and took the lead on ten minutes with a goal from winger Dale Binns.

However, it was a strike of such simplicity West will wonder how they let it happen.

A long ball over the top released the pacey wideman in on goal and he held off late pressure form Denver Morris before rolling the ball beyond the advancing Shane Bland.

West’s response was to create two half-chances as David Dowson headed wide and then narrowly failed to make contact with an Amar Purewal cross.

It was an improvement on a lacklustre start to the game but Gary Forrest’s men still lacked conviction in the attacking third of the pitch.

Things went from bad to worse for the two-time finalists when their visitors doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark.

Again, defensive frailties were left exposed.