Stoneham beat Cockfosters on penalties to win FA Vase

AFC Stoneham beat Cockfosters FC at Wembley to lift the FA Vase after winning the game in a penalty shootout.

After 90 minutes the score was goalless after both sides had hit the crossbar, the Purps (Stoneham) then came out on top with spot kicks, winning the shootout 4-2.

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Hampshire based Stoneham scored all of their penalty kicks while the Fosters missed two, Adam Hastings having his saved before Junior Moses sent his over the bar to hand Stoneham the Vase.

This season Stoneham finished their season winning the Wessex Premier Division, while Cockfosters finished fourth in the Spartan South Midlands Football League, missing out on promotion in the play-off final as they were defeated by Winslow United FC.

After a competitive and nervy start to the final, Stoneham broke behind the Cockfosters back-line with a nice team move after 25 minutes.

Lewis Nagle sent a low pass down the left-hand side, finding Tyrrell Sampson who was able to sprint into space, the forward then played the ball across to Duarte Martins who was prevented from scoring by Jandir Da Cruz, who produced an excellent last-ditch tackle.

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The Fosters then had a great chance to score after half an hour, Kendall Gyamfi was played through on goal but a heavy touch ran away from him, allowing Purps keeper Callum Lee to gather possession.

After a bright start to the second half by Stoneham, it was Cockfosters who had the best scoring opportunity, shortly after the break.

The Purps half-cleared a corner before a sliced shot by Gyamfi flew into the air and bounced off the crossbar.

Stoneham hit the bar themselves minutes later, a corner was curled to the back post where Martins was left unmarked and his header struck the frame of the goal.

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With less than ten minutes remaining, the Purps were denied a goal by a fantastic piece of goalkeeping.

Nagle was slipped into the box and struck from close range but Cockfosters keeper Connor Sansom produced a fine stop to divert the ball behind for a corner.

With the game scoreless after 90 minutes, the referee blew his whistle to signal the match would be decided by a penalty shootout.

Callum Laycock and Jake Thomson scored Stoneham's first two while Cockfosters' – George Lutaaya also found the net.

Hastings then stepped up but his effort was saved by Lee, low down to his left.

Tom Annetts, Max Jessop and Tyrrell Sampson then followed with perfect spot-kicks before Junior Moses made the long walk from halfway, needing to score to keep Cockfosters in the shootout.

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But he blasted his penalty high over the bar, jubilation breaking out amongst the Stoneham fans as their players sprinted towards them to celebrate.

It was 'meant to be' for Stoneham - Phillips

AFC Stoneham manager James Phillips speaking to BBC South Today:

"Today was something I'll never forget, It's an incredible feeling.

"We've worked so hard on and off the pitch for this moment, it's hard to describe how this feels.

"We were confident going into the penalties, I said to the boys that we've done this before and we'll do it again.

"I truly believe that when the timing is right then things are meant to be and today was our day."

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