An Edgy Affair

Bob Rayner reports on a hard earned Vase victory.

Risborough Rangers won this difficult 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Vase encounter against a good Edgware side thanks to goals from Marcus Wyllie, Sean Coles and Alex Kedzierski. Both sides created chances and Rangers never had it all their own way, as Town's lively strike force always looked a threat. Edgware had the first shot after five minutes, an easy one for Rangers keeper, Jack Brooker. Rangers hit back after good work from Coles set up Bertie Squire Adams with a neat volley, punched away by Edgware's keeper. Shortly after Kieron Schmidt surged through the middle to shoot from 20 yards, forcing the keeper to parry up and away. Some neat play by Schmidt and Asher Yearwood set up new signing, Liam Enver-Marum, making his first start, whose shot was well saved. It was all Rangers at this stage and Rangers' classy centre -back, Josh Urquart, headed against the bar before Edgware scrambled the ball away. Town countered and were unlucky to see an attempted lob clear the bar. Rangers took a deserved lead on 24 minutes when Wyllie was fouled on the edge of the box. The inform striker dusted himself off before planting a superb free kick powerfully in off the far post. Edgware reacted and their pacey forwards began causing a few problems at the other end. Eight minutes after the home side had taken the lead Town were level. Some sloppy defending in the Rangers back line presented the ball to their opponents and Town's striker was fouled as he attempted to get his shot off, a penalty was awarded and duly put away with panache. Edgware were on the front foot now and Brooker made two good saves within minutes of each other as Rangers looked rattled. The final five minutes of the half saw Rangers regain some composure with the visiting custodian denying both Yearwood and Wyllie.

The second period started with Schmidt firing over following a pass from Wyllie. The latter then had a good run into the box and looked to be impeded, but despite calls for a penalty the referee waved play on. The home side then forced a series of corners before Wyllie flashed a shot across a gaping goalmouth with no one able to add a finishing touch. Another Rangers corner and skipper Joel Read should have scored after he was afforded a free header, which went straight at the keeper. The breakthrough came after a good strike from Squire-Adams was parried by Town's gloves-man, only for the impressive Coles to score from the rebound with a stooping header. It was a deserved lead and Rangers continued to press for another with Adam Morris' driven free kick well claimed by the keeper. Coles, in his usual tenacious manner, burst through and forced another save. With 82 minutes gone Rangers got their third following some good build up play had earned a corner. Morris picked out Kedzierski on the edge of the Edgware penalty area and the industrious midfielder smashed an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net. Many teams would have folded at this stage but Edgware came back with some forceful attacking play that pushed Rangers back. With the home side defending deep Edgware pulled one back during injury time with a fine finish following a clever dribble through the packed Rangers area. There followed a couple of nervous minutes but the home side saw out the game to earn an away tie at AFC Hayes in the next round.

Next up for Risborough is a home league fixture against an inform Ardley United on Tuesday night. Kick off at the BEP Stadium is 7.45pm.

Rangers Man of the Match: Sean Coles. A constant threat down the Edgware left flank, setting up chances for his team-mates and scoring one himself with a reactive finish. The substitution of the Edgware left back early in the second half was testament to his endeavour. Mixes his game with skill, pace and aggression.