The FA Carlsberg Vase Final
AFC Totton 1 Truro City 3
13 May 2007
Attendance 27,754
Two goals from Kevin Wills inspired Truro City to become the first Cornish side to win The FA Vase as they came back from one down the beat AFC Totton 3-1.
Wills, a former Plymouth Argyle midfielder, scored either side of the break, with Joe Broad adding a late third, to give Dave Leonard's side victory at Wembley and the manager a personal Vase treble.
As a player, Leonard was a two-time Vase winner with Tiverton Town in 1998 and 1999, and can now add another medal to his collection. But it wasn't all about Truro, who were pushed all the way by a valiant effort from Totton, and had it not have been for two goal-line clearances, it could have been their name on the trophy instead.
The teams entered the field to a noisy welcome from The FA Vase record 27,754 crowd. If this stadium can generate that sort of sound when it's less than half full, what will it be like next Saturday when Chelsea meet Manchester United?
But instead of making the players nervous, both sides set on each other with one thing in mind. Taking home The FA Vase. And it was end to end stuff for much of the first half, with Truro - runaway winners of the Western league - playing the more attractive football, but AFC Totton - runners up in the Wessex League, creating opportunities on the counter-attack.
Mark Osman had the first real opening for Totton, unsettling the Cornish defence when a hopeful ball was played forward, but his looping shot went just wide.
At the other end, Stewart Yetton was looking for his 72nd goal of an incredible campaign, and had his first chance with a header but it was never going to trouble Iain Brunnschweiler in the Hampshire net.
The gloomy clouds and drizzly conditions couldn't dampen the day for the fans either. An early Mexican Wave began in the Totton section and was taken up by the Truro fans at the other end. The first half excitement also followed that pattern as first the Hampshire then the Cornwall support had goals to cheer.
Osman was again involved as he broke down the right on 28 minutes and rolled a teasing ball across the face of the goal and Jake Ash played safe putting the ball away for a corner. The resulting cross looked routine for Daniel Stevenson to pluck from the sky, but the gaggle of bodies beneath him made the task more tricky and the ball fell to Totton defender Danny Potter.
With his back to goal, he turned to fire through the busy six-yard box and into the roof of the net.
He peeled away pointing to the back of his shirt, not really sure how to celebrate his Wembley goal. The Totton supporters didn't have the same problem.
Totton almost extended their lead just before half-time, but Osman's jinking run, beating three players on the corner of the box, ended with his delicate chip going just wide of the far post.
That looked to be the last of the chances for the first period, but when a looping, swirling ball dropped from the sky just inside the Totton area, Kevin Wills controlled it and beat his man in one movement before cutting inside and firing a low drive past Brunnschweiler. Game on.
After losing the advantage at a vital moment, the Stags of Totton, like the sunshine over Wembley, came out fighting after the break looking to get back in front. Osman's running was tireless and they attacked Truro with pace and energy and should have gone back in the lead on 54 minutes.
Gareth Byres, who had just had an effort turned away by Stevenson, pulled the ball back from the right to the feet of Mark Gosney. He took his time to steady himself for the shot, and it beat Stevenson, but the defender on the line was not letting it pass.
It was then left to Wills to stamp his authority on the game and put Truro in charge with just over half an hour left. Making space for the shot 25 yards out, he struck, this time with his left. His effort skidded off the greasy turf and somehow evaded Brunnschweiler and found itself nestling in the net.
Fouad Hamodu came close to getting Totton back on terms twice. His first shot was saved well by Stevenson, then when the ball was popped back into the area his header was again cleared from the line. Before Yetton had a header for Truro which struck the bar.
Joe Broad wrapped up the win with six minutes left, linking up with a Truro break to slot Andrew Watkins' square ball home.
The teams:
AFC Totton
1 Iain Brunnschweiler, 2 Kevin Reacord, 3 Matty Troon (15 Lee Stevens, 61), 4 Danny Potter (14 Richard Gregory, 82), 5 Ross Bottomley, 6 Jamie Austen (c), 7 James Roden, 8 Mike Gosney, 9 Fouad Hamodu (12 Dave Goss, 89), 10 Mark Osman, 11 Gareth Byres
Subs: 16 Richie Zammit, 17 Joe McCormack (GK)
Manager Stuart Ritchie
Truro City
1 Daniel Stevenson, 2 Jake Ash, 3 Graeme Power, 4 Tom Smith (c), 5 Marcus Martin (17 Ross Pope, 86), 6 Joe Broad, 7 Kevin Wills, 8 Ian Gosling, 9 Stewart Yetton, 10 Andrew Watkins, 11 Scott Walker (15 John Ludlam, 90)
Subs: 12 Andrew Butcher (GK), 14 Shane Tolley, 16 John Routledge, 18 Chris Reski
Manager Dave Leonard
Referee Philip Joslin (Nottinghamshire FA)
Assistant Referees Ronald Ganfield (Somerset FA) and Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire FA)
Fourth Official Kevin Friend (Leicestershire & Rutland FA)