06 May 2006
VIDEO: The FA Vase Final

Nantwich triumph 3-1 over Hillingdon Borough in a thrilling Final at St. Andrews with some fantastic goals.

Hillingdon Borough 1-3 Nantwich Town

The FA Vase in partnership with Carlsberg
The Final
3pm, Saturday 6 May
Birmingham FC
Winning club receives £15,000




Nantwich Town lifted The FA Vase for the first time in their 121-year history thanks to a goal in each half from skipper Andy Kinsey.

Midfielder Stuart Scheuber was also on target for the North West Counties League side before substitute Leon Nelson netted an injury time consolation for Hillingdon.

Nantwich arrived at St Andrews on the back of a 14-match unbeaten run and began the better of the two sides.

The woodwork denied them after just five minutes when a Danny Griggs cross from the left landed at the feet of Scheuber and his effort from 12 yards hit the post.

Nantwich opened the scoring on 14 minutes when Matt Blake won possession near the Boro touchline as Hillingdon defender Gavin Brown tried to usher the ball out of play. Blake turned the ball back to skipper Kinsey just inside the area who fired a low shot just inside keeper Ben Harris’ post.

Nantwich doubled their lead on the half-hour and Griggs was again at the centre of things, exchanging passes with Kinsey before finding Scheuber on the edge of the area who fired past keeper Harris.

Two minutes later and it could have been 3-0 when Paul Taylor’s powerful drive was palmed around the post by Harris.

Hillingdon’s best chance of the half came on 33 minutes when skipper Kidson was first to react to a Dave Lawrence corner only for his glanced header to fly inches wide of the far post.

Nantwich went close to a third on 61 minutes when Scheuber threaded a ball to Kinsey beyond the Boro defence but the Town captain shot straight at the keeper.

But seven minutes later The FA Vase was as good as won when Kinsey wrong-footed his defender before powering a shot past the keeper. Kinsey injured himself in the celebrations and had to be replaced by substitute James Marrow.

With the game into injury time, Boro netted a consolation when Leon Nelson turned the ball home after Tilbury’s header had hit the post.

Nantwich manager Steve Davis guided his side to FA Vase glory – and then told his victorious players to put their celebrations on hold in order to secure promotion as well.

The North West Counties League side beat Hillingdon from the Spartan South Midlands Division 3-1 in the Vase Final on Saturday, but still have three key games to play if they want to complete a fantastic Double.

After watching Andy Kinsey score twice and Stuart Scheuber also find the target to clinch the trophy, Davis knows the job is only half done.

“We have to concentrate on the league now though because we have to win three games this week to get promoted. I have been trying to get as much as I can out of these lads all season so hopefully we can get promotion as well,” he said.

“I felt that the first side to settle in this Final would go on and do well. We did that – they are a confident bunch of lads and not phased by these occasions. They showed their quality today.

“But I also have to pay tribute to our fans. They have been excellent and have given us fantastic support today. I am very proud to be associated with the club when you have supporters like these.”

Hillingdon Borough Goals: Nelson 90

Nantwich Town Goals: Kinsey 14, 68, Scheuber 30