AFC Stoneham lifted the 2025-26 Isuzu FA Vase at Wembley, beating Cockfosters 4-2 in a dramatic shootout after it finished goalless in regular time.
A save from Purps stopper Callum Lee and a penalty miss from Cockfosters defender Junior Moses earned the club the coveted silverware under the arch.
Despite several chances, including both sides hitting the crossbar, it was a spot-kicks that decided the outcome of the final.
Cockfosters dealt with the early Stoneham pressure and there were some promising attacking moves – the best of which came from Kendall Gyamfi just before the ten minute-mark, heading over from close-range.
Both sides tussled for possession and Gyamfi was eager to find the back of the net, as he broke forward into the six-yard box but had his shot blocked by the Stoneham defence.
The Fosters, who recently missed out on promotion from the Spartan South Midlands Football League, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Winslow United in the Premier Division play-off final earlier this month.
The Purps have also enjoyed a successful season, dominating the Wessex Premier League table, finishing 14 points clear of second-placed Hamble Club on 96 points.
Gyamfi had the best chance of the game in the 33rd minute. The forward shrugged off a defender before missing a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, scuffing the floor.
The second half started with Gyamfi continuing his search for an opener after just two minutes, hitting the crossbar from close-range after a spilled corner from Stoneham goalkeeper Lee.
Junior Mubiayi hit a thunderous strike over the bar just shy of the ten-minute mark of the second period, firing into the stands from the edge of the box.
Tom Annetts failed to find the net in the 59th minute, firing over the bar after a great pull-back from teammate Tyrrell Sampson.
Stoneham had another opportunity in the 65th minute, as Dan Miller headed just over from an Annetts set-piece on the left-hand side of the box.
The opportunities kept coming for the Purps, as Duarte Martins headed onto the bar before Lewis Nagle drilled a shot goalward, which was blocked by the defence to prevent an opener just a minute later.
Teddy Stacey produced a goal-saving challenge for Cockfosters with around ten minutes remaining, denying substitute Owen Fee the chance to make an immediate impact.
It all came down to penalties and Purps stopper Lee was the hero, keeping out Adam Hastings who stepped up to take Cockfosters’ second effort from 12 yards.
Moses fired over the bar in the final kick of the shootout, smashing his effort high and wide to seal the win for the Stoneham.
AFC Stoneham: 1 Callum Lee (GK), 3 Lewis Nagle, 4 Mat Bainbridge, 5 Dan Miller, 6 Ashley Wells, 7 Tom Annetts, 8 Alex Welch (C), 9 Tyrrell Sampson, 10 Oliver Jenkins, 11 Duarte Martins, 26 Jake Thomson
Substitutions: 20 Arty Kerton for Jenkins 46’, 14 Callum Laylock for Bainbridge 69’, 12 Owen Fee for Martins 80’, 2 Ryan Cluett for Wells 90+5’, 16 Jim Orvis for Welch 90+7’
Substitutes not used: 15 Cade Dyer, 17 Jamie Johnston
Manager: James Phillips
Cockfosters: 1 Connor Sansom (GK), 2 Egan Ntege, 3 Junior Moses, 5 Jay Lovell (C), 6 Jandir Da Cruz, 9 Kendall Gyamfi, 10 Junior Mubiayi, 11 Cory Ugbomah, 13 George Lutaaya, 18 Ollie Sotoyinbo, 21 Teddy Stacey
Substitutions: 15 Luca Gordon for Sotoyinbo 75’, 17 Adam Hastings for Ugbomah 77’, 8 Max Jessop for Stacey 86’, 23 Joseph Shenouda for Gyamfi 86’, 12 Matt Shaw for Ntege 86’
Substitutes not used: 4 Matt Thomson, 19 Conrad Holland
Manager: Gavin Kelsey
