AMPTHILL TOWN (Ampthill Park)

FA VASE 2nd Round, AMPTHILL TOWN 7-0 BARKING, ATTENDANCE: 150 (est)

I had to head south this weekend for a mates birthday party (happy 40th Barney!) so as the gig didn't start until 7pm, this gave me the chance to get a game in prior to the festivities.

As it was Vase day then that it simply had to be a Vase game. The closest tie to my destination was between Spartan South Midlands League Ampthill Town and Essex Senior League Barking.

Ampthill is a small town in Bedfordshire between Bedford and Luton. The town's name derives from Aemethyll, which translates as 'ant infested hill'. The football was founded in 1881 and joined the United Counties League in 1965. They were transferred across to the South Midlands League in 1991, before league reconstruction in 1997 led to a merger with the Spartan League to form the Spartan South Midlands League, where Ampthil Town have remained since.

They finished runners-up in Division One in 2011/12 and were promoted to the Premier League where last season they finished 5th. At the beginning of play Ampthill were top of their league and Barking were 7th.

On paper it appeared a home banker and boy did the homesters run riot, netting seven goals without reply.  In fairness though Barking were not as bad as the scoreline suggests, it really just wasn't their day. 

Danny Watson headed home for Ampthill after 4 minutes but the first half was pretty even after that, with both teams having chances, but Watson added his, and Town's second just before the interval.

Barking went for it at the start of the second period and they were awarded a penalty, which could have made it 2-1. Dumebi GB-Dumaka's spot kick was saved and from then on the Barking heads seem to drop. Ampthill played some brilliant counter attacking football and everything they hit seemed to go in. Watson completed his hat-trick after 59 minutes and Gary Ridgeway smashed home a superb volley after 62 minutes.

Phil Draycott hit home an even better volley into the roof of the net after 77 minutes before a bullet-header from Tyrone Taylor made it six after 80 minutes. Christian Lester burst through after 87 minutes to complete the scoring for Ampthill.

Cracking set up at Ampthill Park and I really enjoyed my afternoon at the ground.

Ampthill with be at home to Beckenham Town in the next round as they look to better last season's run to the last 16.