FAV F Cockfosters 0 AFC Stoneham 0 (2-4 pens)

17 May 2026

And so, for the very final time this season – a trip to Wembley in glorious sunshine to watch AFC Stoneham in their bid for Vase glory to add to a league title and two other local cups along the way.  I’m not actually sure who needs a report from this one, most people of a Purp persuasion were in attendance and it was even live on TNT!  But I went, so I write, that’s the gig.

A tight, cagey game.  Stoneham looked the more nervous in the early stages but they settled into the match and it became quite an even tussle.  Cockfosters might feel that they just shaded it on the day; both sides hit the woodwork; but the Purps forced the only meaningful save of the match, and that probably sums it up: a bit too much playing in front of the opposition, final balls going astray, neither keeper needing to be a hero until – but that’s for later.

The Londoners started brighter – 9 minutes, a corner not dealt with by the Purps defence, lobbed back into the mix and Kendall Gyamfi might feel he should have done better than head over.  But Stoneham gained their composure and started to play some controlled football (accompanied by loud strains of “we’ve got the ball” from their fans, who had obviously been nervous in those early stages).  Just past the midpoint, the first sniff: Sampson breaking clear and finding Duarte Martins inside the box, superb recovery tackle from the outstanding Junior Moses, best player on the pitch for either side.  Nearly hero, nearly villain – seven minutes later Sampson played a loose pass and Gyamfi had space to run into the box, maybe should have shot sooner, Miller back to challenge and the ball ultimately rolled through harmlessly to Callum Lee.  Martins had another chance for Stoneham shortly before the break when a throw wasn’t cleared but the ball was bouncing and he lifted his shot over the bar.  HT 0-0

Half-time entertainment was provided by Stuart Pearce (older readers won’t need reminding, although I did think most of the players probably wouldn’t have been born when he was famous!) – anyway, Psycho’s view was that Cockfosters were marginally the better side but there were sure to be goals as the players tired…

Almost a breakthrough within 35 seconds – Tyrell Sampson on one of those trademark runs down the left, cutting back but curling his shot over the bar.  Two minutes later, corner for Fosters, Lee punched away through the crowd but the ball was lobbed back in and bobbled against the post before he gratefully grabbed hold of it.  Two minutes more and Ugbomah found space down the right but his cross was too high and too deep.  Felt like Stuart Pearce was right, goals were coming… Junior Mubiayi in space 20 yards out but shot too high… but Stoneham weathered the storm and started to create chances of their own.  First Sampson beat the offside trap down the right and pulled the ball back to Tom Annetts on the edge of the box – a very good chance which sailed over the bar.  Did he briefly see his name up in lights?  65 minutes, foul on Nagle, free kick to the Purps, bundled behind for a corner… to the back post… Martins with the header… back off the bar and hammered clear.  Time was ticking down now and it had begun to feel like one goal for either side would be enough… sub Owen Fee, 8 minutes to go, a clever pass over to Lewis Nagle arriving at the back post with a shot, good smothering save from Connor Samson, the one moment of serious goalkeeper action.  Cue a small avalanche of subs as the respective managers worked out who their likely shoot-out stars would be… Seconds into stoppage time, Callum Lee did face a shot on target from sub Luca Gordon, but it was straight at him and he caught it calmly.  FT 0-0

Penalties, then.  Time for some goalkeeping heroics from someone; a couple of people near us reckoned Samson would save at least two.  Stoneham up first – Laycock and Thomson converted; Lutaaya scored for Fosters but Hastings, up second, saw his attempt saved by Lee.  Too central, not powerful enough… advantage Purps, then.  Annetts and Sampson scored; Jessop for Cockfosters but Moses knew he had to score to keep the shootout going and he cleared the bar.  Desperately sorry for the lad, he was one player who absolutely didn’t deserve that.  But it was done.  2-4 pens.

It’s a horrible way to lose, and Cockfosters more than made a game of it.  I hope they enjoyed their run and their dreams, and good luck to them for the future.  But AFC Stoneham… is there any more I can say about Stoneham this season?  Pride of the Wessex, carrying all before them, the season of their lives.  I made Lewis Nagle their man of the match, always enjoy watching him, but of course we won’t see any of them again next season because they’ll be in Step 4 taking on Moneys and Portchy… Oh quick shoutout to Tommy Barnes, great to see him today too.  Stoneham have been great to watch, a really friendly club, and they made a neutral Wessexer very proud today.  Enough from me – massive congratulations to the Purps, have a great summer off and all the best for next year…