Newport Pagnell Town made history after they beat Littlehampton Town 3-0 in the FA Vase final.
The Buckinghamshire based side who play in the United Counties League lifted the FA Vase for the first time in their 59-year history after goals from Kieran Barnes and Ben Shepherd eased them to victory.
Barnes gave the Swans a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute when he struck a fantastic effort goalwards from 25 yards out and it flew into the top right-hand corner giving James Binfield no chance.
Kieran Barnes opener for Newport Pagnell Town in the FA Vase is well worth a watch đź‘€pic.twitter.com/trbFCrLcQU
— Ollie Bayliss (@Ollie_Bayliss) May 22, 2022
The Swans remained on top for a large part of the first half as Littlehampton struggled to create any clear-cut chances despite having George Gaskin and Joe Benn on the pitch who had scored over 100 goals between them this season before today’s game.
Pagnell’s number nine, Jake Watkinson, made a nuisance of himself all afternoon and asked questions of the Littlehampton defenders on several occasions throughout the first half.
The biggest talking point of the half for Littlehampton came in the 40th minute when player-manager Gaskin collided with Mo Ahmed meaning the former needed attention and treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off.
The Swans continued their dominance in the second 45 and after just 10 minutes of the second half, they doubled their advantage through Shepherd who latched onto a loose ball in the six-yard area and made no mistake in firing Newport into a two-goal advantage.
Littlehampton looked to try and go for it in the final half an hour after co-manager Mitchell Hand made two attacking changes, but it just was not their afternoon as in the 63rd minute Newport had the opportunity to make it three from the penalty spot.
Good forward play from Watkinson saw him run the channel before driving into the penalty area and just as it looked like it was going to open up for a shooting chance he was tripped by Lewis Jenkins.
Shepherd took responsibility from 12-yards and calmly slotted his spot-kick into the bottom left corner, sending Binfield the wrong way.
Pagnell managed to see out the final 25 minutes with neither side really threatening in the latter stages of the game.
The Swans won their first-ever FA Vase after an excellent display on the day against a Littlehampton side who have had a lot of success this year winning their league and county cup.
Celebration time !!’ 🏆 pic.twitter.com/G0eYqMHdCL
— Newport Pagnell Town FC (@nptfc) May 22, 2022
