Synthonia

When FA Vase fixtures come around I always look for opportunities to see out of region teams that I wouldn’t usually get a chance to watch. The modern equivalent of the now retired FA Amateur Cup, the Vase is contested between teams at Tiers 9 and 10 of the English football pyramid, although even teams at this level are semi-professional.

Silsden (red and black) were hosting Billingham Synthonia (green and white) who play in Northern League Division 2. They have one of the more interestingly derived names in non-league football, “synthonia” being a contraction of synthetic ammonia, one of the fertilisers manufactured at (former) ICI Billingham for many years. 

As previously reported here, Silsden are on a very good run of results at the moment, and sit at the top of their league, which is a tier higher than ‘The Synners.’ At 3-0 up they should have seen the game out comfortably, but Billingham got a goal back and then in added time had a penalty which was saved. 3-1 it finished.