FA Vase

Ben’s back in the fast lane

When Ben Elliott made his first appearance for West Didsbury & Chorlton, he scored a last-gasp goal in an FA Vase tie against Bury – now he has Wembley in his sights in the same competition.

by
The Non-League Football Paper Team
22 February 2026

By Andrew Simpson

When Ben Elliott made his first appearance for West Didsbury & Chorlton, he scored a last-gasp goal in an FA Vase tie against Bury - now he has Wembley in his sights in the same competition.
Then 19, he announced his arrival at Chorltonville with a composed finish at the end of a forward burst that had started inside his own half.
“That chance couldn’t have fallen to a better person,” mused his manager afterwards.
Last weekend, more than five years on from that moment, followers of the North West Counties League outfit in a bumper crowd at Brook-burn Road will have fe...

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