The Sheers travelled to Petts Wood & Holmsdale FC, the ground-share home of Greenwich Borough, for their opening FA Vase first qualifying round fixture.

Manager T.J. Barbato made several changes from the midweek match as he looked to rotate the squad.

Sheerwater made an excellent start and took the lead after just 10 minutes. Good interplay between Zac Jervis and Theo White released Callum Mackie, who drilled the ball into the Borough penalty area. Elliot York finished the move superbly, firing into the roof of the net to put the Sheers 1–0 ahead.

Greenwich Borough responded with attacks down the Sheerwater right, with Abel Vendrell causing problems. Razza Ajibola did well to cut out one dangerous cross and concede a corner. From the resulting corner, Zac Jervis was on the receiving end of a poor challenge from Borough captain Wilf Evans.

The home side equalised on 15 minutes after the Sheers were unable to stop a good passage of interplay inside the penalty area. Josh Shonibare took advantage to fire past Joe Hill and make it 1–1.

Borough continued to threaten, surviving a couple of dangerous corners following further raids down the right. Sheerwater created an opportunity of their own when Elliot York crossed for Theo White, whose flicked header was on target but comfortably saved by Borough goalkeeper Peter Balogun.

The home side then took the lead on 25 minutes. Vendrell beat his man before delivering a cross into Harry Revill, who calmly placed his shot beyond Hill to make it 2–1.

Greenwich Borough continued to apply pressure, forcing the Sheers into some determined defending. Sheerwater were dealt another blow on 38 minutes when Charlie Rose was forced off through injury, with Joel Jennison-Leppa coming on as his replacement.

Borough finished the half strongly, with Vendrell almost adding a third when his cross-shot skimmed the underside of the Sheerwater crossbar.

Half-time: Greenwich Borough 2–1 Sheerwater

The Sheers made two changes at half-time, with Jake Horn and Harvey Valter replacing Zac Jervis and Kareem Foster.

Sheerwater tried to get back on level terms during the early stages of the second half but found it difficult to create clear-cut chances. They did win a corner following an attack from George Sellick, but the set-piece ultimately proved costly.

Borough cleared the ball upfield, catching the Sheers appealing for an offside decision. Stefan Payne was allowed to run through on goal and the Borough No. 9 made no mistake, slotting the ball past Joe Hill to put the home side 3–1 ahead.

There was a dispute following the goal, with the Sheers questioning the decision with referee Charlie Balcombe.

Sheerwater made another change on 61 minutes, with George Sellick replacing Rahman Ajibola.

The Sheers continued to battle and began to find more opportunities. On 69 minutes, Elliot York was replaced by Matt Bryant.

Sheerwater missed an opportunity on 72 minutes following a wasteful pass, but they came close a minute later. George Sellick sent in a cross-shot that narrowly missed the target, before Callum Mackie followed up with an effort from a tight angle that also went inches wide.

The Sheers were then reduced to 10 men when Dan Webster was sent to the sin bin.

Greenwich Borough looked to take advantage, and Joe Hill produced an excellent save on 79 minutes to deny a powerful effort from Austin Tanner.

As Borough concentrated on seeing out the game, Sheerwater were handed a potential lifeline when a Borough defender was caught in possession inside the penalty area and committed a foul. The Sheers were awarded a penalty with just four minutes remaining, plus injury time.

Unfortunately, the opportunity was missed as Harvey Valter's penalty was struck directly at goalkeeper Peter Balogun, who made the save.

Despite the disappointment, Greenwich Borough deserved their place in the next round, having been the better side on the day.

The Sheers will now look to produce a strong reaction when they return to league action against Corinthian-Casuals on Tuesday night.

Full-time: Greenwich Borough 3–1 Sheerwater

Joseph Hill, George Mackie, Callum Mackie, Dan Webster, Tom Blampied, Charlie Rose (Joel Jennison-Leppa 38), Kareem Foster (Harvey Valter 46), Rahman Ajibola (George Sellick 61), Elliot York (Matt Bryant 69), Theo White, Zac Jervis (Jake Horn 46).