Billericay Town 2 Witham Town 0 - An early goal from new signing Decarrey Sheriff & a second half penalty from Moses Emmanuel helps Blues take victory over Witham in latest pre season outing

Pre Season Friendly, Tuesday 23rd July

My final pre season outing prior to me flying out of the country until after the season begins saw me over at New Lodge for a contest between Isthmian Premier Billericay Town & Isthmian North side Witham Town as both teams worked their way towards the August 10th starting date for the league campaign.

The Blues will be hoping to improve on last season sixth placed finish where they just missed out on the end of season playoffs by just three points by at least reaching those this time around and gaining promotion to the next level, Witham themselves will hope they can improve on their 14th placed finish in the North Division although they were never really in a relegation scrap like previous seasons so this in itself was a positive to take from it.

They were only five points off a top ten finish too so a much improved campaign compared to previous ones, so that would be an aim for this season no doubt, to try and break into those top ten positions, for Billericay it was time to try and bounce back into the Vanarama South after a couple of seasons where they had been on a slide of sorts, so this was again an important season for them.

The first half of this contest saw Witham have the majority of the better chances that occurred, Callum Fitzer & Joshua Osude were causing the hosts defence plenty of problems roared on by a noisy visiting support behind the goal led by the superb James Beardwell of course, he really is a breath of fresh air for non league football, so well done to him. They and the small gathering of home fans who gathered behind same goal with their drum certainly made it a good atmosphere.

Sadly for James and his side though, it was Billericay who led at the break courtesy of a 13th minute strike from new signing Decarrey Sheriff who was making his first appearance after joining from Eastbourne Borough and he netted on debut after a lovely run from a Trialist down the left, his cut back found Moses Emmanuel who then played it to Sheriff who provided a neat finish with his left foot into the bottom corner.

The home side hadn't been at their best in the first period but they certainly improved after the break and seven minutes after the restart doubled their lead when the visiting keeper flattened hosts defender Tom Bender inside the box after both challenged for a high looping ball, and Emmanuel turned scorer this time by firing home the spot kick, although the keeper almost made amends by saving it, but could only help the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

The hosts then changed pretty much their entire starting eleven just past the hour mark as more players got minutes, Witham also made some changes as well as the game continued on, this is what pre season is all about, trying out players or giving players minutes to get their fitness up to scratch, it was certainly a good workout for both and more information gathered for both sets of management as they continue their build up to the new season.

Full time Billericay Town 2 Witham Town 0

Chelmsford City 1 Barnet 1 - Rhys Browne strike with just under fifthteen minutes to go earns draw for Bees after a Kane Crichlow header had given hosts lead just past hour mark

Pre Season Friendly, Monday 22nd July

My fourth pre season outing of the new season saw me over at a very sunny Melbourne Stadium for a contest between Vanarama National South Chelmsford City & Vanarama National League Barnet as both sides continue to build up towards their league campaign that starts on August 10th.

Both sides had similar disappointing losses in the play offs at the end of last season, The Clarets lost out in dramatic fashion to Essex rivals Braintree Town at home in the play off semi finals, whereas Barnet were thumped at home in their play off semi final by Solihull Moors, meaning both missed out on a chance of promotion, so no doubt their ambitions were to go one better this time around.

Barnet were the ones to have the first real chances of the contest, Rhys Browne saw a close range effort brilliantly saved by Ted Collins in the City goal, before ex Claret Jermaine Francis also saw a close range effort brilliantly saved by Collins, City then had chances of their own before the half was out, Bees keeper Nick Hayes making a decent stop from Charlie Ruff after the keeper had given the ball away initially, before Callum Watts forced a decent stop from Hayes with the follow up effort from Ryan Blackman going off target.

And just before the break Kalala curled a decent effort just wide of the far post, which meant the half would end goalless.

Barnet then saw a Finlay Wilkinson effort flash wide of the Chelmsford goal early in the second period, but just past the hour mark it was the hosts who got their noses in front when after Sam Oguntayo had seemingly misplaced a pass down the left, he managed to fool the defender by doing so and ran onto this own ball before crossing into the box for Kane Crichlow to rise and power home a header beyond Hayes.

The Bees thought they had responded when an effort from the right was palmed across goal by Collins where the visitors prodded home at the far post, but the assistants flag had gone up, meaning the goal was chalked off, and after City had seen an effort saved by Hayes, Barnet did find a legitimate leveller, and it was a pretty decent leveller too.

In the 77th minute a lovely move down the right resulted in a ball into the box finding Browne who controlled before firing in an unstoppable effort beyond Collins into the top corner of the net, prompting applause from both sets of fans who had turned up to watch this one, and with neither side able to find a winner in the remaining time left. the game ended in a draw.

No doubt another ninety minutes for both sides to find out more about themselves as their build up to the new season continues.

Full time Chelmsford City 1 Barnet 1

Benfleet 1 Hutton 3 - Two late goals see Thurlow Nunn South Hutton record victory against Essex Senior League newboys Benfleet in their latest pre season workout

Pre Season Friendly, Saturday 20th July

My latest pre season match saw me over at a new and improved Woodside, home of Benfleet, and they have finally moved back home for their first ever season at Step Five after spending their entire senior status ground sharing at Canvey Island's Park Lane, some six years or so, but now Woodside has been transformed into a senior ground, so great news for the hosts.

In order to bring this ground up to standard a stand seating around 100 people has been added with two small covered terraces either side of that, along with fencing all around the ground to enclose it, a barrier around the pitch, concrete standing around the pitch, a walkway for the players to walk down onto the pitch from the dressing rooms, and a turnstile.

Dugout's have also been added onto the far side too, spectators can only view the game from three sides though as the dugout side does not have an area for those watching the game to stand in and watch, but that doesn't really matter as the rest of the ground is very neat and considering they only started work at the beginning of the year, it's some achievement and progress to have it ready for the new season. I was also informed it had passed the grading with flying colours only yesterday so all good news as Benfleet prepare for their debut season in the Essex Senior League.

They were up against a side in Hutton who made their debut in Step Six and Senior football last season and they almost ended it with promotion along with Benfleet from the same division, the Thurlow Nunn Division One South, but sadly for them lost out in the play offs, meaning another season at Step Six this season, so they were warming up for a campaign that they hoped ended with promotion at the second time of asking and maybe joining Benfleet in Step Five next season.

For now though it was all about getting ready for the upcoming season which for both starts a week today, Hutton were the ones to break the deadlock after just eight minutes when a cross from the right was headed home into the bottom corner, but three minutes before the break Benfleet levelled when a ball into the box broke to the hosts and saw a lovely powerful finish into the top corner off the bar, and it meant the sides went into the break all square.

A moment of controversy in the second half saw most of us in the stands applauding a wonderful goal from the visitors when a shot from range dipped beyond the keeper and appeared to thump the underside of the bar, hit the stanchion inside the goal and come out again, but the officials were pretty confident the ball had not crossed the line, so no goal was given, so it remained 1-1.

Hutton probably shaded the second period and it was probably fair that they regained the lead with nine minutes to go when a lovely ball in from the right was swept home into the far corner, and then with a minute of the game remaining a lovely control and finish from inside the box sealed Hutton's win in their latest run out.

Both sides now have a week to prepare for another important season, this was certainly a tough one in humid heat so no doubt fitness was improved as more miles in the legs was achieved.

Full time Benfleet 1 Hutton 3

 

Southend Manor 0 Great Wakering Rovers 6 - Brown & Talbot shine as Rovers net six at Southchurch Park against local side Manor in their latest pre season outing

Pre Season Friendly, Thursday 18th July

Some rare Thursday night football saw me over at my very local side Southend Manor as they continued to build up to their Thurlow Nunn One South campaign, and they were up against near neighbours from down the road in Great Wakering Rovers who were also preparing for another season in the Essex Senior League.

Both sides league campaigns begin in a week on Saturday, so only nine days away, so both sides were now entering their final runs in pre season as the serious stuff gets going soon, therefore finding their best formulas and players was now becoming more and more important, and when these two play each other, it's always a battle as neither side wants to lose to the other even if it was a friendly.

It was soon apparent though that the visitors were a step above their opponents and were a goal up inside two minutes when a defensive error at the back from the hosts saw the visitors pounce and fire home into the net, and then with only ten minutes gone Rovers cut through the Manor backline with ease and allowed Harry Brown in to fire across the keeper and into the far corner.

The third goal was just freakish and not one that the home keeper would want to remember, as with the clock on just twenty minutes a harmless ball into the box bounced off the rock hard surface and caught out the keeper who was seemingly coming to claim an easy bouncing ball, but instead he misjudged the bounce and could only help the ball on it's way into the net.

Manor to their credit did try and get themselves back into the contest but were just being punished by a ruthless Rovers side who made it four from the spot on thirty three minutes when Harry Talbot emphatically dispatched from twelve yards after a foul inside the box, and five minutes later Rovers were awarded another penalty, and this time Brown thumped home the spot kick and saw the visitors head into the break with a five goal cushion.

Talbot then added another five minutes after the break when Manor just sat off him and gave him too much time to drive at the area before firing a lovely effort into the far corner for a really good goal, this did prove the final goal of the contest though to everyone's surprise, as both sides made plenty of changes on what was a very pleasant evening weather wise.

Manor did have their moments but found their opponents a yard or so quicker all over the pitch in every way, this will no doubt be a learning curve for the home side and one that they were surely take a lot of information going forward, they do say you learn a lot from such games, and they won't play many sides as good as Wakering are this season in their division that's for sure.

For GWR, it was a decent run out and some more minutes in the legs too as they prepare for another tough season in the ESL, and with players like Brown & Talbot in their side, they will certainly be a danger to sides in that division this season, a season they hope that will end with promotion no doubt.

Full time Southend Manor 0 Great Wakering Rovers 6

Annan Athletic 1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0 - First half header from Tommy Goss proves enough for Annan to get their Scottish League Cup campaign off to a winning start against Caley Thistle at Galabank

Premier Sports Cup Group D, Saturday 13th July

My second game of the 2024/25 season was actually a competitive fixture and not a pre season friendly, and it saw me make the six hour journey to just over the border in Bonnie Scotland for a Scottish Cup tie, known as the Premier Sports Cup, for a Group D clash between Annan Athletic & Inverness Caledonian Thistle. This was also only my second ever game in Scotland too, so that was nice as well.

This did also mean a 6am start too as me and two others, Martin Berry & Kerry Fairless, who I'd like to thank for allowing me to join them on this epic voyage, were heading there and back in the same day, madness for some, pure excitement for us!!! I can never turn down a trip to Scotland either, it's a beautiful part of the world as is the scenery you pass through to get there. Simply stunning, even if we drove through a lot of rain!!!

Annan is only twenty miles north of Carlisle, so it's only just over the border and just west of Gretna, and it's a lovely typical small Scottish settlement, and we found a nice café/chippy that served some nice grub, so after scoffing that for lunch we made our way to the ground, and what a lovely little ground it is too. 

There is a lovely clubhouse with a bar, and also before you get to the turnstiles there is a portacabin which sells all the club merch you wish to want, entrance fee was either £18 for a seat in the very neat stand on one side of the pitch, or £16 to stand either behind the goal in the nice big covered terrace, or on the side on either side of the stand, if you are an away fan then you can either sit at one end of the stand, or stand behind the goal at the opposite end, which is an uncovered terrace.

The other side of the pitch has no stand as it is now just a three sided ground, apparently there used to be a terrace on that side too behind the dugouts, but since the upgrade to 3G, they got rid of that so that side is now just for the benches. Despite this, it's still a lovely little facility and more than enough for a club of Annan's size. 

There is also a nice tea hut that serves quite a bit in terms of food and drink, and a nice area with picnic benches and tables for you to sit at and enjoy those, thankfully it had stopped raining by this point so we were able to do this without getting drenched, the rain did in fact stay away for the rest of the day so that was a bonus considering the forecast was for it to rain for the entire day. What do they know!!!

We managed to find a spot on the home side of the stand, and it wasn't a bad view, even if it was towards on end of the ground, but hey it was still a nice spot to watch a football match at, how would this contest go between two sides who would be playing in the same division this season, something that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.

That division would be the Scottish League One, the third tier of football in the country, Annan only just stayed in the division last season after drawing their huge relegation clash with second bottom Stirling Albion on the final day to survive on goal difference, whereas Inverness, who not that long ago won the Scottish Cup whilst being a Premiership side, fell out of the championship after finishing second bottom in it last season. They are now managed by Duncan Ferguson no less.

This was a new season though, and right now it was Scottish League Cup glory up for grabs and to see who could take the points and get their campaign off to a winning start, the first real chance fell to the hosts but saw an effort cleared off the line, before the visitors got in down the right but saw an effort dragged across goal and wide of the far post.

The deadlock was to be broken though just before the mid way point of the first period when Annan got their noses in front, it came after what looked like a free kick for the visitors in the middle of the park wasn't given, and after the ball was eventually played out to the right, Ryan Muir sent in a lovely cross for centre forward Tommy Goss to apply a lovely downward header into the far corner, cuing dance music being played over the PA system and the majority of the 427 crowd bursting into life to cheer their sides lead.

How would Caly Thistle respond? They should have levelled eight minutes after going behind when they got in behind the hosts defence, but keeper Jamie Smith, who had a brilliant game throughout, made a superb stop to deny them, before it was visiting keeper Jack Newman's turn to make a superb save to deny the hosts from going two goals ahead before the break.

So, Annan had a slender lead at the break, and tbh how they still had that lead early in the second half was beyond most of us as the visitors somehow failed to level when they struck the bar before the rebound struck the post and somehow stayed out, Jamie Smith then made another couple of decent stops to keep the visitors at bay, he really was having a superb game, as was hosts centre forward Goss, who almost scored a brilliant individual goal himself but was eventually denied at the near post by Newman.

Both sides were still playing on the front foot which was great to see, none of thos tippy tappy stuff you get at the top level, it was proper football this, Thistle missed another great chance when heading across goal and wide when it looked easier to score, Annan looked to put the game to bed themselves but were thwarted by a solid Thistle back line.

It had been a very good battle between two sides who looked to play football on the beautiful flat 3G surface, but that Goss goal in the 21st minute proved decisive in the end and handed Annan a terrific three points and a very hard earned win over their opponents who probably felt they should have got something from this game.

A very enjoyable visit though to the Galabank, a lovely club and hopefully they can go on and have a terrific campaign, I also wish Inverness all the best for the season ahead and hope their financial issues that have blighted them over the last few years do not see them fall further down the pyramid, so I wish them all the best too.

It was a superb day all round, a long one at that, as I eventually arrived home at 11pm, SEVENTEEN HOURS after leaving in the morning, but it was well worth it I can tell you, great company and a decent game too, what's not to love eh!!!

Full time Annan Athletic 1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0

Rayleigh Town 2 Great Wakering Rovers 2 - Essex Senior League visitors comeback from two goals down to earn draw against Thurlow Nunn South newboys in a decent contest at London Road

Pre Season Friendly, Tuesday 9th July

My first game of the 2024/25 season was an intriguing pre season contest between Senior Football new boys Rayleigh Town, who had earned their first ever season in Step Six of the non league pyramid after winning the Olympian Premier last season, and last season's FA Vase runners up and Essex Senior League side Great Wakering Rovers at London Road.

Both had begun their pre season schedules at the weekend, Town earning a 1-1 draw against another local ESL side in the shape of Hullbridge Sports, whilst Rovers had been defeated 3-0 at Isthmian Premier Bowers & Pitsea, and this contest was sure to prove another stern test of both sides squads as they continued to find the right formula and players to begin their campaigns in around three weeks time.

Rayleigh drew first blood six minutes before the break after the striker was quickest to react to the loose ball on the byline, and he cleverly managed to cut back onto his right foot before firing inside the near post and hold a slender half time lead, and then eight minutes after the break they doubled their money when they managed to react quickest to a ball into the box, and it ended with a close range finish going in despite a defenders best efforts to clear off the goal line.

It looked as if the Step Six hosts would record a very satisfying win over their Step Five visitors, but Rovers had other ideas, and with eleven minutes remaining grabbed a goal back when a ball laid back across goal was side footed home, and then with four minutes left of the contest a mistake at the back allowed Rovers to nip in but before they could get an effort on goal a challenge came in resulting in a foul and a spot kick, which was emphatically converted, meaning the match would end in a draw.

Rayleigh looked good and at 2-0 up certainly had plenty of positives to look at, but no doubt the late comeback from Rovers would have disappointed them, but on the other side for Rovers they showed some character to stay in the contest and then battle back into it late on to at least show themselves they can do such a thing.

A good contest it was though and a very enjoyable first outing for the new season, it was good to be back after two months off!!!

Full time Rayleigh Town 2 Great Wakering Rovers 2