FC Romania 2 Heybridge Swifts 1

FA Cup Preliminary Round, Sunday 31st August 2014

FCR caused a 'cupset' of sorts by knocking out Ryman North side Heybridge Swifts this afternoon at Theobalds Lane.  Swifts took an early lead when Billy Hunt won the ball on the edge of the box and swivelled before smacking the ball into the far corner past the keepers hand making it 0-1 to Swifts. FCR began to get into their stride there after, putting together some lovely moves before they levelled on 24 minutes from a corner which was met by a towering header from centre back Claudiu Vilcu for 1-1.  FCR's diminutive winger Ilie Vasile was causing Swifts plenty of problems and most of the home sides play was going through him.  Five minutes before half time and the home side went in front when a pinpoint ball over the Swifts defence was latched onto by striker Sorin Bugiu who took a touch before firing past keeper Sambridge to send the FCR fans wild with joy.   FCR missed two golden chances to increase their lead at the start of the second half before a flashpoint on 63 minutes saw Claudiu Vilcu sent off for an apparent head butt during a melee in the home sides penalty area.  The referee also awarded a penalty for the infringement but Neil Richmond saw his spot kick saved.  Swifts created a couple of chances thereafter but could not capitalise on their one man advantage.  On 85 minutes FCR broke away but this attack was ended illegally by Swifts Andy Tomlinson who was duly shown a second yellow to make it ten against ten.  FCR managed to hold out for the win and take them through to a date with either Redbridge or AFC Sudbury in the 1st Qualifying Round.

  

Chelmsford City 1 Staines Town 3

Conference South, Saturday 30th August 2014

City were defeated for the first time in four outings going down 3-1 at Melbourne to Staines Town.  After both sides had a sight of goal Town took the lead in the 21st minute with a very much route one look to it.  A long ball over the top of the City defence saw three players converging on the bouncing ball, City keeper Eyre and defender Haines and Town forward Willock, and it was Willock who won the race to the ball and headed over the advancing Eyre into the unguarded net for the opening goal.  City's Cheek missed a golden chance on 34 minutes before the home side levelled from the penalty spot through Southam bang on half time after Haines was bundled over in the box.  However the second half was only eight minutes old when Town restored their lead when a cross into the box was headed towards the corner of the goal by Willock but somehow keeper Eyre let the ball go through his hands and it nestled in the bottom corner.  It was poor keeping and should of been saved.  City put numerous crossed into Town's box thereafter but failed to covert any of these chances and Town stood firm, choosing to soak up the pressure and hit City on the counter.  And on 86 minutes they sealed the match when Theophanous was played in on goal and he knocked the ball past an advancing Eyre into the corner to send the dozen or so Town fans behind the goal wild with delight.

Basildon United 0 Bowers & Pitsea 3

Essex Senior Cup 1st Round, Wednesday 27th August 2014

Bowers won the Essex derby at Gardiners Close this evening by 3 goals to nil. In a poor first half Bowers controlled most of the possession and the best chance fell to them a minute before the break when Simon-Parson's centre was headed downwards towards the corner by Fergus but keeper Harley saved well. Ten minutes into the second half and Bowers broke the deadlock when Wilson's cross into the six yard box was tapped home by Simon-Parson to give the away side a 1-0 lead. Both teams then created a chance each before Basildon had a five minute spell of sustained pressure towards the last ten minutes of the game. However it was Bowers who doubled their lead on 84 minutes when substitute Hine's cross shot from the right looped over keeper Harley and in off the inside of the post. Bowers sealed the win with three minutes to go when the ball was played to another substitute Whitnall who cut back inside and hammered the ball past Harley. Bowers now meet Stansted away in the next round.

Burnham Ramblers 2 Maldon & Tiptree 1

Ryman North, Monday 25th August 2014

Today I made the trip to Leslie Field, home of Burnham Ramblers for a local derby against Maldon & Tiptree.  The weather was typically bank holiday ish and the rain was teaming down, so an entertaining game was forecast.  And so it was.  Both teams had chances before Burgess side footed Burnham into a 33rd minute lead.  Maldon came onto the away side more in the second half and dominated the majority of the half with Burnham playing on the counter.  Maldon just could not find that finish and paid for their misses when Menga doubled Burnham's lead on 87 minutes before Maldon finally grabbed one back when Sartain nodded in three minutes into stoppage time. They almost got an unlikely leveller five minutes into stoppage time but Eagle's header went well wide.  So Burnham grabbed the points in a very entertaining derby.

Southend Manor 3 Stansted 1

GBM Trophy 1st Round, Wednesday 20th August 2014

So for the third week in a row I got to see Stansted and for the second week running I got to see Manor v Stansted. This time it was for a place in the 2nd Round of the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy, started earlier this year to prevent a back log of games like the end of last season. Anyway Manor manage to record their first win of the season by winning this game 3-1 to progress to the next round to take on Enfield 1893 at their Barrow's Farm home. After Rhys Fatt had forced a save from Stansted keeper Paine following a defensive error Manor captain Nick Henesy bundled in the resulting corner on 10 minutes as Manor began the match well. The away side gradually came back into the contest and created a couple of openings, however Rhys Fatt almost made it 2-0 to the home side when he pounced on a poor back pass on 34 minutes but his touch past the keeper drifted away from goal. Three minutes later and Stansted drew level when after Brower saved from point blank range James Blackaby eventually tucked home the rebound. Manor should have regained the lead on half time when keeper Paine’s poor clearance went straight to Henesy but he could only lob wide of the gaping goal. So the team’s went in 1-1 at half time. After a decent opening spell from the away side at the start of the second half Manor stunned their opponents by re taking the lead on 56 minutes when Fatt fed the ball to Hastings Banda who turned and hit a low shot from twenty five yards out into the bottom left hand corner. Stansted created three more chances in another decent spell thereafter but their finishing was letting them down. Manor made them pay for their misses by making it 3-1 on 79 minutes when Little played a one two with Banda before being scythed down in the box by Hoskins and substitute Harrison Grant rammed home the penalty. Manor played some good football tonight and manager Wayne Seal is putting together a decent squad down at the Southchurch Arena with a lot of hungry young players. They go to Greenhouse London on Saturday for a league match understandably full of confidence.

Southend Manor 1 Stansted 2

Essex Senior League, Wednesday 13th August 2014

So my first competitive action took me to my local ESL side Manor as they took on a decent looking Stansted side. This game started at a chance a minute, first with Manor creating two good chances from Henesy and Chia-Titor, who both hit the ball over, and from Stansted when Ratcliffe hit the inside of the post, all this within the first five minutes. Ratcliffe did put the away side ahead on 10 minutes when a corner came out to him and he beat Priddle from the edge of the area. They doubled the lead on 35 minutes from the penalty spot when Ratcliffe was tripped inside the box by Piper and Ratcliffe picked himself up to score his and Stansted's second goal to lead 2-0 at the half. Manor dominated the second half and after wasting a few chances pulled a goal back with 16 minutes left when Churchill Chia-Titor tapped home a cross from the right. Stansted almost made it 3-1 seconds later when they hit the woodwork again but Manor were by far the better side second half but just could not find another goal.