Erith & Belvedere 0 North Shields 2

FA Vase Quarter Final, Saturday 28th February 2015

So I was over at Park View Road for today's FA Vase Quarter Final tie between Erith & Belvedere and North Shields.  The hosts had come through ding dong of a cup tie at Holbeach United in the last round whilst North Shields had thumped the side Erith are trying to catch at the top of their own league, Phoenix Sports, 4-1 at home, so this was always going to be a tough game for the hosts.  It was equally as tough for the visitors in the first half as a tight affair was played out with minimal chances being created so it was no surprise that the half time score was 0-0.  It was far from boring though as plenty of endeavour was shown from both sides.  However Shields got the all important break through three minutes into the second half as Richardson's flick played Holmes in and he took the ball towards goal and slotted past Kamurasi with ease to send the sizable and noisy travelling support wild.  The visitors seemed to gain the upper hand after this and it was no surprise when they made it two on 57 minutes as Foster broke down the right and then into the box before hitting the ball across Kamurasi into the far corner for a well taken goal.  It really was a tough task for the hosts now as Shields looked solid throughout their side.  Alfie May was Eriths biggest threat and he forced a couple of decent saves out of Shields keeper Robinson but truth be told the Northern League visitors were just a little to good for their hosts on the day and saw the game out to progress to the semi finals at the end of March.  Well done to them but commiserations to Erith who have done themselves proud by reaching this stage of the competition.   I now await my fate to see who ill be seeing take on North Shields in the two legged semi finals.  It's getting serious now!  Wembley is a stones throw away!

Sporting Bengal United 4 Waltham Forest 4

Essex Senior League, Wednesday 25th February 2015

Forest had the first chance after 3 minutes when a cross from the right was headed wide by Callaghan who had beat keeper Dixon to the ball.  Both sides looked to attack at any opportunity and on 10 minutes a good move by the hosts was finished off by Abdisamad but the offside flag had gone up so it didn't count.

Two minutes later a lung busting run from Agua saw him  burst through the hosts defence but his finish lacked conviction and he blasted miles over the bar.  However he was to do a lot better on 17 minutes as Forest took the lead when a shot from Hassana Traore was not held by Dixon and Agua followed up to score into the roof of the net for the opening goal.

Sporting were so nearly on terms two minutes later when a great volley by Gonzalez from the edge of the box was brilliantly saved by Hunt in the Forest goal and then a minute later Forest charged down the other end and Holder found himself clean through from the left but with just the keeper to beat he slotted wide of the far post.

On 24 minutes the dangerous Abdisamad flashed a ball across six yard box for Sporting after a good run down the right but sadly for him no one could get on the end of the cross.  However on the half hour mark the hosts did level when a free kick was whipped in from the right at goal and this was parried out by Hunt but striaght to  Nazmul Ahmed who followed up to score.

Forest nearly regained the lead on 32 minutes  when Holder saw his effort saved by Dixon but two minutes later they did go back in front when a poor clearence out of defence went straight to Hassana Traore who smashed past Dixon from twenty yards or so out.  Sporting then missed two good chances on 35 minutes as both teams continued to create chances galore.

The hosts missed another chance on 40 minutes when a cross was headed over from point blank range by Rahman and then a minute later Forest's Callaghan went on a run at the hosts box but it ended with him shooting inches wide.  Holder then curled a free kick wide of the Sporing goal before the referee brought an end to a breathless half of football.

The second period started quieter than the first but then on 56 minutes Forest's Hassana Traore played in Agua but the latter shot well over when well placed.  Just before the hour mark the same two combined again although this time Agua was the creator, knocking across to Hassana Traore who again blazed over.

Just past the hour mark Forest increased their lead though when sub Ofori squared for Agua to tap home and give the visitors some breathing space.  Forest were threatening to overpower their hosts when on 64 minutes Ofori's cross just missed the oncoming Holder before the hosts came back at their opponents when Rugria's effort was saved by Hunt.

However the game was to take a further twist on 66 minutes when Sporting grabbed a lifeline  as dangerman Mohamed Abdisamad got through down the right and finished across Hunt into the far corner.  Game on again!!  They should of levelled soon after as the hosts missed two glorious chances, firstly when Javier squared to Rugria who missed his kick then Abdisamad struck the next cross wide from yards out.

The game continued at a mad pace and end to end and on 75 minutes Forest should of  scored as Agua and Ofori found themselves clean through on keeper Dixon but for some reason Agua passed the ball past Dixon to Ofori who was in an offside position!!  It was a chance they were to regret missing as three minutes later Sporting incredibly levelled at 3-3 when a cross into the Forest box caused problems and Mohamed Abdisamad poked the ball over the line.

Both teams kept attacking and both teams continued to go for the win, it really was fantastic entertainment!!  With three minutes of the ninety left Sporting's Toro strike from range went inches wide but right on ninety minutes disaster for the hosts as defender Zaman slipped over inside the area allowing Ofori to square to Agua who struck the ball home and what looked likely to be the winner.

However this game was to have a final twist and after Hunt had beaten away a shot by Jama the hosts won a free kick out on the right.  From this Abdisamad headed home in a croweded six yard box to snatch a 94th minute equaliser and grab a point for the bottom side. An unbelievable game with a crazy finish!!!

Southend Manor 3 FC Romania 0

Essex Senior League, Tuesday 24th February 2015

Manor ended a run of thirteen straight defeats with a marvellous win over FC Romania at the Southchurch Arena.  After a goal less first half in which the hosts largely dominated they finally got their deserved goal on 46 minutes when Tom Clayton slotted home.  It was two on 69 minutes when the impressive Aaron Baldwin latched onto a pass before finishing past Moxic brilliantly and Manor sealed the win seven minutes before the end when sub Shay Kelly belted home a rebound after Moxic could only parry out a free kick from Fiander.

Southend Manor 0 Haringey Borough 4

Essex Senior League, Saturday 21st February 2015

Braces from Wallid Matata and Darrell Cox have league leaders Borough all three points at the Southchurch Arena.  Matata coverted a Mcdonald cross on 25 minutes before Cox headed home another cross ten minutes later. Less than a minute after the restart Matata struck home from the edge of the box for their third and then Cox made it four on 64 minutes, poking home from close range after Manor failed to deal with a corner to complete a comfortable win.

Canvey Island 0 Southend United 7

Friendly Match, Tuesday 17th February 2015

Ryman Premier Canvey Island hosted local SkyBet League Two side Southend United in a friendly match and Shrimpers manager Phil Brown kept to his promise of fielding a strong side in this friendly as they looked to keep the match sharpness up for the league run in.  The visitors started well and it didn't take them long to go in front as in the 5th minute Coulthirst and Corr found themselves in on keeper Brown who managed to save but the rebound was smashed in by Coulthirst.

It should of been two on 9 minutes when Coulthirst found himself in on Brown but the forward's effort hit the inside of the post following to Corr who seemed likely to bury the rebound but a lazy finish saw the ball cleared of the line.  It was 2-0 five minutes later though as a lovely slide rule pass from Coulthirst into Brown saw the Blues player slot home brilliantly.

Southend had the chance to make it 3-0 just past the half hour when Corr saw his header saved but then Coulthirst was brought down by keeper Brown attempting to score the follow up for a penalty but Coulthirst then saw his spot kick saved.

Canvey finally had a sight of goal ten minutes before the half when Sykes effort was blocked inside the area and then five minutes later the Blues went close again when Coulthirst laid the ball back to Corr who thumped against the bar from the edge of the box.

Corr didn't have to wait long for his goal though as on 41 minutes he found himself totally alone inside the six yard box and he converted easily past a helpless Brown for 3-0.  It was four two minutes later when Brown charged down a defensive clearence and then rounded keeper Brown and although his effort was cleared off the line he managed to scores the follow up from the angle.  It had been a one sided half and the visitors had totally outclassed their non league opponents.

Half Time: Canvey Island 0 Southend United 4

The second half was only seven minutes old when the Blues added to their goal tally thanks to a goal from Hurst who curled home a free kick from twenty yards.  Canvey's Sykes again went close when his effort from inside the box was blocked and then down the other end on the hour mark Coulthirst's cross back into the danger zone was headed inches wide by Corr.

On 66 minutes Southend made it six when Corr was brought down for a penalty and he picked himself up and duly converted the spot kick.  Two minutes later and Canvey had their best chance of the game when a ball into the danger zone found the head of Tombides but he could only head wide.

With twenty minutes to go the blues threatened again and a cut back to Corr saw his effort headed over the bar by a defender but a minute later it was 7-0 when a ball into the box was headed home by Prosser who beats sub keeper Gislette to the cross.  It was nearly eight on 76 minutes when a Corr header was not held by Gislette but prosser could only poke wide under pressure.

Both teams had made numerous changes by this time as both managers looked to try out different players as this was only a friendly match after all.  With five minutes left Corr found himself in on goal for Southend again but this time Gislette was equal to it and saved the effort before the follow up with blocked.

So the League Two side proved far to strong for their Ryman League opponents but I'm sure it was a good run out for both sides.