Southend Manor Reserves 1 Barking Reserves 1

Essex Senior League Reserve Division, Wednesday 29th April 2015

I was over at The Arena in Southchurch Park to see Southend Manor Reserves take on Barking Reserves in a significant game for the visitors from Mayesbrook Park.

If Barking picked up three points they would pip Thurrock to runners up in the Essex Senior League Reserve Division on goal difference so they would of been up for the challenge no doubt and with Manor having nothing but 9th place to gain you would of been forgiven for thinking the hosts would just go through the motions.

However this was not to be the case as you will see.  Both sides had early efforts at goal and then on ten minutes Barking had a chance deflected wide but it had been a fairly quiet start to the game as a whole.  A minute later the hosts broke through with Kelly down the right but his effort was saved by Baker down to his left.

Not a lot happened for the next ten or so minutes, that was until the 25th minute when the hosts grabbed a surprise lead as a Kelly cross into the area invaded both Barking keeper Baker and Manor forward Beavis allowing the ball to make it's way to full back Jenkinson who headed home the bouncing ball from ten yards.

Barking knew they were in a game by now although on 35 minutes saw the visitors forward Creed get clear down the right but he failed to pull the trigger for some reason and the chance was eventually snuffed out.  Barking did finish the half stronger after a fairly mediorce first half from the visitors by creating a couple of openings when firsly a glancing header from Creed was tipped onto the bar by a diving Warren and then the visitors went close again just before half time but could not break down a stubborn Manor defence.

Half Time: Southend Manor Reserves 1 Barking Reserves 0

The hosts almost grabbed a second with barely a minute of the half gone when Kelly's cross almost caught out Baker who managed to back pedal and tip the cross/shot over and then on 51 minutes the visitors went close when a corner fell to Creed who could only hit his left footed effort over the bar.

Another fairly chanceless period of play followed before a ball over the Manor back line on 68 minutes saw Odedoyin latch onto it but he could only slice well wide under pressure and then four minutes after this Manor really should of increased their lead when the impressive Kagbanda burst down the left hand side and the hosts found themselves two on one but the winger's squared ball to sub Rera saw him miss the ball and the chance went begging.

On 78 minutes the hosts had a similar break again but again failed to capitalise and you wondered if they would end up paying for these missed opportunities.  With ten minutes to go Barking sub Chapman curled an effort at goal but it was straight at keeper Warren.  The visitors were having a lot of the ball but there was no end product thus far.

That was until six minutes from time when the Blues equalised when a ball forward saw Odedoyin turn his marker on the edge of the box before driving into the area and firing across Warren into the far corner of the net.   Barking needed another goal to claim runners up spot and they almost got this with the last kick of the game when they had two decent efforts blocked inside the area.

However they failed to score and Manor held on to deny the Blues second spot.  Manor end the season 9th whilst Barking have to settle for third.

Full Time: Southend Manor Reserves 1 Barking Reserves 1 

Southendian Ladies 4 West Billericay 0

Eastern Region Women's Football Division One South, Sunday 26th April 2015

I was over at Great Wakering's Burroughs Park for an Eastern Region Womens Football Division One South clash between newly crowned Champions Southendian Ladies and mid table side West Billericay in the hosts final game of the season.

The hosts had beaten the same opponents 5-0 a week before to clinch the league title and promotion to the Premier Division so would of been fairly confident of another positive outcome.  They created the first chance on 8 minutes when a great ball from Clifford saw Holdaway into the box but the visiting keeper saved well with her foot.

Two minutes later and Clifford saw her effort deflected wide as the hosts were starting to get into their their stride. A minute later a short corner to Loraine saw her whip a cross towards the near post but the keeper managed to save this was her legs too.  Soon after a free kick was headed over by Holdaway in what was another good chance for the hosts.

Then on 16 minutes came a moment of controversy when the referee pointed to the spot after an apparant foul by the visiting keeper.  Opinions as to whether it was a penalty were different to say the least but this mattered not as it was given and Nikol Chapman stepped up to convert the spot kick and give the hosts a 1-0 lead.  The visitors were very unhappy about the decision.

The visitors were competing well however and they so nearly grabbed a leveller just five minutes later when a superb long range effort saw hosts keeper Beaumont make a fantastic save to her left to keep her side in the lead.  On 28 minutes a cross from the right was whipped in and almost crept into the far corner as the hosts continued to create openings.

A minute later Clifford forced another save from the visiting keeper and then Holdaway did the same but again found the keeper in good form.  On the half hour a Southendian corner fell to the edge of the box and the ball was whipped just over the bar before a one on one situation moments later again saw the West Billericay stopper saving the effort.

With two minutes to the break a cross shot from the visitors almost crept into the far corner but home keeper Beaumont was alert to catch the effort.  The hosts had created quite a few chances but the visitors had played well and were making the champions work hard.

Half Time: Southendian Ladies 1 West Billericay 0

Southendian started the second half on the front foot and had the visitors pinned back in their own half and nine minutes into the half the hosts nearly made it 2-0 when Holdaway had an effort cleared off the line.  Three minutes later they came so close again when Holdaway was played into the box and her ball across the face of goal somehow invaded all and sundry and went out for a corner after taking a slight nick off a defender.

But then on 65 minutes they did get the second goal after a great strike from Norwegian full back Veronica Strand from way out seeing her left footed effort loop over keeper and defender into the far corner.  Two minutes later they had a third goal after another attack saw them break into the box before the ball was squared to Helen Clifford who slotted into the empty net.

On 69 minutes Clifford latched onto a long ball and bared down on goal but saw her effort saved before poking the rebound wide under pressure. Five minutes later a good cross saw Holdaway's header well saved by the visiting keeper down low at her feet as the hosts were totally dominating this half.  Moments later a good run by Holdaway saw her hit a rising effort over the bar.

Rhian Cunningham returned for a second go at the West Billericay backline after she was taken off earlier (roll on roll off subs in this league)  and on 77 minutes she stole the ball from a defender inside the box but could only slice her effort well wide.  Two minutes after this Southendian got their fourth with a very soft goal.  Georgia Holdaway hit an average effort from distance which looked simple for the keeper but the bounce deceived her and let the ball slip through her hands and in.  It was cruel on her as she had been brilliant in the game making many saves.

With four minutes to go West Billericay's keeper was again in action when she had to smartly tip over a header from her own defender after a cross from the right and then soon after got down well to gather another effort.  So all in all a fairly routine win for the hosts after a difficult first half to get their fifteenth win out of eighteen games played.

Full Time: Southendian Ladies 4 West Billericay 0

Saffron Walden Town 1 Great Yarmouth Town 1

I was in the beautiful surroundings of Catons Lane, Saffron Walden for a mammoth winner takes all promotion battle between Saffron Walden Town and Great Yarmouth Town.

A record league crowd of 762 piled into Catons Lane to see if the hosts could gain the point they needed to win promotion to the Thurlow Nunn Premier whilst the visiting fans were willing their side on a win that would see them go up instead.

Walden came out with a high tempo from the start and barely a minute was on the clock when a cross saw Shaun Avis loop a header onto the Bar as the hosts almost had the perfect start.  The next chance came ten minutes later when a corner was headed just wide with the ball almost being turned in on route for a goal kick.

The Bloods continued their positive start when on 18 minutes a free kick into the Yarmouth box saw keeper Molloy come for the cross but get caught in no man's land and was thankful the header looped off target from the hosts.  On 20 minutes hesitant defending almost let in the hosts again but Molloy came out to clear any danger and keep the scores level.

The hosts were causing some problems with long throws into the area and one such throw on 26 minutes again caused problems in the Yarmouth backline and they just managed to head over their own crossbar onto the roof of the net.  The hosts had dominated the game but had nothing to show for it, that was until the 28th minute when another corner was headed past keeper Molloy by James Solkhon with Shaun Avis on hand to make sure the ball crossed the line but it was definitely Solkhon's goal and the hosts had a deserved 1-0 lead.

Their tempo dropped slightly after this although they were still better than their opponents and on 38 minutes they nearly doubled their lead when an effort at goal from range saw keeper Molloy tip onto the outside of the post and out for a corner.  From this corner Solkhon headed straight at keeper Molloy this time and the scoreline remained 1-0.

Two minutes before the half time whistle the visitors finally caused some concern in the Blood's backline as a ball into the box caused issues but the home keeper managed to gather the ball eventually and thwart any chance of a leveller.  Yarmouth then rattled another effort over the bar from distance although the keeper looked to have had it covered but the hosts had totally dominated the first half and went in one goal to the good.

Half Time: Saffron Walden Town 1 Great Yarmouth Town 0

Yarmouth knew they had to come out and score twice if they were to gain promotion and they were a different side having much more purpose about them which had been lacking in the first half.  Eight minutes into the half Yarmouth's Oldham forced the keeper to save from the edge of the box and then just before the hour mark more pressure on the Walden backline saw Clements slice well wide of the target but the visitors were now the better side.

On 62 minutes the hosts almost scrambled a goal from yet another long throw in as one such throw went over keeper Molloy's head but saw one of his defenders behind him to control on the goal line and boot clear before any Bloods player could capatilise.  Then on 65 minutes a moment of stupidity saw the hosts go down to ten men after a kick out and gave the visitors the belief that they could now get something from this game.

Seven minutes after this moment Yarmouth were level when good play by Deeks down the left hand side saw him burst into the box and drill the ball into the six yard box where M Forbes thumped home a close range volley and mean that one more goal would take Yarmouth up into the Premier Division.

Two minutes after the goal Yarmouth's Oldham drilled a shot into the side netting as the visitors were now looking the more likely to score the next goal as the hosts were struggling to get a foot hold in the game and were really having to dig deep.  Then with ten minutes to go came the chance that Yarmouth were waiting for.  A great ball saw Crux break free down the left and he found himself one on one with the keeper but the Yarmouth winger could only lift his effort over the bar as the keeper came to narrow the angle.  It was a massive chance for the visitors.

Ten more nervy minutes passed as the majority of the record crowd were really getting behind their side it what was a fantastic atmosphere.  It was a tense last few minutes and you felt there was one more twist to come.  However on 90 minutes Yarmouth were reduced to ten men when Solkhon was caught in the face by a high boot from Deeks although the Yarmouth player had no idea the Bloods full back was there.  However the referee, after consulting his linesman, sent off Deeks.  It was very harsh to say the least as it appeared to look like an accidental challenge to me. Solkhon received lengthy treatment but he did get to his feet eventually which was good to see.

This rather killed off Yarmouth who never really threatened in the ten or so minutes of stoppage time that were played and the hosts saw out the remainder of the contest to gain promotion to the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division and cue celebrations on the pitch with their supporters.

Full Time: Saffron Walden Town 1 Great Yarmouth Town 1

Southend Manor 2 Basildon United 1

Essex Senior League, Tuesday 21st April 2015

So for the final time this season I found myself at my local side Southend Manor as they hosted local rivals Basildon United at The Arena for their final match of the season.
The hosts had to win to stand any chance of finishing outside the bottom two and with the FA to decide whether to relegate any sides from the ESL this season still undecided it was important that Manor made sure they finished outside the bottom two just to be sure.
Basildon on the other hand were sitting in 13th and had nothing to play for other than pride and obviously this being a derby they wanted to win more than anything else (and to revenge Manor's 3-2 win at The Hive a few weeks ago no doubt).
There was a blow for the hosts early on though when experienced forward Aaron Baldwin pulled his hamstring and had to be replaced after five minutes although this didn't seem to effect them to much as they took a 9th minute lead when a ball to Rhys Fatt saw him control well first time and then lay it to Nick Henesy who struck past keeper Martin from the edge of the box and give Manor the ideal start.
Henesy could of had a second three minutes later when he received the ball inside the box about fifteen yards out but his effort sailed way over.   Basildon should of been level soon after when defender Braithwaite headed over a corner whilst completely unmarked as the Bees looked to hit back as soon as possible.
The Bees created another chance on 17 minutes as Bush beats the offside trap and as Phillips came out to narrow the angle the striker lifted the ball over him but also over the bar as well but it was mighty close.  The visitors went closer still four minutes later when ex Manor player Ben Sartain hit a shot inches wide of the post and you felt that a goal was coming.
A ball forward into the Manor box on 26 minutes saw full back Alex Stephenson intercept the ball but inadvertendly play it to striker Bush who hit over the goal and then just before the half hour the Bees nearly scored when firstly a Craig Gillam free kick fell to Leahy whose shot was deflected just wide and then from the corner Leahy headed against the bar.
Manor almost made Basildon pay for their near misses when Rhys Fatt turned and struck a decent long range effort at goal on 34 minutes but saw keeper Martin equal to it but on 37 minutes they did make it 2-0 in bizarre fashion when a Martin Fiander corner to the near post saw the defender on the post duck and this surprised keeper Martin who could only palm the ball into his own net for a comical own goal.  It kind of summed up The Bees luck in this game.
On 39 minutes Rhys Fatt played a lovely ball into Ngandu but he failed to connect with the ball and it drifted out for a goal kick but had he made contact with his head it would have probably been 3-0.  The Bees had another chance two  minutes before the break when Hammond got in down the left but his effort was sliced well wide and saw the hosts head into the break two goals to the good.
Half Time: Southend Manor 2 Basildon United 0
Basildon came out in pursuit of getting back into this contest by putting the Manor defence under more pressure but it took until the 58th minute for them to finally break through when player/manager Craig Gillam beat the offside trap to round Phillips and slot home to make it 2-1 and game on.
Five minutes later and Braithwaite had another header in front of goal but he got it all wrong and it sailed miles wide.  Manor's Ngandu then missed an open goal on 67 minutes after a poor defensive header had left Martin in no mans land but the linesman's flag had gone up for offside anyway so it mattered not.
Basildon though continued to knock on the Manor door and on 73 minutes another set piece caused the hosts problems and saw Sinnott head wide whilst under pressure but he really should of done better in all honestly.  Then with fifteen minutes left Ben Sartain rattled the Manor bar from a free kick and Phillips saved the follow up.
Incredibly Sartain hit the  bar from another free kick a minute later as Manor's goal led a charmed life to say the least.  Craig Gillam then got in down the right and could only drag his effort wide of the far post as Manor breathed again and then with ten minutes left Gillam turned well on the edge of the box but hit his effort high and wide.
With four minutes left another ball into the Manor box was cleared but then headed back into the danger area and saw Lorenzo Ramsey back head the ball over keeper Phillips and drop agonizingly wide of the post.  Then on 89 minutes you kind of sensed it was Manor's day when a ball back into the six yard box saw Ramsey put the ball over the bar from barely three yards out with the goal gaping.  It really was one of those 'Unbelievable Geoff' moments.
Manor's Hall struck a long range effort over the bar in stoppage time but Manor held on to win and pull themselves back above Greenhouse into 18th place.  Greenhouse require a win at Hullbridge on Saturday in their final match to pull themselves out of the bottom two so for now Manor hold the advantage.
Full Time: Southend Manor 2 Basildon United 1