My latest pre season match took me to the Len Salmon Stadium, home of Bowers & Pitsea, as they entertained a youthful Great Wakering Rovers XI.
The hosts were playing in their final pre season match before beginning there ESL title charge at home to Greenhouse Sports on Saturday whilst GWR were using this match to try out a bulk of their U21 side along with two ot three experienced heads to guide them along.
The hosts fielded a strong side and it wasn’t long before they took the lead as on 4 minutes a corner was headed back towards the far post by Luke Wilson and saw Chris Bryan nod home at the back post with simplicity. Bowers 1 GWR 0.
Bowers were looking very strong going forward and on 8 minutes a long throw into the GWR box saw Luke Wilson’s glancing header well saved by the visiting keeper but there was nothing he could do two minutes later as the hosts doubled their advantage. After the hosts had sprung forward the resulting cross from the left found Alfie Hilton on the right side of the box and he drilled the ball across goal for Jamie Salmon to tap home from close range giving the keeper no chance at all. Bowers 2 GWR 0.
The visitors tried to get back into the contest on 12 minutes when they almost got in on goal but smart and alert keeping from Dylan Skinner saw him come out of his goal to clear the danger before the striker could get to the ball. Apart from this slight concern the hosts were not in any danger as they controlled the opening exchanges and on 22 minutes almost had a third after a ball over the top caught the GWR defence cold but Tom Hine’s finish was poor and straight at the keeper as he tried to lob him.
Bowers threatened twice more on 24 minutes but then the visitors had a decent chance when they found themselves in down the left but the ball squared across goal went behind the striker who could’t divert towards goal. Bowers threatened again on 26 minutes when another long throw caused problems and saw Luke Wilson’s glancing header eventually hooked away from the goal line by a defender.
GWR should of then reduced the arrears just before the half hour mark when a decent ball into the mixer saw centre half Brad Vaughan head inches wide when totally unmarked from twelve yards. He should of at least hit the target but then moments later they did score when another ball into the box saw Billy Johnson power a header past Dylan Skinner and suddenly GWR were right back in the contest. Bowers 2 GWR 1.
However it was the hosts who were to go the closest to scoring again before the half came to an end. Firstly on 39 minutes Luke Wilson drove forward at the GWR backline but saw his weak long range effort go straight at the keeper and then a minute later they went a lot closer when Tom Hine’s cross was poorly cleared straight to Vinny Durrant whose right footed strike hit the crossbar and sailed over.
Right on half time the visitors did have a decent chance when experienced player manager Dan Trenkel found himself free inside the box but he hit his effort across the goal and wide of the far post. It had been a decent half and the ESL side held the slight advantage.
Half Time: Bowers & Pitsea 2 Great Wakering Rovers 1
The visitors came out with more bite in the second half and pushed the hosts back and seven minutes into the half got their reward by levelling the match up at 2-2 thanks to a wonderful curling free kick into the top corner giving Dylan Skinner no chance at all. Bowers 2 GWR 2.
This seemed to rock Bowers a little and the visitors were now enjoying far more of the ball and keeping the ESL side at bay. Just before the hour mark a GWR attack ended with a decent effort just over the bar but the visitors were definitely he better side now as Bowers were becoming sloppy. On 65 minutes a ball into GWR’s box resulted in a foul from the attacking side which annoyed the hosts as they were getting frustrated.
Moments later Alfie Hilton put in a decent cross for the hosts which Rob Whitnell headed at goal but saw the keeper tip the effort wide then the resultant corner from Vinny Durrant came off the post and out for a goal kick. This period of play seemed to wake Bowers back up again as they begin to step it up a little and on 72 minutes a ball into the visitors box by Vinny Durrant saw Rob Whitnell lay off to a team mate who could only drag his shot wide of the post.
So as we approached the last five minutes or so it was still anyones game but a dangerous ball into Rover’s box almost found Luke Wilson at the far post but a defender got in the way, just, to nod just wide of his own goal and then a mistake at the back saw Bowers hit just wide of the far post.
However neither side could muster a winning goal so the result was a draw, which overall was probably a fair result. Lots of positives for both sides to take though.
Full Time: Bowers & Pitsea 2 Great Wakering Rovers 2
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