Clapton 4 Stansted 0

Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy Final, Saturday 30th April 2016

Clapton hit four as they thrashed Stansted at Burnham Ramblers Lesie Field Stadium to win the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy this afternoon in front of over 200 of their adoring ‘Clapton Ultras’.

The game was billed as a potentially cracking encounter between two evenly matched sides over the season and a tight contest was expected and since the sides had drawn in the league last weekend, there was no reason to suspect any other type of contest.

However the contest started in a rather cagey fashion with neither side able to launch any kind attack and the first shot on target did arrive until the 12th minute, which came from Stansted, as a free kick taken by Jack Isherwood went straight at Pape Diagne, who made a rather comfortable save. The visitors had a half chance on 18 minutes when a corner from the right saw Jack Hayes try to get his head on the ball but he failed to get any meaningful contact on it and it drifted away from goal.

The Tons hadn’t really tested the Stansted goal,that was until the 28th minute, when they sent a cross into the mixer and saw Roddy Lemba rise highest to plant a looping header past Reece Paine in the Stansted goal and into the corner and send the Ultras wild with delight, and cue the Pyro’s which made me and a few others choke slightly in the stand, but it was all good fun and the Tons had the advantage.

They should of been celebrating again just seven minutes later as well after they spurned a golden chance to double their lead when Lemba played in Warren Mfula, and the striker just had Paine to beat, but sent his effort horribly high and wide of the target and saw Stansted breathe a sigh of relief. But this was only a brief sigh of relief as the Tons did double their lead eight minutes before half time when after Mfula had been brought down for a penalty, centre halfEuan Taylor-Reid stepped up to smash home the spot kick and see Clapton take a firm grip on the tie.

Stansted tried to respond but saw Tom Lakin’s header drift wide when well placed inside the box and just before half time Ton’s midfielder Nathan Cook let fly from distance and saw his effort fly just past the Stansted upright. It had been a slow burner but had seen the Tons take control in the final fifteen minutes of the half and just like last weekend, they had a two goal lead at the break.

Half Time Clapton 2 Stansted 0

Stansted went straight onto the offensive immediately after the restart and saw a free kick swung into the box cause slight concern in the Tons defence before Diagne managed to gather the loose ball. However the anticipated Stansted onslaught at trying to get back into the contest never really materialised and saw Clapton look fairly comfortable with their two goal cushion.

Just before the hour mark good play by Clapton striker Mfula saw him tee up Cook, whose shot was blocked and then four minutes after that Stansted managed to get in down the right through Sam Ashford, but his cross was weak and saw Diagne gather the loose ball. Back up the other end and a cross towards the far side of the Stansted box saw Paul Barry in acres of space inside the area, but he took to long to get the ball out of his feet and the chance went away.

You always felt that if Stansted could get one back then last weeks game would play on the minds of the Clapton players, after they threw away a 2-0 lead in that one, but in all honesty this never looked likely to happen and with twenty minutes to go the Tons went close again as a one two between Mfula and Mendez Gomez saw the former in on goal, but his cut back was just about cleared but it was a good chance to seal it.

Moments later Abraham Jariette squared a free kick to Cook whose side footed effort just went wide of the Stansted post and in the 73rd minute Gomez cut onto his left peg before firing at the Stansted goal but saw Paine palm away the effort. Finally though with ten minute to go Clapton sealed the win and the Trophy when Mfula twists and turned past his marker inside the box before firing a deflected shot past Paine into the far corner, and cue wild celebrations once again, knowing that goal almost definitely ended Stansted’s chances of finding a route back into the contest.

And five minutes later the Tons added a cherry to their rather tasty cake when Bradley Joseph‘s ball forward hit a bobble, deceiving defender Mark Roach, and saw Miles Hunter pounce to poke the ball past a stranded Paine and give Clapton a fourth goal in this final.

Deep into stoppage time Diagne came out to claim another cross with authority. It had been a faultless display from the Senegalese keeper today, although he hadn’t really had a save to make in what was a very disappointing afternoon for the Hargrave Park side, who had simply not turned up in this one and were well beaten in the end by a very good Clapton side.

The full time whistle cued a pitch invasion from the Ultras as they ran to celebrate with their heroes and once they had all left the field the celebrations continued with the Clapton players and staff doing a ‘Haka’ like dance in front of their fans, who responded in kind, and then finally they held aloft the Trophy and celebrated once more. Well done Clapton and commiserations to Stansted. The best team definitely won today though.

Full Time Clapton 4 Stansted 0

Harold Wood Athletic 1 Manford Way 3

Essex Olympian Premier Division, Tuesday 26th April 2016

Visitors Manford Way fought back from a goal down at the break to score three second half goals and take the points, giving them a slight chance of winning the Essex Olympian Premier title, whilst denting opponents Harold Wood Athletic’s chances of the title themselves.

This was the visitors final league game of the season and they started the evening eight points ahead of opponents Wood with the hosts having five games in hand, so the visitors knew a win would increase that gap for now and put the pressure on the hosts. Both teams had a shot at goal in the first ten minutes, firstly on three minutes when Manford drilled a free kick just wide and then secondly when the hosts first effort at goal on ten minutes flew a foot or so over the target.

On 12 minutes the hosts keeper saw a backpass hit a bobble in front of him and caused a mis kicked clearance although this was miscontrolled by the visitors and the hosts were let off. Then a minute later came a big moment in the game when the hosts got clear of the defence and saw the keeper come out to try and tackle but in doing so brought the forward down outside the box and after the referee had discussed with his linesman, choose to only book the keeper, when many would of seen red. It was a huge call and a massive let off for the visitors.

This only seemed to spur on the hosts though and they began to take control of the contest and midway through the half an attack down the right saw a cross almost sneak in at the near post, but it hit the side netting before Manford went down the other end and sent a cross to the back post, eluding the keeper but saw the visitors head over. Three minutes later the hosts should of taken the lead when a ball flicked into the dangerzone was volleyed over from right in front of goal.

Just past the half hour mark the hosts headed against the bar before then seeing a looping effort also hit the bar and the keepers hands in one go as he tried to reach up to tip the effort over. And then on 34 minutes the hosts finally managed to break through when Dan Gillardwas sent clear and he rounded the keeper, who had come right out of his goal, and thumped the ball into the empty net for a deserved lead.

It was a lead that was almost doubled five minutes before the break when a long throw was flicked on by a defender but then volleyed just wide by the hosts. However they went into the break a goal up and looking fairly comfortable so far.

Half Time Harold Wood Athletic 1 Manford Way 0

The visitors needed a response and they certainly came out in the second half with much more bite about them and five minutes into the half felt they should of had a penalty kick after what looked like a trip inside the area but the referee said no. Manford continued to put pressure on the hosts and in the 57th minute grabbed an equaliser when Lee Meadows met a corner and sent a bullet of a header into the top corner.

The visitors were now right in this battle now and on 65 minutes so nearly capitalised on a keeper error as a shot was spilled but the stopper managed to regather just ahead of the oncoming pressure, and then down the other end a similar situation saw the visiting keeper just about hold on but he was caught in the process and suffered a bloody nose, forcing a lengthy stoppage for over five minutes.

He was eventually ok to continue but was almost beaten with just under twenty minutes left when he saw a header from the hosts headed off the line by a defender and this proved pivitol when barely a minute later the visitors went up the other end and took the lead as a powerful shot was not held by the keeper and Pete Tyler followed in to score the rebound.

With five minutes left the visitors got in down the left again but saw a shot across goal tipped wide brilliantly and then the hosts felt they were hard done by for the second time in the match when they thought they had found an equaliser as a ball across goal was tapped home, but the linesman’s flag had gone up for offside although it looked like a very tight call indeed.

This was compounded a minute later when the visitors went up the other end and sealed the points and the win when a shot parried across goal went into the path of forward Reece Tranter who tapped home into the gaping goal and give his side a two goal cushion. The referee then added on over ten minutes of injury time, following that lengthy treatment to the visiting keeper earlier in the half, but this brought no more noteworthy action and the visitors celebrated an away win in their final game.

Manford Way have 52 points ahead of White Ensign, who have also finished their season, on 48 points. Then come nearest challengers Kelvedon Hatch on 45 points, but with four games remaining, ahead of Harold Wood, 41 points with five games remaining, and finally Springfield in fifth on 40 points, also with five games remaining. Two of Hatch’s games are home against Harold Wood and Springfield, so those games will go a long way to deciding the destiny of the title. Proves to be an entertaining end to the season, at least Manford Way have given themselves a slight chance after a great second half comeback here whilst Wood will try and get this one out of their system and go again at the weekend. All to play for as they say!!!

Full Time Harold Wood Athletic 1 Manford Way 3

Hullbridge Sports 0 Bowers & Pitsea 9

Essex Senior League, Saturday 23rd April 2016

Bowers & Pitsea put nine (yes NINE) past local rivals Hullbridge Sports at Lower Road to leave the Pitsea side on the brink of promotion to the Ryman North.

I had (now famously) predicted that the visitors would find this a tough game and fancied the hosts to pinch a 2-2 draw as this being a local derby they may well raise their game for this one, but it was soon apparent that the visiting side meant business and on nine minutes probably should of had the lead when Chid Onokwai’s flicks across goal saw Tom Hine head home but the referee saw an apparent push and duly disallowed the effort.

However they did take the lead three minutes later when Dan Trenkel flicked a header across goal for Jamie Salmon to rifle home for the opening goal and two minutes later almost gave the hosts a route back into the game when a poor header back towards goal by Trenkel went straight to the hosts but they could not take advantage and Bowers were off the hook.

And just past the quarter hour mark they doubled their lead when another Trenkel flick on this time found Hine, who wasn’t to be denied his goal this time and slid in to finish past Dan Blockley in the Hullbridge goal. And then came a moment the young home goalkeeper will want to forget, as on 21 minutes a long ball towards goal from Alfie Hilton bounced over the keeper and just went over the line and the visitors had a three goal lead.

And then five minutes later the visitors made it four as a Vinny Durrant corner was headed in byOnokwai as Bowers were finding this way to easy against their local rivals and also were making my pre match preview look utterly ridiculous!!! The hosts were given a good chance to at least get some sort of foot into the tie when they won a free kick in a very decent position, but Sam Taylor struck it way over the bar.

It looked likely to get worse for the hosts with four minutes of the half remaining when Hine was brought down inside the area by keeper Blockley for a penalty but the keeper made amends by saving the spot kick from Onokwai, and keeping the scoreline down to just four for the visitors. It had been a half to forget for the hosts though whilst Bowers were in total control.

Half Time Hullbridge Sports 0 Bowers & Pitsea 4

The visitors came out to try and finish off the hosts once and for all and almost made it five seconds into the second half as after the ball had bounced around inside the box, Hine couldn’tt convert from close range, but eight minutes into the half the visitors did score their fifth as a Hine lob was pawed out by Blockley but straight to Salmon who volleyed home.

The hosts response was to go on an attack down the left hand side but Charlie Little’s cross was just too high for Bradley Morgan, who could only direct his header well wide of the target. Moments later and it was six for the visiting side, and the first of many for full back Durrant, who got in behind the home defence and slid a finish past Blockley with ease.

Bowers went on the hunt for more goals and just before the hour mark Onokwai breezed past a defender with ease but saw his effort saved by Blockley before Jack Gardner struck an effort at goal three minutes later but Blockley got down well to save. Moments after this Gardner again found himself with a sight of goal but he could only screw his effort across goal and wide.

Sports did on the odd occasion go on the attack and with just over twenty minutes to go Luke Hornsley struck a decent effort from the edge of the box, but it was straight at Martin Guest, who made a comfortable stop. And the came three goals in three minutes, all from Durrant. On 77 minutes it was seven heaven for Bowers as a long ball from James Stevens over the top sawDurrant run onto it and slide home before he made it eight a minute later and then with nine minutes to go grabbed his fourth of the game, following in to blast home a rebound after Blockley had made a decent stop from an original effort.

You thought at that point double figures would be a formality but the closest they came to scoring a tenth arrived just before the end when Rob Whitnell saw a header saved by Blockley. So Bowers now need just one win from their remaining two games to gain promotion into Step Four of the non league pyramid and they will also take the title if they win their final two games. It was a day to forget for the hosts, and for me as well, as I left the ground with one huge massive egg on my face!!! Predictions eh…..

Full Time Hullbridge Sports 0 Bowers & Pitsea 9

Greenhouse Sports 0 Bowers & Pitsea 4

Essex Senior League, Wednesday 20th April 2016

A Chid Onokwai hat trick helped Bowers & Pitsea bounce back from Monday’s disappointment with victory at Coles Park against Greenhouse Sports.

The visitors knew that only a win would do following their shock home defeat to Sporting Bengal United two days earlier if they were to keep up their title/promotion aspirations in their own hands and they started well in this one, taking the lead in the 6th minute when a cross into the six yardarea saw Charlie Portway go up to challenge hosts keeper Aliu in the air, see the ball fall loose and the striker duly smashed home from close range. Most people in the ground were waiting for a free kick to be given against the forward but this didn’t come and the goal stood.

On 12 minutes Scott Pethers launched a long throw into the hosts penalty area and a flick on almost got turned in by a host defender but keeper Aliu managed to dive on the ball and avert danger, however, the visitors then won a penalty a minute later when Jamie Salmon was brought down inside the box for a penalty and saw Chid Onokwai step up to convert and the visitors had a two goal cushion.

It took the host until the 25th minute before they had an effort at goal, although the strike went well over from distance although they had come back into the contest slightly since the opening few minutes. However they were always looking vulnerable at the back and a misunderstanding between keeper and defender on 27 minutes almost saw Portway steal in to score but keeper Aliu managed to recover before Onokwai then burst into the area but saw his effort hit Aliu before bouncing off the forward into the side netting.

On 34 minutes the hosts failed to clear their lines but Onokwai’s close range effort was weak and allowed Aliu to save and then six minutes before the break Ross Adams saw his header cleared off the line from a corner, but, deep into first half stoppage time the visitors scored again as a Salmon free kick saw Aliu inexplicably punch onto the back of Onokwai’s body and the ball duly went back past the keeper and in, giving Bowers a comfortable three goal lead at the break.

Half Time Greenhouse Sports 0 Bowers & Pitsea 3

There was no let up from the visitors after the break as they went for a quick fourth goal and three minutes into the second half Portway got in down the right and his pull back found Alfie Hilton whose effort was tipped over by Aliu, then on 52 minutes it really should of been four as a great back heal released Hilton and he squares for Onokwai who stumbled over the ball but still managed to get it back but then fired wide of the target.

Just before the hour mark a good effort from Ramiravelo from distance went straight at Bowers keeper Martin Guest but it was the visitors who were doing most of the attacking, putting more pressure on the hosts and keeper Aliu dropped a ball again from another attack but got away with it as there were enough players back to clear the danger.

However with just over twenty minutes to go Trenkel was pushed over inside the box for another penalty to the visitors and Onokwai stepped up and converted emphatically for his hat trick and the Pitsea sides fourth of the evening. With just under fifteen minutes to go the ball broke to Portway inside the area but saw hosts keeper Aliu save well at the feet of the striker before more comedy from the Greenhouse keeper Aliu, this time totally mis kicking a back pass to Portway, but the forward saw the ball hit his knee and go off for goal kick. It was to be the strikers last contribution as he appeared to hurt himself in chasing down the ball and was substituted. Bowers will hope it’s not to serious especially after Lewis Manor was ruled out for the season with a hamstring problem.

The hosts rallied late on as Bowers eased up and with four minutes left a great run through by Oyemakinde saw Guest come out and hit a clearance against the striker and saw the ball roll towards goal but the visitors got back to hack clear and then three minutes later Serrar fired straight at Guest for Greenhouse although it was far too little to late for the now well beaten Greenhouse outfit.

Bowers take the points then and now know they only need to wins from their final three games to guarantee promotion and Ryman North Football for next season. They can also still win the title too and if they win their final three games this will be achieved. It proves to be an exciting end to the season.

Full Time Greenhouse Sports 0 Bowers & Pitsea 4

Bowers & Pitsea 0 Sporting Bengal United 1

Essex Senior League, Monday 18th April 2016

An 86th minute strike from Abdisamad gave Sporting a shock win at the Len Salmon Stadium, denting hosts Bowers promotion/title hopes in the process.

The hosts knew that a win would take them into second spot and put them well on course for promotion and they started the game in a positive fashion and saw a couple of Scott Pethers long throw’s into the Sporting box cause some alarm in the visitors penalty area inside the first few minutes.

On 11 minutes a high ball forward bounced up over keeper Lewis Lockyer, who had tried to come andclaim the ball, and saw Lewis Manor runs onto the it but his effort across goal missed the target and then two minutes later a cross from the right saw Manor’s header tipped round the post by Lockyer as Bowers continued to search for that all important opener.

However on the quarter hour mark Sporting gave the hosts a warning they weren’t just here to defend and broke down the left with Prince William but his ball across goal drifted harmlessly away. And just before the half hour mark the visitors so nearly grabbed the lead when a great effort from Tunde Adewunmi saw Martin Guest make a good save to his left.

Bowers were finding the visitors a tough nut to crack though and although the hosts had the majority of the attacking play in the half, Sporting were more than competitive as the half ended goal less.

Half Time Bowers & Pitsea 0 Sporting Bengal United 0

And the second half began with the visitors on the front foot and three minutes into it saw Mustafa Kahie’s free kick allowed to bounce through to the far post but it just invaded players coming in at the back post before Adewunmi then almost got onto a through ball but Bowers keeper Guest just managed to clear.

A few minutes later another long throw from Pethers into the Sporting area was only half cleared and saw the hosts head back into the dangerzone but Chris Bryan could not beat Lockyer with his effort, which lacked power. Then just before the hour mark Sporting went close after Toib Adeyemi saw a free kick tipped round the post by Guest whilst back up the other end minutes later a good ball from Bryan across to Rob Whitnell almost saw the striker get on the end of the pass but the defence managed to stand firm again.

Then came a spell that saw the visitors threaten to get the breakthrough and on 72 minutes saw William get in down the right but his ball across goal just missed the far post and then three minutes after this Adewunmi forced a decent save from Guest as it was the visitors looking more likely to score.

Bowers though tried as hard as they could to breakthrough themselves and with twelve minutes left a cross from the hosts was missed by the defence but then also saw Whitnell take his eye off the ball and also miss the cross. He would of been clean in front had he controlled the ball but then with six minutes left came the chance for the hosts when yet another long throw from Pethers was flicked to the back post but Manor could only scoop over whilst stretching although he should of scored.

And then it got even worse for the hosts when two minutes later, in the 86th minute, saw Sporting take the lead when Abdisamad got the ball on the right, cut inside, and drilled home from the edge of the box past Guest at the near post and saw Bowers minutes away from defeat.

The hosts pushed forward in search of a priceless point but were left vulnerable to pacey counter attacks from the visiting side and with a minute left sloppy play from the hosts saw Adewunmi play in Abdisamad whose effort flew just over the bar. Bowers though could not find the leveller and so fell to defeat. It leaves them still a point behind second spot occupied by FC Romania and six behind leadersBasildon United. Yes they have two games in hand on both but the pressure is well and truly on now.

For Sporting this is a great victory in a game they were more than competitive in. Solid in defence and pacey in attack, two attributes that should stand them in good stead going forward. They remain in 12th spot following this win.

Full Time Bowers & Pitsea 0 Sporting Bengal United 1