Two Brad Warner strikes helped the Bees to a fairly comfortable win against Takeley to take their place in the ESL League Cup final against FC Romania on Saturday.
The hosts went into this as big favourites after just loosing out on the title last weekend whilst Takeley had struggled in the most part to finish the season in 18th, just four points above the bottom three. However both teams still had the chance of some silverware to end the season with so this was important for both sides.
The hosts had the perfect start though when after barely a minute a Warner cross found Ben Sartain who thumped home from inside the box and it looked like the Bees meant business here. Credit to Takeley though, who could of just folded after falling behind so early on, but instead hit back with an equaliser on 9 minutes when a slip from hosts centre half Paul Shave allowed Michael Ogboin in to finish past Bobby Mason and stun the home support.
The hosts tried to do their best to re take the lead thereafter and on 17 minutes went close as Player/Manager Craig Gillam laid a ball into the path of Mitchell Hunt whose shot saw the visiting keeper pull of a decent stop to keep the scores level. Just before the half hour mark Sartain thumped just wide for the hosts but Takeley were making this tie a lot more difficult for the hosts than they would of liked.
However just past the half hour mark the hosts should of retaken the lead as after Farhad Nyanja had pinched the ball off the visiting keeper only yards out, the Bees winger smacked his effort against the outside of the post with an open goal gaping, it really was a poor miss and the hosts must of wondered if it was going to be their evening.
But then ten minutes before the break the hosts did go back in front as a Callum Leahy ball into the box took a touch off a defender’s head, straight into the path of Warner, who buried a finish beyond the keeper and into the net and see the hosts breathe a huge sigh of relief no doubt. The visitors tried to respond moments later as a shot was deflected just wide of the hosts goal, and then to rub salt into the wounds saw the referee give a goal kick, just to annoy them even more.
And they were left even more upset five minutes before half time as they fell further behind as the hosts grabbed a third goal when the brilliant Warner teed up Robert Clark to volley home spectacularly from fifteen yards or so and see the hosts go into the break finally in control of this tie.
Half Time Basildon United 3 Takeley 1
The second half began in a rather sedate fashion and the first sight of goal came for the hosts on 57 minutes when Gillam tried his luck from twenty yards or so but it was straight at the keeper and not really threatening the goal. A minute later saw some great football by Basildon and saw Nyanja back heal to Warner whose cross found Clark, but sadly he could not finish off a great move as his effort went just wide.
But on the hour mark the Bees killed this tie off once and for all when a ball forward into the Takeley area saw keeper and defender make a total mess of it and allowed Warner to roll the ball into an empty net for his second of the evening and 40th of a wonderful campaign for the striker. Thereafter the hosts were doing all the pressing and seemingly cruising into the final.
With twelve minutes to go more good play from Warner released Hunter into the box but the full backs cross was mishit away from the Takeley goal and then as the game entered into stoppage time Warner went close to his hat trick as his long range effort was deflected just wide of the visitors goal, then from the next cross into the box Brenden Cavalier headed wide from point blank range.
The Bees were to end the game with a fifth goal though as two minutes into stoppage time a loose ball fell to Bees skipper Jordan Williams inside the box, and he calmly slotted home to complete a comfortable win for the hosts and see them take their place in Saturday’s final against FC Romania at Ilford’s Cricklefields Stadium, which proves to be a very interesting matchup.
Small mention to Takeley, who in the end were well beaten here, but should be commended for reaching the last four in the League Cup nonetheless. The Bees were then presented with their runners up shield after the game, they will be hoping they will be celebrating as winners come Saturday evening no doubt.
Full Time Basildon United 5 Takeley 1
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