So it was only the fifth day into July and this was already my third pre season match in the build up to the 2016-17 season, which begins in less than a month. Tonight’s (Tuesday) venue was the Met Police Sports Ground in Chigwell for Barkingside’s first outing in pre season against National South side Bishop’s Stortford.
However my first visit to the grounds was rather eventful as following a signal failure on the Central Line I found myself stuck at Woodford and with no idea on buses decided to take an hours walk to Chigwell instead!!! Once I got there I managed to walk round the entire grounds before finding the actual pitch the game was taking place on!!! I made it with minutes to spare so all was well in the end.
Anyway enough about my shenanigans and onto the game. Barkingside are back in the Essex Senior League following relegation from the Ryman North Division last season and the club have stuck by boss Gursel Gulfer and have faith in him that he can form a squad to challenge at the top end of the division.
They were up against a decent outfit in Bishop’s Stortford who had finished 11th in the National League South last season and they were under a new manager in the shape of Gordon Boateng who was also looking to shape a squad to better last season’s 11th placed finish no doubt.
And it was the visitors who struck an early blow in this one as they went ahead after just nine minutes of the contest as the Side defence were caught cold and saw the visitors run beyond the back line before a ball squared to Scott Shulton saw him knock into the empty net and give his side an early advantage.
Stortford had certainly began the better of the two sides and were playing some nice stuff as they dominated the early exchanges but then just as the game hit its quarter hour mark the hosts managed to find an equaliser when the Stortford defence allowed the hosts a free run in on goal and the Barkingside forward duly finished via the keepers hand into the corner of the net.
This goal saw an improved Side thereafter as they gave as good as they got against their much higher level opponents and the game took on a real end to end feel for most of the rest of the half, with both sides having chances to take the lead before the break. However neither side could find that second goal and the teams ended the first half all square.
Half Time Barkingside 1 Bishop’s Stortford 1
Barkingside would of been encouraged by their first half showing after their goal and they initially began the second half ok but the visitors gradually began to create some decent chances as they looked to get their noses in front in this keenly contested encounter. However after an hour or so of the contest the game was still very much end to end.
But as the half went on the visitors really upped the tempo and missed some golden chances to go in front as the ESL side clung onto the 1-1 scoreline somewhat, but they dug in which would have pleased their boss.
Side were now resorting to playing their opponents on the break and they almost got in a couple of times near the end when they did manage to attack but Stortford held firm at the back to thwart the hosts of any chance of a sight of goal.
However neither side could muster a winner and the game ended in a draw. Side , although clinging on a bit in the second half, more than held their own in what was a good performance. Lots of positives for boss Gursel Gulfer to work with no doubt in what was a very good workout for both sides.
Full Time Barkingside 1 Bishop’s Stortford 1
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