Redbridge 3 Clapton 4

Essex Senior League, Saturday 26th November 2016

The final weekend of November saw me over at Oakside for an eagerly awaited Essex Senior League derby between two of the most in form sides this month in Redbridge and Clapton.

The hosts were top of November’s form table with four wins from five league games and no defeats whilst the Tons were just behind them having had a very good month as well. It all pointed to a potentially tight and entertaining encounter indeed.

And the visitors set the tone for the game to follow when Dylan Ebengo headed a free kickagainst the post for the visitors after barely a minute before the rebound was struck wide. However it was the hosts who took the lead on six minutes when a close range effort was saved before the ball hit a Tons defender and went into the net.

Moments after this goal the Tons fired an effort over and then fired one across goal as they looked to try and respond quickly. And on ten minutes they did find the net when Stefan Nielsen beat the offside trap and slotted home to the joy of the visiting management and fans.

This joy was short lived though as just two minutes later the Motorman were in front again asJacob Dingli pounced on some hesitant defending to net from close range although Clapton thought they had levelled immediately after, only to see the flag go up for offside. It had been a crazy start.

And the crazy nature of the contest continued when the Tons netted a second equaliser on 17 minutes as a great run by Raphael Duyile ended with his finish going in via a defender on thegoal line and the game was tied up at 2-2 inside the opening twenty minutes.

Midway through the half the Tons saw a looping header headed off the line at the back post and then moments later a cross shot from Tons winger Ryan Reed hit the bar via keeper Jake Mernagh’s hand and on the half hour mark a good turn from Duyile saw an effort well saved by Mernagh at the near post.

And then it was Redbridge’s turn to have chances and in the 34th minute a corner was turned wide by Sean Kettle then Marcus Carter saw a curled effort deflected over the Tons bar and from the resulting corner hosts skipper Charlie Parish headed over a free header in what was a very decent opening.

Seven minutes before the break saw a hosts free kick to the back post headed straight at Tons keeper Richie Robins and then Robins had to make an unbelievable save from a close range effort by Lee Weemes after Dingli had played a ball across to him and it seemed Weemes would be certain to score. However it meant the sides went into the break all square in what had been a belter of a contest so far.

Half Time Redbridge 2 Clapton 2

It was the visitors who had the first effort of the second period on 52 minutes when they saw an effort from Nielsen drift wide and then four minutes later the Tons somehow failed to score as a close range effort was cleared off the line before a glancing header from the resulting corner drifted just wide of the far post.

Just before the hour mark the hosts went close as hesitant defending saw skipper Parish knock an effort across goal and then minutes later another golden chance for Weemes saw him hit straight at Robins from point blank range when he really should of found the net.

Midway through the half the Tons whistled one across the hosts dangerzone and then Ajani Domingo-Carrington had a good chance for the Tons but saw Mernagh save the strikers effort, however with twenty minutes remaining Domingo-Carrington nipped in to give the Tons the lead for the first time in this topsy turvy contest.

However in keeping with the nature of the contest the hosts immediately levelled the match up once again as Weemes finally buried a chance after two blocked efforts and the game was all square heading into the final fifteen minutes or so.

The chances continued to come and on 77 minutes Tons winger Johny Ashman put a beauty of a cross into the box but no one attacked it and then after a ball was laid back, Steven Sardinha saw his effort go over the bar. Four minutes later a great twisting run by Tons winger Reed ended with his effort from an acute angle going over and then with five minutes left theMotormen went close as Bryan Kyungu saw an effort fly just over before Dingli saw an effort blocked.

With two minutes left the Tons went so close to a possible winner as they saw three goalbound efforts blocked somehow but as the game entered stoppage time Clapton netted the winning goal as Reed finally drilled the ball home after two blocked efforts saw the loose ball fall to him in the box.

The win maintain’s Clapton’s fourth place in the division and thus ended Redbridge’s unbeaten November and sees the Motorman drop to 11th as a result of losing an absolute jaffer of a contest at Oakside. It most certainly lived up to all the pre match hype, that’s for sure!!!

Full Time Redbridge 3 Clapton 4

Brentwood Town 0 Tilbury 3

Ryman League North Division, Saturday 19th November 2016

Saturday afternoon saw me over at the Brentwood Centre Arena for a Ryman North match up between Brentwood Town and Tilbury.

The hosts have had a mixed season so far but are currently experiencing a terrible injury list meaning many of manager Tony Ievoli’s first choice players are not available which hasn’t helped his or the sides cause, whilst for the visitors they sit in the top ten of the division after a very solid season to date.

The two sides met here in the FA Cup earlier in the season and saw the visitors win that battle so the hosts wanted to put that right as well as kick start their league form once again.

Brentwood certainly started well and saw Shad Ngandu whistle one across goal inside the opening two minutes before a free kick from the hosts Nick Hilder, making his debut after signing from Great Wakering Rovers, had visiting keeper Lee Butcher getting across goal smartly to save.

The visitors first moment of attack saw a corner cause a scramble inside the hosts six yard box and saw a close range effort blocked, causing Tilbury to half shout for handball, but this was not given. On 26 minutes the hosts attacked again and saw a lovely ball see Mason Bloomfieldoutpace his marker but a poor touch meant the ball ran through to keeper Butcher.

Two minutes later the hosts went close again as a ball across goal was blocked and cleared by a defender and then nine minutes before the break the visitors had a rare chance but saw a corner headed wide at the near post.

Five minutes before the break saw the home side whip another decent ball into the six yard box but this was just cleared by a defender again and it also meant the half would end goal less, a half which the hosts edged although the game was lacking real quality in the most part.

Half Time Brentwood Town 0 Tilbury 0

The visitors had rarely threatened the hosts goal in the first period however five minutes into the second period they took the lead as a ball drilled across the area was turned in by Lewis Jaggs and only six minutes later they had another as a defensive slip saw Jack Barham slipped in and he duly slotted home for a debut goal and gave his new side a two goal cushion.

The hosts looked shell shocked but two sloppy errors had cost them dear although they almost responded on the hour mark when Ife Ogunbayo had a good chance but saw keeper Butcher make a decent save to keep his side two goals ahead and then on 69 minutes the hosts almost shot themselves in the foot again as a poor pass allowed the visitors to play a pass out wide, before a whipped cross found Barham who somehow missed at the back post but the flag had gone up though so it would not have counted.

But just a minute later they were to fall three behind as yet another sloppy pass from Brentwood to their opponents saw a ball instantly played to Lewis Francis and the winger made no mistake, firing beyond a helpless Joe Taylor and into the net to all but seal the points for the Dockers.

The hosts to their credit kept plugging away and in the 82nd minute whipped in a decent ball which flicked off a visitors head and flew across the area for a corner, which came to nothing, and then the visitors went down the other end and scored, but it was offside again.

Soon afterwards Ogunbayo found himself in on goal but saw Butcher make another save to preserve his clean sheet. It was the last real attempt on goal from either side and the points went to the visitors thanks to three second half goals. For the hosts it was a frustrating day in front of goal and only a sloppy start to the second period cost them today.

However it was a good win for the Dockers who now move into the top six and only five points behind the leaders, whilst Brentwood sit just two places and four points above the drop zone, however once their injuries clear up I am sure they will pull clear of those relegation places.

Full Time Brentwood Town 0 Tilbury 3

Cockfosters 1 Wembley 2

The Buildbase FA Vase 2nd Round Proper, Tuesday 15th November 2016

Tuesday night and some FA Vase Second Round Proper action as I made my first visit to Chalk Lane, Cockfosters, as hosts Cockfosters took on Wembley.

Both sides play in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division and sit third and fourth respectively so a good contest was expected.

The match should of taken place on Saturday but due to an unplayable surface at the weekend the match was postponed until this evening. The winners would host Peterborough Sports in the next round of my Vase trail so a tough opponent awaited these two.

However these two would find each other a tough nut to crack no doubt and so it proved. The first effort came after five minutes from the hosts but it was an easy save down to the keepers right before the home side volleyed a cross well over two minutes later as the game had started at a good tempo.

The visitors first opening came on nine minutes when a good ball found the visitors in but a great last ditch challenge thwarted the attacker and then five minutes later came a concerning moment for the visitors keeper as his own defender misplaced a back header beyond him but the keeper managed to chase back and grab the ball, then moments later was forced to save from point blank range as the hosts threatened again.

Midway through the half saw an effort from Wembley come when the ball dropped to them on the edge of the box but saw a decent effort well held by keeper before moments later only a great save from hosts keeper Byfield denied a terrific curling effort which was headed for the top corner.

Eight minutes before the half time break the hosts went close as firstly a defensive block denied an effort on goal then the keeper saved a second effort at the feet of a striker before a minute later another effort from the hosts was saved as they begin to crank up the pressure.

A minute before the break a Wembley corner caused some concern but ended up drifting away for a goal kick and soon after the whistle went for half time and although the hosts were edging the contest the game was finely balanced at the break.

Half Time Cockfosters 0 Wembley 0

Whatever was said to Wembley in the changing rooms at half time woke them up as they began the second half much the better side and seven minutes into it saw a good move end with a weak left footed effort at keeper Byfield.

Moments later and the hosts almost gave the visitors the lead in calamitous fashion as a misunderstanding between defender and keeper almost allowed the visitors to walk into an empty net but the hosts just about recovered the situation, before minutes later the visitors saw a free kick come off the bar as they looked to turn the screw.

Just before the hour mark a good break from the hosts saw a defensive block inside the six yard area deny them however in the 65th minute came the opening goal which went the way of the hosts as the visitors failed to clear the ball into the box and saw the loose ball rammed into the roof of the net by Ben Hart.

But this lead lasted only three minutes as Wembley levelled as Joe Wright netted a rebound after keeper Byfield had saved an initial effort from the visitors, meaning the tie was right back in the melting pot again.

And on 79 minutes came a great chance for the visitors to take the lead when they got in on goal but the effort was dragged wide of the far post and then a minute later came the hosts chance as they broke clear but saw their effort tipped inches wide of the far post.

But the winner was to arrive for one of these sides and with seven minutes left saw the visitors smash home a loose ball inside the box via Byfields hands and give the visitors a passage into Round Three and a home tie with Peterborough Sports on December 3rd.

Full Time Cockfosters 1 Wembley 2

Tower Hamlets 1 Barkingside 3

Essex Senior League, Monday 14th November 2016

Monday night football for the current week saw me over at the Mile End Stadium for an ESL clash between Tower Hamlets and Barkingside.

The hosts were looking to try and put a three games loosing streak behind them whilst the visitors were looking to make it back to back league wins after victory at Clapton at the weekend.

The hosts began the better though and on three minutes went close to taking lead as a long range effort skipped up off the wet surface, bounced off keeper Jack Francis in goal, but was alert enough to tip over the follow up effort from Ruben Junior.

However a minute later the hosts did take the lead as after the visitors failed to clear a corner kick, Rahim Adama Bamba netted from close range and give the home side an early advantage.

The goal seemed to wake Barkingside up though and immediately from the restart almost got in but saw host keeper Jean Manata just gets to ball first before the lurking visiting attack nipped in to surely score.

On eleven minutes good football from the visitors saw Jason Fontaine in on goal but his effort forced a good save from Manata but on the quarter hour mark the away side found an equaliser as a ball squared to Marvin Birch saw the midfielder side foot home from twelve yards and see the game all square.

The visitors continued to attack and midway through the half went close as two efforts were blocked inside the box but just past the half hour mark it was the hosts who so nearly retook the lead as Jairo Pedro cracked an effort against the bar before moments later the visitors should of taken the lead when Adam Ademilya got through on goal but keeper Manata saved again.

And then with just over ten minutes of the half left Barkingside should of taken the lead when they were awarded a penalty following a handball inside the box, but David Laird saw his spot kick tipped onto the post by Manata to keep the scoreline at 1-1. But it only stayed this way for a further two minutes as Side did manage to take the lead as Fontaine burst through to eventually loft the ball over a stranded Manata and into the net.

The hosts almost struck back with seven minutes of the half to go when Junior nipped in but saw his effort go just over and this meant the visitors went into the break a goal up on their opponents.

Half Time Tower Hamlets 1 Barkingside 2

The opening exchanges of the second period saw little in the way of goalmouth action with the best moment in the first ten minutes of the second period seeing Sides Luke With with a sight of goal but he totally missed his kick and then on 56 minutes and with Hamlets now putting some pressure on the visitors defence, O’Neal Rowe struck over the bar.

Just beyond the hour mark a Hamlets free kick was flicked towards goal but Francis fielded well and then two minutes later the visitors somehow spurned another chance when Laird got in on goal but lifted his effort wide of the far post.

With twenty minutes remaining the visitors went oh so close again as a cross was so nearly put into his own net by Sergio Sheymz at the back post before moments later With saw an effort tipped wide by Manata who almost made a right mess of a fairly ordinary effort, before the resulting corner found Augustus Ruzgas whose drilled effort was saved by Manata.

But with just over fifteen minutes to go Barkingside finally sealed the deal and grabbed a two goal cushion as the superb Fontaine grabbed his second as after getting through and rounding Manata, he composed himself before slotting into the far corner to put Side on their way to victory.

Hamlets tried to respond five minutes later but saw Samuel Olanipekun strike his effort over before the visitors missed another opportunity eight minutes from time as a free kick swung in by skipper Paul Wright somehow invaded everyone in the box.

With three minutes remaining and with Hamlets frustrations boiling over, teammates Lukman Atunda and Rowe came together in the middle of the park and had to be separated, resulting in a booking for each. It certainly wasn’t what the hosts were looking for as they were heading for four straight defeats.

There was just time for Laird to spurn another chance for Side, getting in again but seeing keeper Manata saves down to his right but it mattered not as the away side came away with a well earned three points, taking them up three places to eighth, whilst Hamlets remain down in eighteenth.

Full Time Tower Hamlets 1 Barkingside 3

Snaresbrook 1 Great Baddow 2

Essex Olympian League Senior One Division, Saturday 12th November 2016

So my latest Saturday saw me over at Nutters Lane in Wanstead as Snaresbrook hostedGreat Baddow in a top of the table clash in the Essex Olympian Senior One Division.

The hosts sat in fourth place knowing an win would take them closer to the top three whilst the visitors sat second and knew a win would take them to the summit of the division as league leaders Catholic United were not in league action.

Conditions were pretty damp and dismal as the game kicked off almost ten minutes late, and after two minutes the hosts had the first effort at goal after a backheel set up a chance but the effort went straight at the visiting keeper. Three minutes later and the visitors first sight of goal saw a free header at the back post go into the keepers arms before an effort flashed across the hosts goal just invaded players before the visitors then shot wide.

Action swung up the other end on eight minutes when a ricochet fell to the hosts just inside the box but the effort was straight at the keeper before the visitors attacked again on 17 minutes and saw a good effort from outside the box force a decent save from the keeper, then the resulting corner was headed just over.

But then on 20 minutes the hosts took the lead as after a foul from the visiting centre half, the ball ran through to see Matthew Shrubsole go clean through so the referee rightly allowed the advantage and the home striker duly slotted home to give the East London side the opening goal of the contest.

Moments later Baddow hit an effort wide and then just before the half hour mark only a brilliant save from the hosts keeper, tipping over a visitors first time effort, kept them in front and then two minutes later another chance for the visitors saw the ball fly across the face of goal and miss the far post by inches.

Three minutes before half time Baddow again caused problems in the hosts box but the final effort sailed over and just before half time the hosts almost pinched a second goal when they sent a decent effort just over the bar but they did make it to the break a goal to the good.

Half Time Snaresbrook 1 Great Baddow 0

The hosts came out and almost netted a second straight after the restart when forcing the visitors keeper into a decent save, with the resulting corner seeing a close range header go straight at the keeper. Then a minute or so later another chance for the hosts after a poor defensive header saw a shot which was poor and straight at the keeper.

Would the hosts rue missing these opportunities? Well on 50 minutes the visitors had their first effort of the second half but the long range effort was straight at the keeper and then three minutes later Baddow saw another effort drift wide of the near post, however they were to find a leveller a minute later when Daniel Gage drilled a low effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box and the game was back in the balance once again.

After this setback the hosts went on the front foot to try and retake the lead and on 57 minutes they went so close to going back in front but saw the keeper brilliantly tip a lob just over and then just past the hour mark the visitors put together a decent move which ended with a ball across goal then an effort blocked at the near post.

Snaresbrook then saw a 64th minute effort almost embarrass the visiting keeper as he let the slippery ball escape from his grasp and go across the face of goal before the hosts wanted a penalty, firstly for a foul, and then for an effort that was blocked, as they claimed it had hit a hand. The visitors then wanted a penalty of ther own in the 69th minute for a foul but it looked an ambitious shout and fell on deaf ears.

And then with twenty minutes left the hosts really should of taken the lead when a cross into the box found Bradley O’Donovan, who last season was part of the Berkhamsted side who reached the last 32 of the FA Vase, totally unmarked and alone about ten yards out but he headed his effort way wide of goal and cue hand in hands moment from the hosts. It was a great chance indeed.

The relieved visitors then should of gone in front themselves three minutes later when they headed over a corner from point blank range but with just over ten minutes to go they managed to get their noses in front when after a ball was hit across the box, the ball was returned into the dangerzone and was side footed home from close range by Dane Nelson to spark joyous scenes on the visiting bench and amongst the Baddow players.

The remaining ten or so minutes saw the visitors hold their opponents at arms length and take a very hard earned victory against a decent Snaresbrook outfit. It was a really good competitive contest and it meant that the visitors rose to the top of Senior One whilst the hosts slipped a place to fifth.

Full Time Snaresbrook 1 Great Baddow 2