I was over at Lower Road for probably the final time this season for a Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Trophy Semi Final between Hullbridge Sports and Burnham Ramblers.
Both sides fielded fairly strong line ups in a bid to reach a cup final, and after Sports had struggled in the league recently and Ramblers had pretty much all season the dangling carrot of a final was tempting.
The hosts were soon on the front foot and in the 6th minute with their first attack of note, Charlie Little looked to have given them an early lead, however the hosts winger had strayed offside so the goal was ruled out.
In the 10th minute Little got down the right and found Luka Frankis whose effort whistled a foot or so wide of the upright and then midway through the half more Hullbridge attacking play saw a great ball find Jimmy Cox whose dink towards the back post saw Little come onto it but hit into the side netting.
The hosts continued to dominate and in the 26th minute a nice run by Little ended up with the ball finding Cox whose effort was wayward and sailed over whilst just past the half hour mark Ramblers had a shot at goal when Ryan Stillwell tried his luck from range but it didn’t trouble keeper Jamie Merrells.
And then in the 33rd minute came the breakthrough, unsurprisingly for the hosts, when a great dinked ball into the area by Cox found Dean Wallace who ran onto the pass and volleyed home first time for a very tidy goal and the hosts had the lead they deserved.
More hosts chances followed towards the end of the first half and seven minutes before half time a hosts break ended with a poor effort from Dan Regan whilst a minute later Cox headed wide from a good position.
Three minutes before the break a Frankis effort was beaten away by Chris Leonard at his near post and then right on half time Frankis again burst forward and laid in Little, but the winger could only drags his shot wide as Burnham survived again.
Half Time Hullbridge Sports 1 Burnham Ramblers 0
It didn’t take long for the hosts to start where they left off in the first half and moments into the second period Cox almost got on the end of a cross but three minutes later he did make it two, as hesitant defending allowed Cox to sneak in and knock beyond Leonard and double his sides advantage.
And ten minutes into the second half it got even better for Sports as they made it three when Little produced a tidy finish with the outside of his boot from twenty yards or so into the far corner, and pretty much seal victory in this one.
Burnham to their credit kept going and competed well for a time but it was the hosts who continued to carve out the chances and in the 72nd minute saw Cox pinch the ball off a visiting defender and send in a cross for Charlie Gerada, but the Sports winger could only poke over.
So into the last ten minutes and a long clearance from Merrells found hosts sub Ryan Wallington but he could only slice his effort well wide and then with two minutes remaining a terrific effort from Little was brilliantly tipped over by Leonard as the hosts threatened a late fourth.
Moments later another Little effort saw Burnham keeper Leonard parry out into the area but sub Howard Wright could only knock the rebound over however the hosts cruised through and will now take on Heybridge Swifts in the Final.
Full Time Hullbridge Sports 3 Burnham Ramblers 0
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