Southend Manor 0 FC Romania 1

Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy Round One, Wednesday 27th September 2017

It was Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy action again on Wednesday evening at Southchurch Park as Southend Manor hosted FC Romania in a First Round tie.

The hosts suffered a blow after just six minutes when Barlow limped off with an injury but his replacement Zamani soon had the first effort on target when striking a decent effort from range but the visitors keeper Bordeanu saved.

In the 11th minute Bogos got into a decent position for the visitors but saw him slice his effort wide of the near post and six minutes later down the other end Newell found himself free inside the FCR box but his cross found a defender who cleared the danger.

Just before the half hour mark came an interesting moment when visiting keeper Bordeanu came out of his area and collided with an attacker, leaving the keeper winded and in considerable discomfort for a few moments, however once he had recovered the referee showed him a yellow card. The resultant free kick from Zamani though was blocked.

Ten minutes before the break Skeels struck a shot from miles out which whistled just over the visitors goal, and with two minutes of the half remaining the hosts saw a Cleaver header saved by Bordeanu, whilst down the other end a long range effort from Attila flew a foot over the hosts bar.

However the half did end scoreless and although Manor had probably shaded it slightly it had not been a classic so far.

HT Southend Manor 0 FC Romania 0

The first effort from either side in the second period came from the hosts eleven minutes into the half when a decent move saw Fatt, who had been terrorising the visitors defence down the wing all evening, lay a ball across to Zamani whose shot was well saved by Bordeanu.

Sadly after this chances were pretty much non existent as the game became rather poor if truth be told. The next moment of note didn’t arrive until fifteen minutes from time when Cleaver got into a good position for the hosts but saw his finish go well wide.

The visitors then sent a long range effort miles over with ten minutes remaining before Cleaver again went close for Manor but saw his lofted effort plucked out of the air by the giant visiting keeper Bordeanu.

With three minutes remaining the visitors put together a decent move but ended with the final effort well blocked before the resulting corner saw a header off the line.

Two minutes into stoppage time Manor flashed a decent ball across goal but saw keeper Bordeanu tip the ball away from goal and it looked like penalties were certain.

However four minutes into stoppage time the visitors pinched a winner when after a long range shot was saved, the follow up saw the ball chipped to the far post where substitute Botosan was waiting and he rifled the ball into the roof of the net and gave the visitors the lead.

The hosts tried to find a quick repost but saw a header go straight at Bordeanu but it was the visitors who go through to face Burnham Ramblers away in the Second Round of the competition.

FT Southend Manor 0 FC Romania 1

Hullbridge Sports 1 Sporting Bengal United 1 (Hullbridge Sports won 4-2 on penalties)

Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy Round One, Tuesday 26th September 2017

On a misty ish evening in South Essex Hullbridge Sports hosted Sporting Bengal United at Lower Road in a Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy Round One tie.

And the hosts got the best possible start as barely a minute had elapsed when Jimmy Cox sent in a free kick onto the head of Luka Frankis and the Hullbridge attacker found the corner of the net and the hosts had an early lead.

And it should of been doubled in the fifth minute when a cross found Sam Dulieu totally unmarked inside the box however he could only send his effort wide of the target.

The hosts suffered a blow in the 16th minute when Howard Wright pulled up with a hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Jamie Buffin, however the hosts had certainly started the better here.

However after twenty minutes or so the visitors began to find their rhythm and in the 21st minute saw Ashaan Siddik go on a mazy run for Sporting but saw hosts keeper Bobby Mason come out to smother the ball before he could get a strike off on goal.

But five minutes later Sporting were level when Mahdi Khan found some space to drill an effort at goal which went through Mason’s grasp and into the net, and this contest was all square.

Just past the half hour mark though Hullbridge almost retook the lead but Lewis Watson saw his header come off the top of the bar and over for a goal kick, and three minutes later up the other end the visitors went close when a poor punch out from Mason found Siddik who struck a first time effort back at goal but this was brilliantly tipped over by Mason.

However the hosts had a golden chance to take the lead four minutes before half time when they were awarded a penalty after Charlie Buffin had brought down Siddik, but Mason saved Freddy Tandon’s spot kick and the game remained goalless.

A minute before the break a deep ball to Sportings back post found Frankis who struck the base of the near post however this very entertaining half ended all square.

HT Hullbridge Sports 1 Sporting Bengal United 1

Hullbridge so nearly started the second half like this first but saw Watson’s effort brilliantly saved by Ataaib Khan, and then three minutes later the visitors attacked and saw Cody Cameron lay in Curtley McIntosh, but the forwards effort was way over the hosts bar.

Nine minutes into the second period the hosts saw a one two between Dulieu and Cox end with the formers effort deflected at goal but then headed clear and then just before the hour mark Watson saw an effort headed off the visitors line after keeper Ataaib Khan had flapped at a Charlie Buffin high ball into the area.

The hosts were well on top at this stage and midway through the half saw a Dulieu effort saved by Ataaib Khan but the home side could not find that second goal and saw the visitors begin to find their feet again.

With three minutes remaining Sporting almost pinched it as a breakout from a hosts free kick saw a ball across the box miss Siddik’s foot by inches and a minute later another ball into the Hullbridge area found Jamalur Rahman but he could only send a weak effort at Mason.

Moments later Watson sent a looping header wide for the hosts as both teams were going for the winner and to try and prevent a penalty shootout.

And deep into stoppage time Sporting had that chance to find a winner when they won their second penalty of the contest when Charlie Buffin inexplicably pushed Mahdi Khan over whilst the attacker was bearing down on goal. The result was a penalty and a second yellow for the Bridge player meaning a red card.

Cody Cameron was given the chance to win the tie for the visitors but incredibly sent his spot kick over the bar, meaning the tie did indeed finish all square and needed penalties to decide the winner.

Both missed their opening kicks, however after Hullbridge had taken a 3-2 lead and saw Sporting miss again, substitute Damien Siemienczuk had the chance to net the winning spot kick, which he did, meaning the hosts ran out 4-2 winners in the shoot out and set up an away tie at Great Wakering Rovers in Round Two.

FT Hullbridge Sports 1 Sporting Bengal United 1 (Hullbridge Sports won 4-2 on penalties)

Tower Hamlets 10 Little Oakley 1

Buildbase FA Vase Second Qualifying Round, Saturday 23rd September 2017

My Buildbase FA Vase campaign continued with another trip to Mile End to see Essex Senior League side Tower Hamlets host Thurlow Nunn One side Little Oakley in a Second Qualifying Round tie.

The hosts were flying having won their last six games whilst the visitors had shocked Thurlow Nunn Premier side Haverhill Rovers in a league cup tie in midweek so both would of come into this one full of confidence and I was expecting a home win although I also thought the visitors were not to be underestimated.

Well just seconds into the contest the hosts set the tone for the afternoon by taking the lead when Curtis Pond tapped home a Hasan Mustafa cross to the back post and then in the fourth minute it was two when Pond got in down the right and fired into the far corner for an incredible opening to this game.

Oakley almost responded in the seventh minute when they saw a decent effort brilliantly tipped over by Hamlets keeper Lee McKnight and on ten minutes Pond pounced on poor visiting defending to get in but saw his poke at goal go straight at visitors keeper Luke Tylan.

But only a minute later Hamlets had a third when an appalling header back towards goal by the visitors saw Luke With in on goal and he slotted home and Hamlets lead was increased further still.

Oakley attacked in the 17th minute but after getting into a decent position were wasteful as their effort was skied over the bar, but just before half time they pulled a goal back when a poor defensive header from the hosts allowed Stephen Colley to nip in and drive home and give the visitors hope.

And moments later they almost found a second when they saw a whipped effort go just wide of the far post and Hamlets knew they needed to raise their performance again otherwise they could let their opponents back into the contest.

Well with ten minutes to go in the first half Hamlets did just that and restored their three goal cushion when With laid in Pond who strolled in and slotted into the far corner for a first half hat-trick and five minutes later Hamlets grabbed a fifth as a With header smacked against the bar, hit keeper Tylan on the back of the head, and went into the net, kind of summing up the visitors day so far.

Oakley fired over the hosts crossbar two minutes before the break but Hamlets managed to find a sixth before the break when more atrocious defending saw Pond allowed in to grab his fourth of the half and see the hosts with an emphatic 6-1 half time lead.

Oakley’s task was now to not be totally embarrassed and they had the first effort of the second period when eight minutes into it saw a Colley volley fly a foot over the hosts bar in a rather quiet period in the game.

But twenty minutes into the second half Hamlets found a seventh goal when Danny Childs saw his effort from outside the box go through the grasp of Tylan and into the far corner of the net and five minutes later it was eight as substitute James Ross pounced on a loose ball to fire home with his right foot.

It was too easy for the hosts now as they soon made it nine when Ross grabbed his second of the game, firing across keeper Tylan into the far corner, and two minutes later it was ten with Mustafa burst through on the right and struck an effort beyond Tylan into the far corner.  It was the first time I’d seen any senior side hit double figures in my 27 years of watching football!!!

And with twelve minutes left Pond should of had his fifth and Hamlets eleventh but saw his poke drift inches wide of the far post.

Oakley tried to find a second and almost found it with eight minutes left when they struck a free kick just wide and then three minutes later saw a glancing header juggled by McKnight before he managed to gather the ball.

Moments later a long range strike from the hosts saw Tylan push away, before the visitors saw an effort fly across Hamlets goal in the final minute.

Soon after the final whistle went to put Oakley out of their misery and end a ruthless afternoon from the hosts.  That’s seven wins in a row now for Hamlets and they go through to the first round proper of the competition. 

Takeley 4 Hackney Wick 1

Essex Senior League, Saturday 16th September 2017

My second game of three this weekend saw me over in the leafy surroundings of Station Road for Takeley Vs Hackney Wick in an Essex Senior League contest.

The hosts had started the season in perfect fashion having won all five of their league games so far whilst Wick were still trying to adapt to Senior Football but did grab their second win of the season in midweek at bottom side Wadham Lodge, however Takeley would certainly provide a much tougher test.

The visitors cause wasn't helped when striker Tobi Adesina was injured in the warm up and had to be replaced by Joel Massamba and they nearly fell behind in the opening minute when a glancing header from Jason Todd was cleared off the line by the defence.

In the seventh minute Stuart Zanone sent a header over the visitors bar but in the 14th minute he went one better when a ball in by full back Mike Castle saw Zanone rise and beat keeper Davide Trindade to the ball and head home to give the hosts an early lead.

Midway through the half Todd thought he had doubled the hosts lead when heading home a corner but the referee gave a foul against him so the goal was ruled out and just before the half hour mark a nasty coming together between Wick keeper Trindade and Takeley centre half Matt Gill left both men requiring treatment.

It was a clash that the keeper didnt ultimately recover from as ten minutes before half time Trindade had to leave the field after making a decent near post stop from Nick Barrett after a terrific ball in by George Wappett.  It meant one of the outfield players had to don the gloves for the remaining 55 minutes of the contest.

And the hosts did manage to double their lead four minutes before half time when after a scramble inside Wicks six yard box, Todd managed to get his boot to the ball and fire into the bottom corner of the net.

The hosts should of added a third before half time but saw one off the line before Zanone managed to scuff a cross wide soon after and finally in first half stoppage time Zanone saw a keepers punch go straight to him but he somehow put his effort wide, however the hosts still went into the break with a comfortable two goal lead.

Early in the second half Wick headed a decent effort wide before the hosts increased their lead further still when a brilliant ball in from Mitchell Das saw Todd side foot home first time from close range for his second of the afternoon.

Two minutes after this Wick went close again when a ball across the box found striker Allan Bastel but he could only lift his effort over the bar, but in the 52nd minute Will Green was brought down by the keeper for a Takeley penalty, but Zanone saw his spot kick strike the post.

Just before the hour mark Das got in behind the visitors defence but saw a lazy finish allow the keeper to save and then a few minutes later a Todd cross saw Das stretch for it but could only divert the ball over the visitors bar.

The following few minutes saw the game become rather scrappy but the hosts went close again in the 79th minute when substitute Reece Barrett saw a decent effort brilliantly saved, but a minute later the visitors managed to pull a goal back when a cross to the back post saw substitute Saico Djop apply the finish and reduce the arrears.

And moments later Takeley keeper Ronnie Yates had to make a smart close range stop to deny a second for the visitors, a second there would have made the final few minutes interesting indeed.

With a minute left Takeley full back Bryn Thorpe got in behind the Wick defence but saw his effort saved, before moments later Das got in but dragged his effort horribly wide.

However Das was to get his goal in stoppage time when slotting calmly beyond the keeper into the far corner and complete a fairly routine win for the hosts against a plucky Hackney Wick side.  It also saw Takeley go top of the league on goal difference so not a bad afternoon the the Station Road outfit.

Barkingside 1 Redbridge 2

Essex Senior League, Friday 15th September 2017

The first of three games this weekend for myself started with an Essex Senior League derby at Cricklefield between Barkingside and Redbridge on Friday evening.

This is always an interesting fixture given the sides used to share Oakside until Barkingside left under a cloud a few years ago so the rivalry between the sides is well known.

Both sides are looking to finish the the upper echelons of the division and both were in decent form of late so a decent competitive contest was expected here.

The opening exchanges were lively as both teams had half chances but the first clear cut chance arrived on the quarter hour mark as a one two between Michael Ogboin and Jason Fontaine saw the former in for the hosts however Redbridge keeper Lewis Greene managed to save the effort.

Five minutes later Redbridge almost gifted the hosts the lead when a pass out of defence saw the ball go straight to Matheus Santos but he could not get the ball under control and saw it go to Ogboin who was offside and his effort was wide of the mark in any case.  It was a let off for the visitors though.

The next ten minutes saw plenty of attacking intent from both sides but neither keeper was tested in the period though but no doubt the hosts would of been the happier thus far.

However they almost fell behind in the 33rd minute when Redbridge forward Brian Moses shrugged off a defender to give himself a sight of goal but saw his effort hit the bar and go over and then six minutes later Redbridge went close again when Calvin Poku volleyed wide after a corner came out to him on the edge of the box.

However this competitive derby remained goalless at the break despite plenty of attacking intent from both sides they were lacking an end product thus far. 

Three minutes into the second half Redbridge saw a deflected Moses effort tipped wide by Will Hunt but from the resulting corner the visitors took the lead when after Hunt had made a terrific save, Shaun Harris managed to bundle the ball home from close range and gave this game the goal it needed.

Redbridge probably should of doubled their lead just before the hour mark when Moses burst through into the box but saw his effort saved by Hunt and then midway through the half the hosts found an equaliser from nowhere when a mishit shot across goal found Ogboin who slotted home from close range.

Side were now looking dangerous and so nearly took the lead in the 73rd minute when substitute Tony Cookey was denied from inside the box by a cracking save from Greene, and with seven minutes remaining it was Redbridge's turn to spurn a decent opportunity when a ball across found substitute Courtney Homans in space but his effort flew over the bar.

However this game was to be decided a minute later in fortuitous circumstances when a Barkingside defensive clearance from inside their own six yard box thumped against Poku's leg and ended up in the hosts net.   The former Side forward knew nothing about it but didnt care one jot as him and his teammates ran off to celebrate and it proved enough for the visitors to take the points here.

Tower Hamlets 2 Hackney Wick 1

Buildbase FA Vase First Qualifying Round, Friday 8th September 2017

So my Buildbase FA Vase journey for 2017/18 began in the shadow of docklands at the Mile End Stadium for Tower Hamlets Vs Hackney Wick in an all Essex Senior League East London derby.

Hamlets came into this one full of confidence after winning their last two games, scoring eight in the process, whilst Wick were looking to win for the first time since their opening day success at Burnham Ramblers.

And no doubt both would of fancied a decent run in the competition too, this was the visitors first entry into the competition and didn’t want to exit at the first hurdle.

The opening fifteen minutes saw little action and the first meaningful event came when Hamlets forward Frankie Sinclair and Wick full back Thomas Rebeschini came together and received lengthy treatment, and ended with the visiting full back limping off. (Sinclair carried on but was subbed at half time).

The first chance of a goal came in the 20th minute and Wick should really of gone ahead as a defensive error allowed Jeffrey Idemudia in on goal but host keeper Lee McKnight made a great save to deny him.

And just two minutes later the hosts took the lead when Curtis Pond drove forward before unleashing a terrific effort which rocketed into the top corner and give his side a one goal lead.

Hamlets quickly threatened a second goal and two minutes after going ahead saw a good double save from Manuel Gill deny the home side before Luke With glanced a header onto the top of the Wick crossbar moments later.

The next ten or so minutes saw both sides have sights of goal but as the half drew nearer to its conclusion the visitors looked more and more dangerous.

With two minutes of the half remaining the visitors saw a cutback sliced wide before Hamlets had to head an effort from visiting skipper Simpson Mpalampa off the line, but right on half time Wick did find a leveller when Ibraham Camara hit a dipping effort over keeper McKnight, and the visitors went into the half time break level.

Wick began the second half like the first and three minutes into it almost took the lead as a ball swung into the dangerzone was flicked at goal but keeper McKnight got down well to make a decent save.

Five minutes into the half Hamlets almost got in through Pond but the defender did well to get back and recover before down the other end Wick saw an effort beaten away by McKnight.

Hamlets saw a couple of decent efforts fail to result in a goal just before the hour mark, firstly when after a great crossfield ball was brilliantly controlled, the eventual effort was tipped wide by visitors keeper Gill, and secondly saw a decent corner headed wide from six yards out.

However in the 62nd minute the hosts were to get their noses in front once again when Pond grabbed his second by hitting a left footed effort beyond Gill into the bottom corner of the net.

And Pond should of completed his hat-trick moments later but saw his close range effort thump against the crossbar as the hosts missed the opportunity to put daylight between themselves and their opponents.

With fifteen minutes to go Wick saw skipper Mpalampa send a long range effort a foot wide as they searched for an equaliser in this very competitive derby.

Moments later Hamlets fired an effort over the bar which took a deflection on route, with the corner coming to nothing, and then with just over ten minutes remaining Wick forward Idemudia seemed to nudge Hamlets defender Kayode Tobun into a metal object behind the goal after the hosts player shielded the ball out for a goal kick.

This made Hamlets assistant AJ very cross and he was eventually sent to the stands although he was eventually told to leave the arena by the referee. Idemudia was booked for his part in it and Tobun was ok to continue, which was good to see.

Hamlets attacked thereafter and saw an effort snuffed out as they tried to find a clinching third goal that would finally seal the deal.

They nearly did just that deep into stoppage time but saw keeper Gill save but it proved the final act as not long afterwards the referee brought this tie to an end and it’s Hamlets who will host Thurlow Nunn One side Little Oakley in the Second Qualifying Round.