Goals from Neil Richmond,
Billy Johnson, Nathan Dewberry and Bayley Newell helped Great Wakering Rovers
to a comfortable victory over relegation threatened Wadham Lodge at Burroughs
Park on a lovely spring day in Essex.
The hosts sat three points above second placed Redbridge at
kick off at the top of the table knowing a win would take them a step further
towards the title and promotion, whilst for visitors Lodge they sat second
bottom and in desperate need of some points to try and drag themselves out of
danger.
Rovers were big favourites to win this one and also came
into the contest on a fourteen match unbeaten run, twelve of those wins, and
they started fast in this one and took the lead after just three minutes when
Richmond got into a good position inside the box before curling a lovely finish
beyond Lodge assistant manager Dwayne Uylett, who had to go in goal for this
one, into the far corner of the net.
The hosts continued to dominate their opponents and on the
quarter hour mark saw Jay Nash fire a long range effort wide, before Dewberry
then forced a save from Uylett and then six minutes later Dewberry again was
thwarted by the Lodge keeper and although Richmond poked home the rebound, the
assistant referee had flagged for offside.
On the half hour mark Rovers again threatened through
Dewberry, however in keeping with the pattern of the first half Uylett again
made the save to keep the score down, and then six minutes before the break
more Rovers pressure ended with Jason Ring firing well over.
Would the hosts rue all these missed chances?? Well they got
a warning moments after when Asdoulie Ndjai suddenly had an opening however Louis
Hawes was alert enough to thwart the Lodge forward, and then a minute before
half time the hosts managed to find a crucial second goal when Johnson fired a
blockbuster of an effort beyond Uylett, sending the league leaders into the
break in total control.
Half Time Great Wakering Rovers 2 Wadham Lodge 0
The second period started in a rather subdued tempo, and the
first openings actually went to the visitors in the 56th minute when
first of all Ndjai fired a brilliant effort just over the bar from range, before
Ndjai again fired an effort at goal, but saw Rovers keeper Hawes was equal to
the effort and keep his sides two goal cushion in tact.
However any hopes Lodge may have had of a comeback were
pretty much extinguished with twenty minutes remaining when Richmond got down
the byline before squaring to Dewberry inside the six yard box and after a
second bite of the cherry converted beyond Uylett and into the net to give his
side a three goal cushion.
However six minutes later the hosts gave away a free kick in
a decent position for the visitors, and Danny Francis stepped up to fire home the
set piece, via the hand of Hawes who probably felt he should of done better,
but Lodge had a sniff perhaps of making the final part of this contest a nervy
one for the hosts?
Well sadly for the visitors again Rovers quickly quoshed any
thoughts of that when they restored their three goal cushion with nine minutes
remaining as a lofted ball into the box found Newell who managed to lift an
effort beyond Uylett and into the net for the hosts fourth of the afternoon,
and finally sealing the deal for the home side, although to be honest they
looked fairly comfortable all afternoon.
And with Redbridge drawing at home to Enfield it meant
Rovers went five clear at the top, and took them ever closer to title and
promotion glory, whilst for Lodge they remain in the bottom two and still in
desperate need of a win, they have six games to go and five points to make up
to get out of the bottom four.
Full Time Great Wakering Rovers 4 Wadham Lodge 1
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