New signing Eljay Worrell netted an early second
half free-kick to help Basildon United win their latest pre-season friendly as
they defeated local rivals White Ensign at Len Forge.
On another hot day the hosts, who have now entered senior
status after being accepted into the new step six Eastern Senior League South
Division, were looking to build on their superb win at Great Wakering Rovers
two days before, however they were up against newly promoted Basildon United
who will be in the Bostick North Division for the coming season, who had also
netted a good win against Stansted two days prior to this.
The Bees were the first to have an opening as another new
arrival, Brian Moses, charged past an Ensign defender as if he wasn’t there,
but his effort was blocked before a follow up effort was cleared off the line
by the hosts, before the visitors then fired wide from long range, this after
Ensign had got in down the right but saw their cross cleared.
And then in the 17th minute saw a huge chance for
the hosts when a poor goal kick from the Bees keeper found an Ensign player who
played the ball to a teammate who turned and lofted an effort against the bar,
before the follow up was blocked, and the chance had gone.
The Bees then dragged an effort wide two minutes later, and
this game was being played at a fairly decent tempo as both sides looked to get
their noses in front. Just beyond the
half hour mark Ensign almost got in until a last-ditch tackle thwarted them,
but the step six hosts were more than holding their own against their step four
opponents.
They nearly gifted Basildon the lead twice in the coming
minutes though, firstly in the 34th minute when a poor clearance allowed
the visitors in but the effort was deflected wide, before two minutes later Kendall
was presented with the ball by poor Ensign defending but the effort was dragged
horribly wide.
And then six minutes before the break Ensign broke the
deadlock when a ball through saw Liam Sewell run onto it and he coolly slotted
home and the hosts led, although the lead lasted two minutes as the visitors
levelled thanks to a great long-range effort giving the hosts keeper no chance
whatsoever.
The Bees saw Moses hit an effort straight at the keeper and
also see Kendall head over an Asamoah cross right on half time, but this good competitive
friendly reached the break all square.
Half Time White Ensign
1 Basildon United 1
The Bees began the second half well and should have taken
the lead five minutes into it when Remi Nelson, another new addition for the
Bostick side, head an effort against the post before somehow blasting the
rebound wide, but a minute later they did lead when Worrell curled home a
brilliant free-kick and the Bees had turned this one around.
Ensign’s first opening of the second period didn’t arrive
until the hour mark but it was a poor side footed effort which was easy for the
keeper, before Moses went close for the Bees but saw his effort deflected into
the side netting, which cued a mass change of personnel from the visitors, who changed
most of their eleven as well as their kit!!!
Ensign almost netted an equaliser in the 69th minute
but saw their effort tipped wide, and then with thirteen minutes left a good run
from Bees winger Jamie Brown, who used to play for Ensign, set up Marcus Bowers
but his effort was always rising and it flew over the bar.
With six minutes left Ensign tried an effort from long range
which almost caught out the keeper, but it was the visitors who edged this one
to make it another win in pre-season. A
very enjoyable game though and lost of positives for both sides to take from
this one.
Full Time White
Ensign 1 Basildon United 2
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