St Margaretsbury 2 Takeley 2

Essex Senior League Premier Division, Tuesday 12th February 2019

The points were shared at The Recreation Ground as St Margaretsbury and Takeley played out a rather feisty and competitive encounter in the Essex Senior League Premier Division.

The hosts knew a win over their title/promotion chasing opponents would take them into seventh spot, whilst for Takeley three points would take them into second spot, just three behind leaders Stansted.

And after barely a minute the hosts should have taken the lead when a powerful effort from inside the area was well saved by Ronnie Yates in the Takeley goal, but in the sixth minute the home side did edge ahead when a cross found its way to Connor Scully who drilled beyond Yates to give his side the lead.

The lead though lasted barely a minute as Takeley brought themselves back on level terms as Josh Sykes got through to fire beyond the keeper into the far corner and we had a level scoreline once again.

The hosts then curled a decent effort over the bar before they restored their lead in the 19^th minute as a loose ball inside the box saw Scully fire home his second of the game and see the title chasing visitors behind once again.

But just like the first goal, the visitors almost got back on level terms immediately but this time their effort at goal was blocked on the line before being cleared away, and then down the other end a one-two ended with a weak shot at Yates as St Margs looked for a third goal.

Yates was called into action again, making another fine stop, before Takeley saw an effort deflect into the side netting, and the resulting corner was eventually scrambled clear, before another ball into the hosts area saw the eventual effort fired over the bar.

It did mean the hosts held a slender lead at the break, and it had been a decent half of football with still all to play for.

Half Time St Margaretsbury 2 Takeley 1

Takeley did manage to find a leveller twelve minutes into the second period when the hosts gave away a silly penalty, as after the keeper had seemed to got control of the ball, a defender fell on him and the ball squirmed free, allowing Sykes to pinch it away, and in desperation the defender hauled him down, and the referee had no choice but to award a penalty.

After a lengthy stoppage for treatment to the stricken keeper, Mitchell Das stepped up to convert the spot-kick, but moments later St Margaretsbury should have retaken the lead but saw a close-range volley somehow kept out by Yates.  Sadly for the home side their keeper had to be taken off soon after as he failed to recover from that injury sustained earlier.

I believe the hosts, who had no substitute keeper on the bench, had to use an outfield substitute in goal, and he almost gifted the visitors a leveller soon after coming on as a poor clearance went straight to Das, but a superb covering tackle thwarted him as he was about to pull the trigger.

The home side then missed another guilt edged chance when a floating cross to the back post was somehow headed over the target, but then in the 74^th minute things boiled over somewhat when Takeley forward Sykes was shown a red card for a second booking, and what followed was a mass melee as everyone got involved, resulting in a few more yellows being dished out, it had been simmering and the pressure cooker had finally exploded.

Neither side could find a winner thereafter though and so the points were shared, meaning St Margaretsbury do go seventh and Takeley also climb a place to third, now five behind leaders Stansted having played the same number of games.

Full Time St Margaretsbury 2 Takeley 2