Vidar 1 Stjordals-Blink 7

PostNord-ligaen, avd.1, Sunday 29th September 2019


Stjordals-Blink hit seven to go back to the top of the PostNord-ligaen avd.1 as they outclassed ten-man Vidar after coming from behind to comfortably take the three points at Lassa Gress and regain pole position for promotion into the OBOS-ligaen.


The hosts came into this one needing the points to try and help their case for avoiding the drop, starting the day six points from safety with five games remaining, whereas the visitors knew a point would take them back to the top of the table although a win would see them go two clear.


The hosts though had only won four games all season whilst the visitors had only lost once, so it was pretty obvious who were the favourites coming into this one, and the opening ten minutes suggested it was going to be a long afternoon for the home side as Blink missed three really good opportunities.


The first one came with barely a minute on the clock and saw the home keeper make a brilliant close range save, before the next chance was somehow put over bar after a cross had found the visitors unmarked at the back post, and then another brilliant save thwarted the visitors, all this in the opening eight minutes.


Vidar finally managed to mount a threatening attack of their own on the quarter hour mark but the eventual effort flew miles over, and then if things looked difficult for the hosts already, they got even more difficult when moments later a ball through saw the keeper gather right on the edge of the box.


But, the linesman flagged to say the keeper had gathered the ball outside the box meaning the referee pulled out a red card for the stopper, a decision which surprised most around me and the hosts players themselves.  They were livid but he had to go so the task had taken on a new level of difficultness.


Vidar brought on their sub keeper, and he immediately had to turn the resulting free-kick wide, but you felt it was only a matter of time before the visitors would find the net, as it was now pretty much attack vs defence as Blink continued to threaten.


After flashing a ball across goal, they saw another goal bound effort blocked, and although the hosts did break and see a half chance blocked, the visitors were totally dominant.


But football has a way of surprising you doesn’t it, and in the 34^th minute the ten-man hosts edged ahead incredibly after Sjur Lothe had driven towards the visitor’s goal, he produced a neat finish across the keeper and in off the far post and the visitors somehow found themselves behind.


Could the hosts possibly hold onto this lead until half-time, well no sadly for them as after Blink had passed up another opportunity, side footing wide, they levelled in spectacular fashion when Vebjorn Vinje rifled home a free-kick with five minutes of the half remaining.


And then a minute before the break Blink grabbed what has to be said was a deserved lead when Sander Erik Kartum struck home a decent effort into the bottom corner, meaning the visitors led at the break.


Half Time Vidar 1 Stjordals-Blink 2


It wasn’t long before the visitors added a third, as after the home keeper had made two decent stops at his near post, he was powerless to prevent a glancing header from Sondre Stokke finding the bottom corner five minutes into the second period, which was the worst possible start to the half for the hosts.


Vidar then had a little spell of their own as they threatened a second goal, striking an effort straight at the keeper before firing a free-kick just over the bar, and then they saw a decent effort deflected over before the resulting corner was then headed over the bar.


But after Blink had seen an effort of their own deflected wide, they added a fourth goal midway through the half as Vinje thumped home his second free-kick of the contest, giving the keeper no chance at all.


And in the 74^th minute they added a fifth when slicing through the hosts defence with some lovely one touch play, finished off by Mats Lillebo who headed home a cross from the right.


Vidar then struck a decent effort straight at the keeper, before the visitors saw an effort deflect off one of their own players and go inches wide, before another Blink attack saw an effort dinked just wide of the near post.


Vidar continued to play despite the huge deficit and forced the Blink keeper to smartly tip over before the corner was eventually fired way over the bar, whilst Blink forced a decent stop from the hosts keeper before flicking an effort onto the woodwork soon after as they threatened a sixth.


They didn’t have to wait too long for a sixth either as in the 89^th minute Sondre Sorlokk headed home a cross from a yard out, and in stoppage time a rampant Blink capped a fine day but adding a seventh when Markus Balstad Husby sent a finish under the keeper and into the net.


A brilliant day for the visitors then who climb back to the top of the division, two points clear with four games to go, whilst for Vidar it’s still six points from safety with just four games remaining, it’s starting to look bleak for them now.


Full Time Vidar 1 Stjordals-Blink 7

Madla 4 Donn 1

Norsk Tipping-ligaen avd.3, Saturday 28th September 2019


Madla grabbed a vital win to pull themselves further away from the relegation spots after victory over Donn at Madla Handelslag Stadion just outside Stavanger in South West Norway in their Norsk Tipping-ligaen avd.3 clash.


The sides came into this 10^th and 9^th respectively (in a 14-team division), and the hosts were five points above the drop zone whilst the visitors were a further point above, so a win for either side would give them more breathing space to the bottom three spots.


Madla had a couple of early chances, seeing the keeper push a decent effort away for a corner, before the resultant set-play saw them send a downward header wide of the target.


But in the tenth minute the hosts were rewarded for their decent start when breaking the deadlock as after a decent chance had been blocked, the loose ball was sent back into the dangerzone and headed in from close range.


Madla should have doubled their lead when being sent clear down the right, but the Donn keeper made a good save, the visitors up till this point had only threatened with a couple of decent balls into the box, but they had yet to test the home keeper.


A good move from the hosts saw an eventual effort sliced well wide, before the visitors finally tested the keeper, seeing him beat away a cross shot, and then Donn almost forced home after a goalmouth scramble but the hosts managed to thwart them before clearing the danger.


Madla then managed to find themselves in on goal again, but again found the keeper in fine form as he saved again, before the visitors almost poked home from close range, only to find the home sides defence able to block the goalbound effort.


The visitors were growing more and more into this contest now though after a slow start, and after screwing wide from a decent position sent a brilliant ball into the hosts area which had anyone touched would have probably ended up going in, but it invaded all and went away from danger.


Late on in the half the home side sent a dangerous looping cross into the visitor’s box, but this flew across the area and away from danger, and soon after the referee blew for half time meaning Madla held a slender lead at the break.


Half Time Madla 1 Donn 0


Madla came out on the traps early in the second half quicker as well and saw a free header go straight at the keeper, before a decent cross into the visitor’s box almost found a host’s attacker but the defender just stuck out a leg to divert it away from danger.  Soon after the hosts won a free-kick in a good position but this flew well wide.


Donn then came close to an equaliser when a effort fired across goal went just wide of the far post, before Madla glanced a header wide at the other end from a corner kick.


The visitors again though were starting to push their opponents back, and they almost levelled when getting goal side of their marker but as the forward struck wide appeared to be impeded, but the referee said no, resulting in a booking for one of the Donn players for disagreeing with his point of view.


And then the visitors came even closer to an equaliser when brilliant strike cannoned off the underside of the bar before a scramble for the loose ball ended with a free-kick being awarded to the home side, who could breathe a sigh of relief they were still in front.


And sure enough in the 69^th minute Madla doubled their lead when a ball across goal was thumped home and the hosts had some breathing space with just over twenty minutes left.


But with thirteen minutes left it was very much game on again as Donn pulled one back after a cross from the right was turned in by a stretching defender who was desperately trying to cut out the ball in, and you thought that Madla might have to do some more defending for the last ten minutes or so.


But it didn’t really turn out that way as with nine minutes to go and after the home side had seen the visiting keeper turn away another decent effort, a superb long-range effort flew into the bottom corner meaning Madla had restored their two-goal cushion.


And with Donn still reeling from that third goal they quickly conceded a fourth and killer goal in the 83^rd minute as the hosts broke down the left, squared the ball across for a tap into the empty net, and the contest was suddenly over just like that.


Donn to their credit kept going despite knowing they had no chance of getting anything from the game and almost grabbed a second when almost getting in down the right, but the home keeper came to thwart them, and it meant the hosts ran out 4-1 winners.


The scoreline probably didn’t reflect the contest, the visitors were well in this contest until those last ten minutes, but Madla probably did enough to win the game.  It means the hosts now jump up two places and eight points ahead of the bottom three, whilst Donn drop a place to tenth and stay six clear of the drop zone with four games to go.


Full Time Madla 4 Donn 1

Repton Park 6 Barking & Dagenham Wanderers 4

Essex Sunday Corinthian Football League Premier Division, Sunday 22nd September 2019


Repton Park came from behind on three occasions before finally battling to victory over Barking & Dagenham Wanderers in what was a very eventful Essex Sunday Corinthian Premier Division game at The Roding High School in Loughton.


The hosts came into this one having won their opening two league fixtures, whilst the visitors had lost both their opening two games, but it was the visitors who drew first blood as a ball back across goal appeared to hit a defender and end up in the net in just the fourth minute.


But after the hosts had created a couple of chances, they did equalise in the 13^th minute when a free-kick found the bottom corner, and then they thought they had taken the lead but the flag had gone up for offside.


Repton Park were now looking like they were taking control of the contest, that was until midway through the first period when the visitors retook the lead after firing home from the edge of the box, stunning the hosts.


Repton Park then fired wide as they looked for a quick leveller once again, whilst the visitors sent a dangerous ball into the dangerzone which ended up going off for a goal kick, but in the 26^th minute the hosts were level once again as after an initial effort had been parried, they followed in to slot home the rebound.


Wanderers then somehow did not retake the lead when they struck the bar, before forcing the home keeper into a couple of decent stops, and then Repton had chances to go in front themselves, having a half shout for a penalty before forcing a good save from the keeper, before a header was then cleared off the line.


But with two minutes of the first half remaining Wanderers went in front for the third time in the contest when after a covering defender had been dispossessed, the ball was squared and eventually slotted home into the corner, meaning the visitors had a slender lead at the break.  It had been a breathless half of football.


Half Time Repton Park 2 Barking & Dagenham Wanderers 3


So, could both sides possibly keep up the tempo showed in the first forty-five minutes? Well the visitors had chances to increase their lead early in the half, seeing a long-range effort dip just over before a brilliant run ended with an effort squeezing just wide of the far post.


The hosts then also fired just wide before they levelled yet again six minutes into the second period when bursting through and firing home, so to answer the question, well yes, the tempo most certainly had not dropped.


Both sides then had further chances, the visitors forcing a decent stop from the keeper, the home sides second of the day after one of the outfielders had injured themselves, so had to go in goal as they had no subs.  The original keeper wasn’t actually a keeper either, but he took his place at full-back.


The hosts curled two efforts just wide of the far post before taking the lead for the very first time in the contest just before the hour mark when that man, the keeper for the opening 51 minutes or so, burst in to finish beyond the visiting keeper, you couldn’t make it up!!!


In the 66^th minute the home side saw one of their players sin binned for back chatting to the referee a bit too much, meaning the host would play ten minutes with a man light, but despite an attempt from distance which almost crept in, the visitors didn’t create much with the man advantage.


And once Repton had all eleven back on the field they increased their lead with twelve minutes remaining, firing home into the far corner, and with five minutes left all but sealed the contest once and for all when adding a sixth, slotting home from inside the box.


The hosts almost added a seventh when chipping across goal and just off target, and there was still time for the visitors to add a fourth with a minute of stoppage time remaining, but it was Repton who made it three wins from three with an extraordinary 6-4 victory, leaving the visitors still with no points after three games.


Full Time Repton Park 6 Barking & Dagenham Wanderers 4

Corinthians 6 Wakering Sports 0

Essex Olympian League Senior Division Two, Saturday 21st September 2019

Nathan Dewberry scored two and assisted for two others as he helped Corinthians to victory over Wakering Sports at the Stambridge Memorial Ground to maintain their 100% start to their Essex Olympian Division Two campaign.

The hosts had won their opening two games whilst the visitors had lost their opening two games, so it really was a different story for both, and after just a minute the hosts grabbed the lead as Dewberry curled a free-kick into the bottom corner of the net, and you felt maybe the hosts would go on a dominate this contest.

But the visitors to their credit responded well to this early set back and saw a decent chance saved by Nathan Warren, before they had another decent chance when a downward header went straight at Warren.

And they were made to pay when Corinthians added a second with probably their second shot on target as after good work down the left, the ball was played in and found it’s way to John Bolton-Smith who fired a brilliant effort into the bottom corner of the net, and the hosts had a two goal cushion midway through the opening half.

Wakering should have got themselves back into the contest though, firstly when blasting a chance over the bar from outside the area, and then secondly seeing a free-kick glance off the bar and go over, as the home side remained two goals to the good.

Dewberry then saw an effort saved by the legs of Wakering keeper Tyler Bonham before another hosts attack ended with a cross shot going straight into the arms of Bonham, and then the visitors got into a good position once again but a bobble saw the effort sliced well wide.

The end of the half saw the away side putting the pressure on and they broke the offside trap through Ben Rowe but his effort was saved by Warren who had come to narrow the angle, and then they side footed wide from inside the box after a ball had been driven into the dangerzone.  It meant the hosts went into the half two goals ahead.

Half Time Corinthians 2 Wakering Sports 0

Wakering knew they needed the next goal in order to make a game of it, but five minutes into the second period they saw the hosts all but seal the contest when a cross to the far post was headed back into the dangerzone were Dewberry was waiting to control and slot a controlled finish into the bottom corner for his second of the game, and seventh in a game and a half.

The hosts were dominant in the opening exchanges of the half too, striking the post on a couple of occasions as they looked for a fourth, and then forced a decent save from Bonham as well down to his right.  Wakering did manage a shot at goal themselves but it was straight at Warren.

The visitors then had a couple of crosses into the hosts box cause brief alarm, but midway through the half Corinthians did add a fourth when Luke Owen curled a lovely effort in off the post.

And six minutes later Dewberry turned provider for number five, laying in Theo Cannon to drive a lovely effort across Bonham and into the far corner, and then with twelve minutes to go it was six for the now rampant hosts when Dewberry had another assist, sending a lovely ball into Jake Hodder who side footed a volley into the net.

A cross then almost looped into the far corner of the visitor’s goal, before Bonham had to make two quick saves to keep the hosts from making it seven, as the home side were now peppering the visitors with attack after attack.  In the end the hosts had to settle for six but it was another good afternoon’s work as they made it three wins from three.

Corinthians 6 Wakering Sports 0

Fire United 0 Newbury Forest 5

Thurlow Nunn First Division KO Cup First Round, Thursday 19th September 2019

Newbury Forest netted five at The Terrence McMillan Stadium in Newham against Fire United to progress into the Second Round of the Thurlow Nunn First Division KO Cup, setting up a tie at Burroughs Park against White Ensign.

Both sides have had difficult starts to the season, the hosts are bottom of the Eastern Senior South division having lost all four games, whilst Forest have just a point from their six games so far, and with both having the worst goal differences in the league you fancied goals in this one.

Apart from a couple of wayward efforts from the hosts, the opening fifteen minutes yielded very little in the way of goalmouth action, before the visitors then saw a very good chance saved.

And then in the 18^th minute Forest grabbed the lead when a loose ball inside the box was poked home by Dean Nevill, and then just two minutes later Nathaniel Cole intercepted a wayward clearance to burst into the hosts box and fire beyond the keeper to double the visitors lead just like that.

Just past the half hour mark Cole turned from hero to villain for the visitors as he was sin binned for dissent, meaning ten minutes off the field, so could the hosts capitalise on this?

Well they did go close a couple of times whilst he was off the field, firstly seeing a corner sliced across goal by a defender, and then secondly missing  a golden chance at the back post when it seemed easier to score.

Forest then sent a header wide at the other end before Cole returned after his ten minutes on the side-line, and he saw the hosts have another couple of efforts on goal but were unable to turn these into goals, and it meant the visitors held a 2-0 lead going into the break.

Half Time Fire United 0 Newbury Forest 2

Forest quickly increased their lead after the break as in the 49^th minute a ball across to Holder saw the striker mis-kick an effort across goal but thankfully for him and the visitors Adam Adomakoh was on hand to slot home from the left side of the area and you felt the visitors may go on and score a bucket-load.

Fair play to the hosts though as they and the visitors continued to play decent attacking football, it was a pretty good watch and the home side were giving it a good go despite the 0-3 scoreline.

The home side then saw a couple of decent effort pass them by, before Forest then saw a chance of their own saved before the follow up effort was blocked by a sprawling defender as the game had around twenty minutes or so to go.

Fire then missed another brilliant chance but found visiting keeper Bradley Simpson in the way, before the rebound was somehow blocked wide by the visitors as they looked to earn a rare clean sheet.  The visitors seemed to be going through the motions somewhat, although with a 3-0 lead with ten remaining this could be forgiven, but had the hosts had an end product then the scoreline could have been different.

Forest though woke up again for the final few minutes and netted a fourth with seven to go and it was a peach from skipper Freddie Anderson who thumped home from thirty yards out, and then in the first minute of stoppage time lovely attacking play from the visitors ended with Hashim Ahmed finding the bottom corner and putting the gloss on Forest’s evening as they progressed into the next round.

Full Time Fire United 0 Newbury Forest 5