Sawbridgeworth Town 3 Woodford Town 2

Essex Senior League, Tuesday 15th September 2020

My first Essex Senior League outing for the 20/21 season saw me over at Crofters for a match up between Sawbridgeworth Town and Woodford Town on a sultry evening on the Essex/Herts border.

Now the hosts start to this season couldn’t be any more different than last, with one win and a draw in their two games thus far, and of course that superb FA Cup win over Romford as well.  They were up against a side in Woodford who last season smashed eight past them here on the opening day, but neither side resemble those ones of a year ago and this Woodford side had begun the league campaign with two losses, so they wanted to try and put the first points on the board here.

The visitors of course had got the competitive season underway with their FA Cup win over London Colney in what was the first time the competition had ended and started in the same month, it certainly has been a weird one hasn’t it!!!

Anyway back to the contest this evening, well after just six minutes the hosts got their noses in front as a cross from the right saw Cabham Clarke send a looping header over keeper Rasmus Kriisa, who had come off his line and was left stranded, and find the net to send the Ultras behind that goal wild.

Woodford though responded ten minutes later as a cross from the right found Jeremiah Lunera totally unmarked at the far post and he duly volleyed past Michael Bett in the hosts goal and the game was all square again.  It was some start and the tempo of the game was very high.

The visitors were only level for three minutes though as a moment of brilliance saw Sawbo retake the lead.  Kieran Amos, made famous for shedding several stone in lockdown to restart his football career, decided to try his luck from miles out from the left-hand side and sent a wonderful effort over keeper Kriisa into the far corner.  Now I thought it was a cross that caught the keeper out, but Kieran has told me he definitely meant it so who am I to argue!!!  It was a wonderful goal and you’ll struggle to see a better one this season.

This really galvanised the hosts who dominated the first period thereafter and after striking the bar they did add a third when after a penalty was awarded for a push inside the box, Conor Clarke stepped up to emphatically convert the spot kick, and The Robins went into the break in command with a two goal cushion.

Half Time Sawbridgeworth Town 3 Woodford Town 1

No doubt Dee Safer and his boys would have had stern words in the dressing room at the break, they were second best in this contest so far for sure, but seven minutes after the restart they brought themselves right back into the contest, with some help from the hosts, as a poor header back was seized upon by Marcin Painter who rounded Bett to slot home, and it was very much game on.

This got Woodford’s tails up and they were now the ones looking likely to find a leveller, although they made their task harder when Hary Barrett was shown a second yellow just past the hour mark for a body check, and then with eighteen minutes left were reduced to nine men after Jack Newbury-Neme’s challenge on the far side was deemed a straight red by the referee.

Despite having nine men though, Woodford continued to threaten a leveller, and so nearly grabbed one with less then five to go as after brilliant play from Lunera, his effort struck the bar before the desperate hosts managed to scramble the ball clear.  It had been a decent comeback in the second period from the visitors and they were on the cusp of grabbing what seemed an unlikely point at the break.

But, Sawbo did manage to hold on and make it seven points from a possible nine, which is one point less than they managed in the entire league campaign last season before it was curtailed, so shows you the progress already made from then.  For Woodford it is now three defeats from three and are now the only side without a point this season.  Their second half showing will give them some positives going forward though.  Very enjoyable game it was and well done to the hosts!!!

Full Time Sawbridgeworth Town 3 Woodford Town 2