Hackney Wick 1 White Ensign 0

Thurlow Nunn South, Saturday 19th December 2020 

Saturday saw me over at a very special place in the shape of Spa Road, Witham, as I was there to watch a Thurlow Nunn South contest between Hackney Wick and White Ensign, and it saw a second half penalty from the hosts hand them a superb three points.

Spa Road was where it all began for me as a nine year old boy when after the Italia 90 world cup I gained an interest in the sport so my dad decided to take me to a real life football match and as we lived in Witham (I spent the first seventeen years of my life there) he took me here in August 1990, so over thirty years ago, madness!!!  I spent many good afternoon's and evening's here with my beloved father too, so the place holds special memories and will always have a special place in my heart, that is for sure.  My dad was also programme editor at the club for a number of years in the late 90s and early 00s, so we were very involved their for some time.  Always an emotional feeling every time I return.

Anyway enough about me, and more about today's game, and Wick came into this one as underdogs for sure, but they had beaten Halstead Town and held Wormley Rovers before being beat at home by Coggeshall United (who fielded a number of Town players, but enough about that!!!) so they were not doing to badly and would no doubt give Ensign a tough battle on what was a very heavy surface.

Ensign themselves had not lost in the league for around three months, or six games, and they knew a win here would see them top the Division at Christmas and most probably end the year there too, although they had drawn their previous two league games prior to this one, although that was over a month and a half period!!!

Wick themselves knew if they could pull off an upset here, they would go level with tenth placed Barkingside, but who could gain an advantage in this one?

Well, the first period was rather uninspiring with neither keeper really tested that much, the opening half hour saw a couple of blocked attempts by the hosts, whilst the visitors saw two fairly weak free kicks at goal dealt with by the hosts, and then the hosts saw a long-range effort dealt with by Lewis Brown.

Brown also had to punch clear a dangerous cross from the hosts, but chances had been few and far between from either side, although two minutes before the break Ensign had the best chance by far up to that point when a Gates cross was somehow headed wide by centre half George who came steaming in but planted his powerful header the wrong side of the post. 

It meant the half ended goalless in what had been a rather tight scrappy thus far.  You felt that it was one of those games where one goal would probably win it.

Half Time Hackney Wick 0 White Ensign 0

So, would the second period be a bit more exciting?  Well, it turned out to be a better half that was for sure, and the opening exchanges saw Ensign fire one over from an angle, before two point blank efforts were somehow kept out by the hosts, although Wick responded by firing across goal down the other end.

In the 63^rd minute though came the breakthrough as the hosts drove into the box and were awarded a penalty after the attacker had adjudged to have been fouled, although there was some debate as to whether he got the ball before the man, or vice versa, and Ensign were very upset with the decision.

A penalty it was though, and the hosts sent Brown the wrong way from the spot and Wick now had something to defend for the remaining twenty-five minutes or so.

Ensign so nearly responded but saw a Gates free kick come back of the bar before the rebound was somehow headed over the bar, and more openings came their way, but it seemed like it was one of those days in front of goal for the visitors.

Wick though were battling so well and making it very hard for the visiting side, and they were showing all the character they had and backed by the loud and supportive Wickers crew behind the goal they certainly were being encouraged to fight right till the end.

And they held on to record a terrific victory, one which was certainly well earned in tough conditions and against a very good side who rarely fail to score, so that was certainly a terrific shift by the home side.  Not Ensign’s day today if truth be told, and it’s a second league defeat of the season.

Full Time Hackney Wick 1 White Ensign 0

 

How does that leave the table?

Ensign fail to end the year on top spot after that loss, so stay third and two points behind leaders Newbury Forest, whilst victory for Wick sees them level with tenth placed Barkingside and have now picked up seven points from their four games since the return, not bad at all.

 

Here are some snaps from today’s game

This will probably be it football wise for this year at least, and maybe even for some of January due to tighter restrictions in some of the areas concerned locally to me and to the leagues around me, so not sure when my next game is coming from, but until then, have a good Christmas and a happy new year!!!

 

 

May & Baker 1 Newbury Forest 3

Thurlow Nunn South, Friday 18th December 2020

My first Friday night game for a while took me to Parkside and Aveley FC for a Thurlow Nunn South encounter between May & Baker and Newbury Forest, and goals from Ian Thompson, Tommie Turner and Pat Duggin saw the visitors to the points, sending them a point clear at the top.

This was Bakers first league match since October 24^th, almost two months, when they lost at Burnham Ramblers, in fact this was only their fifth league match of the campaign due to various reasons, so they were certainly on catch up that was for sure!!!

They sat bottom of the division largely due to the fact they had played so few league matches, so a rather false position you could say, but their only win so far in the league had come at home back on October 21^st, so they desperately wanted another to send them up a few places at least.

And they had thrashed their opponents already this season in a Vase encounter at the start of November, 4-0, so they would have been confident of getting a positive result here, but the visitors knew a win here would send them up from fourth to first and ahead of the rest by a point (albeit for a few hours if White Ensign won at the weekend).

Forest’s form was mixed coming into this too, defeat at home to Athletic Newham was followed by a superb late win at Frenford, so it was hard to tell what sort of game or indeed result we would get in this one.

The opening exchanges belonged to the hosts, and they created the best chance in that time too but saw visiting keeper Oliver Bessex make a brilliant save to deny them before the loose ball was hacked clear, but on twenty minutes things changed as Forest struck, after a long through ball from deep inside his own half by Steve Carvell, it made its way through to Thompson who sprinted clear to round Frankie Worboyes and slot home.

You felt the hosts defence should have cut out the ball as it did travel a long way, but that lapse allowed the visitors to edge ahead, and for the remainder of the half they took control as the hosts defensively crumbled.

The second Forest goal eleven minutes before the break was a total mess from the hosts, they gave the ball away to Joey May who drove into the box and squared for Turner who side footed into the gaping net, and then just before half time gave a needless free kick away on the left, and Duggin whipped a lovely effort over Warboyes into the far corner for number three.

It was a good strike, but should a keeper be beaten from there, I doubt it, and he would have been disappointed with that no doubt, but after such a good start to the contest, Bakers now had a mountain to climb as they trailed 0-3 at the break and the visitors were cruising to the points and top spot in the division as it stood.

Half Time May & Baker 0 Newbury Forest 3

Bakers knew they must score the next goal if they were to have any chance of getting themselves back into this one, and Bessex had to pull off another superb save to deny the visitors a breakthrough early in the second period, but Forest almost put the game to bed but somehow missed from point blank range.

Apart from that Forest chance though the second half had been all Bakers as they were putting the visiting defence under a lot of pressure, but they just could not find a way through, but with eighteen minutes remaining a glimmer of hope for the hosts after keeper Bessex came to block a Josh Lowbridge lob but clattered into the attacker in the process.

The result was a penalty to the hosts and a straight red for the keeper, slightly harsh in my view, thought a yellow would suffice, but a red it was, and this meant Forest were down to ten and had Duggin, scorer of their third goal, donning the gloves for the remainder of the contest. 

First thing he had to do was face a Carl Patten spot-kick, which he could do nothing about as Patten slammed the penalty into the bottom corner, and Bakers had a goal back at last and a sniff of a comeback which had seemed unlikely at the break.

The hosts had openings to grab more goals and make this very interesting, but they failed to convert, and near the end of the game Duggin pulled off a brilliant save to deny the hosts a second as the game entered stoppage time, Forest only had a few more minutes to defend and take the points as time was now running out for Bakers.

Forest were dangerous on the counter though with raw pace, and one such break saw hosts keeper Warboyes take out one of the visitor’s attackers and the bench were screaming for a red, but only a yellow followed, rightly so, but it incensed the Forest bench so much one said to much as was sent off by the referee, so it was turning into an expensive night fine wise for the visitors at least.

Forest though were almost there and nearly added gloss to the score line with another break, but Warboyes pulled off a decent save to deny them a fourth goal, but soon after the whistle blew, and Forest had taken the points thanks to those first half goals.

A good victory for the visitors then whilst Bakers will look to a poor first half performance defensively which ultimately cost them here, they gave it a good go in the second period but left themselves far too much to do as that mountain proved to big to climb in the end.

Full Time May & Baker 1 Newbury Forest 3

 

This is how the table looks following tonight’s game

Forest climb to the summit of the division and lead by a point, whilst Bakers remain bottom although having only played five games that position is a false one quite frankly, although just one win so far is not what they were hoping for I’d suspect.  Currently the next fixtures for the sides see Bakes travel to Ensign on the 28^th December, so that will not be easy, whilst Forest travel to Spa Road to take on Hackney Wick, that will be a tough one no doubt, but one Forest will expect to win.

 

Just one other game takes place in the division tomorrow this weekend, and I hope to be present at that too, and that is Hackney Wick Vs White Ensign, with the visitors knowing three points takes them top and above Forest in the table.  Wick though will no doubt put up a fight and if they can grab the three points, they would go level with tenth placed Barkingside, which would be a very good return so far this season.

 

Anyway, here are some snaps of the game this evening, apologies for the blurriness in some, my pad’s camera can’t deal with the dark to well!!! 

Cockfosters 4 Sporting Bengal United 0

Essex Senior League, Saturday 12th December 2020

So, after several weeks, I was back at a football game, and it came from Chalk Lane as Cockfosters welcomed Sporting Bengal United to North London for an Essex Senior League contest.

Fosters have begun the season well and sat third at kick off, and they returned to action last weekend with a late late win at Hoddesdon Town, whilst Sporting were in the lower half of the table and were beaten 3-0 at Walthamstow on their return to action last weekend.

The hosts certainly began on the front foot and after just five minutes grabbed the lead when a cross from the right found its way over to full back Vinny Durrant who sent a left footed effort towards goal which Ferriera managed to get a big hand to but could only help it on its way into the net.

The visitors were struggling to deal with their opponents and Durrant somehow missed an easier chance to double the hosts lead when an initial effort was blocked and came back to him, but he could readjust and sent an effort wide of the gaping goal, whilst another good ball in from the right saw Carl Mullings get a head onto the ball but send it wide of the visitors’ post.

Sporting though after a slow start began to find their feet and saw Chaka Barnett fire into the side netting, before a Joel Ramos free kick was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Bradley Robinson, and then a corner from El Amri Soulayman thumped against the near post before Gianfranco Mici fired the loose ball over the bar.

Kaidyn Michael did see a deflected effort go just wide of the visitor’s goal late on in the half but after a good half hour from the home side, the visitors certainly felt they could have gone into the break level, but it was Fosters who held that slender lead at the break in what had become a tight and scrappy contest on a very heavy sodden pitch.

Half Time Cockfosters 1 Sporting Bengal United 0

The second period began much like the first, with the hosts on the front foot, and after a cross from the right almost caught out Ferriera at his near post and required the keeper to tip over smartly, centre half Marcus Crowther headed just wide of the visitor’s post, and then Mullings got in down the right but saw his effort well saved by Ferriera.

After that initial burst from the hosts though, much like the first half, they took their foot of the gas and allowed Sporting to come onto them again, with their best chances seeing Shayan Ghamarinezhad poke just wide from inside the box and then after Robinson had slipped trying to gather the ball, Carlos Hubner could only chip over the bar.

But then came a six-minute spell which saw Fosters seal the contest, firstly doubling their lead midway through the half when James Verney converted from close range after a George Beattie effort had been saved, and then it was three moments later after Mullings converted at the far post.

And with the visitors falling apart they conceded again with eighteen minutes remaining as a ball found an unmarked Beattie who lofted beyond Ferriera from close range, and the hosts ended up cruising to the win and pick up a second win and clean sheet since they returned to action this month.

Full Time Cockfosters 4 Sporting Bengal United 0

 

This is what it did to the ESL table…

Fosters remain in third and five points behind leaders Hashtag United, whilst Sporting are in 12^th and locked on thirteen points with Redbridge and Southend Manor.  Fosters next game sees them travel to Oakside on Tuesday to take on Redbridge, whilst Sporting travel to face Takeley at Station Road on the same night.

 

Here are some photos of today’s game…

 

 

 

Essex Senior League Weekend Preview (Saturday 5th December 2020)

Football is back for some, and that included the Essex Senior League as some were in league action and some were in FA Vase action too, here is a preview of those…

 

Buildbase FA Vase Second Round Proper

 

Clapton v Hamworthy Town (1pm, Parkside, Aveley)

Fakenham Town v Hashtag United (3pm, Clipbush Park, Fakenham)

Hadley v Raynes Park Vale (3pm, Brickfield Lane, Arkley, Barnet)

Ilford v Colney Heath (3pm, Cricklefield, Seven Kings, Ilford)

 

The Tons return to action with a very tough ‘home’ tie against Wessex League Premier leaders Hamworthy United in a game that has been switched to Aveley’s Parkside Stadium, with the visitors having won nine of their eleven league games so far this season.  Clapton may still be winless in the ESL but they have netted some decent wins in the Vase this season so who knows, maybe they could pull it off?  The Tags travel to Norfolk to take on Thurlow Nunn North leaders Fakenham Town at a sold out Clipbush Park.  Hashtag will be expected to win but this will be another tough assignment against a decent opponent, whilst Hadley will look to continue a rare Vase run in recent years as they welcome Combined Counties Premier side Raynes Park Vale to Brickfield Lane.  The visitors are struggling in their league this season but are also on a decent Vase run themselves however, you would expect the hosts to net a win in this one.  And finally, The Foxes have a tough assignment at home to Colney Heath who currently sit second in the Spartan South Midlands Premier on goal difference behind leaders Eynesbury Rovers.  Ilford though will no doubt try and return to football with a big win here, but as I said it will be very tough against a very good Colney Heath side.

 

Essex Senior League

 

St Margaretsbury v Enfield (2pm, The Recreation Ground, Stanstead Abbotts)

Hoddesdon Town v Cockfosters (3pm, Lowfield, Hoddesdon)

Saffron Walden Town v Redbridge (3pm, Catons Lane, Saffron Walden)

Sawbridgeworth Town v Southend Manor (3pm, Crofters, Sawbridgeworth)

Stansted v Woodford Town (3pm, Hargrave Park, Stansted Mountfitchet)

Walthamstow v Sporting Bengal United (3pm, Wadham Lodge, Walthamstow)

 

It’s a 2pm kick off at The Rec as St Mag’s take on Enfield and it’s the visitors who had the better form prior to lockdown, two wins from three, whilst the hosts were on a run of four straight defeats, so they will want to try and restart their campaign by ending that run, whilst over at Lowfield it’s fifth against third as Hoddy welcome Fosters, the hosts had also won two of their last three whilst the visitors were on a three match winless run, so no doubt after that good start both will want to try and grab the points on their return.  Fourth placed Walden welcome tenth placed Redbridge to Catons Lane, the hosts had gone into Lockdown with back to back wins, whilst The Motormen were on a four game winning run, so this could be a decent game here, and over at Crofters Sawbo welcome Manor with the hosts having lost four of their last six outings.  Manor, who had the bad news in the week that they had had six points deducted due to admin errors, were beaten 7-0 at home by Takeley in their last outing before lockdown, so they will want to put this and a bad week behind them with victory here.  Second placed Stansted can close the gap to leaders Hashtag (who are in Vase action) if they grabbed the points at home to bottom side Woodford Town, the hosts had won three of their last five whilst the visitors were on a four game losing run, so you would expect a home win here perhaps.  And finally, in form Stow, who could go third with a win, take on Sporting Bengal United at Wadham Lodge.  The hosts had won back to back going into lockdown whilst Sporting had lost two of their last three, so all points to a home win there.

 

Here is the table going into today’s action…