West Essex 2 Frenford 1

Essex Senior League - Len Cordell Memorial Cup Group D, Friday April 16

Friday night saw me over at Mayesbrook Park for the second weekend running for the beginning of the second round of group games of the Len Cordell Memorial Cup, this time it was West Essex who were at home against Frenford and it saw goals from Emmanuel Oluwole and Callum Bloss help the hosts come from behind to take all three points.

If this was anything like last Friday’s game at Mayesbrook Park then we would be in for a treat, West Essex netted a very entertaining 5-3 win over Hackney Wick to top Group D by two points over both Barking and Frenford, who drew 1-1 last weekend at The Drive in the other group match, so how would Frenford go against West this evening?

It was also a new experience for me this evening too as for the first time I would be part of a commentary team who were commentating on a live steam of the game which was available to anyone in the word for a fiver, so the nerves were certainly there prior to this game, but I only had to talk about what I saw for the game which I do not normally have trouble doing!!!

More about that later, but to the game and the opening twenty minutes or so did not see to much in the way of goal mouth action with the only real moment seeing the hosts scream for a penalty after they claimed a foul inside the box, but for me it was not a spot kick and the correct decision from the referee.

West then went close on a couple of occasions, firstly when Symeon Taylor run onto a diagonal pass from the left and charged in on goal down the right, but although his finish was powerful it flew over the bar, and then Joel Lamb somehow fired over from point blank range on the left-hand post as West looked the likelier to score.

Frenford then almost scored up the other end when Owen James curled a lovely effort beyond Jack Coker but off the outside of the post, and then Dylan Jones flicked a header just wide of the hosts far post soon after, West were having most of the possession though and still looked the likelier to break the deadlock, but Frenford created chances with what possession they did have and forced a decent save from Coker late on in the first half, and the game did reach the break goalless.

Frenford came out the better side in the opening exchanges of the second period and they got their rewards seven minutes after the break when a corner from the right went into the box and Deyonte Anthony ghosted in unmarked to send an effort into the net, and the visitors now had a lead to build on.

Frenford seemed like they could take charge of this contest as West struggled to get a foothold in this contest, but then the hosts brought on Ola Ogunwamide and this changed the game in my view as his pace and directness caused havoc amongst the Frenford back line, and he was instrumental in the hosts leveller with just over twenty minutes remaining as he played Taylor in and although Sean Hinton came to save, the loose ball fell into the path of Oluwole who drilled a lovely effort into the net and we were now all square.

West were now again looking like the ones who could win this game, although Frenford also felt they could grab all the points here too, but it looked as if the game was going to end all square, that was until a lovely move from the hosts that saw them net a 90^th minute winner, as a lovely pass out to Lamb, who had been superb down the left, saw him send in a beautiful ball and find Bloss who had timed his run to perfection and volleyed past Hinton into the corner and win the game for West.

West now have two wins from two games, Frenford have just a point from two games but are far from out of it, this game took time to get going but once it did it wasn’t to bad, a good hard but fair contest as well, so well played to both sides, oh and the commentary went ok too, didn’t get to much wrong and so far feedback has been positive, so that’s good, maybe I won’t be so nervous the next time I do it, if I get another chance that is!!! A good enjoyable evening was had though, so this is a good thing.

Full time West Essex 2 Frenford 1

 

 

 

There was one other game from Matchday Two this evening and it saw Barkingside take on Redbridge at Oakside in Group B, lets see how that one went…

Friday April 16

Group B

Barkingside 1 Redbridge 2

The Motormen had to battle back from a goal down to defeat Barkingside at Oakside and make it maximum points from two games, Side went ahead just past the quarter hour mark through Jacob Dingli, but Redbridge levelled seven minutes before the break thanks to a fine finish from Shawn Harris. And just before the hour mark Redbridge netted what proved to be the winner through Tony Martin’s close-range finish, and it means two wins from two for The Motormen.  

 

 

Let’s look ahead to the other Matchday Two fixtures that take place tomorrow and Tuesday…

Saturday April 17

Group A

Cockfosters v St Margaretsbury (Chalk Lane, 12.45pm)

DTFC v Hoddesdon Town (Harlow Arena, 4.15pm)

Every side have one point after the opening round of fixtures, who can put themselves in the driving seat after these games?

 

Group B

Clapton v Woodford Town (Terrance McMillan Stadium, 12pm)

Both these sides have zero points from their first games, and with the other two sides on three points which one of these can join them?

 

Group C

FC Clacton v Billericay Town U23s (Austin Arena, 1pm)

Holland v Stansted (Dulwich Road, 4.15pm)

Billericay and FC Clacton both won their opening games and now meet at The Austin Arena to see who can make it two from two, whilst both sides who lost their opening games do battle at Dulwich Road to try and get their first points on the board.

 

Group E

Brimsdown v Great Wakering Rovers (Chadfields, 12.30pm)

Athletic Newham v White Ensign (Terrance McMillan Stadium, 4.15pm)

Ensign are the only side with a win so far from the opening round of games, they will be looking to make it maximum points from two rounds with victory over Athletic Newham who themselves could go top of the group with victory. Brimsdown also have just a point but could go level at the top of the group if the defeat a Great Wakering Rovers side who were heavily beaten by Ensign in their first game.

 

Tuesday April 20

Group D

Barking v Hackney Wick (Mayesbrook Park, 7.45pm)

The Blues know a win can take them closer to West Essex at the top of the group, they are five points behind them after Friday’s result, whilst Wick will look to spring a surprise and get themselves off and running points wise after they lost their first game.