Billericay Town U23s 0 Athletic Newham 1

Essex Senior League - Len Cordell Memorial Cup Last Sixteen, Saturday May 1

Saturday saw me over at New Lodge for another Last Sixteen tie in the Essex Senior Len Cordell Memorial Cup as Billericay Town U23s hosted Athletic Newham, and a Joel Appiah goal just past the midway point of the first half was enough for the visitors to join FC Clacton, Stansted and White Ensign in the Quarter Finals.

Billericay’s youngsters had impressed so far in this tournament, they play in the Essex Senior Reserves Division, so this was a step up for them and no doubt vital experience for the players involved, and they had qualified out of Group C of the competition after a comfortable win over Holland, a draw with FC Clacton and then a defeat against Stansted to end up runners up.

Athletic Newham had also finished runners up too, they competed in Group E, and they ended in this position after a draw against Brimsdown, defeat against White Ensign before netting six against Great Wakering Rovers in their final group game to come into this Last 16 tie in good form and qualify in style.

And with the hosts having netted seven goals in their three games and Athletic Newham nine, you would have expected a fast flowing attacking contest with plenty of goals perhaps?

It was the hosts who had the better of any attacking play that materialised in the opening twenty minutes, firing one effort just over the bar and then firing wide with another, but in the 24^th minute the visitors struck when after good play down the right from Jeff Idemudia saw him cross into the box, and although Luis Shamshoum saved the initial shot, the ball fell to Appiah at the back post who managed to find the net from an acute angle.

The hosts though should have levelled in first half stoppage time though when Marko Protic was played in on goal on the edge of the box but visiting keeper Wilkinson Boateng made a decent stop to keep his side ahead as they went into the half time break, so although Athletic Newham lead, they knew they had been in a game and the young hosts had impressed so far again.

The second period though saw the visitors take the initiative and created three decent chances in the opening exchanges of the half, Richard Kone, who was a standout player for the visitors once again, went clean through but saw his effort saved by Shamshoun, and then Kone laid in Appiah who could only slice well wide of the target.

 And then a cross to the far post found Louis Itiobi whose powerful effort thumped off the post or was cleared off the post and then the player thumped into it, it was hard to tell as it was struck so powerfully and happened so quickly, but it had been another good chance for the visitors to make life a bit more comfortable.

The hosts attacks were less frequent in this half, but they did see a Portic effort smartly stopped by Boateng, but it was the visitors who looked more likely to add a second and seal the tie rather than the young hosts finding a leveller.

But with three minutes remaining of the ninety came Billericay’s chance to force a shoot-out, as a Crossfield ball found full back Marlon Stratford free over on the left side of the box, and his effort was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Boateng before it came back into his grateful arms, it was a huge let off for the visitors and they were almost punished for not finishing this tie off.

But after eight minutes of stoppage time, which no one was really sure why it was so much, the referee brought proceedings to a close and Athletic Newham had made the Final Eight of the tournament. Well done to the hosts though who again pushed another very good side all the way in this competition.

Full time Billericay Town U23s 0 Athletic Newham 1

So, Athletic Newham join the three winners from Friday evenings Last 16 ties, Stansted, Ensign and FC Clacton, in the Quarter Finals, the remaining Last 16 ties take place over the next few days, these are listed below…

Brimsdown v Clapton (New River Stadium, Monday May 3, 4,30pm)

Cockfosters v Barking (Chalk Lane, Tuesday May 4, 7.45pm)

Holland v Hackney Wick (Dulwich Road, Wednesday May 5, 7.45pm)

DTFC v Redbridge (Harlow Arena, Saturday May 8, 3pm)

 

Finally, the Plate final will be contested between Hoddesdon Town and Woodford Town after Woodford smashed Great Wakering Rovers 10-0 at Aveley’s Parkside Stadium on Saturday afternoon, a truly remarkable result for the visitors today and they have the chance to win that Plate final at Oakside at the end of May.

 

The Quarter Final draw will be made Saturday evening, news of this will be in my Brimsdown v Clapton blog on Monday…