Chelmsford City 2 Braintree Town 0

Vanarama National League South, Monday 26th December

Boxing Day 2022 saw me over at a familiar fixture at Melbourne Stadium as Braintree Town's winless run over their Essex rivals Chelmsford City was extended to ten games after goals from Tom Blackwell and Reece Grant handed The Clarets all three points in their Vanarama National League South contest.

These two often do battle over the festive period when they play in the same division, and this year was no different as after this game today the return fixture was pencilled in on New Years Day at Cressing Road, so two festive derbies for the clubs and fans to look forward to, and this season, unlike some others, saw both sides having decent campaigns so far.

Hosts City, like their opponents today, are right in the promotion mix for a place in the National League, sitting fourth although there is a six-point gap to third placed Havant & Waterlooville and then a further two-point gap to the top two in Ebbsfleet United and Dartford (those two meet over the festive period as well, with Dartford netting a 4-1 win today!!!)

Despite this though they are in a decent position play off wise, and with seven wins from eleven home games this season, they were certainly confident off turning over a Braintree side who themselves sit in eighth spot and five points behind their opponents today, so they knew a win here would certainly improve their chances of a play off spot, although with only four away wins in eleven this campaign, the odds were pointing towards a home win.

Chelmsford’s last win though had come back at the start of December, which was their last home game when they beat joint leaders Dartford 1-0, since then they have only played two league games, losing both away from home at Dulwich Hamlet and St Albans City, scoring only once in those two outings, before their home game against Slough Town and their trip to Hungerford Town were postponed due to the cold weather experienced over those weeks.

Braintree haven’t played a league fixture since early December, and in fact both December fixtures they have played out so far haven’t yielded no goals, recording goalless draws at Taunton Town and then at home against Oxford City, before games against Dulwich Hamlet and Hemel Hempstead Town were scrubbed due to the freezing conditions.

Town’s last league win did come at the end of November, a 3-2 home win over bottom side Hungerford Town, but when has form ever come into derby games eh? Regardless of who is better at home or away, and who is in form or not really does not count for much in derby games, so no doubt this one would be the same, and no quarter given either, these games mean so much to the players and fans of both, so a decent a no doubt feisty encounter would ensue.

It is worth pointing out that Braintree's last derby win against City came back in August 2010, a 3-0 win a Cressing Road, and it's been nearly SEVENTEEN years since Braintree last tasted success on Chelmsford shores, a 2-0 success back in April 2006, so it's fair to say results in this particular game do not favour the visitors well, although their have been a number of draws in that time too, although City have won five of those derbies since Town's last one twelve years ago.

Could Braintree then go on and grab a rare win in this fixture in recent times? Well, after only three minutes it did not look good for them as the hosts flew out of the traps and grabbed an early lead when Lodovica did well down the right before sending in a lovely ball which Blackwell managed to get across his marker and beat keeper Sims to the cross to head home and give the majority of the 1,178 crowd inside the ground something to cheer.

The hosts should have built on that cushion too only a minute later after Ludovica found himself baring down on goal, but he could not get the ball out from under his feet and the chance was ushered away by a scrambling visiting back line, but Braintree then managed to settle and were denied an equaliser on two occasions by the superb Ejeheri,  denying Rush before a ridiculous reaction save after the ball had rocketed towards the net moments after that.

The game became more congested thereafter but City did carve out one more chance before the break when Jackson's curling effort was saved by Sims, and early on in the second period City came close to doubling their lead when Jackson's header saw Sims tip over well, but thereafter the visitors began to have the better of the contest as they searched for a leveller, and saw hosts keeper Ejejeri make another brilliant save to deny them, tipping an effort from Rush around the post as he managed to get in on goal for the visitors.

And then came the big moment of controversy in the game with eighteen minutes of the ninety to go, when a cross into the box was deflected towards goal by a home defender and appeared to strike the hand of a City defender as the ball was heading in at the near post, some even were adamant the ball had crossed the line, but nothing was given, much to the amusement and surprise in the main stand, and then three minutes later salt was rubbed into those sore old wounds when the hosts were awarded what looked a soft penalty decision down the other end, and Grant stepped up on debut to fire home the penalty and give the hosts some breathing space.

The visitors felt hard done by that was for sure, but they were almost caught cold seven minutes from time when sloppy play at the back saw Blackwell in behind, but his ball across the box was poor and the visitors managed to clear their minds, it mattered not though in the end as City saw out the remainder of the contest to pick up another derby win against their Essex Rivals.

That moment in the 72nd minute was certainly pivotal, had it gone 1-1 who knows what the result might have been, but it's a game of margins isn't it and they certainly favoured the hosts today, and it is a result which sees Chelmsford cut the gap to third by three points whereas Braintree slip a place to ninth and three points off the play off places after this disappointing loss, although they do it all again on New Years Day at Cressing Road, can Braintree gain revenge, recent times suggest not, but we will see.

Full time Chelmsford City 2 Braintree Town 0 

Dagenham & Redbridge 5 Uxbridge 1

Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round Proper, Tuesday December 20th

I was over at Victoria Road, Dagenham on Tuesday night and saw hosts Dagenham & Redbridge net five as their class told against lower league Uxbridge, setting up a Fourth Road home tie against fellow National League side Maidenhead United in mid January.

This was Daggers first match in this seasons competition as members of the Vanarama National League get a bye into this stage of the competition and they were big favourites against an Uxbridge side who had to battle through three Qualifying Rounds and two Proper Rounds to set up this tie.

Uxbridge are three levels below Daggers in the pyramid, the Isthmian South Central Division, and had caused an upset in the previous round when dumping Vanarama National South side Dover Athletic out on penalties, but this was expected to be a much tougher test against a strong looking Daggers line up, but Cup football does through up some surprises doesn't it.

The game was meant to have taken place at the weekend, but a frozen pitch meant it was delayed until Tuesday, and with the temps milder and the frost gone, the pitch was looking in decent nick as it always does at Victoria Road, could Uxbridge possibly spring a surprise or would Daggers see off lower league opposition to progress and try and start another cup run.

Well, from the moment Omar Mussa side footed home a pull back from Myles Weston in the ninth minute, there was only ever going to be one result as the Daggers totally overwhelmed their opponents in the opening forty five minutes, netting again in the eleventh minute when after Josh Hare had done superbly to drive out from the back, his through ball found Junior Morias who made no mistake.

After a 16th minute effort from Bird had struck the post, Daggers did find that third after just twenty five minutes of play when Mussa's lovely curled pass found Morias, and he applied a lovely curling effort beyond keeper Tobin into the far corner, and you really feared for Uxbridge at this point as it really was men against boys out there.

Thankfully for the visitors no further goals came for the remainder of the half, although it had been like a training exercise for the hosts if truth be told, they had totally outclassed their opponents, but the second half was to be a much more competitive affair, maybe down to the hosts losing their way a bit and taking the foot of the gas, but maybe because Uxbridge wanted to at least show some pride and not be totally embarrassed in this one. 

Daggers did add a fourth goal eleven minutes after the break when a cross from Mussa went in off a defenders head for an own goal, but soon after Uxbridge had their best spell of the contest and did pull a goal back just past the hour mark when Daniel Williams did well to cut inside and fire a superb left footed effort from range beyond Justham and give the visitors something to cheer at least.

The hosts cut a more frustrated figure in the second period as their zing had left them, and the visitors had found more confidence too and were giving as good as they got, but, Daggers were to have the final say in this one when substitute Paul McCallum got on the scoresheet with three minutes to go, Matt Robinson's cute pass into the box finding the striker who turned and fired home to make it five for the hosts, capping what was a largely satisfying evening for the home side. 

Daggers then go onto face Maidenhead United at home in the next round, commiserations to Uxbridge who were well beaten here but can be proud of their run in this seasons competition for sure, falling at their sixth hurdle in the end.

Full time Dagenham & Redbridge 5 Uxbridge 1

 

Old Southendian 1 Rayleigh Town 2

Essex Olympian Premier Division, Saturday 10th December

I was at Garon Park in Southend on Saturday and saw a stoppage time goal from Will Vile hand Rayleigh Town a huge three points against Old Southendian in their Essex Olympian Premier Division contest in absolutely freezing conditions on the Essex coast.

On a day where the only games that took place were mainly on 3/4G surfaces due to the very cold temperatures freezing mostly anything that was on grass, this was the only match to take place in the division, and only one of eight games to go ahead across all five divisions in the Olympian set up, so lucky me to have this game within walking distance from my flat on the seafront.

It also was billed to be a decent match up too, OS sat sixth in the division after a fairly solid campaign so far, whereas Rayleigh were in fourth spot only a point above today's opponents, OS could have gone third with victory and Rayleigh second if they took all three points in this one.

OS's form had been pretty decent in November, three wins from three meaning a perfect month, with wins at Catholic United and Springfield as well as a home success over Bishops Stortford Swifts, although December began in defeat when they lost narrowly at Sungate, there first defeat since mid October and ending a run of four straight wins too, so they would have been heading to this one pretty confident.

Rayleigh themselves had only played three league games since mid October due to cup games and the like, and those league games had not gone that well, they were held at home by Shenfeld AFC before losing at Kelvedon Hatch, and then they were held at home once again by Runwell Sports in a 3-3 draw, meaning more dropped points, which they could ill afford with Hutton running away with things at the summit.

They had at least scored a few goals in those cup games in the same period, netting five against May & Baker Reserves and six at Galleywood, and then last time out they had a 3-0 success at Beacon Hill Rovers, although apart from the Galleywood those sides were in lower divisions, however winning games, whoever it was against, still breeds confidence, but they desperately needed a league win, there last one coming way back on October 1st when they thrashed Springfield at home.

How would this one go then? Well, you know I said this was billed as a potential classic encounter, well scrub that, as the first half was not a great spectacle, and any chances that did come were from the visiting side, their best effort saw a long range strike from Jack Long crash of the crossbar, whereas OS's only real chance of the half fell to Nico Dobouchet, but he could only pull his left footed effort wide of the far post when in a decent position.

The second period began in much the same way, lack of goal mouth action and not a lot of quality, but on the hour mark the hosts took the lead after full back Connor Burrows hit an thunderbolt from miles out which found the top corner, it had come from absolutely nowhere and the hosts now had a lead to hold onto.

This seemed to wake the visitors up, they had just not been at the races, and their poor form in the league looked likely to continue, but after going behind they were the ones doing all the pressing and the hosts were the ones clinging onto their fragile lead, could they hold out, well no, because with five minutes of the ninety left a free kick swung into the box found the head of Long who nodded home the leveller from close range, and now you felt the visitors may go onto win it.

And sure enough, in the third minute of stoppage time, good work down the left from Harry Talbot saw his ball into the box turned home by Vile to cue wild scenes amongst the visiting side, bodies pilled on top of each other and yelps of joy as they knew how big this win could be, in contrast the hosts were broken, they led with several minutes to go but ended up losing right at the death, football eh!!!

It all meant that Rayleigh did climb into second spot albeit eleven points behind leaders Hutton with a game in hand, whereas OS stayed in sixth spot but have now lost two on the spin after winning four on the bounce, although they are still only four points off second place in what is a tight top eight, apart from Hutton obviously. 

Both sides play before the Christmas/new year break next weekend, OS travel to fourth placed Canning Town whilst Rayleigh are also on their travels again, away to ninth placed Shenfield AFC, and no doubt both will be looking to end 2022 on a high.

Full time Old Southendian 1 Rayleigh Town 2

Essex Senior League Weekend Double (Friday 2nd/Saturday 3rd December) - Lindfield brace helps White Ensign to victory at Buckhurst Hill, second half goals from Tilson & Collis see FC Clacton to big three points against West Essex

 The first weekend of December saw me take in a double header as I attended some Friday night football and then Saturday afternoon one too, and I had two decent looking games lined up as well with the venues Roding Lane in Buckhurst Hill and The Austin Arena in Clacton-on-Sea, below are how both games went, let's get into this now.....

Friday 2nd December

Buckhurst Hill 1 White Ensign 2

The friday night fare came Roding Lane, Buckhurst Hill, as the hosts were welcoming Southend side (although they do play in Great Wakering) White Ensign to their shores, the visitors had only had 48 hours to recover from their 6-2 loss at home to league leaders Enfield, something they were not to pleased about, but they were looking to try and bounce back from a game they did lead 2-1 at one point before Enfield pulled away.

Ensign's November form in the league had been mixed you could say, an excellent win at Romford and a superb draw at Saffron Walden Town (their opponents had levelled in stoppage time) had been in with defeats against Redbridge, Ilford, FC Clacton and then Enfield, although the Clacton game could have easily gone the other way, but they were a tough run of fixtures, and this one at Buckhurst Hill would be no different.

The hosts had had a tough week or two themselves though, losing some key players to other clubs who had been ever presents over the last few years in what has been a superb rise for the club through the leagues, so their thumping 4-1 home win over Sawbridgeworth Town last time out was a welcome distraction and relief from all of that, and they were looking to make it back to back home wins here.

That win over Sawbo ended a run of two successive losses in the league, Hill had suffered a set back at strugglers Clapton before been beaten at Barking too, and early on in this one they were suffering another setback after just six minutes in this contest when Ensign grabbed the lead when Alfie Lindfield got into the box to fire an effort in off both posts, meaning the hosts character would be tested again.

Two early injuries for the home side didn't help their cause either, but they did manage to find a leveller just before the break when good work down the right by Fehinti Falola saw him find Ezekial Bademosi who took a couple of touches before thumping a superb effort past visiting keeper Charlie Martin to send the sides in level at the break, momentum with the hosts you felt?

Well, four minutes after the break they lost all that momentum through their own stupidity when a defensive howler allowed Lindfield in to fire home and restore the visitors advantage, team talk well and truly out of the window as a result, and the hosts would have to come from behind again in order to take anything from this one, and prevent a third loss in four games.

They had their moments of course, with one effort from Hassan Nalbant being superbly saved by Martin, but Ensign could easily have sealed the deal themselves and saw one long range effort from Iyiola Adebayo thump against the hosts bar, but it had been a brilliant battling performance from the visitors who saw out the game for a superb win and a welcome three points.

It all meant Buckhurst Hill now slip to tenth in the division after the weekend games as their recent poor form continues, whereas Ensign ended the weekend in fifteenth spot and only five points below their opponents and the top ten, time to look upwards perhaps now rather than below?

Full time Buckhurst Hill 1 White Ensign 2

Saturday 3rd December

FC Clacton 2 West Essex 1

Saturday's game saw me over at The Austin Arena in Clacton-on-Sea for the very first time, this was the only ground in the current Essex Senior League I had not visited, so I thought I'd put that right, and it was also a top of the table clash between the third placed hosts and the fourth placed visitors, so a good game was expected.

The hosts started the day five points ahead of their opponents, and their form in November had been rather good you could say, four straight wins since their home loss to Takeley at the end of October, and fourteen goals to boot as well, was a fifth straight win on the cards here?

They were up against a decent side though and would find it tough that was for sure, West were the best of the rest you could say after the top three although their form through November had been a mix of results, the month beginning with losses to Stansted and Athletic Newman, before they beat strugglers Clapton at home before a superb 3-0 win at Little Oakley, which was a stand out result for sure.

They came into this contest having lost narrowly to second placed Redbridge, but it was a very tight 1-0 loss so could have gone either way, how would this big game go?

It was a game that produced little in the way of major chances if truth be told, the enormity of the contest was evident as both sides did not want to lose it, the hosts created the bulk of any openings that did come in the opening forty five minutes, there was a huge shout for a penalty after a goal bound effort struck an arm of a defender in the eyes of the hosts, although I feel it hit his side with the arm by it so the right decision was made.

And visiting keeper Arthur Leblond made a terrific save to deny the hosts the lead, tipping away a shot from outside the box when it looked like it was heading into the top corner, West did create one chance, and it was arguably the best one late on in the first half when a mistake at the back allowed them in and it ended with an effort from an acute angle being deflected onto the post and our for a corner.

The game was at times scrappy, and was getting increasingly niggly too, understandable with what was at stake, West probably edged the second period in the early exchanges but as the game entered it's final twenty minutes, it all changed.

The hosts won a corner and swung it into the six yard box in the 70th minute, and big striker Adam Tilson rose highest to plant a header home from close range and send the hosts wild, you felt it was such a big goal in such a tight and tense contest as this, what did the visitors have in response?

Well, what happened instead was a second goal for the home side, who had their tails up now, and Tilson was involved again, racing into the box before being taken out by West keeper Leblond for a stonewall penalty. Leblond did his best to redeem what was a stupid challenge by saving Jake Clowsley's spot kick brilliantly, by non of his defenders reacted quick enough to prevent Charlie Collis from netting the rebound and doubling The Seasiders advantage, West had it all to do now, only twelve minutes of normal time remained.

Tensions were evident amongst the players and both benches, this almost boiled over when hosts full back Jenson Mulqueen and visitors attacker Saliu Lo-Seye went into a challenge with the former coming off worse, causing a rather angry reaction from the hosts, personally there was nothing wrong with it but the hosts were calling for a red card, a yellow was issued instead but tensions were running high shall we say.

What was also irritating the hosts was the amount of stoppage time being added on, and when West pulled one back six minutes into it, a free kick crossed to the back post being converted by Tala Lo-Seye, their irritation went up a notch, mixed with nerves no doubt, and hoping West would not pull off the comeback of comebacks.

After a few more tense moments the referee blew for full time after eight minutes of stoppage time and the hosts could celebrate a huge three points, the game itself wasn't a classic but it was a terrific battle played by two sides fully committed to the cause, and that is all you want isn't it.

It means that FC Clacton now have put an eight point gap between them in third and West in fourth, with the top three now well ahead of the chasing pack, The Seasiders are also only second to Redbridge on goal difference as they continue to chase Enfield who are five clear at the top of the division and are the ones to catch.

West are only fourth on goal difference in a three way tie on 29 points with Stansted and Little Oakley, and there is only four points separating them and eleventh placed Athletic Newham in what is a very tight division in that section, meaning every result counts for sure.

Full time FC Clacton 2 West Essex 1

Finally, let's look at that updated table shall we.....

Enfield continue to lead the way, with the top three now pulling clear of the rest, fourth down to eleventh is only separated by four points, whilst down at the bottom things look more and more bleak for Southend Manor week by week. Clapton's recent revival has given them a chance of catching the ones above, but it will still be a tough assignment for sure. 

  

Witham Town 0 Stansted 0 (Witham Town won 7-6 on penalties)

BBC Essex Senior Cup Third Round, Wednesday 30th November

Spa Road was my venue for the final day in November and saw Witham Town knock Stansted out of the Essex Senior Cup to reach the Last 16, this after winning a penalty shoot out which included a melee and two red cards in what was a bizarre end to the evening.

The hosts played a level above their opponents in the Isthmian North however Town were on a slide after a solid start to their season, November had started well with a 3-0 success over struggling Gorleston but four straight defeats since had seen the hosts slide to 12th, so the county cup would prove a welcome distraction perhaps, although they were pitting their wits against one of the top sides in the Essex Senior League in Stansted so this was not going to be easy.

The Airportmen are having another solid campaign and sit in sixth spot, and having been the only side to defeat league leaders Enfield on their own patch eleven days ago, which was only one of two games they hadn't won this season, and also net four at Halstead in their last outing, they were coming into this one in decent shape so would have fancied their chances of knocking the hosts out.

On arrival at the ground I bumped into the Stansted management and committee and after they kindly bought me a beer in the clubhouse, once I had drunk this I made my way into the stadium, although I didn't have to pay as the hosts had kindly put my name on the gate, so I was very appreciative of this, special thanks to chairman Mark Nicolls and also first team fixture secretary Mark Bundock for arranging this for me, my late father would be smiling down on all of you right now.

They also invited me into the boardroom as well, which again I was very appreciative of, it really does make a difference and the club will always have a special place in my heart, and many of you will know why, always special memories when I do return to the club, and they certainly do a nice cuppa and serve up some decent biscuits as well, so I was all fuelled up for the contest, how would that go?

As it turned out, the main talking point of the entire evening was to come during the penalty shoot out, but more on that shortly, the actual game itself, well the ninety four or so minutes prior to shoot out was largely poor and lacked any type of quality, it was one of those games which can be swiftly forgotten about, but their were some chances for both sides.

Stansted actually started quite brightly but soon found themselves counting their lucky stars after the hosts missed some decent openings in the first period, and then at the start of the second period it was Town who were doing the counting of the lucky stars as The Airportmen failed to convert some guilt edged openings themselves, meaning the tie remained goalless.

It was fairly apparent too that the longer the game went on it was more and more unlikely this tie would not see a goal in the ninety minutes or so, Witham somehow missed from close range right near the end, firing over when it seemed easier to score, summing up the kind of evening it had turned out to be, so the inevitable shoot out then followed.

And in a total contrast to the game itself, some, indeed most of the spot kicks were sublime, with neither keeper getting near most of them, so after twelve successful kicks the score was 6-6, Stansted then ballooned their seventh one over the stand behind the goal, leaving the hosts a kick to win the tie, but what followed was truly bizarre.

As the referee and player who was about to attempt the winning kick asked for another ball, a fight, or melee, or pushing and shoving then broke in the centre circle between both sets of players, and it resulted in a red card a piece for each side, and also a booking for another Stansted player, it was a truly bizarre moment and one I have never ever witnessed in my 32 years of watching this sport.

Referee Michael Smith told me afterwards on twitter that it was a first for him tonight as well, and that sometimes they go through laws of the game tests and they think that'll never happen, well tonight it did, so says a lot, but it all meant that the final kick, as it turned out, didn't happen for about five minutes whilst this was all being sorted out, heaping a lot of pressure on the hosts to net that pressure kick.

Thankfully for them they did, and it meant the hosts squeezed through to Round Four, so some joy for them in what has been a difficult few weeks, although commiserations to the visitors who will now be solely focused on the league and maybe even promotion to Step Four, who knows, they are certainly within striking distance of those top two places if the ones above them falter.

Full time Witham Town 0 Stansted 0 (Witham Town won 7-6 on penalties)