So, we have our finalists for the 2021/22 edition of the BBC
Essex Senior Cup, with Vanarama National South side Billericay Town taking on Isthmian
Premier Bowers & Pitsea at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community
Stadium on Tuesday 12th April, but let’s see how the competition
unfolded over the last few months…
Preliminary Round
Eighteen sides got their campaigns under way, with sides
from the Essex Senior League and the Thurlow Nunn South division entering (and
the ones not lucky enough to get byes into the First Round!!!) so let’s see how
they got on…
Takeley 2 West Essex 2 (West Essex won 4-2 on
penalties)
Benfleet 1 Wivenhoe Town 4 (here is my blog on this
game (http://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2021/10/benfleet-1-wivenhoe-town-4.html)
Walthamstow 2 Newbury Forest 2 (Walthamstow won 4-2 on
penalties)
Coggeshall United 1 Harwich & Parkeston 2
FC Clacton 0 Buckhurst Hill 2
Barkingside 2 Holland 3 (here is my blog on this game (http://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2021/10/barkingside-2-holland-3.html)
Burnham Ramblers 1 Ilford 0
Redbridge 3 Frenford 0
Halstead Town 1 May & Baker 2
West Essex won their all ESL clash at Station Road against
Takeley after winning a shootout, Elliott Long had given Takeley the lead but
goals from Samuel McNally and Samraj Gill saw West ahead, a late Carl Mullings
goal took it to penalties, but West prevailed from twelve yards, whilst in the
all Thurlow Nunn South contest at Park Lane, Wivenhoe got the better of
Benfleet, click on link above for more details.
Samir Bihmoutine and Jason Hallett netted for Walthamstow as
they were given a scare by lower league opposition in the shape of Newbury
Forest at Wadham Lodge, the hosts even saw Adebola Sotoyinbo sent off, but they
managed to squeeze through on penalties, whilst in another all Thurlow Nunn
South contest at West Street, Harwich & Parkeston got the better of
Coggeshall United to progress into the next round of the competition.
Buckhurst Hill stunned ESL FC Clacton at The Austin Arena to
continue their superb start to life in Senior Football, and at Cricklefield
Holland survived a late comeback from Barkingside to take their place in Round
One, click on link above for my take on that evening’s proceedings, and at
Leslie Field Burnham Ramblers caused an upset after a stoppage time penalty saw
them defeat Ilford to take their place in the next round.
Finally, Redbridge saw off Frenford at Oakside thanks to
goals from James Barlow, Tony Martin and Sergiu Maximov, and May & Baker
netted a fine win at Rosemary Lane against Halstead Town to progress.
First Round
The remaining seven Essex Senior and Thurlow Nunn South
sides entered the competition at this stage (the ones lucky enough to have been
given byes!!!) and they joined the sides that progressed from the Preliminary
Round as another seven ties took place, here is how they went…
West Essex 0 Stanway Rovers 1
Stansted 1 Redbridge 1 (Redbridge won 5-4 on
penalties)
Harwich & Parkeston 0 White Ensign 3
Holland 1 Wivenhoe Town 0
Southend Manor 2 Buckhurst Hill 3 (here is my blog on
this game http://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2021/11/southend-manor-2-buckhurst-hill-3.html)
May & Baker 1 Saffron Walden Town 2
Athletic Newham 2 Burnham Ramblers 2 (at Burnham
Ramblers FC, Burnham Ramblers won 4-3 on penalties)
Walthamstow 1 Little Oakley 0
Stanway’s campaign began with a narrow one goal win at
Wadham Lodge against fellow ESL side West Essex, and in the first of many
meetings between the two, Stansted and Redbridge ended up going to penalties at
Hargrave Park, with the visitors going through, Daniel Okah netted for The
Airportmen, whereas Ibrahim Kehinde netted for the visitors who also had
Timothy Ogunrinde sent off, but it did not affect them as they ended up
prevailing.
White Ensign Senior Cup campaign began with a 3-0 win at
Royal Oak against Harwich & Parkeston, Connor Barnby netted a brace and
there was also one for Zack Littlejohn as the Great Wakering based boys marched
on into Round Two, and in an all Thurlow Nunn South contest at Dulwich Road,
Holland netted the only goal of their contest with Wivenhoe Town to progress.
Buckhurst Hill took a second successive ESL scalp away from
home as they downed Southend Manor at Southchurch Park, for more details on
this game click on link above, Saffron Walden Town needed a Craig Calver brace
to see off May & Baker at Parkside, and Burnham Ramblers caused another
shock as they downed high flying ESL side Athletic Newham.
The match had supposed to been taking place at The Terrance
McMillan Stadium in Newham, but this was unavailable so the tie was switched to
Leslie Field, and with Burnham 2-0 up things looked good for them, however the
ever impressive Richard Kone pulled one back for the ESL outfit before an 84th
minute leveller from Leon Hasani took the tie to penalties, but, Ramblers held
their nerve to cause a big surprise and go through to Round Two.
Finally for this round, Walthamstow sneaked through to Round
Two after a Jason Hallett first half goal proved enough as they saw off fellow
ESL side Little Oakley at Wadham Lodge.
Second Round
The eight remaining sides from the previous two rounds did
battle in the four ties that took place in this round to determine who would go
through to round three and potentially draw one of the big boys entering the
competition at that stage, so plenty of incentive in these games, let’s see how
it unfolded…
Holland 3 Burnham Ramblers 2
Buckhurst Hill 0 Walthamstow 1 (here is my blog on
this game http://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2021/11/buckhurst-hill-0-walthamstow-1.html)
Saffron Walden Town 2 Redbridge 0
White Ensign 4 Stanway Rovers 2
Burnham Ramblers run in the competition ended after they
were knocked out by fellow Thurlow Nunn South side Holland, and the North Essex
side ended up being the sole Thurlow Nunn South survivor heading into Round Two
after Buckhurst Hill were dumped out by Walthamstow at Roding Lane in what was
an eagerly awaited contest, for more on that click on the link above.
In another heavy weight second round tie at Catons Lane,
Saffron Walden Town saw off Redbridge 2-0 to book their place in Round Three,
and finally in another all ESL contest at Burroughs Park, Ensign hit four as
they saw off Stanway Rovers in a very impressive showing, Dominic Locke netted
a brace whilst there were also strikes from Joe Gregory and Zack Littlejohn as
they made it seven goals in their two outings in the competition so far.
Third Round
The remaining 28 sides who had entered the competition came
into the fray in Round Three, along with the four sides who had progressed from
Round Two to make up the Last 32 of the cup, so teams ranging from the EFL down
to Step Six of the non-league pyramid were now in the mix, let’s see who made
it through to the Last 16…
Basildon United 3 Hornchurch 2 (Isthmian North
Basildon United caused a big surprise after they dumped Isthmian Premier
Hornchurch out at Gardiners Close, Ellis Brown had given The Urchins a seventh
minute lead but Ruben Carvalho levelled two minutes before the break, David
Enakita restored the visitors lead with eighteen minutes to go but late goals
from Robbie Farrell and Carvalho sealed a shock win for the hosts.)
Heybridge Swifts 4 Harlow Town 1 (Swifts saw off
Harlow at Scraley Road to progress into Round Four, the hosts found themselves
three goals up in fifteen minutes thanks to strikes from Dylan Logan, Daniel
Walker and another from Logan, and it was 4-0 before half time when Archie McFadden
netted, and although Alex Read pulled one back on the hour mark for the
visitors, the game was already over for some time and was a mere consolation)
Walthamstow 0 Brentwood Town 1 (An Ashley Nzala
goal a minute before the break saw Isthmian North Brentwood Town edge out Essex
Senior League leaders Walthamstow at Wadham Lodge, this could well be a league
game next season so was a good barometer for Stow to see what they could be
facing week in week out next season, and they more than played their part but
just fell short and it was Town who progressed)
Bowers & Pitsea 6 Great Wakering Rovers 0 (Isthmian
Premier Bowers & Pitsea thrashed Isthmian North side Great Wakering Rovers
at The Len Salmon Stadium, goals from Mitchell Gilbey, Joshua Rusoke and Callum
Boyle had the hosts three goals to the good after 32 minutes, Michael Ademiluyi
then added a brace before Luca Albon completed the rout to send the hosts into
Round Four)
Waltham Abbey 0 Grays Athletic 2 (Grays Athletic
saw off Waltham Abbey at Capershotts to progress, Anointed Chukwu edged the
visitors ahead seven minutes before the break before Joe Paxman doubled their
lead just past the hour mark and it proved enough to earn the visitors victory
and progress into the Last 16)
Brightlingsea Regent 1 East Thurrock United 2 (East
Thurrock United won the all Isthmian Premier tie against Brightlingsea Regent
at Taydal Stadium, Oliver Spooner gave the visitors the lead three minutes
before the break before Ben Search doubled that lead fifteen minutes from time,
and although Valter Cachicote de Rocha pulled one back with nine minutes
remaining, it wasn’t enough to prevent the hosts from exiting the competition)
Aveley 1 Barking 3 (The Millers were surprisingly
beaten at home by Barking, George Okoye gave the Blues a third minute lead
before Aveley responded ten minutes later through Ryan Scott, however, Okoye
restored Barking’s lead early in the second half before Charlie Heatley sealed
their passage into the Last 16 with a late third)
Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Concord Rangers 2 (Concord
Rangers caused a surprise after the Vanarama National South side saw off
Vanarama National League side Dagenham & Redbridge at Victoria Road. Danny
Green put the visitors ahead from the spot after just three minutes before they
doubled their lead on the half hour mark from a Mamadou Jobe header, and
although The Daggers pulled one back four minutes later through an Ibby Akanbi
strike, Concord held on to record a fine win)
Hullbridge Sports 1 Tilbury 3 (Drey Mensah was amongst
the goal scorers as Tilbury won the all Isthmian North battle at Lower Road
against Hullbridge Sports)
Braintree Town 3 Witham Town 0 (Isthmian North
side Witham Town fell at their first hurdle after they were beaten at Cressing
Road by Vanarama National South side Braintree Town)
Hashtag United 1 Romford 0 (Toby Aromolaran netted
a 90th minute winner as Hashtag United defeated struggling Romford
at The Len Salmon Stadium to progress into Round Four of the competition)
Billericay Town 1 White Ensign 0 (Essex Senior
side White Ensign put up a brave fight against a youthful Billericay Town at
New Lodge, but an Ipanga Mbambo goal proved enough for the Vanarama National
South hosts to get through to the next round of the competition)
Holland 0 Canvey Island 5 (The sole surviving
Thurlow Nunn South side Holland were well beaten by Isthmian North high flyers
Canvey Island at Dulwich Road, Liam Oliver netted twice inside the opening ten
minutes to put the visitors in control, Evans Kouassi then made it three just before
the half mark. Oliver then completed his hat-trick just past the hour mark and
the scoring was completed with thirteen minutes remaining when Callum Fitzer
found the net to seal a comfortable passage into Roudn Four for The Gulls)
Maldon & Tiptree 1 Chelmsford City 2 (A Simeon
Jackson brace helped steer Vanarama National South Chelmsford into Round Four
at their former landlords and Isthmian North Maldon & Tiptree at the
Wallace Binder Ground. A shock looked on the cards after eighteen minutes when
Maldon grabbed the lead through Philip Brown-Bampoe but City levelled just past
the hour mark through Jackson before Charlee Hughes was then sent off just
before half time leaving the hosts down to ten men. It took City until ten
minutes from time though to find a winner, with Jackson netting his second,
meaning the visitors progressed)
Colchester United 6 Saffron Walden Town 1 (Essex
Senior Saffron Walden Town put up a good fight against EFL League Two
Colchester United’s U23s, and even went into the break level after a Scott
Piggott goal, however, the Us overran their lower league opponents to progress
into Round Four of the competition)
Southend United 0 Coggeshall Town 3 (Coggeshall
Town recorded a famous victory at Roots Hall as they downed The Blues U23s to
progress into Round Four, Alex Teniola gave the visitors a 21st
minute lead before Jayden Gipson doubled that advantage with just over twenty
minutes remaining. And Kudos Oyenuga completed a memorial evening for the
Isthmian North visitors when adding a third with twelve minutes remaining)
Fourth Round
Last 16 stage now, with teams three wins away from a place
in the final in April, lets see how those eight ties panned out…
Bowers & Pitsea 2 Chelmsford City 2 (Bowers &
Pitsea won 5-3 on penalties) (Isthmian Premier Bowers & PItsea
stunned Vanarama National South Chelmsford City on what was a dramatic night at
The Len Salmon Stadium to progress into the Quarter Finals. Mitchell Gilbey
gave the hosts the lead midway through the first period, but a Charlie
Sheringham brace seemed to have sent the visitors through, however, a stoppage
time leveller from Lewis Manor took the tie to spot kicks which Bowers
prevailed in to take their place in the Last Eight)
Barking 5 Grays Athletic 1 (Freddie Parker netted
a hat-trick as Barking cruised to victory in their all Isthmian North contest
against Grays Athletic at Mayesbrook Park, Parker netted on eleven minutes to
give the Blues the lead but James Smith brought Grays level nine minutes before
the break, only to see Parker restore the hosts lead five minutes later. James
Folkes then extended Barking’s lead early in the second period before Parker
completed his treble just past the hour mark, and the scoring was completed six
minutes later when Tom Salter added a fifth for a rampant Blues)
Concord Rangers 1 Colchester United 1 (Concord Rangers
won 8-7 on penalties) (A last minute penalty from Danny Green saw
Concord Rangers take this game to penalties before they triumphed 8-7 in the
shootout to progress into the Quarter Finals of the competition and knock out
another side higher up the pyramid than themselves in the process)
Hashtag United 2 Heybridge Swifts 1 (here is my blog
on this game http://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2022/01/hashtag-united-2-heybridge-swifts-1.html)
Brentwood Town 1 Tilbury 1 (Brentwood Town won 4-3 on
penalties) (Brentwood Town needed penalties to see off fellow
Isthmian North opponents Tilbury at The Arena, Tom Richardson’s 64th
minute spot kick looked to have seen them through, but Chris Millar levelled
for the Dockers in stoppage time, taking the tie to penalties, but Town held
their nerve to win through to the Last Eight)
Braintree Town 4 Basildon United 1 (A first half
hat-trick from McKeown helped Vanarama National South side Braintree Town ease
past Isthmian North Basildon United at Cressing Road, McKeown netted in the 13th,
20th and 32nd minute to give his side a 3-0 lead at the
break. Brayley did pull one back for the visitors eleven minutes into the second
period, but Morgan sealed the hosts passage into the Quarters with nine minutes
to go)
East Thurrock United 2 Coggeshall Town 6 (Isthmian
North Coggeshall Town thrashed Isthmian Premier strugglers and current holders
from the last completed competition East Thurrock United at Rookery Hill to
take their place in the Quarters. The hosts did head themselves ahead, but Alex
Teniola levelled before Isaac Skubich and Callum Harrison netted to send the
visitors into the break 3-1 to the good, and the game was as good as over when
Oyenuga added a fourth. East Thurrock pulled one back to briefly reduce the
arrears but further goals from Byrne-Hewitt and Francis sealed another
memorable night in this competition for the Seedgrowers)
Billericay Town 3 Canvey Island 1 (here is my blog on
this game http://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2022/01/billericay-town-3-canvey-island-1.html)
Quarter Finals
Eight sides now remained, with sides from the Vanarama
National South, Isthmian Premier and North representing their particular
leagues as they aimed to progress closer to that final in Colchester, let’s see
how the four Quarter Final ties panned out…
Barking 1 Concord Rangers 4 (Barking’s run in this
year’s competition came to an end after the Isthmian North side were beaten at
home by Vanarama National South Concord Rangers. Ben Allen gave Concord the
lead a minute before the break but Charlie Heatley then levelled just before
the hour mark, however Concord’s lead was quickly restored through Danny Green
before Jayden Randell and Temi Babalola added further goals for the visitors as
they pulled away to win and take their place in the Final Four)
Billericay Town 1 Hashtag United 0 (Sam
Skeffington’s first half goal was enough for Vanarama National South Billericay
Town to take their place in the Semi Finals, beating Isthmian North Hashtag
United at New Lodge. The winning moment came midway through the first period
when Skeffington fired home from the edge of the box)
Bowers & Pitsea 3 Braintree Town 0 (Bowers
& Pitsea dumped out another Vanarama National South side at The Len Salmon
Stadium after they defeated Braintree Town to reach the semi-finals. Michael Ademiluyi
handed the hosts a 33rd minute lead before Danny Norton doubled that
advantage right on half time, and Norton netted again with five minutes
remaining to seal the hosts passage into the Last Four)
Coggeshall Town 2 Brentwood Town 2 (Coggeshall Town
won 3-2 on penalties) (Coggeshall Town’s fine run continued after
they netted a penalty shoot out win over fellow Isthmian North opponents
Brentwood Town at West Street. Jermain Francis had put The Seedgrowers ahead on
sixteen minutes, but Tom Richardson levelled on the half hour mark as the sides
went into the break all square, Alex Teniola looked to have won it with five
minutes to go but Brentwood netted a stoppage time equaliser through Rob Harvey
to take the tie to spot kicks. Town though managed to hold their nerve to win
the shootout and progress into the Semi Finals)
Semi Finals
And then there were four, an all Vanarama National South
contest and an Isthmian Premier against North to determine who would play for
the BBC Essex Senior Cup for 2021/22, let’s see how both Semi Finals went…
Concord Rangers 3 Billericay Town 4 (at Billericay
Town FC) (Billericay Town won through to the Final after winning an
absolute classic against Concord Rangers in a tie that was switched to New
Lodge late on. Dylan Gavin latched onto a dipping through ball to volley home
and give Town a fifth minute lead, but a good Concord move was finished off by
a fine near post finish from Lamar Reynolds to bring them level after only ten
minutes. Concord then led midway through the first period after James
Blanchfield fired in off the post, but it was 2-2 right on half time after
Gavin fired home his second of the contest from close range. And that wasn’t it
for the opening forty-five either as Billericay then grabbed the lead two
minutes into first half stoppage time when Jack Munns free kick was flicked
home by Michael Chambers to see them into the break with a 3-2 lead, a lead
that was to be snuffed out immediately at the start of the second half when
Reynolds slid home from close range. The winning moment though came with twenty
minutes remaining when Niko Muir’s ball across goal saw Aron Pollock turn the
ball into his own net, and Billericay Town had reached the final of the BBC
Essex Senior Cup.
Bowers & Pitsea 3 Coggeshall Town 0 (Bowers
& Pitsea powered past Coggeshall Town to reach the final and set up a tie
against Billericay Town, the hosts made a perfect start to proceedings by
netting in the opening minute thanks to Dan Trendall, and just past the half
hour mark it was two for the hosts thanks to a lovely finish from Pedro Silva
Barbosa. Bowers were reduced to ten men though nine minutes after the break
when Jamie Dicks was shown a straight red after a tackle that was deemed to be
out of control, however this did not affect them as they sealed their passage
into the final by adding a third goal midway through the second period when
Callum Leahy converted a cross from Trendall)
Final
Billericay Town Vs Bowers & Pitsea (at Colchester
United, Tuesday 12th April, 7.45pm)
Vanarama National League Billericay have won this
competition three times with their first one coming back in the 1975/76 season
when they defeated Epping Town, and then they won it for the second time in
2010/11 after beating Aveley, and the last time they lifted the BBC Essex
Senior Cup was in 2017-18 when they beat Chelmsford City. They have also lost four finals too, losing
three in a row back in the 1990s to Grays Athletic twice in a row and then to
Braintree Town, and then losing the 2014/15 version to Concord Rangers.
Bowers & Pitsea, who play one level below Billericay in
the Isthmian Premier, have never even been to the final of this competition, so
this will be a first for them, and shows how far the club have come in such a
short space of time after spending much of the past years in the lower reaches
of non-league football, so this is a brilliant achievement for them, can they
win their first one on April 12th?
There is no reason why not, they have already slayed two
Vanarama National South sides in Chelmsford City and Braintree Town on route to
the final, so they will not be afraid of a Billericay Town side who have
struggled for a major part of the campaign, but equally this would be a fourth
triumph if Town were to pull it off, and they will be more than confident of
doing that.
It should be a good final at Colchester United Weston Homes
Community Stadium in April, we will find out who comes out on top in around a
months time…
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