Pre Season Friendly, Friday 14th July
After uhming and rring over whether to go to a game on a wet Friday evening, I decided yes, so took myself off to Chadfields for a contest between a side who had just gone down into the Essex Senior League, and a side who were founder members of that division but had been moved into a different division for the coming season at most peoples surprise.
Tilbury had of course suffered relegation from the Isthmian North last season so were embarking on their first season at Step Five for a few years, whereas Stansted, who as said above, were founder members of the ESL several decades ago, were suddenly moved over to the SSMFL for the coming season, something they appealed but lost, but after the initial shock got their heads around it and now look forward to a season in a different division against some new sides.
Had a nice chat with Tilbury boss Marc Harrison before the game, and he bought me some food from the Eat Street kiosk at the ground, a very nice gesture indeed, and I also spoke with Paul Pittuck and Jon Watters from Stansted, it's always nice to chat with these guys as they always make you feel welcome and are true gents as well as brilliant managers and coaches. (I did speak with other people associated with both clubs as well apart from these who also made me feel very welcome, this is why I love non league football, people genuinely do care about how you are doing).
I also bumped into Mark Healy, ex Ensign and Regent, and had a nice chat with him after the game, always good to catch up with these guys, and they always ask how you are and stuff which always makes you feel good, so thank you.
Talking of Tilbury boss Harrison, he is in fact assembling a very decent squad for their ESL campaign which has led to many labelling them with being one of the favourites for the title this season, Pittuck told me they had managed to retain most of their squad from last season and just had a couple more to add before pre season was done, so both squads seemed in decent shape half way through their pre season campaigns.
It was the hosts though who drew first blood on the quarter hour mark when a beautiful pass in behind the Stansted defence from Elliot Howson found striker Izaih Antoine who swept home a lovely finish beyond the keeper, and on the half hour mark it was two for the hosts when Harry Hope swung in a free kick from the left and saw Donovan touch home from close range. It's fair to say the visitors defence was static at best.
Stansted though responded with a goal of their own straight from the restart when Cav Clarke thumped home and it meant the hosts would go into half time with a 2-1 lead, the contest had certainly been very competitive and almost felt like a league or cup game, the referee had handed out a booking a piece for both sides after some tasty challenges you could say.
And two minutes after the break Stansted found themselves down to ten men after a poor challenge on Antoine resulted in a straight red for the visitors, there was nothing friendly about that as both teams came together, although to be fair to the hosts as along with the visitors asked if Stansted could bring a substitute on to replace the sent off player so it was eleven v eleven, but the officials disagreed so the visitors would have to play the entire second half with ten men.
Twenty minutes into the half Tilbury made it three and it was a sublime goal too, as Jordan Peart waltzed his way through the Stansted back line before sending a beautiful finish beyond the keeper, and after having more chances to add further goals did finally grab a fourth goal with five minutes to go when after the visitors lost the ball in midfield, a clinical hosts saw a brilliant ball from Tom Salter find Ashman who strode into the box before firing home.
Stansted did manage to pull a goal back two minutes later when Finley Gregory got onto a loose ball to rifle home, but the last laugh went to the hosts when Salter curled home a lovely effort with the last kick of the contest and cap a fine evening for the home side.
Full time Tilbury 5 Stansted 2
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