Essex Senior League, Tuesday 1st August
It was more Essex Senior League action for me on Tuesday evening as I was over at Lower Road to see if either Hullbridge Sports could make it two wins from two or if Saffron Walden Town could bounce back from their disastrous heavy loss in Friday night's league opener at Romford.
The hosts had managed to dig in and record a narrow 1-0 victory at Stanway Rovers on the opening weekend, and were the only relegated side of four in this season's ESL from the Isthmian North to do just that after Tilbury, Great Wakering Rovers and Coggeshall United all suffered surprising home losses, and they were looking to heap more early season misery on The Bloods who had suffered a big 5-1 loss at Mayesbrook Park.
Walden's cause wasn't help with the red card of their skipper George Pullen in that opening night defeat, although he was present at the back and skipper once again in this one as the suspension had not kicked in as yet, but one of his defensive partners was to give the hosts a golden chance of edging in front in this contest in the 16th minute when full back Tom Skelton pulled down attacking winger Amaree Robinson-Jones inside the box, resulting in a penalty for the home side and a booking for the defender.
And Charlie Heatley, scorer of their winner at Stanway Rovers at the weekend, stepped up to thump a powerful spot kick at goal, and although Bloods keeper James Young got a hand to it, it was too powerful and ended up in the back of the net, and the hosts had an early advantage.
To be honest that was one of very few chances in an average at best first forty five minutes, neither side were at their best, Cole had Walden's only real opening when glancing a header at goal but it was easy for Sports assistant player manager Rob Budd, and it meant the hosts would take a slender lead into the half time break.
Whatever Bloods boss Terry Spillane said to his troops at half time seemed to wake them up somewhat as they created several chances in the opening exchanges of the second period, they were nearly caught cold though on one occasion when second half substitute Ramiah Mills burst clear of the visitors back line, but saw his effort well saved by Young, but apart from this it was all Walden from half time onwards at this stage.
And just beyond the hour mark the visitors netted a deserved leveller when Ryan Melaugh slipped a lovely pass through to Cole who made no mistake by thumping an effort past Budd, and four minutes after this they had turned it around when edging in front when Reece Barrett, who netted Walden's only goal in their opening game, saw the hosts defence back off allowing him to fire a superb effort into the bottom corner.
The visitors had been a totally different side to the first period and the hosts were hanging on somewhat, but they did eventually ride out the storm and did start to put some late pressure on the visitors, who were standing firm, although they were lucky to hold on by the end after the hosts missed a guilt edged chance with the final kick off the game, meaning a first defeat for the hosts in this campaign, whilst Walden bounce back from that heavy loss at Romford.
Full time Hullbridge Sports 1 Saffron Walden Town 2
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