Ensign through in Essex Senior Cup after seeing off Harwich, Basildon Town through in Thurlow Nunn League Challenge Cup, also a look ahead to the weekend's action in ESL/TND1S

 

(Action from Basildon Town's win at May & Baker in the Thurlow Nunn Challenge Cup, photo courtesy of Richard Brock @Beckton86)

I was bored so decided to do another blog on the latest action involving Essex Senior & Thurlow Nunn South sides, Wednesday only saw two games in total, so here is what happened in those and I will also look ahead to the weekend games in both divisions....

Wednesday Evening

Essex Senior Cup 1st Round

White Ensign 3 Harwich & Parkeston 1

Ensign are through to the 2nd Round of the Essex Senior Cup after they saw off Thurlow Nunn North side Harwich & Parkeston at Burroughs Park. Ensign grabbed a third minute lead when Jordan Fisher flicked home a neat close range finish and that lead was doubled in first half stoppage time when Joe Gregory slotted home a low angled finish. The visitors got back into the game in the 63rd minute thanks to a thunderous Jamie Beecham strike, but Ensign sealed their passage into the next round in stoppage time at the end of the contest after a cut back found Billy Hutchison who fired home a low finish, setting up another home tie in the next round against either Newbury Forest or Dunmow Town.

Thurlow Nunn League Challenge Cup 1st Round

May & Baker 0 Basildon Town 2

Basildon Town are into the next round of the League Challenge Cup after goals from Alfie Terry and Alfie Yeend were enough for them to see of May & Baker at Parkside.

Let's look ahead to the weekend's fixtures now, with all but one of those across the two leagues being league fixtures and they are all on Saturday too.....

Essex Senior League

Athletic Newham v Stanway Rovers

Barking v FC Clacton 

Frenford v Tilbury 

Great Wakering Rovers v Coggeshall Town 

Halstead Town v Romford 

Hullbridge Sports v Buckhurst Hill 

Little Oakley v West Essex 

Saffron Walden Town v Takeley 

Sporting Bengal United v White Ensign 

Woodford Town v Ilford 

A full set if fixtures in the ESL this weekend after a few weekends of cup competitions and my picks to look out for see Romford's visit to Halstead Town, Hullbridge Sports taking on Buckhurst Hill at Lower Road and Walden hosting Takeley at Catons Lane. Romford are in third and currently trail leaders Woodford Town by five points, but they travel to a Halstead side who have started the season very well indeed, they are in seventh and only four points behind Romford so that should be a decent contest at Rosemary Lane.

Hullbridge, who are in 12th, take on 13th placed Buckhurst Hill with the visitors galvanized by the return of Suleyman Zuhdu and have picked up three wins since he returned to the club, and they will want to heap more misery on a Hullbridge side who have not started the season as they would of hoped and will be looking to grab a win that could kick start there season perhaps, it proved to be a very intriguing encounter at Lower Road.

And there is local bragging rights at stake over at Catons Lane as two sides who have had indifferent starts to their campaigns clash head on, Walden recently welcomed Jason Maher back as manager after Terry Spillane departed, it was supposed to be the season they finally had a good crack at promotion but it hasn't started how they would of hoped, leading to Spillane's departure, can Maher galvanize a club he loves so much and defeat a Takeley side who are also getting used to changes off the field as well following the Marc Das era ending in the summer, with Martyn Westcott taking over the reigns.

Takeley have also had a tough start this campaign, and with the clubs sitting 15th and 16th respectively, a win for either here could really kick start their season, so this is an important battle in terms of getting their seasons going as well as bragging rights, it promises to be a rather blood and thunder tie that's for sure.

Elsewhere 8th placed Athletic Newham take on manger less Stanway Rovers after Karl Duguid resigned from his post following a rather disappointing start to their campaign, 11th placed Barking host 6th placed FC Clacton at Mayesbrook Park, 17th placed Frenford welcome 5th placed Tilbury to The Drive, and 9th placed Great Wakering Rovers welcome bottom and winless Coggeshall Town to the Essex coast with the visitors hoping they can finally grab a win in the league.

10th placed Little Oakley welcome second placed West Essex to their Memorial Ground on the outskirts of Dovercourt near Harwich, that could be a very entertaining contest, surprise package Sporting Bengal United, who are 4th and playing some neat football this season, welcome 14th placed White Ensign who will be a tough nut to crack, and finally but most certainly not least, leaders Woodford Town and only unbeaten side left in the league this season take on a struggling Ilford side at Ashton's looking to increase their lead at the top if others slip up. 

Thurlow Nunn First Division South

Basildon Town v Brimsdown

Clapton Community v Cannons Wood

Hackney Wick v Tower Hamlets

Harlow Town v Barkingside

Hoddesdon Town v Burnham Ramblers

NW London v Newbury Forest

Park View v Dunmow Town

Southend Manor v Clapton

St Margaretsbury v Hutton

Herts Senior Centenary Trophy 1st Round

Wormley Rovers v Tring Corinthians

7th placed Basildon Town take on 10th placed Brimsdown at Rookery Hill with both sides looking to get into that all important top five, CFC and Cannons Wood also have similar aspirations and they clash at The Old Spotted Dog ground at the weekend which should be a feisty affair in front of a big crowd, Hackney Wick & Tower Hamlets clash at Spa Road in Witham and both sides are looking to pull clear of the drop zone whilst second placed Harlow, who since their 5-1 drubbing at home to Hutton on the opening day, have won seven of their games since out of eleven, take on a Barkingside who have picked up recently and are themselves trying to pull away from the drop zone.

Struggling Hoddesdon Town, who were relegated from Step Five last season, host a Burnham Ramblers side aiming to break into the top five, bottom side NW London entertain ninth placed Newbury Forest at Coles Park, the visitors also aiming for a top five position at the surprise to many, whilst league leaders Dunmow Town will look to net more goals as they travel to face fourth bottom Park View who themselves will look for a shock result to try and pull away from the bottom three. Two teams who were relegated from the Essex Senior League last season clash at The Southchurch Park Arena, hosts Southend Manor will desperately be looking for a win to pull themselves away from the drop zone against a Clapton side with similar aspirations.

At The Recreation Ground third bottom St Margaretsbury welcome Senior new boys Hutton to their gaff, the visitors have stuttered slightly after a superb start to their season, but the fourth placed side could see a win take them back top of the pile if other results go their way, you just never know in this division which is almost impossible to predict!!! 

And finally, there is a cup game at Wormley Sports Club as Wormley Rovers take on Tring Corinthians in the 1st Round of the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy with the winners setting up a trip to either Sandridge Rovers or Royston Town U23s in the next round.

That's it for today's blog, more to come over the coming days no doubt, especially if I get bored.....  

Essex Senior/Thurlow Nunn South round up (Tuesday 26th September)

(Thanks to Clare Heatley for the photo from Frenford Vs Barking in the Essex Senior Cup, follow her at @clare_heatley)

Tuesday evening saw several contests take place amongst Essex Senior and Thurlow Nunn South sides in the Leagues and County Cups, lets see what went on shall we.....

Essex Senior Cup 1st Round

Buckhurst Hill 1 Holland 0

ESL hosts Buckhurst Hill netted with nine minutes remaining to settle this contest against Thurlow Nunn North leaders Holland at Roding Lane. A pinpoint delivery found Luke Sackey at the far post to cushion a shot across goal and into the far corner in the 81st minute and set up a 2nd Round home tie against Barking.

FC Clacton 4 Coggeshall Town 2

Two late goals saw FC Clacton settle this all ESL tie at the Rush Green Bowl, the hosts took an 11th minute lead after Teddy Collis picked the ball up twenty five yards from goal before sending a brilliant dipping shot just under the crossbar, but the visitors response was immediate as a free-kick was turned home by Leandro Sain at the near post just three minutes later. It took until the 69th minute for the next goal as The Seasiders edged back ahead after a right flank cross was nodded home by Mekhi McKenzie, but just five minutes after that Coggeshall responded yet again as Jack Zelinski smashed home an unstoppable effort into top left hand corner. The tie looked to be headed for penalties until the hosts got their noses in front for a third time in the 87th minute as a ball cut back to Charlie Collis saw him steer home a neat, low finish, and then two minutes into stoppage time the hosts wrapped up the tie as an angled shot was spilled into the path of Teddy Collis who tapped home at the far post.  FC Clacton will now host either Benfleet or Hullbridge Sports in Round Two.

Frenford 1 Barking 2

Barking came from a goal down early on to net victory at The Drive to progress in the Essex Senior Cup, all the goals came in the opening twenty minutes as well and it was Frenford who took an eighth minute lead through Liam Foster, but the visitors then levelled seven minutes later when Kai Haysman slotted past Matt Knight from a Martin Tuohy flick on. And five minutes later Barking netted what proved to be the winner after Gael Kileba drove forward, beats three defenders, before shooting low inside the post into the net, setting up a trip to Buckhurst Hill in Round Two.

Harlow Town 3 Burnham Ramblers 1

Hosts Harlow won the all Thurlow Nunn South contest at The Arena after goals from Ishaq Ameen, Celso Da Silva and Roman Percil were enough to see off Burnham Ramblers and set up a trip to ESL side Stanway Rovers in the 2nd Round of the competition.

Wivenhoe Town 1 Ilford 1 (Ilford won 5-4 on penalties)

The Foxes netted ten minutes into stoppage time before winning a shootout to progress against Thurlow Nunn North Wivenhoe Town at Broad Lane. The hosts took a first half lead after Mike Nwankwo had exchanged passes with Harry Willoughby, broke into the box and fired a powerful effort across the keeper and into the far corner, and that looked likely to be enough to send The Dragons into the next round, however in the 100th minute Dephin Moorat headed home from a corner to equalise, sending the tie to penalties, and the ESL visitors managed to prevail in that to set up a trip to either May & Baker or Takeley in Round Two.

London Senior Cup 1st Round

Haringey Borough 2 Athletic Newham 1

Athletic Newham put on a decent showing at Isthmian Premier Haringey Borough but saw two late goals from the hosts knock them out of the London Senior Cup. The visitors stunned their opponents by taking a 62nd minute lead after Joel Appiah was pushed over in box and Richard Kone, off the bench, scored from the spot, and when the hosts saw Scott Mitchell sent off in the 73rd minute, it looked good for the ESL side. But, the hosts managed to level with ten minutes to go when a cross from left got through Wilkinson Boateng's hands and hit one of the defenders before ending up in the net, and with four minutes left the hosts grabbed the winner when Matthew Young stole in near the penalty spot to fire home and send them through to face either Barking or Leyton Orient at home in the next round.

Essex Senior League

Little Oakley 2 Woodford Town 2

Ten man Little Oakley managed to net a late equaliser to thwart league leaders Woodford at The Memorial Ground, Oakley lead at the break courtesy of Harry Mann's spot kick, however the visitors, who had been held up in traffic getting to the game meaning it kicked off late, fired in off the far post to level, and then things got worse for the hosts when Adrian Cant was shown a second yellow and sent off. Woodford then bundled home to take the lead and it looked like an eighth league win of the season until Oli Hart popped up with a late leveller for the hosts to snatch a point, meaning the hosts remain tenth in the standings and the visitors extend their lead at the top to five despite that late disappointment.

Stanway Rovers 1 Halstead Town 3

The Humbugs are up to seventh as they continued their brilliant start to the season after coming from behind to defeat Stanway Rovers at The Hawthorns. After a goalless opening half the hosts edged in front early in the second period after Andrew Fennell produced a lovely finish into the bottom corner, but the response from the visitors was devastating, levelling three minutes later following a lovely finish from Joel Older who punished an error at the back. Twenty minutes into the half The Humbugs took the lead after Alfie Cleal fired home from close range before Older grabbed his second of the game with twenty minutes to go by firing a lovely free-kick into the bottom right corner. Defeat for the hosts leaves them second from bottom with just five points from nine games.

Thurlow Nunn First Division South

Wormley Rovers 0 Cannons Wood 0

The eagerly anticipated contest between Wormley and Cannons Wood ended goalless although it was far from drama free!!! Both these sides will be hoping to challenge for promotion this season and a decent game was expected, sadly this was not the case as the discipline of both sides got the better of them, especially second half which saw two red cards for the visitors & a sin bin for both sides too, and in fact the visitors had to play the final twenty five minutes with eight men (I assume another red card but don't know this for sure) so a rather eventful second forty five minutes for the wrong reasons, but a point a piece means they stay fifth and third in the table respectively.

Herts Centenary Charity Trophy 1st Round

St Margaretsbury 1 Hoddesdon Town 2

Hoddy set up a trip to Sarratt or Hertford Heath in Round Two of the Herts Centenary Charity Trophy after they netted victory in their all Thurlow Nunn South division contest against St Margaretsbury at The Recreation Ground.

That's completes the action for Tuesday evening, thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed and feel fully informed!!!

Isuzu FA Vase - Bakers see of West to progress plus a look at the draw for the First Round Proper involving Essex Senior/Thurlow Nunn South sides

(Action from May & Baker Vs West Essex on Sunday, pic courtesy of Richard Brock (@Beckton86))

The final Isuzu FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round tie involving Essex Senior & Thurlow Nunn South sides came on Sunday when May & Baker welcomed West Essex to Parkside in Aveley, let's see how that one panned out shall we.....

May & Baker 1 West Essex 1 (May & Baker won 3-1 on penalties)

Thurlow Nunn South (Step Six) May & Baker pulled off a surprise by knocking out Essex Senior (Step Five) high flyers West Essex, the visitors created a couple of early chances, Darnell Broomfield broke clear and fed Ruben Bartlett-Antwi but the latter could only fire over, and then Bartlett-Antwi had another opening before Zak Oliver then squandered one too, all inside the opening ten minutes.

But just before the half hour mark West took the lead when after Oliver had beaten his man, he slid the ball across goal for Joel Lamb to arrive on the scene and convert at the back post and give the visitors the advantage.

The hosts almost responded seven minutes later though as after they got through in on goal, the effort was poked wide, it was a let off for the visitors and a warning too, but West could have doubled their lead early on in the second period after a lovely move ended with Bloomfield failing to apply a finish, and Bloomfield again was involved in West's next chance in the 64th minute, finding David Bell but he could only poke his effort just wide.

Midway through the half though the hosts found a leveller that would ultimately take the game to penalties, as after keeper Michael Corderoy had made a good save from Dan Barth's effort, Gabriel Odili was the first to the rebound to convert and see this game end all square.

Bakers had put in a huge shift in this contest, it had been a hardworking performance against a very good West Essex outfit, and were rewarded by taking the shootout 3-1 to advance into Monday's 1st Round Proper draw.

Here is a link to highlights of the above tie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-D9jBaSusI and many thanks to Ashley Hanson for these highlights, go follow him at @AshleyJHanson

So, what of that draw then, there were fourteen sides from the Essex Senior & Thurlow Nunn South combined in the 1st Round Proper draw, two of which were entering this stage of the competition (Athletic Newham & Sporting Bengal United) after exemptions through to this round, the draw took place on Monday lunchtime, lets see what came out.....

Athletic Newham Vs Staplehurst Monarchs

This is a very winnable tie for the ESL hosts as their opponents are in the Southern Counties East Division One and a level below the ESL, although the visitors are unbeaten in their division this season, winning four and drawing two of their six league game so far, so this till be a tricky tie for Athletic Newham for sure.

Barkingside Vs Framlingham Town

This tie pits Thurlow Nunn South against Thurlow Nunn North, so an all Step Six tie, this will be another tough one for Side though against a Framlingham side who sit third in their division having won eight of their eleven league games thus far, however, Side dumped eighth placed Thurlow Nunn Premier Hadleigh United out in the previous round, so they have every chance of winning this one too.

Downham Town Vs Coggeshall Town

This poses to be a very tough assignment for The Seedgrowers as the ESL's bottom side travel to Thurlow Nunn Premier fifth placed Downham Town whose league record reads won five and drawn two of their seven games, so no defeats thus far, so it would take a momumental effort from the visitors to progress if truth be told.

 

Dunstable Town Vs Woodford Town

ESL league leaders Woodford Town travel to Bedfordshire to take on Spartan South Midlands Premier Dunstable Town and will be pretty confident of progressing against a side who sit tenth in their division after a mixed start to their campaign.

Frenford Vs London Lions

ESL hosts Frenford will be confident of progression in this one as they welcome Spartan South Midlands Premier London Lions to The Drive and a side who have had a mixed start to their campaign at best, netting only two wins in nine so far, although the visitors may feel the same about their opponents too so this promises to be a decent battle.

 

Halstead Town Vs Stanway Pegasus

Halstead Town may well be a level above their opponents in this one but the Thurlow Nunn North visitors have began their season very well and have won nine of their eleven league games so far as they sit second in their division, and they dumped ESL side Takeley out in the last round, so this could be a very good battle as well.

Newhaven Vs Sporting Bengal United

This has the potential to be a cracker of a contest as high flying ESL Sporting Bengal United take on a Newhaven side who sit fifth in the Southern Combination Premier have won five of their nine league games fo far, and only losing one, no doubt both sides will fancy their chances in this one for sure.

Norwich United A-W May & Baker (walkover for May & Baker, Norwich United withdrawn)

May & Baker's reward for yesterday's penalty shoot out win against West Essex was a bye straight through to Round Two of the competition after they were the lucky ones to be drawn against the now folded Norwich United who were obviously withdrawn from the competition and as a result an away walkover win for the visitors.

 

Potton United Vs Hullbridge Sports

ESL side Hullbridge Sports travel to face a Potton United side who managed to see of Thurlow Nunn South side Cannons Wood with ten men in the last round, they haven't started their Spartan South Midlands Premier campaign that well though having won three but lost four of their seven league games so far, and are down in fourteenth as a result. Sports will be wary but will be confident of progression.

Saffron Walden Town Vs Long Melford

Walden will certainly fancy progressing in this one as they welcome Thurlow Nunn Premier side Long Melford to their shores, and with the visitors having lost eight of their nine league games this far and only getting one point from a possible twenty seven to sit bottom of the division, surely it all points to a home win, but we shall see.

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Tilbury

Tilbury travel to now Spartan South Midlands Premier side Sawbridgeworth Town, and the Dockers will certainly be favourites headed into this one as the hosts haven't won in seven league games so far and sit bottom of the pile with just two points. And Tilbury breezed past Baldock Town in the last round who are eighth in the same division as Sawbo, so this could be a difficult afternoon for the home side.

St Neots Town Vs Great Wakering Rovers

This could be a very good tie, although a tough assignment for Rovers who travel to Cambridgeshire to take on a very good United Counties Premier South side in the shape of St Neots Town. The hosts have won eight of their ten in the league so far and sit third on goal difference, but Wakering have had a decent start themselves so this tie will hold no fears for them.

White Ensign Vs Wormley Rovers

The has the makings of a very tricky tie for the ESL hosts, Wormley have had a decent start in the Thurlow Nunn South and Ensign only just about squezed past Cornard United in the last round, albeit with ten men affter their keeper was sent off, their opponents that day are at the same level in the North division, so with Wormley argubly being a better side, this could be a very intriguing tie indeed.

So there you have it, all fourteen 1st Round proper ties covered, how many of sides from the ESL/Thurlow Nunn South go through, one are through already in the shape of May & Baker, who can join them?  Ties are scheduled for the weekend of October 21st.

 

Viking 4 Sandefjord 3 - Lars-Jorgen Salvesen brace helps league leaders win seven goal thriller in Stavanger

Norwegian Eliteserien, Sunday 24th September

I was over in Norway for the final Sunday of September as I am visiting family and my brother got me and himself a ticket for the local Eliteserien sides latest game in pursuit of what would be an incredible feat this campaign. (It was a late birthday pressie from him so thank you very much!!!)

Viking, who are Stavanger's biggest football team and highest one in terms on level, are currently in a title race to win the top division in Norway, they had not won the division since 1991 and had been no where near it if truth be told for some time thereafter, they had won the Cup a few years ago but had also suffered relegation the season before that before bouncing straight back, but it had been a turbulent few years for the hosts to be frank.

So to see them top of the division and two clear of Bodo/Glimt with nine games to go was a surprise, but they had been on an amazing run prior to the international break which saw them make up a eight point deficit on Glimt whose own form had dipped somewhat over the same period, and that also included a huge 3-2 for Viking over Glimt too, a statement win you could say.

Their opponents today were Sandefjord, who produced a miracle to stay up last season on the final day before winning a two legged play off against Kongsvinger to keep their place in this seasons Eliteserien, but they are once again having a tough campaign and sat one place and one point above that relegation play off spot, and only four above the bottom two and automatic relegation, although they had won at home last weekend against Stromsgodset, a huge win for the strugglers and no doubt giving them a confidence boost ahead of this one today.

However, Sandefjord would have their work cut out getting something in the league leaders own back yard, they had only managed one win away all season and had lost eight of their eleven away from their Jotun Arena home, the second worst away record in the division, so chances of getting anything as said, on paper at least, seemed small.

Football as we know though isn't played on paper, however, after seventeen minutes of this contest it looked like it would be a long night for the visitors as they found themselves two goals down and having a mountain to climb, the hosts took the lead after twelve minutes when Yann-Erik de Lanlay was slipped in to apply a lovely finish into the far corner, and then the visitors gifted the hosts a second five minutes later when losing the ball in their own third and ended with a square ball across goal for Lars-Jorgen Salvesen to apply the finishing touch and hand the hosts a perfect start.

But, to their credit, Sandefjord did not throw in the towel, they have their own agenda in fighting for survival and after the hosts saw a third goal ruled out for offisde, they got one back when a ball forward saw Franklin Nyenetue slip his marker and round the keeper before eventually sending the ball into the open goal, and then three minutes before half time and from a Viking corner, the visitors countered in devastating fashion and saw Danilo Al-Saed played in on goal to slot beyond the keeper and level the match up at 2-2, an amazing recovery considering the start they had to the contest, the hosts were in shellshock and went into the break level after having such a good start. Football eh.

It had been a very entertaining contest and I was certainly enjoying it, and there was more to come as well, which way would this contest go, well, eight minutes into the second period that all important next goal went to the home side as a cross in from the left found Salvesen at the back post to nod home for his second goal and see Viking retake the lead, could they now hold onto it?

The majority of the 13,022 in the stadium certainly hoped so, and with the players driven on by a decent atmosphere they added a fourth goal with five minutes to go to seal the contest, well that's what we all thought, when substitute and one of the fans favourites Samuel Adegbenro fired home from inside the box after a rather messy passage of play if you were a visiting defender, it was another poor goal to give away and you cannot do that against one of the best in the division.

So, 4-2 up with minutes to go, surely that was that, well no because their was still time for the visitors to set up a nervy last few moments for the hosts after a scramble inside the box hit the arm of a defender, according to VAR, and the referee pointed to the spot after a look at the monitor on the side of the pitch, and Alexander Ruud Tevter walloped the spot kick in off the bar, and they had four minutes of stoppage time to salvage an unlikely point.

After a few tense minutes though, Viking held on for what could be an important three points come the end of the season, they remain two clear of second placed Bodo/Glimt (who also won today) with eight rounds remaining, and with their next two games being against Molde & Tromso, two sides who are well in with a shout of the top places as well, it's going to be a pivotal couple of rounds for sure.

For Sandefjord, it was a great effort but giving away two poor goals in this one will not win you football matches that's for sure, and they stay fourth bottom but only out side the relegation play off place on goal difference now (this after Haugesund drew today) and with a huge home game next weekend against Valerenga to come (one place above Sandefjord and only on goal difference) they must turn their attentions to that one now and forget about this loss today.

A brilliant game though this, very enjoyable and one that will live long in the memory, seven goal thrillers do not come along very often so I was privileged to be at one today, superb entertainment!!!

Full time Viking 4 Sandefjord 3

  

My review of the Isuzu FA Vase Second Qualifying Round involving Essex Senior/Thurlow Nunn South sides (Saturday 23rd September)

(Ade Funbi celebrating his second goal of a brace on his return to Leslie Field as his current side Halstead Town netted four against Burnham Ramblers, pic courtesy of Halstead Town's twitter feed (@HalsteadTownFC))

The FA Vase Second Qualifying Round continued on Saturday, and there were a number of sides involved from the Essex Senior League and Thurlow Nunn First Division South, so lets see how they got on.....

Barkingside 4 Hadleigh United 2

Side put in a superb performance to knock out Thurlow Nunn Premier outfit Hadleigh United at Cricklefield. The visitors did grab a sixth minute lead after a perfectly flighted Liam Wales corner found Tom Warren who headed home, but Side were level nine minutes into the second period when Devlin found the net, and the hosts took the lead in the 72nd minute before winning a penalty with ten minutes to go after a late tackle in the box, and although keeper Fin saved the initial kick, Side buried the rebound to open up a two goal cushion. Hadleigh pulled one back to make the final stages a nervy affair as after the keeper failed to hold a Wales free kick, George Bugg knocked in the rebound, however Side sealed the deal and their passage into the First Round Proper by netting a fourth goal six minutes into stoppage time.

Brantham Athletic 1 Frenford 2

Frenford saw a brace from Sam Ince help the to a decent win away at Thurlow Nunn Premier side Brantham to progress into the next round Ince gave Frenford the lead two minutes into first half stoppage time before he doubled his sides lead just before the hour mark, and although the hosts saw Louie Bloom pull one back two minutes into added on time at the end of the game, they could not pull of an unlikely comeback and saw the ESL visitors progress.

 

Burnham Ramblers 0 Halstead Town 4

Ade Funbi netted a brace on his return to his former club as Halstead netted four at Leslie field. His first goal came a minute before the break when a free kick on the right hand side was whipped in and missed every player and fell to Ade who smashed it in for the first goal of the game, and then it was two for the visitors midway through the second half when Kane Gilbert produced a wonderful strike from at least twenty five yards out and saw the ball end up in the top corner. And it was game set and match with thirteen minutes to go when the visitors netted a third after a corner was whipped into the box by Joe Maybanks and headed into the goal by Robbiee Bennett. The Humbugs did add a fourth goal in stoppage time too, and Ade's second goal in his return to Leslie Field, slotting the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net to cap a fine day at the office for the visitors who progress.

Cornard United 2 White Ensign 2 (White Ensign won 4-3 on penalties)

Ensign saw off Thurlow Nunn North side Cornard United on penalties after a late spot kick from Joe Gregory got the ten men to that stage, the visitors did take the lead five minutes before the break when Ezekiel Bademosi caught the hosts sleeping from a drop ball but Cornard levelled two minutes later when Louie Arnold slid the ball into Charlie Lindoe who finishes well. The hosts then grabbed the lead early in the second period when Lindoe laid a ball back to Sam Cheetham who hit a thunderbolt into the top left corner, and when Ensign saw keeper Harry Fairs sent off for a headbutt on Brad James, things did not look good for the South Essex side.  They dug in though and with eight minutes left won a penalty after Harry Watson pulled an opponent down,  and Gregory kept his cool to take the tie to penalties, which Ensign prevailed in to progress through to the next round. 

 

Great Wakering Rovers 4 Buckhurst Hill 3

A remarkable game at Burroughs Park eventually saw the hosts net a late winner after the visitors had come from three goals down with ten men to seemingly force a shoot out. It looked like a long day would be in store for Buckhurst Hill when Louis Wynter was booked twice in the first seven minutes to be shown a red card and leave the visitors a man light so early in the contest, although they did hold out until ten minutes before the break when Ben Search’s ball to Harry Talbot saw the latter curl in from the edge of the box. Hill's discipline was not helping them and after star player Sully Zuhdu was sent to the sin bin eight minutes before the break, GWR capitalised on their two man advantage to double their lead three minutes before the break after a Callum Boylan effort was deflected into the path of Talbot who smashed home from close range for his second.  And when Talbot saw a shot deflect into the path of Demi to drill past the keeper for 3-0 nine minutes after the break, the visitors seemingly had no way back, but we were wrong, very wrong.  The ten men pulled one back when Owen Betts netted from close range, and then with ten minutes to go saw Protic grab a second for Buckhurst, after a break from a Rovers corner to suddenly put doubts into the hosts mind, and with five minutes of the ninety left it was 3-3 when Zuhdu smashed in to draw it level. Rovers though were to have the last laugh when they netted an 88th minute winner when Ball slipped past a Buckhurst defender into the path of Callum Boylan who placed a finish beyond the keeper and finally settle one hell of a contest.

 

Hoddesdon Town 0 Wormley Rovers 2

Early goals from Reece Mosanya and Mason Oaklee were enough for Wormley to progress into the next round. A long ball opened up the hosts to allow Mosanya to open the scoring before Oaklee finished well after great feet from Michaelides to double their advantage, and although the visitors saw Charlie Hill receive two yellows in the space of two minutes to see the visitors down to ten men, they managed to see the game out and progress into the First Round Proper.

Hullbridge Sports 2 Harlow Town 2 (Hullbridge Sports won 6-5 on penalties)

Sports survived a late comeback from Harlow Town to sneak through on penalties at Lower Road and take their place in Monday's draw. Hullbridge took an early lead when a free kick into the box saw Jay Leader win a header at the back post, and Solomon Ofori flicked the ball past the Harlow goalie, and when Ofori doubled their lead just past the half hour mark after a great team goal, they were in total control. Harlow though stayed in the game and after the hosts failed to take chances to end the tie, conceded a spot kick which Roman Percil converted, and six minutes into stoppage time James Folkes netted to take the tie to penalties. Momentum was with the visitors no? Well, no, because Sports held their nerve to win a sudden death shootout and breathe a sigh of relief in the process.

 

NW London 0 Burnham 7

Thurlow Nunn South NW London were humbled at home by Combined Counties Premier North side Burnham, the visitors saw a hat-trick from Leo, a brace from Samad plus solo strikes from Firas and Michal as the visitors breezed into the next round of the competition.

Saffron Walden Town 2 Stanway Rovers 0

The Bloods saw two first half goals enough to see of fellow ESL side Stanway Rovers at Catons Lane, Tom Head gave them the lead before an own goal doubled their advantage before the break, and as said proved enough for the hosts to win through to the next round.

Stanway Pegasus 3 Takeley 1

Thurlow Nunn North side Stanway Pegasus stunned ten men Takeley to progress into the next round of the competition, the visitors did actually grab a fifth minute lead but it went downhill for the ESL outfit thereafter. Takeley's Luke Kalule was given a straight red after an elbow to the head of Callum Griff, and Max Booth then levelled before the same player netted again to give the underdogs the lead. Griff, who had been on the receiving end of that elbow, netted the clinching third himself to send the Step Six side into the First Round Proper of the FA Vase.

 

Tilbury 3 Baldock Town 0

ESL side Tilbury breezed into the next round of the competition after a three goal win over Baldock Town at Chadfields. The deadlock was broken on the half hour mark when Tom Salter shifted past his man and whipped in a cross to the back post which managed to avoid all the bodies in the way and creep into the net, and in the 64th minute The Dockers doubled their advantage when Roman Campbell ran through on the left and although his first effort was saved he made no mistake on the rebound. And deep into added on time Tilbury added a third thanks to an Igli Metalia thirty five yard wonder strike, sealing his sides passage into the next round.

Congratulations to Barkingside, Frenford, Halstead Town, White Ensign, Great Wakering Rovers, Wormley Rovers, Hullbridge Sports, Saffron Walden Town & Tilbury for winning through to the next round, they will now go into the hat for the First Round Proper draw on Monday. I will have a blog on that draw plus Sunday's game between May & Baker and West Essex from Parkside, which one of them will progress into the draw as well? Stay tuned.....  

My review of the Isuzu FA Vase Second Qualifying Round involving Essex Senior/Thurlow Nunn South sides (Friday 22nd September)

(action from Cannons Wood 1 Potton United 2 courtesy of Richard Brock (@Beckton86) so go give him a follow)

The FA Vase Second Qualifying Round got underway on Friday, and there were four sides involved from the Essex Senior League and Thurlow Nunn First Division South, so lets see how they got on.....

Cannons Wood 1 Potton United 2

Parkside was the scene for a rather dramatic ending as Cannons Wood suffered stoppage time heart break to exit the FA Vase for this campaign. They were up against a side a level above them but were given a great opportunity when Ansah was sent off for visitors for a second yellow on the half hour mark, meaning the visitors would have to play at least two thirds of the contest a man light. However, in the 75th minute Potton took the lead after James Smith tapped home, but when the hosts levelled in the 90th minute you thought penalties would be needed to decided this one. Oh no, as in the 99th minute Victor Osobu's spot kick won it for the visitors to send them through to the next round. 

Coggeshall Town 1 Ilford 0

The Seedgrowers put their difficult start to their league campaign to one side as they continued their 100% record in the Vase this season, as after knocking out St Margaretsbury at home in the previous round, a penalty mid way through the first period following a high foot in the box proved enough for them to see off Ilford and claim a rare clean sheet to progress through to the First Round Proper of the competition.

Woodford Town 6 Enfield Borough 0

This was always going to prove a tough test for Thurlow Nunn South side Enfield Borough, up against one of the front runners in the Essex Senior League this season, and it proved to be the case as the hosts netted six to record their biggest win in the competition. Nathan Sollosi handed the hosts a 20th minute lead after he was released in behind on the right hand side before finding the bottom corner exquisitely, and he made it two ten minutes later as after Alexandru Bolovan had breezed past the Enfield Borough midfield,  he played a perfect pass to Sollosi, who dinked it over the keeper.  Kahlil Kirwan-Meade then added a third eleven minutes into the second period before a fantastic ball over the top to substitute Oscar Onuorah saw him pass it around the onrushing goalkeeper and into the corner with fifteen minutes to go.  And there were still time for two more goals to come, both in stoppage time,  firstly adding a fifth when the hosts broke in behind before the ball was squared to Onuorah, who smashed home from seven yards,  making it a brace off the bench, and then a sixth goal capped a fine evening for the ESL league leaders in the 94th minute to see them cruise into the next round.

Here are the fixtures for Saturday/Sunday in the FA Vase Second Qualifying Round involving teams from the ESL/TLND1 South.....

Saturday

Barkingside Vs Hadleigh United

Brantham Athletic Vs Frenford 

Burnham Ramblers Vs Halstead Town 

Cornard United Vs White Ensign 

Great Wakering Rovers Vs Buckhurst Hill 

Hoddesdon Town Vs Wormley Rovers

Hullbridge Sports Vs Harlow Town 

NW London Vs Burnham

Saffron Walden Town Vs Stanway Rovers

Stanway Pegasus Vs Takeley 

Tilbury Vs Baldock Town 

Sunday

May & Baker Vs West Essex 

Good luck to all taking part this weekend, I will have a blog on Saturday's action and then one on the Sunday game plus the draw for the First Round Proper, so stay tuned..... 

Hullbridge Sports 2 West Essex 2 - MOTM Jason Banton's 72nd minute spot kick sees points shared at Lower Road in a belter of an Essex Senior League contest

Essex Senior League, Saturday 16th September

My last Saturday game in September (I am off to Norway on Wednesday until early October) saw me at a very familiar ground in the shape of Lower Road, Hullbridge, as Sports were hosting West Essex in the Essex Senior League.

And just like last weekend I was joining ESL President Robert Errington and my good friend and buddy Scott W, and we were all looking forward to what would be an intriguing contest between two sides who have had very different starts to their seasons so far.

If you had have said that one of these sides sat third and just two points behind the joint leaders Woodford Town and Romford having picked up eighteen points from their opening nine games, and the other were down in fifteenth with just eight points from their opening seven games, you would have said Bridge were the former, and West the latter, that’s how it was supposed to go right?

Well no, it was in fact the visitors who were sitting in third after a very surprising (to most of us anyway!!!) start to their campaign and had only recently lost their unbeaten record in the division when they were beaten by league leaders Woodford Town in midweek, but prior to this they had won four out of five in all competitions, netting fourteen goals in the process, so were in cracking form you could say.

The Woodford loss had only been West’s second loss in competitions thus far, the other one came against Step Four opposition in the shape of Maldon & Tiptree in an FA Cup Replay after West had held them to a goalless draw in the original tie, so they had certainly started the season well with only two losses in thirteen competitive matches.

Hullbridge on the other hand have had slow start to life back at this level, the 2018/19 ESL champions have won only two of their opening seven league games so far, not the start they were looking for, the season had started with a victory at Stanway Rovers, but since then their only other win in the league came on Bank Holiday Monday when they defeated Athletic Newham.

They have picked up three wins in cup competitions though, two of those coming in the FA Cup beating Takeley before producing a memorable performance to knock Waltham Abbey out in the following round, and only good goalkeeping from the Kettering Town stopper prevented Bridge from continuing on, so they know they do have good performances in them, could they now translate that to the bread and butter of the league?

Many had seen this as a potential cracker as both sides liked to attack, and they were not to be disappointed as the game turned out to be one of the most entertaining contests I'd experienced so far this season, it began with the hosts having a good spell in the early exchanges before West probably should have had a penalty but after playing on and missing, the play was not brought back, much to the visitors dismay.

Hullbridge did get their noses in front after 19 minutes though after the dangerous Solomon Ofori fired an effort into the box and found Bobby Badham who applied a first time finish past Michael Corderoy although again the visitors felt hard done by as they were claming offside, but the flag stayed down and the hosts had the lead.

Both sides continued to pass up opportunities in what was a breathless end to end contest, but two minutes before the break West got themselves on level terms, which was probably deserved, after Zak Oliver, who had been a constant threat down the right for the visiting side, ended a lovely team move by firing across goal into the path of skipper David Bell who could not miss from a yard out at the back post.

It had been a brilliant first forty five minutes and the second half did not let up either but some comical defending handed West the lead early in the second period as a ball forward was not dealt with and allowed Ruden Bartlett-Antwi a chance to have an effort at goal, and although his prod towards goal was on target with keeper Rob Budd out of goal, the covering defender attempted to clear the ball away from goal but instead fell over in doing so and saw the ball find the net, oops you could say.

West had chances to seal it as well but could not, whilst Hullbridge saw Ofori, who was a menace all afternoon, see an effort from the angle superbly tipped onto the bar by Corderoy, but with just under twenty minutes to go the hosts were given a golden chance to level the contest once again when a lovely ball slipped into the box by Harry Brown found Ofori who was felled by Corderoy for a penalty, and Jason Banton, who had been superb all game, stepped up to convert the spot kick, setting up a grandstand finish to this one.

Both sides continued to attack and try and find a winner, but they could not do this, meaning this game ended all square, it had been a cracking watch it has to be said once again, so kudos to both sides for putting on such an entertaining contest. 

So, what does that mean for both sides in the division, well the hosts remain 15th in the table but do pick up another point and are now six points off the top five and twelve behind leaders Romford, whereas West stay in third and remain two points behind the leaders and only a point of second now, still early days though and many more twists and turns to come for sure. What a game this was though, marvellous!!!

Full time Hullbridge Sports 2 West Essex 2

   

Coggeshall Town 1 Athletic Newham 2 - Two Derek O'Halem headers see visitors to all the points at a sweltering West Street

Essex Senior League, Saturday 9th September

My latest game came from West Street, Coggeshall, as hosts Coggeshall Town welcomed Athletic Newham to North Essex for an Essex Senior League contest on what was a very hot day in September.

The hosts endured a difficult campaign last season at Step Four in the non-league pyramid after finishing fourth from bottom in the Isthmian League North, and then lost at home in their Inter Step play off to Winterton Rangers, meaning they suffered relegation down into the ESL for this campaign, and it hasn’t started well for them this season either.

After six league games they sit bottom of the pile having lost five of those, with their only point a 3-3 draw at Frenford, but they have won a competitive game this season which came over the bank holiday weekend after a 4-1 win over Thurlow Nunn South side St Margeretsbury at West Street in the FA Vase, however this has been a brief moment of joy for the club so far this season.

And they welcome a tricky Athletic Newham side who have arguably on his day the best player at this level of football in Richard Kone, however with Kone serving his last game of a ban the hosts would have been happy he was not in the side, although Newham still would pose a massive challenge for the hosts as they are still a team packed full of quality without him.

Newham have had a solid start to their campaign, they sat in seventh prior to kick off and locked on nine points along with three other sides in a tight early season table, league wins over Tilbury, Little Oakley & Frenford but losses too West Essex, Halstead Town & Hullbridge Sports mean consistency has been an issue for the Newham side, but they had an amazing FA Cup tie against Combined Counties side Tooting & Mitcham, drawing the first game 3-3 after being 3-0 down with fifteen minutes to go, then winning the replay 4-2 before they went out to Westfield 3-0 in the next round.

So, with the visitors you’re not sure what you are going to get, but they would enter this game as favourites that’s for sure, a win for them could take them level with the top four, whereas the hosts could climb of the bottom of the table with a positive outcome, although surely one thing that was guaranteed to today was goals, as in the seventeen games combined involving both sides this season, their had been 69 goals netted, which is an average of four a game, so surely a nil nil wasn’t in the equation (famous last words!!!).

The hosts did start quite positively in this one, but they fell behind on thirteen minutes when a corner from the right by Anderson Baro found Derek O'Halam totally unmarked in the six yard box to head home, it was a poor goal for Town to concede and they would now have to try and find a way back into the contest and their character would yet again be tested as after such a positive start they found themselves behind.

They continued to take the game to their opponents though and put them under a lot of pressure, Leandro Sain had two great chances for the hosts but lacked composure on both occasions, the second chance was a very good save from Wilkinson Boateng as he pinched the ball of the strikers foot when he tried to round him, it just wasn't happening for the hosts and they were nearly punished on a couple of occasions when Newham nearly doubled their lead, one particular chance from Andy Greenslade was guilt edged.

Coggeshall though kept plugging away and in first half stoppage time grabbed a deserved leveller when a lovely through ball from Reggie Gregory found Leon Boyeja who produced some nice footwork before firing past Boateng in the visitors goal and sent the hosts into the break all square, and both sides could have a breather after a half that was played with a terrific tempo despite the 90 degree heat in North Essex.

The hosts joy at grabbing a late leveller soon evaporated barely a minute into the second period though as they conceded again from a O'Halem header from a Baro corner from the same side as the first goal had come, it was literally a carbon copy of the first goal, which would have been immensely frustrating for the home side, two poor goals conceded and now 2-1 down with their half time team talk totally out of the window.

Thereafter that though Newham were largely playing on the counter when they could as the hosts piled on the pressure to the Newham backline, who at times looked very lackadaisical at the back and almost allowed the hosts to find a leveller on more than one occasion, Coggeshall passed up at least six clear cut chances to find the net but lacked that composure in front of goal once again and also found visiting keeper Boateng hard to pass as well. It was certainly a frustrating afternoon for the hosts that was for sure.

Newham as said did counter on their opponents at times and their best chance to seal the points came when Joel Appiah fired an effort across goal and wide, but ultimately those two corners from Baro that found the head of O'Halem were enough to win the game for the visitors who would be more than happy at getting out of West Street with all three points, taking them up a place to sixth.

For Coggeshall they did most things right today, apart from putting the ball in the net and conceding those two soft goals from identical corners, it's these moments that shape a game and this young Coggeshall side will learn on the job and I am absolutely sure if they continue to play like this they will pick up more than enough points to pull them away from the foot of the table, that first league win cannot be far away for sure.

Finally kudos to both sets of players for putting on a decent game for all of us to watch, it was 90 degrees out there today so to play a game at a decent tempo like they did is a testament to them as it was really really hot!!! Thank you also to Coggeshall for the welcome and the hospitality throughout the day, I wish you all the best going forward.

Full time Coggeshall Town 1 Athletic Newham 2

  

Uxbridge 0 Cray Valley (PM) 3 - Freddie Parker, Kyrell Lisbie & Matthew Vigor all on target for visitors who see off Uxbridge at Arbour Park to progress in the Emirates FA Cup

Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round, Sunday 3rd September

I made a first visit to Arbour Park, home of Slough Town, for an FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round tie between Isthmian South Central Uxbridge and Isthmian South East Cray Valley (PM) on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon in Berkshire.

Now Uxbridge as using Arbour Park, which by the way is a lovely venue (it reminds me very much of Melksham Town's new ground which is also very nice and similar in terms of the seated stands and bar area and balconies) as a temporary home whilst their Honeycroft ground is being renovated, and they should be back home around the end of this month or start of next, fingers crossed.

This meant that their first three competitive games of the season all came in the competition, thankfully they were drawn away from home in the first two rounds, defeating Tunbridge Wells before drawing with Corinthian Casuals and then beating them at Arbour Park in a replay, and they did not actually begin their league campaign until the bank holiday weekend, however they netted two wins from two over that weekend meaning they have won four of their first five competitive fixtures of the season, a decent start you could say.

Cray Valley (PM) have also began the season confidentially too, taking seven points from nine and netting sixteen goals in the process, seven of those goals came at Phoenix Sports on Bank Holiday Monday in a 7-2 win, so that took them into this contest in good spirits too, they had also netted a replay win over Lordswood in this competition after drawing the original tie, meaning they have won all but two of their five games thus far this season and are also unbeaten.

Two sides then who have started the season well, it all pointed to a decent cup tie in Slough, but with eight minutes on the clock the hosts gifted the visitors the lead and it kind of set the tone for the afternoon as well, Uxbridge defender Sean McGuiness lost the ball inside his own penalty area to the lively Kyrell Lisbie who duly squared the ball to Freddie Parker who had the simple task of side footing home with keeper Loris Marcimain committed to the cross, not the start the hosts were looking for and the perfect one for the visitors.

Lisbie in fact got himself on the scoresheet just before the half hour mark as well, a lovely ball into the box was flicked around the corner into the path of the winger who applied the finish to double Cray Valley's lead, and if truth be told the visitors should have been out of sight at the break after they missed several guilt edged openings, but at least they did have two goals to show for their efforts, Uxbridge could count themselves they were still in the contest, albeit only just.

The hosts needed the next goal that was for sure to have any chance of staying in the contest and the cup, and they did force a couple of decent stops from visiting keeper Sam Freeman, but Cray Valley had chances to kill the tie themselves, and with just over twenty minutes to go finally added a third goal to end the contest when Matthew Vigor was played in to curl beyond Marcimain.

Cray Valley then more than did enough to win the game, they were a constant threat to their opponents and a special mention must go to winger Michael Ademiluyi who had a superb game and on another day could have netted at least a couple of goals himself, you can see why they have netted so many goals so far this season, and they now go through to the next round of the competition.

Uxbridge had their chances, especially second half, but they were well beaten here if truth be told and were lucky they didn't lose by a lot more, sadly for them they exit the competition and lose their first game of the season, they now must concentrate on the league for now and continue their good form in that. 

Full time Uxbridge 0 Cray Valley (PM) 3