Thurlow Nunn First Division South, Saturday 11th November
Remembrance Day saw me over at New Lodge, Billericay, for a
Thurlow Nunn First Division South contest between two local sides in the shape
of Hutton & Burnham Ramblers on what is always a very poignant day when we
all remember those who fought for today’s freedom, they must never be
forgotten. Lest we forget…..
Anyway back to today’s battle, and hosts Hutton sat fifth in
the division and in the final play off spot after what has been a pretty solid
start to their maiden senior campaign, they had an incredible start when
winning six of their opening seven league games of the season, but a run since
then of five wins, one draw and six defeats has certainly brought a dose of
reality back into the frame. They were only still three points off the leaders
though, so it was still a terrific position to be in.
There form in October saw them play five games in all
competitions, they lost at home to Basildon Town in the County Cup before
netting a narrow win at Barkingside in the league, defeats against Dunmow Town
& Tower Hamlets then followed in the division before victory at Southend
Manor saw them see out the month with a win.
And they come into this one-off back-to-back wins after they
followed up that win at Southchurch Park with a thumping 5-1 home win against
Newbury Forest on the first day in November, so they do come into this fixture
having won two in a row (they did also net a 1-0 win at home to Stanway Pegasus
in midweek in the League Cup, so technically three straight wins!!!)
Their opponents today, Burnham Ramblers, are not having such
a great season this time around, they sit in 12th spot and only four
points above the bottom three, such is how tight the bottom of the division is
this season so far. They have won only six of their nineteen games so far and
have lost ten of them too and have the second worst goal difference in the
division too, not like Ramblers at all over the past couple of seasons.
Their form in October has seen them pick up five points in
their six league games, a crazy 4-4 draw at home to Southend Manor and then a
creditable draw away at Clapton Community was followed by losses against May
& Baker and Harlow Town, those two without scoring and conceding nine,
before a last minute win at home to Clapton was followed by a 3-1 loss at
Southend Manor, so they come into this one in not particularly brilliant form.
These two have already met this season, back on August 22nd
in the league, and Hutton ran out 4-2 winners at Leslie Field in front of 200 spectators,
Ramblers actually led that game 2-1 at the break before the visitors roared
back to win that one, how would today’s encounter go?
Well, from the outset it was obvious the hosts would go on and win this one, they found themselves two goals up in eleven minutes and looked likely to threaten a big score line against their beleaguered opponents, they went in front after six minutes when full back Tom Stephens burst into the box before firing a powerful effort in off the far post, and then five minutes later headed a lovely cross from Nana Adarkwa into the far corner like any striker would, and the hosts were off to the perfect start.
The visitors had to try and stay in the game and desperately needed the next goal, but just before half time were dealt a killer blow when they conceded a penalty after a lovely through ball from Andrew Webster into the path of Dave Johnston saw the latter felled by visiting keeper Ryan Bungaradu, and up stepped Stephen Judge to fire the penalty home with the keeper getting a good hand to it but unable to prevent it finding the net, 3-0 at half time and total control for the hosts.
Ramblers tried their upmost to get back into the contest after the break but rarely tested home keeper Jamie Grossart, and Hutton should really have put the icing on the cake with around twenty minutes or so to go when they were awarded another spot kick after Callum Ismail was felled inside the box, Judge allowed full back Stephens to take the penalty for his hat-trick, but sadly the latter's kick struck the post, meaning no hat-trick and the score line remaining 3-0 to the home side.
Ramblers then saw their task become almost an impossible one soon after though when substitute Yaya Djau managed to get himself sent off after two bookings, it had seemed inevitable if truth be told after getting booked not long after coming on, it was his third or fourth foul and rather brainless it has to be said, and the visitors were down to ten with seventeen minutes of the ninety still to play.
Their was to be one more goal in the contest though, and it did go to the struggling visiting side, another substitute and well known forward Lheureux Menga, forced a save from keeper Grossart but the loose ball fell into the path of Oliver Wells who converted from close range, but it was a mere consolation as the hosts took the points.
It was another frustrating afternoon for the struggling Rams who did end the game with nine men after star striker Karl Swanborough was sin binned for dissent with almost the last action of the contest, Ramblers slip a place to 13th now after an eleventh loss in the league this season, and remain just four points above the bottom three.
It's a much brighter picture for Hutton through who have now recorded four straight wins in all competitions, three in the league, and they go up a place to fourth and are in a four way tie for second, just two points off new leaders Clapton Community, it's a tight top six that are separated by just three points, crazy, but the hosts are right in the mix for promotion to Step Five as we approach the half way stage of the season, not bad for their first senior season as a club eh.
Full time Hutton 3 Burnham Ramblers 1
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