Essex Senior League, Tuesday 27th February
I was back over at Lower Road to see if hosts Hullbridge Sports could get an important three points in their quest for a play off spot, and they were up against Little Oakley who themselves were looking for a win to take them level on points with tenth placed Stanway Rovers.
It's been a frustrating season for the hosts so far though, although despite their inconsistent form across the season (thirteen wins, six draws, twelve defeats) they headed into this one in eighth spot and still only three points off fifth placed Sporting Bengal United who occupied that final play off berth, so they were still right in the mix for sure, as were several others all the way down to at least tenth spot, so only half the division!!!
League form since the turn of the year had seen them net four wins from five before they were humbled at home to Barking last time out so they needed a response to that woeful showing, and they were up against an Oakley outfit who were having an equally frustrating campaign, having won nine, drawn ten and lost ten to be in the lower half of the table, although they did come into this contest off the back of victory at home to Takeley, so something to build on after a first league win since the turn of the year.
Form and league position certainly pointed towards a home win though, but the hosts had the worse possible start when they fell behind after only five minutes when a lovely free kick delivered into the box by Luke Hipkin saw Harry Mann miss contact but Oliver Hart was right behind him to convert from close range and Bridge would now have to try and come from behind to get something from this one.
Both sides certainly had chances thereafter to either level in the hosts case, or in the visitors case increase their lead, examples for the hosts being a couple of efforts from full back Alfie Whiteaker with his left foot flying wide of the far post, and then visiting keeper Billy Lawlor beating away an effort from the hosts in what was probably his only real save he made in the entire game, despite a lot of pressure being applied by the home side in periods of the contest.
Oakley themselves had chances to kill the game with their best one by far being a Mann effort striking the bar before a follow up effort from Jordi Papple being skied over the bar, had that have gone in then it probably would have sealed their win, but they were made to pay for this when Bridge did manage to finally find the net as a cross from second half substitute Michael Dixon was spilled by the unfortunate Lawlor, and 42 year old Ghanian forward Derek Asamoah was on hand to turn the ball home and bring his new side level.
Could anyone find a winner, well the momentum seemed to be with the hosts but they had to be alert to thwart some late breaks from Oakley, however neither side could find one and it meant the game ended all square and a point a piece in the process. Both sides ended the game frustrated as both felt they could and should have won it gaging by the body language of both sets of players/management/fans after the game. It has been a frustrating season for both as said above, so this game kind of summed up both sides seasons so far.
At least Bridge managed to salvage something from a game they could easily have not, they are now a point closer to fifth place now as well, so every cloud and all that you could say, whereas for Oakley they could not quite hold on and would be annoyed with that after leading for so long, they are 13th and five points off a top ten position now.
Full time Hullbridge Sports 1 Little Oakley 1
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