Essex Olympian League Premier Division, Saturday 6th April
It was another big day in terms of the battle for the title and also promotion from the EOFL Premier Division, Wednesday night had seen league leaders Old Southendian defeat fellow title chasing Rayleigh Town at Thames Road, so Rayleigh, who are chasing promotion to Senior Football along with Sungate, were hoping they could bounce back against Old Chelmsfordians today and hope and pray OS would take points off Sungate at Garon Park.
The current standings in the top three saw OS four points clear of second placed Rayleigh, with Sungate another three points back in third, so today's results would certainly have a bearing on how the season may end up. Rayleigh were still in the driving seat and if they win out would win the league by five points as they have three games in hand on the leaders, all OS need to do is win their final three games and hope Rayleigh slip up if the Southend side are to win the division.
Sungate themselves really had to win this contest if they had any title aspirations, they were already seven points behind the leaders, albeit with two games in hand on them, but anything other than victory at Garon Park would see them fall further behind, but their primary target was of course finishing above Rayleigh in order to gain promotion, and at kick off they were just three points behind second place although Rayleigh have played two games less, so in terms of both the title and promotion it was essential that Sungate picked up maximum points today, as anything else would see their task made harder, especially if Rayleigh netted maximum points in there game.
March had been a mixed month for the visitors in today's game then, a brilliant win over Rayleigh Town in the Anagram Records Trophy was followed by a shock defeat at Division One side Corinthians in the League Cup, they then followed that up with a home win over struggling Harold Wood Athletic before a disappointing draw at Kelvedon Hatch was followed by a hard fought win at Leigh Ramblers last time out, but they would have to be on their A game in this one against an OS side who were flying.
Since OS lost at home to Rayleigh Town on October 28th, the only game they haven't won were two cup ties, one which they did win on penalties, and the other one where they lost on penalties, apart from that, they have won every single game since that league loss at Garon Park, that's seventeen games, so fifteen wins and they are currently on a twelve match winning run too, and a thirteen match winning streak in the league too, so to say they were in form would be an understatement, and with their last outing seeing them end Rayleigh's sixteen match winning run in the league, confidence was high.
Blustery conditions up at Garon Park meant both sides would have to adapt to the conditions, who would be able to cope with them better? They certainly had no issues with the pitch as this was a lovely 3G surface (even I have played on it and can vouch for that!!!) although at least it was pretty mild and dry, so not the worst conditions either (have had much worse up here in the past trust me!!!).
The wind was blowing diagonally across the pitch towards the clubhouse end and Sungate had the wind in the first half although it wasn't always easy playing with it as OS found out in the second period, but the visitors, who knew only a win would do, were on the front foot early on and had the better of the early exchanges, but it was the hosts who took the contest by the scuff of the neck when netting the opener just past the midway point of the half when Mitch Ali controlled a cross before firing beyond keeper Drew Campbell.
And then came a big moment of controversy when OS doubled their lead just beyond the half hour mark as a ball forward found Callum Ludlaim saw him in acres of space behind the backline, and he rounded keeper Campbell and fired into the empty net, everyone seemed surprised the flag had not gone up and Sungate were adamant he was in an offside position when he received the ball, but after the referee had gone to consult the assistant, they stayed with the goal, much to the dismay of the visitors.
The frustration of not taking early chances and being two goals behind, and that decision, saw midfielder Lee Samways sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for saying too much to the referee, he had been warned about this earlier in the game, so the referee decided he had no choice, and now Sungate were a man down and two goals down for the remainder of the half.
Things were looking good for the hosts then, but Sungate were never really out of the game and were still playing most of the football without success, that was until five minutes before the break when James Smith fired home into the bottom corner leaving keeper Jonathan Pitts wrong footed and unable to make a dive to save it, but although OS had not been at their best, they did hold a 2-1 lead heading into the dressing rooms, and knew they had the wind in the second period, diagonally at least.
This didn't really affect the visitors though who were continuing to play most of the football, and they were causing the hosts some real headaches however OS were managing to deal with whatever was being thrown at them, and they did have some really great chances to restore their two goal cushion and perhaps clinch the contest, but with just over fifteen minutes to go Sungate managed to provide a moment that saw them draw level, and to be honest on the balance of play throughout deserved it.
A ball forward saw Sungate forward Robbie Farrell beat his marker to the ball, cut inside onto his right foot, and drill a lovely finish across goal into the far corner, so heading into the final fifteen/twenty minutes the game was perfectly set up for a grand stand finish.
And it turned out to be a rather frantic finish to the game, end to end at times, Sungate saw substitute Elton Tettley twice blast past the full back and have a clear sight of goal, but both times he saw his efforts saved by Pitts, whilst OS finished the game with a series of crosses and corners which almost saw them pinch it at the death, but a combination of wasteful finishing and decent keeping from Campbell, who had to deal with the wind and cramp, managed to keep OS from finding that elusive winner.
Despite all the attacking prowess from both, neither could find a winner, so the game ended all square, and it had been a pretty enjoyable one despite the howling winds for most of the game, kudos to both sides for providing such a decent game in such conditions.
So how does that leave the top three now then? OS remain four points clear after Rayleigh Town could only draw 0-0 at Old Chelmsfordians, so it's as you were with Sungate still a further three points back, Rayleigh will probably be the happier of the three after today, one more game played by all, and no change, and with Rayleigh having games in hand, things are still in their control, but still a lot to play for and a lot to happen before the season is out no doubt!!!
Oh and Rayleigh & Sungate still have each other to play before the season ends, that could be massive.....
Full time Old Southendian 2 Sungate 2
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