Essex Senior League Play Off Semi Finals, Friday 3rd May
Tilbury had won the ESL and automatic promotion to Step Four a couple of weekend's ago, who would join them in promotion to the next level? Well, the first friday in May saw the first ever ESL play offs get underway as two tasty semi final ties took place to see who would end up in Monday's play off final and a chance at promotion.
I was over at Rookery Hill for Romford Vs Barking, the hosts were gunning to add promotion to their already superb season, if they won this contest they would have three finals in a week coming up next week, they were already in the Errington Challenge Cup Final next Wednesday, and of course the FA Vase final next weekend at Wembley against Great Wakering Rovers in the all ESL final.
Some big games coming up the for Boro, but the focus was on tonight and a tough battle against Barking, Romford had finished in third spot in the division, seven points and one place above Barking, and the two league games this season had seen a 2-2 draw at Romford's then home Mayesbrook Park, a ground they shared with Barking of course, before the Barking home game at Mayesbrook saw a rare loss for them as Romford netted a 2-0 success, so Boro had the upper hand in terms of results, could they do it again or would The Blues notch an away win to take them to the final?
Barking themselves have had a remarkable turnaround after a very difficult start, and in fact that home loss to Romford in early March was their only league defeat after October 28th, so an impressive run that took them into the playoffs and set up this tie, one more push was needed from both now to see if they could grab that chance to claim the second promotion spot into Step Four, it was win or go home now, who would prevail.
The opening half was certainly tight, with very little in the way of clear cut chances, and the only effort on target saw a Blues ball in from the left come off a defender and almost go in at the near post, but hosts keeper Jake Anderson made a smart stop to prevent this from happening, but apart from that neither keeper had much to do, but in first half stoppage time Romford were to be given a golden chance to grab the lead.
This is because Sam Deering looked to be caught by a challenge from a defender, which resulted in him going to ground, and although the referee didn't appear to give the penalty, the assistant advised him that it was a spot kick, so he pointed to the spot, much to Barking's dismay, they were clearly not happy at the award of the penalty, but the decision had been made and Boro skipper Kris Newby duly stepped up to dispatch the spot kick and send his side into the half time break a goal ahead.
Could the Blues bounce back from this disappointment? Well, if truth be told they were lucky not to be further behind as Romford created some really good openings to double their lead and perhaps kill this contest, a lob over keeper Max Spence bounced off the top of the visitors bar, and then a miracle clearance off the visitors line after a counter attack from the hosts saw them nailed on to make it 2-0 before the intervention from the visitors.
The second chance mentioned came after Barking were screaming for a spot kick of their own, and after they had seen one given against them for what looked a similar type of challenge late in the first period, they were less than happy, so to almost go 2-0 down from the counter attack from that would have rubbed salt into their wounds that was for sure.
Another Romford attack ended with a powerful effort go straight at Spence, had it been either side of him it would have surely been 2-0, but Barking remained in the contest and as the time ticked down closer and closer to the final stages of the match, Romford begin to retreat deeper and deeper into their own half and The Blues were now applying more and more pressure on them as a result.
But the hosts dealt with everything that was thrown at them, I cannot recall the visitors having a shot on target in the second period, and hosts keeper Anderson didn't have a save to make of note, which was a testament to the hosts backline, and after several tense minutes of stoppage time, the referee blew his whistle to end this one and see Romford reach yet another final, what a season it's been, and it could become even better for sure.
Full time Romford 1 Barking 0
So, who would join Romford in Monday's play off final? Well, the other semi final saw runners up Woodford Town host fifth placed Sporting Bengal United at Ashton's, let's see how that one panned out.....
Woodford Town 1 Sporting Bengal United 1 (Sporting Bengal won 5-4 on penalties)
The last time these two did battle was at Ashton's when Bengal netted a 3-2 win in the league, so that was certainly fresh in the minds of both sets of players coming into this huge play off semi final tie, the hosts had as said finished runners up behind Tilbury and only ahead of third placed Romford on goal difference, meaning a tie against the fifth placed finishers at home.
However that team, Sporting Bengal United, would be a tough assignment, an incredible season has seen them reach a second successive play off campaign (they won promotion from Step Six last season through the play offs too) and were determined to upset the apple cart and reach that final on Monday and make it back to back promotions to reach Step Four for the very first time in their history.
Could they continue their quest for this and continue a history making season? Well, they were to trail at the break after James Jewers handed the hosts the lead right on half time, a free kick caused chaos inside the box before the ball dropped to the Town skipper who controlled the ball before volleying home, but early in the second half things were to turn against Woodford.
Tanvir Ahmed was brought down by Town's Enock Soganile, and as Tanvir was last man, Soganile was given a straight red, and from that free kick, Joe Gregory fired home after Steve Carvell had struck the post with the set play, and it meant Bengal now had a man advantage with pretty much the whole second half to go.
However, no more goals were forthcoming, meaning penalties would be needed to decide who went through, Woodford missed their first penalty before four successive penalties from each side meant Sporting had match point with their fifth a final spot kick, but this was saved, meaning Woodford were still in the tie.
The hosts then saw their next spot kick saved, meaning another chance for Bengal to win it, but they then struck the post meaning another 'match point' had passed them by, deary me, the drama!!! Woodford though saw another penalty saved meaning Bengal yet again had the chance to win it, and at the third time of asking they slotted home the spot kick to win the tie in dramatic fashion and keep what has been an amazing season going for another game and a chance at what would be an extraordinary promotion for sure.
It all means the final will be played (I believe) at Rookery Hill at 3pm on Bank Holiday Monday between Romford & Sporting Bengal United. That should be another battle for sure, who can win that and gain promotion eh?
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