Essex Olympian Division One, Saturday 17th May
Mid may and the football rumbles on, and today their was the small matter of the top two going head to head at Stambridge Memorial Ground as unbeaten league leaders Corinthians welcomed second placed Harold Hill to a sunny Stambridge with a win for either side handing them pole position for the title.
Both sides had already clinched promotion to the Premier Division for next season but the title was still on the line, Corinthians had a two point cushion over second placed Hill so the visitors knew a win would see them go a point clear at the top with two games remaining and go into pole position for that league title.
However a win for the hosts would pretty much seal the title with two games left, and see Hill having to overturn a five point deficit in those two games, so this still mattered for both sides clearly, Corinthians wanted to go up with the title in the bag, and so did Hill, how would this one play out?
Unsurprisingly the first forty five minutes was tight and saw little between the sides, the hosts best moment saw Riley Weir strike the bar with an effort from inside the box, whilst down the other end Flynn Hamilton saw a free kick well saved by hosts keeper Dylan Skinner, but there was no goals thus far as the teams took a well earned break in the dressing rooms at half time.
Early in the second half it was Hill's turn to strike the woodwork when full back Teddy Desmond thumped a left footed effort against the near post, but on the hour mark Corinthians had a golden chance to take the lead when after defender Jack Hurley was adjudged to have fouled Connor Summerhill inside the box a penalty was awarded.
Upped stepped Riley Weir to take the spot kick, but he saw this saved by visiting keeper Brad Simpson, meaning the game remained goalless and in the balance still, however, this did not deter the hosts who did manage to take the lead in the 69th minute when skipper Jamie Skinner slammed a free kick beyond the reach of Simpson, you felt the way the keeper had played so far he would get to it, so it was some surprise when the ball went past him into the net although it was powerfully struck and may have moved/dipped late on and deceived him.
Could Hill respond from this set back? In a word, no, because the hosts really took a huge leap towards winning the game when they doubled their money in the 80th minute, a long ball saw Weir run onto it and he kept his composure to loft past the onrushing Simpson and see the ball end up in the far corner, and the striker had made amends for his earlier penalty miss, and Corinthians were on their way to the win they needed to all but rubber stamp that title.
Hill did apply some late pressure on their opponents, a thumping left footed effort from Harry Glennister flew just over the bar after taking a nick on the way through, and the game was to end in a sour note for the home side when Mike Edgar was given a straight red deep into added on time for a poor challenge in midfield, in fact the game ended with both sides losing their temper after some more shenanigans, which carried on for a brief spell after the final whistle, thankfully things calmed down, and Corinthians could celebrate a big win and take a huge step to that title.
A good battle in lovely sunny conditions though, enjoyable to watch for sure, and even though Hill did lose the battle today, they have still achieved what they set out to do and gained promotion to Step Seven along with their opponents today, the title is still not over yet mathematically, but it will take something special for them to deny the still unbeaten league leaders lifting that trophy at the end of the season.
Full time Corinthians 2 Harold Hill 0
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