Thurlow Nunn First Division South, Friday 8th August
My second competitive outing since I got back to the UK a few days ago saw me take in a first league matchup, and it came in the Thurlow Nunn South in what was a very intriguing looking contest between Senior Football newboys Lymore Gardens, and Stansted, who had been relegated from the Essex Senior League last season.
Lymore had won promotion from the Essex Alliance Senior Division last season to take their place in Step Six football and senior status for the very first time, and they were up against a Stansted side who themselves had suffered relegation heartache last season and had totally rebuilt their squad for this campaign, so it really was interesting to see how these two sides would match up against each other.
Lymore could not have asked for a better start to life in Senior football as well, two games played, both at Oakside, and two wins scoring nine goals in the process, a 5-1 thumping of Hoddesdon Town was followed by a 4-2 success over Brimsdown as they continued their brilliant attacking football from last season's promotion winning campaign, could they continue this free scoring game against a Stansted side who after netting a 4-2 at, you guessed it, Oakside, on the opening weekend against Newbury Forest, they had failed to win in the next two.
One of those games was a creditable 1-1 draw at May & Baker, but that was followed up by a late 2-1 loss at Burnham Ramblers, meaning they came into this game having experienced all emotions already in their three games thus far, could they repeat their opening day success at Oakside and get back to winning ways perhaps?
Well, it was the hosts who began on the front foot in this one, full of confidence after they two thumping wins already this campaign on the 3G at Oakside, and in the 11th minute they broke through to take the lead, a lovely flowing move down the right saw Yinka Akinlabi's ball find Munnir Saad who got past a rather naive attempt to win the ball from a defender who dived in, allowing Saad to go into the box and finish beyond the keeper at his near post, advantage Lymore.
However, once Stansted had weathered the hosts storm and settle into the contest themselves, they began to look dangerous and had a couple of decent openings to level, however it remained 1-0 to the hosts into the second half and it looking increasingly likely that the visitors would find a leveller and make their pressure count.
It was however Lymore who should have doubled their lead when they countered on their opponents but after rounding the keeper saw a goalbound effort blocked by two covering defenders, and minutes later Stansted were level, in the 58th minute another attack saw a loose ball go across goal to I think Thomas Lawrence (I could not make out who it actually was but it was in his position so guessed it may be him!!!) who swept home first time.
The game was now in the balance although you felt maybe the visitors could net again as their tails were well up by now, and a couple of minutes later they should have gone ahead when Dan Jones saw an effort well saved, and moments later guess what, Lymore punished them for this by going down the other end and restoring their lead, a lovely pass from Wisley Baltazar found Dylan Roberts who raced through to slot home.
No doubt the visitors would have been frustrated with this, they had finally got in level terms and were now having to chase the game again versus a very dangerous opponent, especially in transition, they could break on you at pace and really cause you issues, as they did, it remained in the balance though as Stansted tried to get back on level terms once again, but whatever they tried, Lymore could deal with.
And in the 84th minute, the game was all but sealed, Lymore mounted an attack which ended with a foul on the edge of the box, Thomas duly stepped up to fire a low free kick beyond the keeper into the bottom corner, he had a brace and five for the season already, and Lymore had three and breathing space heading into the final moments of the game.
A sizable chunk of stoppage time followed, and gave the hosts enough time to add a fourth to add gloss to the scoreline, Thomas turning provider this time to invade another naive challenge, square the ball across goal, finding Ryo Brown who took a touch before slamming home to cap a fine evening for the hosts and make it three wins from three having netted thirteen goals to top a very early league table.
A perfect start then to life in Step Six football for Lymore then, for Stansted it was another big lesson for their new side, especially the youngsters in it, they were in this game for large parts but ended up on the end of a 4-1 loss, the scoreline was harsh on them for sure, but it's back to back defeats now and no wins in three, still early days so no need to panic yet, they came up against a very good athletic Lymore side who play some decent football, and they will be a danger to all in this division for sure this season.
Full time Lymore Gardens 4 Stansted 1
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