Even though I saw no football myself this weekend, I decided to write a blog on the action that took place involving Essex Senior & Thurlow Nunn South sides, with the majority in Isuzu FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round action and vying for a place in the First Round Proper, in fact five of the fifteen ties that took place across Friday & Saturday saw ESL take on TNS, there were also two ESL games and four TNS games, so let's now have a look to see what went down this weekend:-
Isuzu FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
Friday
Cannons Wood 1 Great Wakering Rovers 5
ESL high flyers GWR brushed aside TNS Cannons Wood at Parkside to continue their FA Vase journey, Alex Teniola netted twice inside the opening ten minutes to give the visitors an early two goal advantage before he completed his hat-trick six minutes before half time to all but end the contest. And when Jack Dickinson netted a fourth for GWR right on half time, it was a matter of how many the visitors would get. Mekhi Armstrong then put through his own net in the 58th minute to put GWR five goals up, but they did pull one back a minute later through Yusuf Malik to at least get on the scoresheet and that proved to be the end of the scoring as Wood at least draw the second half but ultimately the damage had already been done and GWR progressed into the next round.
Lymore Gardens 2 Frenford 1
TNS high flyers Lymore Gardens defeated another ESL side at home for the second round running to progress into the First Round Proper of the competition in their first ever appearance in it, Tyrique Peter handed the hosts a 26th minute lead but were pegged back by their ESL opponents three minutes before half time when Alfie Geeves netted from the spot. However, Lymore netted an 84th minute winner courtesy of Branlyn Kitondo to see them progress into the next round.
Saturday
Benfleet 5 West Essex 2
It was an all ESL affair at Woodside in front of another decent crowd of 207, and the majority of those were to head home happy as their side netted five against West Essex, it only took the hosts four minutes to lead when Jake Godfrey found the net, and it was two for the hosts nine minutes before the break when Taylor Lawrence netted from the spot to see his side go into the break two goals to the good. Nathan Saunders then made it 3-0 eleven minutes after the break, and although Bieron Ademi pulled one back midway through the second half, they immediately conceded again when Billy Carter added a fourth for the hosts. Saunders then grabbed his second of the game with just under twenty minutes to go, and although the final goal of the contest came from the visitors through Tolani Odetoyinbo with two minutes to go, Fleet had more then done enough to progress.
Brimsdown 0 Clapton Community 0 (Brimsdown won 5-4 on penalties)
A pretty uneventful all TNS tie at Wormley Sports Club ended with Brimsdown netting a shootout win against Clapton Community after the hosts held their nerve the best from twelve yards to win 5-4 in the shootout and progress into the next round of the competition.
Halstead Town 2 Coggeshall Town 1
A brilliant crowd of 327 were at Rosemary Lane to see ESL hosts Halstead battle back from a goal down at the break to see off TNS visitors Coggeshall Town to progress into the First Round Proper of the Vase. The Seedgrowers were one goal up at the break courtesy of a Alex Banyard goal six minutes before half time, Robbie Bennett though levelled early on in the second period before he netted the winner just past the hour mark to continue what has been a brilliant season for The Humbugs thus far.
Harlow Town 2 Hullbridge Sports 2 (Hullbridge Sports won 3-0 on penalties)
ESL Hullbridge Sports netted a fine Vase win away at Spartan South Midlands Harlow Town, winning on penalties to progress to the next round, in front of another good crowd of 295 at Barrows Farm, it was Raheem Gray who gave the hosts a 32nd minute lead. But, goalscoring machine Tobias Braney levelled for the visitors only four minute later to restore parity, but early in the second half Gray restored his sides lead, but in the 86th minute Bridge forced penalties thanks to Louis Bragg's leveller, and the visitors would go on to win the shootout to progress into the next round.
Hoddesdon Town 0 Buckhurst Hill 2
Considering how much of a struggle it has been this season for TNS bottom side Hoddesdon, 152 turned up to watch this one, which is commendable, they had grabbed their only win of a season which has seen them lose every game in their division so far in this competition against Burnham Ramblers in the last round, but they were to be defeated in this one against ESL side Buckhurst Hill. The first half was goalless but just seven minutes after the break Reece Simpson gave Hill the lead, and ten minutes later Callum Maltese added a second goal which proved enough for Hill to take their place in the First Round Proper.
Hythe Town 4 Athletic Newham 3
It was a mad game at Reachfields Stadium as the hosts Hythe Town finally managed to see off a battling ten man Athletic Newham to progress into the next round, Arthur Massingham gave ESL Newham a 12th minute lead but saw Richie Keil level on the half hour mark, and then things looked difficult for the visitors when Nicholas Mejia was booked twice in the final six minutes of the first half to leave Newham down to ten men for the entire second period. Armani-Jordan Martin then gave Hythe the lead three minutes into the second half, but the ten men levelled through Jayden Thiongo just past the hour mark, Hythe then went back in front courtesy of Ikye Dalton in the 64th minute, but back came the ten men again through another Massingham strike in the 68th minute. Hythe though were to have the last laugh when Keil netted his second goal of the game with ten minutes to go and progress into the next round.
Ilford 3 May & Baker 2
A local derby at Cricklefield saw ESL hosts Ilford see off TNS May & Baker to progress into the next round, Ilford started really well, netting after just three minutes through Nickal Luzolo before Greg Akpele doubled their lead with just nineteen minutes on the clock. Rowan Newland did pull one back though just before half time to reduce the arrears but early in the second half Luzolo netted another to give Ilford a two goal cushion once again. With twenty minutes remaining Ilford were reduced to ten men when Adbul Rahman was dismissed, but May & Baker could not capitalise on their numerical advantage, pulling one back deep deep into stoppage time through George Downs which was too little too late, meaning Ilford would hold on and take their spot in the next round.
Little Oakley 2 Colney Heath 0
It's been another solid start to Oakley's campaign, and that start continued well as they saw off Spartan South Midlands Premier Colney Heath at The Memorial Ground, Dylan Ketley-Gregan handed the hosts the lead nine minutes before the break before a Bobby Rea goal deep deep into stoppage time at the end of the game sealed their passage into the First Round Proper.
NW London 2 Letchworth Garden City Eagles 2 (Letchworth Garden City Eagles won 4-2 on penalties)
TNS side NW London's home form this season has been sublime, so they would have been confident heading into this game against a fellow Step Six side who have been struggling this season, but football is a funny old game isn't it, the the visitors, who had one win in ten in their division, won the tie on penalties. They did take the lead in this one too through Rory Gillham, but when NW London saw goals from Gherardo Lucchesini & Hussein Farhat turn it around, the hosts probably thought they were in business, but Ryan Morgan levelled with fifteen minutes to go to force penalties, which the visitors won to progress.
Phoenix Sports 4 Sporting Bengal United 1
This was SCEFL Premier versus ESL in Kent, both had been Step Four very recently, although this was still going to be a tough away tie for Sporting, and it proved to be that way sadly for the Mile End outfit. It started in the worst possible way for the visitors when they found themselves a goal down in no time at all courtesy of Harry Smarts first minute goal, but Evander Lopes did level six minutes later to see the visitors respond in the best kind of way. Phoenix though restored their lead late on in the first half through Lyle Della-Verde and then increased that lead in the first minute of the second half courtesy of Kristian Campbell, Smart then added another in the 56th minute to increase the hosts lead further still, and the damage had been done, meaning Phoenix were the ones to progress.
Potton United 1 Hutton 2
This step five versus step six encounter would normally see the hosts installed as favourites, but not in this one, Potton were bottom of the Spartan South Midlands Premier having lost eight of their ten league games, Hutton were joint league leaders in the TNS although did suffer a rather shock 3-0 loss at Basildon Town in midweek. Elliott Howson have Hutton a tenth minute lead, only to see the hosts level seven minutes later through Cam Watson, and the game stayed this way till late on as the tie entered it's final ten minutes. But, Hutton would have the final say as they netted an 83rd minute winner to see them through to the next round.
Saffron Walden Town 3 Hackney Wick 0
Walden had just suffered back to back home defeats to Athletic Newham, and had conceded six at GWR prior to that, so they would have been slightly apprehensive coming into this Vase tie against a Wick side who had been banging in the goals lately, but backed by a decent crowd of 227, they would record a very decent win. Kaleel Green gave them a 19th minute lead before he then netted from the spot eight minutes later to hand them a two goal cushion, and Mekhi Mckenzie then added a third early in the second period as Walden saw off a very dangerous and kept a clean sheet to boot as they won through to the First Round Proper.
SOUL Tower Hamlets 2 Bridon Ropes 0
Everything in this game pointed to a home win, the ESL hosts had been having a very good season so far and reached the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, Bridon Ropes are struggling somewhat in Step Six in the SCEFL One, and although SOUL would record a win, it was certainly a harder job than many thought. It took the hosts till seven minutes before the break before Samir Bihmoutine gave them the lead, and Sherman Artmeladze doubled that lead on the hour mark as they recorded a two goal win to progress into the next round. Job done as they would say.
So, congratulations to the sides who made it through in the Vase, now for the league games that took place and how they affect the tables:-
Essex Senior League
Harwich & Parkeston 3-3 White Ensign
Woodford Town 2-0 Basildon United
It was a bonkers second half at The Royal Oak, Harwich & Ensign was goalless at half time but no one was prepared for what was to follow, Shaun Avis gave the hosts a 49th minute lead, that was cancelled out by a Jack Stone leveller on 55 minutes, Alfie Eldridge restored the hosts lead in the 65th minute, only for an own goal two minutes to bring the visitors level again. And two minutes after that, Harwich went ahead again through a second goal for Eldridge, but, you guessed it, Ensign were to force a draw after Arnold Mengi levelled once again with eight minutes to go.
Woodford Town, who were still buzzing from their FA Cup heroics in midweek, saw off a struggling Basildon United at Ashtons, Ollie Sotoyinbo netted yet another goal to give his side a 15th minute lead, and they sealed the win with four minutes to go with Dimi Christou found the net for the home side, and this was to be the final game Micheal Walther would be in charge of the visitors as they decided to part ways with him after only 51 days in charge, meaning they have gone through two managers before September is out, not ideal.
That win put Woodford top of the pile, Ensign's draw sees them just outside the playoffs., Harwich are only two points back themselves in ninth, Basildon remain in the bottom two and are now looking for a third manager of the season.
Thurlow Nunn First Division South
AS London 1-1 Newbury Forest
FC Baresi 2-1 Dunmow Town
Southend Manor 3-3 Burnham Ramblers
The points were shared at New River Stadium between AS London & Newbury Forest, the hosts were reduced to ten men when Zivonimir Lopes was dismissed with twenty minutes to, AS London did take the lead though Naim Mejdoubi netted soon after, however they couldn't hold on as the visitors earned a point with a leveller ten minutes from time.
Another two goals from Junior Appiah handed FC Baresi another win, that's ten points from twelve in their last four games, Dunmow did see Darnell Fuller net from the bench, but it wasn't enough to prevent another defeat for the visitors.
And their was a six goal thriller at Southchurch Park as Manor and Ramblers shared six goals which also had a very dramatic ending, Manor lead early on through Kehinde Sanni, but Ramblers fought back to level before half time, Ramblers then went in front early in the second half before George Jessey restored parity with a 76th minute penalty. Then came the dramatic ending, Ramblers thought they had won it in the 92nd minute when heading home, but Manor would not give up and levelled in the 94th minute thanks to a curling free kick from Jude Morgan.
Newbury Forest do go top of the pile on goal difference with that draw at New River, Burnham stay outside the top five after they saw Manor level late on, FC Baresi are up to 12th after their win, AS London are one place behind them after holding the now league leaders, Manor go 14th with that last gasp point, Dunmow are just above the bottom three after their fifth loss of the season.
That concludes the blog for now, not sure when I'll do another one, but until then goodbye for now, and thanks for reading and for all the support you give me, you know who you are, so thank you.
