Essex Senior League, Wednesday 4th February
My first Essex Senior League game since late December found me at my closest ground in the division over at Burroughs Park where tenants White Ensign were taking on Hackney Wick, and despite the poor weather lately a dry sunny day meant the pitch was playable although as some people said, it definitely took a stud and was very soft underfoot.
But it was game on at least and with a dry forecast for the evening, their would be no issues of that changing, the hosts came into this game off the back of a disappointing loss on the same ground to Romford at the weekend, losing that one 2-0 which left them down in 15th spot although they were ten points above the bottom two and if truth be told shouldn't really be worrying too much about that.
A win though would certainly not be sniffed at, they were eight points off the top ten as things stood, and that side in tenth place were Hackney Wick, who themselves had a tough game against second bottom side West Essex at the weekend but managed to come out 2-1 winners in that game, meaning they were seven points off the play off places as a result, so if they could grab a win here that gap would be down to just four.
Both sides had been mixed though lately in terms of form, so it was hard to predict what outcome would be in this game, who would be able to get themselves in front first, if there was to be any goals of course, well in the 18th minute the deadlock was broken, and in fine style as well, Albie Keith, Ensign's midfielder, saw the ball drop to him about twenty five yards out or so, and he fired a wonderful effort beyond visiting keeper Mohammed Nasim and into the bottom corner, it was a lovely strike and meant the hosts had a slender advantage.
Wick tried to respond and looked dangerous, but any efforts they did muster were easy for home keeper Jack Sexton, it was becoming a bit of a battle on a pitch that was cutting up badly in places, but with all the rain recently that really isn't much of a surprise, it was a roll your sleeves up type of pitch for sure, and not good if your a side who likes to keep the ball on the floor.
Ensign were playing some good stuff too, and they knitted together a lovely goal just before half time, and a final pass into the path of Riley Weir saw the forward compose himself before slotting past Nasim and hand Ensign a two goal cushion heading into the half time break, Wick had just made too many errors for their liking and certainly had a lot to discuss in their changing room at the break.
For Ensign the message would have been keep going and continue to do what you've been doing, and this continued much to their management's pleasure, and just before the hour mark Wick could not clear a corner, and the ball dropped to centre half Joseph Atoki who absolutely leathered the ball home from inside the box, and it looked unlikely that Wick had any sort of comeback in them.
The visitors continued to try and get something back to maybe cause some alarm amongst the hosts, but this was made more difficult when substitute Khaneil Brown was booked twice in a few minutes for pretty much the same offence, pulling back an attacker who was trying to break clear, his and Wick's argument was it was his only two offences, but both were preventing an attack and in the referees mind were both worthy of bookings.
This meant Wick had to play the final fifteen minutes or so with ten men, and to be honest they continued to attack but Ensign were more than a match for it and kept them at bay and looked fairly comfortable in doing so and never looked like handing Wick a way back into the contest, and ran out 3-0 winners to bounce back well from that defeat at the weekend.
It means Ensign rise two places to 13th spot and are five points off tenth placed Wick now, the visitors themselves failed to close that gap to the top five, and on this showing will probably not make that post season party, but they are still in their first season at this level, so to be even in the top ten is a good effort at this stage, but well played Ensign this evening, it certainly was a very good showing and it also puts more breathing room between them and decreases any danger of getting sucked into a scrap down towards the lower regions of the division.
Full time White Ensign 3 Hackney Wick 0
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