Berkhamsted 5 Northampton Spencer 1

FA Vase 1st Round Proper, Saturday 31st October 2015

So FA Vase 1st Round Proper day and I was back at Broadwater for Berkhamsted‘s home tie with Northampton Spencer on what was a lovely Halloween afternoon in Hertfordshire.

The hosts are having a good season, sitting third in the Spartan South Midlands Premier, whilst Northampton Spencer are down towards the bottom of the United Counites Division One, a step below the hosts, so a home win was again expected here.

The home side made their intentions clear from the off, beginning the opening five minutes with a high tempo pressing game. On 4 minutes the hosts had a good chance when the ball fell to Farrelly inside the box but he hit his effort way over from a good position. Spencer though are here on merit and they shocked their opponents by taking a sixth minute lead when Liam Tuckrifled home from inside the box after a flick on into his path and the hosts suddenly found themselves behind. Berkhamsted 0 Northampton Spencer 1.

Despite this set back the hosts continued to play this high tempo attacking football and on ten minutes winger Mannion got in down the left for the hosts but his ball to the near post was just missed by O’Donovan but a minute later the home side levelled the tie when centre half DaveSears headed home a cross and we were back all square. Berkhamsted 1 Northampton Spencer 1.

The game continued at a fast pace and this suited the hosts more and they won a free kick out on the left midway through the half and Mannion’s set play was dangerous and into the six yard box were it was flicked home by Jim Baldry’s head and the hosts now had the lead they deserved. Berkhamsted 2 Northampton Spencer 1.

Three minutes later Nash-Barker, who had replaced the injured O’Donovan early on, forced a good save from Spencer keeper Thomson who got down well to his right to palm away the effort and then just past the half hour mark Spencer headed one just over the top of the hosts bar but it had largely been the home side who had been the better side thus far.

Five minutes before half time Farrelly headed a difficult effort just wide for the hosts but just as we entered first half stoppage time a moment that spiced up the tie when Berko midfielderHawes challenged Melling with a very hard but fair challenge although he did go in with both feet together and the Spencer side went mad saying he had gone in two footed and were wanting a straight red. The referee sensibly took his time over the decision and gave Hawes ayellow although some referee’s may have given a red. Personally I didn’t think it was too bad. Yes it was a hard challenge but the ball was won in my view. It certainly made the sidelines very spicy indeed as we approaced half time.

Avery went close for Spencer at the back post just before half time but it was the hosts who trugged back into the changing rooms ahead at the break.

Half Time Berkhamsted 2 Northampton Spencer 1

Half time seemed to calm down the simmering tension that was building and on 49 minutes good play by Berko’s Chamberlain down the left saw his near post cross cut out by keeper Thomson and then seconds later Nash-Barker did well down the right and crossed for Farrelly whose header deflected over although it resulted in a clash of heads which delayed the game for a minute or so.

Spencer’s McBride went off after the clash of heads with a massive lump on his head and although he wanted to continue his bench said no way. Hopefully the lad is ok and it’s nothing to serious. Anyway from the corner the hosts increased their margin of lead when Chamberlain’s corner was glanced home by Jim Baldry for his second of the game and gave the hosts breathing space in the tie. Berkhamsted 3 Northampton Spencer 1.

Spencer tried in vain to get back into the tie and on 55 minutes only two brilliant defensive blocks denied the visitors and for the next few minutes it was the away side who were doing the pressing although the Berko defence was holding firm.

Jowle came on for the hosts on 65 minutes and was given a great chance to score almost straight away after Spencer keeper Thomson miskicked a clearence to him but the Berko playmaker could only drag his shot well wide. On 73 minutes after some head tennis in the Spencer area Sears volleyed miles wide for the hosts but moments later from Berko’s next attack Josh Chamberlain was played through and he hit his effort across keeper Thomson and in off the post for a deserved goal for the striker. Berkhamsted 4 Northampton Spencer 1.

The visitors continued to try and attack when they could and on 78 minutes Lowery headed over a corner before substitute Pickering headed over another chance for the visitors moments after as the hosts had briefly switched off having established their three goal cushion.

The hosts though were now going for a fifth goal and on 83 minutes good play by Jowle saw him lay off to Chamberlain whose effort from outside the box whistled a foot wide before the same man curled one just over two mins later. Two minutes later Berko’s Nash-Barker went on a brilliant run which saw him cut inside but saw his effort saved down to his right by keeper Thomson. There was nothing he could do about the next effort though as a minute into stoppage time Nash-Barker slipped the ball to Josh Chamberlain who fired past Thomson emphatically to put the seal on the tie once and for all. Berkhamsted 5 Northampton Spencer 1.

There was still time for Tuck to hit the outside of the hosts post three minutes into stoppage time from a free kick but despite the visitors heart and desire they were well beaten by a better side on the day in Berkhamsted so it is the Hertfordshire side who progress into Monday’s 2nd Round Proper draw.

Full Time Berkhamsted 5 Northampton Spencer 1

Boreham Wood 2 AFC Hornchurch 1

The Emirates FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round, Saturday 24th October 2015

So it was FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round day on Saturday and I was at Meadow Park to see if AFC Hornchurch could spring a surprise on Boreham Wood and make it through to the 1st Round Proper.

The hosts were in the lower reaches of the National League after a difficult start to the season and were also under new management following the departure of long term boss Ian Allison. AFC Hornchurch meanwhile were flying high in the Ryman North, some three divisions below their hosts, but were hoping to cause an upset and heap more misery on the Hertfordshire side.

We didn’t have to wait too long for the first talking point of the contest either as on six minutes the hosts were awarded a penalty after Connor Clifford was alleged to have been bundled over inside the box although it looked a harsh on the visitors if truth be told. Anyway after the Urchins complaints to the referee finished keeper Mott dived to his rigth to save Billy Clifford‘s spot kick and the tie remained scoreless.

The hosts threatened again on the quarter hour mark when a cross into the Urchins box saw Mcdonald head wide although he was stretching full length for it and just could not redirect his header on target. A minute later and the visitors should of taken the lead it what was a warning to the hosts as Knight received the ball in acres of space inside the box but the ball got caught under his feet and he could only hit the effort wide of the target.

On 20 minutes Macdonald tested the urchins keeper Mott again before seeing the rebound scrambled away and this began a period of pressure from the hosts on the visitors defence as they looked to get their noses in front. On 32 minutes a ball was laid back to Kamdjo whose strike from range saw Mott get down and save the shot and then four minutes later Macdonald thought he had given Wood the lead but after slotting home saw the flag already up for offside, much to the hosts disgust.

Wood would have been feeling slightly aggrieved not to be ahead in the tie by this stage after having a penalty saved and a goal ruled out for offside but eight minutes before the break they did finally break through a stubborn Urchins defence when cross from the left found Mustafa Tiryaki who volley home a first time spectacularly for the hosts and give Wood the lead they probably deserved.Boreham Wood 1 AFC Hornchurch 0.

The visitors tried to reply before half time and five minutes before the break a great strike from Purcell saw an excellent save from keeper Edwards, tipping behind for corner to keep his side in the lead, a lead they held going into the break.

Half Time Boreham Wood 1 AFC Hornchurch 0

The Urchins saw a shot deflected over early in the second half and then on 51 minutes visiting full back Coyne burst onto a loose ball from the hosts and drove at the box but dragged his shot wide of the post. The Urchins had certainly come out with intent in the half though.

Ten minutes into the half good play from the hosts saw Tiryaki force a decent near post stop from Mott before the visitors put more pressure on the Wood defence as Purcell shifted past a defender inside the box before blasting over with his left foot. Just past the hour mark a Billy Clifford free kick to the visitors back post was headed straight at Mott by giant Wood centre half Stephens as the hosts were still looking dangerous up front.

With twenty minutes left Wood broke out from an Urchins attack through Jeffreys down the left hand side and he squared the ball to Connor Clifford whose weak effort was easy for keeper Mott. Three minutes later an error in the Urchins defence saw Macdonald in but his lob over Mott landed on the roof of the net.

The visitors were still shading the half though and were having a lot of the ball but just had no end product when they got into the final third, which is normally what they are good at. With eight minutes left a cross into the visitors box was headed over by Tiryaki, who was most certainly Wood’s biggest threat in this game, before the Urchins attacked again two minutes later when Joseph went on a threatening run before the ball eventually fell to Luke who fired miles over as the Urchins failed to test the hosts keeper yet again.

Time was running out now for Hornchurch to find a leveller and as the game entered the six minutes of stoppage time Wood almost sealed it when Morias found himself in on goal after a counter attack but his eventual effort was snuffed out and Jeffreys couldn’t convert the rebound. However just a minute later Wood did seal the tie when another break out saw Anthony Jeffreys slot home past Mott and surely send the hosts through to the next round. It was tough on the Urchins had had been the better side in the second half. Boreham Wood 2 AFC Hornchurch 0.

The visitors didn’t throw in the towel just yet though and continued to pressure the back line of Wood and won a free kick right on the edge of the box in the sixth minute of stoppage time and sawGeorge Purcell blast home the free kick past an unsighted Edwards and give the visitors seconds to grab an unlikely equaliser. Boreham Wood 2 AFC Hornchurch 1.

And from the last play of the game the Urchins attacked dangerously again down the right through Knight who drove into the box and sent a dangerous ball into the middle of the area which was only just cleared by a panicking Wood defence. This was the last rights though as the referee blew his whistle to end a gutsy display from the visitors although they came up just short against their National League opponents.

Full Time Boreham Wood 2 AFC Hornchurch 1

Southend Manor 1 FC Romania 2

ESL League Cup, Tuesday 20th October 2015

Tuesday night saw me over at Southchurch Park for an ESL League Cup tie between Southend Manor and FC Romania.

The hosts came into this on the back of a couple of league wins including a 4-0 drubbing of bottom side Enfield 1893 at the weekend whilst FC Romania came into this match on the back of a convincing win at Stansted at the weekend.

The hosts created a couple of efforts in the first two minutes before moments later a good strike at goal from the visitors was well fielded by the hosts keeper. On 5 minutes good football from the visitors saw another long ranger saved and on 8 minutes FCR created a great chance as they got in on goal but as they tried to round the keeper he grabbed the ball off the striker’s toes and thwarted the visitors.

On 18 minutes the visitors attacked down the left and saw a dangerous cross into the box hit one of their forwards and saw the loose ball cleared but a minute later the Romanian’s took the lead with a great long range effort from Hungarian Lazar Kumenov, hitting into the top corner giving the hosts keeper no chance at all. Manor 0 FCR 1.

The visitors were well on top and midway through the half another visitors attack saw them burst into the box but saw the defence scramble clear. A minute later came a chance for the hosts though as a free kicked whipped into the FCR box found a Manor player unmarked but he could only head straight at the keeper.

Suddenly Manor had got onto the front foot and moments later Rhys Fatt struck an effort from distance which was heading for the top corner until it was brilliantly tipped over by the keeper and just before the half hour Fatt ran onto the ball for the hosts but could only scuff his effort wide from distance.

Just past the half hour mark the hosts almost gifted FCR a second goal when a poor kick out by their keeper went straight to goalscorer Kumenov but the Hungarians first time effort sailed over the bar. Manor should of levelled ten minutes before half time when Fatt again caused the visiting defence problems, bursting down the left before crossing for a teammate at the back post who fired against the crossbar from barely a yard out.

A couple of minutes later and Manor went close again as they were now the side doing all the pressing and from the resulting corner Warner saw his header cleared off line. Six minutes before the break FCR almost made it two when good football saw a shot from close range well saved and then down the other end saw a Manor player booked for diving inside the box. However three minutes before the break Manor grabbed a deserved leveller when the ball fell to Rhys Fatt inside the box and he smashed home into the top corner giving the visiting keeper no chance whatsoever. Manor 1 FCR 1.

Soon after came the half time whistle after Manor had struck another effort wide as they finished the half much the better side.

Half Time Southend Manor 1 FC Romania 1

However it was the visitors who came out on the front foot in the second half and on 53 minutes sleepy defending allowed FCR in again but they could only screw the effort wide. A minute later however Fatt suddenly had a sight of the visitors goal but could only hit straight at the keeper and then just before the hour mark Fatt got the ball after a poor clearence from the visiting keeper but saw his effort scrambled away by the keeper with his legs.

Just past the hour mark FCR attacked down the left and the eventual ball in fell for Kumenov who shot miles over the bar but as the game approached the last twenty minutes you felt either side could win this tie. On 72 minutes a great cross to the back post saw Fatt’s header saved at the near post by visiting keeper but a minute later the visitors were celebrating re taking the lead as a long range effort was parried out into the path of substitute Cosmin who slid the rebound under the keeper and into the net. Manor 1 FCR 2.

With five minutes to go FCR nearly wrapped it up but saw a left footed effort from close range go just wide but as the game entered its final stages the hosts really began to crank up the pressure and on 90 minutes they went close as Fatt headed over from close range after good work from Reynolds and during stoppage time Manor piled on the pressure in search of that equaliser which would take the tie to penalties but the visitors managed to cling on and progress through to the next round. Harsh on Manor but you cant win them all, fair play to FC Romania who played some decent football at times too.

Full Time Southend Manor 1 FC Romania 2

Wadham Lodge 3 Waltham Forest 1

Essex Senior League, Saturday 17th October 2015

So today I was over at the Matchday Centre, Walthamstow, for an E17 derby as Wadham Lodge hosted Waltham Forest in the Essex Senior League.

Both sides play their home games at the ground but today was Lodge’s home game. The two sides have had very differing seasons to date, Lodge flying in the top four whilst Forest had lost nine out of ten league games and sat second bottom. But this was a derby and the sides had gone to penalties in their only meeting so far earlier this season which Lodge won but a tough game was expected.

The hosts started well and on 2 minutes won a free kick in a good position but Mantovani hit the effort straight at Hunt in the Forest goal and a couple of minutes later the visitors attacked well down the right but the ball into the box was just intercepted by keeper French ahead of Forest striker Tulloch.

On 7 minutes Lodge won another free kick in a dangerous position but they failed to capitalise on this as Gayer’s free kick was saved well by Hunt before he managed to save the follow up from Bankole as the hosts continued to press. On 18 minutes good play from Bankole saw him play in Georgiou who sadly for the hosts blasted way over as there finishing continued to dessert them.

Lodge were made to pay for these misses as midway through the half Forest took the lead when a free kick swung in by Lopes de Matos saw an effort from Akbayrak saved by keeper French although he could not hold onto the effort and saw Reid follow up to slam the ball home from close range and stun the hosts. Lodge 0 Forest 1.

However the hosts continued to press their opponents and on the half hour created another chance as a ball laid back to Mantovani inside the area by Georgiou saw the former’s effort saved comfortably by Hunt and then three minutes later again the hosts won a free kick in a decent area but yet again it was a poor effort as Ellery hit the strike straight at Hunt.

The game was being played at an unusual slow and subdued tempo for a derby game but on 37 minutes came a crazy moment. Lodge full back Gayer overran the ball down the right and saw himself and Forest centre half Samuel fly into a challenge on each other of which the Forest player came off worst in. It happened right in front of the Forest bench and they went mad and the referee ran straight over and sent off the Lodge full back but after Samuel had received treatment he was then also sent off as apparently the referee felt he went in harder and they both were out of control so dismissed them both for dangerous play!!! Lodge ended up with the free kick so work that one out, it was one of the most bizarre decisions I’ve seen made by a referee but it was now ten a side.

Then in first half stoppage time Forest were reduced to nine men as after fouling his opponent Akbayrak then pushed his opponent over whilst walking over to the referee and was duly dismissed for a second booking meaning Forest would have to play the entire second half with one player less. They did at least have a lead to protect though as they went into the break. It was a crazy end to the half though.

Half Time Wadham Lodge 0 Waltham Forest 1

Lodge needed a quick goal early in the second half and on 46 minutes Georgiou should of done better as he ran at goal but failed to shoot on more than one occasion and saw his chance snuffed out and then two minutes later a cross to the back post saw Mantovani’s downward header into the ground easy for Hunt. However moments later came a cracker of an equaliser as Lodge full back Williams let fly from 35 yards or so out and saw his curling dipping effort deceive Hunt who could only push onto the post and in and cue wild celebrations amongst the Lodge players. Lodge 1 Forest 1.

Moments after this goal Lodge should really have gone ahead as Bankole’s effort was saved by the legs of Hunt and the rebound was skied over by Mukuna and just past the hour mark after a period of Lodge pressure the hosts tested Hunt yet again as centre half Holt cut inside and unleashed a left footed effort which the keeper beat away.

On 68 minutes Mukuna saw a weak effort go straight at Hunt as the hosts just could not find that second goal however hard they tried and four minutes later Bankole cut inside and struck an effort just over the bar and then from the hosts next attack Holt headed a corner over.

Time was ticking away slowly and Lodge were beginning to rush and look slightly concerned but on 75 minutes came a moment on controversy that gave the hosts the lead they deserved. A ball into the area saw keeper Hunt and forward Georgiou go into a challenge and the forward won the battle but injured the keeper in the process who laid down hurt but no foul was given so Georgiou duly squared across goal for Owusu to tap home into the empty net. Forest were very unhappy and felt their keeper had been fouled and to compound their misery Hunt was carried off injured after lengthy treatment. Lodge 2 Forest 1.

Lodge then had the lead at last and to be fair it was a deserved lead and they had barely been threatened by the Forest forward line all game. On 85 minutes Forest did have an attempt at goal but it was way way over the stand behind the goal so you couldn’t really call it an effort and with two minutes of the ninety left Lodge sealed the points when Downs did well down the left before his cross was met by a powerful header from Pennells on debut to score and make sure the points went to Tony Ievoli’s side. Lodge 3 Forest 1.

The final few minutes bared little else and so the hosts move up to third as a result of their win whilst for Forest its another defeat, there tenth in eleven league outings, as they remain joint bottom with Enfield 1893 on just a single point.

Wadham Lodge 3 Waltham Forest 1