Morpeth Town 2 Bowers & Pitsea 1 (aggregate score 4-3)

FA Vase Semi-Final 2nd Leg, Saturday 19th March 2016

I was over at Craik Park in Morpeth to see this epic Semi-Final decided by a stoppage timewinner for Morpeth Town, taking them to a Wembley showdown with Hereford in May.

It certainly sent most of the bumper crowd of 1,256 wild after spending much of the afternoon biting their finger nails, especially when Bowers had their best spells either side of half time and during the second half.

The afternoon had started well for the home side as they made their intentions clear from off, looking to once again stamp their authority on this tie. In the very first minute the hosts got into a decent shooting position but Luke Carr hit his effort straight at Martin Guest. However two minutes later ‘Peth’ were to take the lead when a corner played to the edge of the area foundSean Taylor who whipped a wonderful first time effort past Guest and gave his side the ideal start.

Bowers were struggling to contain their opponents and on 12 minutes almost saw the hosts make it two when a cross swung in was headed just over by Michael Chilton. Moments later a ball over the top of the visiting defence found Taylor but he could only hit his effort straight at Guest. The hosts continued to make all the running and midway through the half more good play from Morpeth saw a cross headed wide by Taylor.

However as the game went past the half hour mark Bowers began to settle into the contest more and this saw the tempo drop slightly although the hosts still threatened on 34 minutes when Chilton volleyed wide of the mark and seven minutes before the half time break the hosts sprung forward again and saw Ben Sayer’s eventual effort go over the bar.

It was still only 1-0 though and Bowers knew one chance and they could be level and sure enough with six minutes of the half remaining they did just that when after a loose ball dropped inside the six yard box right in front of Lewis Manor, the striker made no mistake in firing past Karl Dryden and bring the Essex side level in this tie once again.

‘Peth’ did have one more chance in the first period with three minutes of the half remaining when a free kick swung in saw Chris Swailes head his looping effort onto the roof of the net. But as the half came to an end the tie was still in the balance as both teams went in all square.

Half Time Morpeth Town 1 Bowers & Pitsea 1 (aggregate score 3-3)

Just like the First Leg, Bowers came out and started the second half well, knowing a similar performance would give them a great chance at reaching Wembley, and on 52 minutes James Stevens stung the palms of Dryden from range as the ESL outfit looked to make it a now rather uncomfortable afternoon for the hosts and their fans.

Bowers continued their pressure on the ‘Peth’ side although on 66 minutes a decent cross from hosts winger Taylor just invaded Chilton, giving Bowers a reminder that they were still very much a threat, as this tie was very much in the balance still. On 69 minutes the visitors attacked again and saw a Stevens corner almost headed home by Manor, but he could only get a slight touch on the ball and it drifted wide.

Three minutes later the away side saw a long throw into the ‘Peth’ area flicked on by Luke Wilson towards goal but keeper Dryden managed to catch the ball ahead of Manor, who surely would of nodded home had he not done that. Jordan Fry then fired over for the hosts soon after as the home side tried to re gain this tie.

The hosts started to crank up the gears again as we entered the final fifteen crucial minutes of this tie and on 76 minutes a good effort from substitute Dale Pearson saw Guest make a routinecatch above his head and then moments later Carr fired well wide from a decent position as ‘Peth’ looked to get their noses in front once again.

Bowers assignment was made tougher with seven minutes of the ninety left when Ross Adams grappled with Keith Graydon and received a second yellow and was sent off, meaning the visitors would have to play the remainder of this tie a man down. Morpeth looked to try and make this numerical advantage count and on 86 minutes saw a great chance for them Taylor found himself all alone in the box, but he could only fire straight at Guest.

Two minutes later the hosts went so close again as a loose ball fell to them inside the six yard box but the effort was somehow fired over the bar. And then came a moment that Bowers substitute Tom Hine may look back on with hindsight. The Bowers winger found himself in on goal and saw keeper Dryden come out and clip his heal as he went around him, but Hine stayed on his feet before eventually firing a shot against the outside of the post from an acute angle.

It was a massive let off for the hosts and the tension inside the ground was palpable but this was somewhat lifted when in the 93rd minute, just four minutes after that huge let off, ‘Peth’ grabbed the winner when Carr converted a Graydon cross to send the masses of home fans wild with delight and bring total devastation to Bowers and their followers.

Football is a game of margins as we know and that was in total evidence today. Congratulations to Morpeth Town on reaching Wembley but commiserations to the Bowers & Pitsea boys, they gave it absolutely everything out there but fell just short in the end. A great cup tie and a wonderful advert for this level of football, good luck to Morpeth Town in the final against Hereford.

Full Time Morpeth Town 2 Bowers & Pitsea 1 (aggregate score 4-3)

Tower Hamlets 1 Burnham Ramblers 1

Essex Senior League, Monday 14th March 2016

Mile End was my latest port of call as I saw two out of form sides do battle as Tower Hamlets hosted Burnham Ramblers.

Both sides haven’t won in the league since January and both came into this one off the back of an alarming week, Hamlets having lost three games in seven days conceding fifteen in the process whilst Ramblers were well beaten at home by ten man Waltham Forest and also at Enfield 1893, two teams who have mainly struggled this season.

With that in mind this was always going to be a game were neither sides confidence was sky high and in he first half this lack of form certainly showed as neither side remotely tested the keeper. In fact the first real noteworthy moment didn’t arrive until the quarter hour mark when Samuel Olanipekun fell heavily in a challenge with his own keeper and an opposing player inside his own box, leaving him crumpled in a heap screaming in pain. Thankfully the Hamlets centre half was ok to continue after some treatment.

Both teams did at times manage to get into decent attacking positions throughout the half but that’s as far as it got. It certainly wasn’t the best of games so far and it was no surprise that the half ended goal less with no shots on target to speak of at all.

Half Time Tower Hamlets 0 Burnham Ramblers 0

Thankfully the second half proved a much livelier affair and it was the visitors from Leslie Field who came out the better and almost scored eight minutes into the second half when after a cross had been headed back into the dangerzone, James Lighton saw his effort headed off the Hamlets line.

Just before the hour mark the visitors carved out another opening when Lee Scott found himself with a sight of goal from ten yards out but saw keeper Prezmecky White make himself big and block the effort wide with a combination of legs and arms.

Hamlets responded with an effort of their own on 63 minutes when midfielder Devorn Miller tried his luck from way out and saw his dipping effort almost catch out visiting keeper Harry Aldridge but the stopper managed to tip the effort just over the bar as he was backpedaling.

However with just over twenty minutes remaining the hosts took the lead, probably slightly against the run of play, when after an initial effort from the hosts had been parried by the diving Aldridge, substitute King Amieye followed up to net the rebound and give his side twenty minutes to try and hold on for a rare victory.

Sadly for the Mile End side they could not do this as with ten minutes of the match remaining the ball looped up in front of Ramblers forward Lee Pleasance who duly volleyed the visitors level with his left foot , this despite keeper Prezmecky White getting a firm hand to the ball, but seeing the ball find the corner of the net. It was probably deserved though given how well the visitors had played in the second half.

Both sides to their credit didn’t settle for a point and both went for what would possibly be a winning goal in the last ten minutes, firstly the visitors saw Lighton volley over from a good position before the hosts attacked down the right but saw the eventual cross skied miles over by the waiting attackers inside the area.

Ramblers had one last chance on 90 minutes when good work down the right from Brandon Scorey saw his ball into the box find Ricky Evans who could only hit straight at keeper Prezmecky White. Alas this was the last moment of the game meaning both sides did pick up a point although both would probably hoped for more than that.

Full TIme Tower Hamlets 1 Burnham Ramblers 1

Bowers & Pitsea 2 Morpeth Town 2

FA Vase Semi-Final 1st Leg, Saturday 12th March 2016

I was over at the Aspect Arena on Canvey Island to see Bowers & Pitsea fightback from two goals down to earn a draw with Morpeth Town,setting up next weeks second leg perfectly.

The hosts will certainly take great heart from the comeback after a first half saw them largely second best and almost out of the tie. The match began in cagey fashion and the first chance did actually fall to the hosts on eight minutes as a ball across to Tom Hine saw him strike his effort across goal and wide.

Two minutes later Bowers forward Lewis Manor almost managed to get in for the hosts but the ball just got away from him and drifted away for a goal kick. And then the visitors struck moments later in the 11th minute when Sean Taylor saw Martin Guest off his line and he duly chipped over him from range for a superb opener and give the North East side the advantage.

On 17 minutes visitors full back James Novak struck over from distance but the Northern League side were now in the ascendency following that goal. Bowers did continue to try and find a leveller and on twenty minutes Luke Wilson saw his effort deflect just wide before the resultant corner saw the same man head just over.

However the travelling supporters were to be celebrating a second Morpeth goal on 33 minutes when Michael Chilton followed up to net a rebound after Guest had saved an initial effort from Taylor and it looked as though Bowers were going to find this one step to far in their Vase quest. They did manage to keep the scoreline at 2-0 as they went into the half time break but knew they had a mountain to climb to get back into this tie.

Half Time Bowers & Pitsea 0 Morpeth Town 2

However the Bowers side came out and decided to take the game to their opponents and pushed them back from the start of the second half and five minutes into it great play from the hosts saw Vinny Durrant volley over first time but it was definitely a sign of intent from the ESLside.

The hosts continued to have a good spell but came up against the brick wall that was the Morpeth defence, led by 45 year old veteran Chris Swailes. Bowers thought they had found a way back into the tie when they saw Aaron Russell convert a forward ball into the box on 67 minutes, but he was correctly flagged offside.

Then two minutes later the visitors almost made it three when after poor defensive work from the hosts, the effort from Morpeth was cleared off the line. It proved pivitol as moments later the hosts were back in this tie when Lewis Manor thumped home a loose ball inside the box and gave the home side a massive lift and it was well deserved after their second half display.

The hosts continued to put ball into the visitors area and the Northumberland outfit were just about dealing with what was coming their way. On 78 minutes Bowers went close to a leveller when a corner was headed across goal and wide by Wilson although the visitors were still looking dangerous at times and moments after this saw a cross flash high across the hosts area but away to safety.

Bowers though kept applying pressure and on 89 minutes finally broke the door down and levelled the tie up when a mis hit shot smashed across the area saw Alfie Hilton convert from close range and send the hosts wild. It really did not look likely at half time but Rob Smalls men just never know when they are beaten. Four minutes of stoppage time elapsed and the referee brought this cracking semi-final 1st leg to a close.

It certainly was a game of two halves and sets up a 2nd leg showdown in the North East in a winner takes all tie for a place at Wembley against either Hereford or Salisbury. It certainly proves to be a exciting day next Saturday.

Full Time Bowers & Pitsea 2 Morpeth Town 2

White Ensign 4 Catholic United 0

EOFL Senior League Cup Quarter Final, Saturday 5th March 2016

Today saw me over at the Len Forge Centre near Southend Airport for an EOFL Senior League Cup Quarter Final between Premier Division White Ensign and Division Two Catholic United.

Ensign sit in second place in the Premier whilst Catholic are top of the 2nd Division with only one league defeat all season so many expected a thorough test for the hosts. However the home side came out of the blocks quickly and almost had the lead on 4 minutes when a ball released Dan Burrell who lofted an effort over keeper Lewis Godwin-Green but saw the ball bounce just wide.

Moments later the hosts attacked again but after Jay Brown had cut inside onto his left foot he saw his effort sail over the bar. However the hosts wouldn’t have to wait to long for their breakthrough when on seven minutes a free kick into the dangerzone wasn’t properly cleared and the ball came out to centre half Lee Delf who fired home through a crowd of players and give the Premier Division hosts the lead.

The hosts continued to dominate proceedings and on 12 minutes swung a cross towards the far side of the box onto the diving header off Burrell although it went straight into Godwin-Green’s hands. Then the keeper had to make another save shortly after as Ensign were trying to quickly double their advantage.

Catholic were struggling to come to terms with the pace of their higher league opponents and on 26 minutes saw another effort from the home side, a free kick, fly over their goal. It was no surprise that Ensign doubled their lead ten minutes before half time when a ball threaded through to Alfie Lindfield saw him go round keeper Godwin-Green and slot home to really stamp their authority on this tie.

The visitors had hardly threatened the Ensign goal but two minutes after conceding that second goal they so nearly found an unlikely route back into the game when a free kick from Dave Collins saw a header flicked at goal but the hosts keeper dived full length to his left to make a great save.

However this was just a brief rest bite for the visiting defence as the hosts were soon back on the attack and four minutes before half time saw another good save from Godwin-Green after a long range effort had deflected, wrong footing the keeper, but he managed to adjust and save with his legs. A minute before the break a Delf strike from long range saw Godwin-Green again get down to save and at the half it was the hosts who were well in charge of this one.

Half Time White Ensign 2 Catholic United 0

It was the visitors who had the first good chance of the second half when a great free kick whipped in by Collins came through to the visitors inside the six yard box but it seemed to surprise the player in question and just hit him and went into the keepers grateful hands. Burrell then got in for the hosts four minutes later but his effort went horribly wide.

A minute later though Ensign so nearly made it three when a looping header came off the inside of the post and then on 58 minutes another long range effort saw yet another save from Godwin-Green to keep the hosts from netting a third.

Just past the hour mark saw a chance for the visitors as a ball across towards the back post found a forward totally unmarked but fortunately for the hosts their keeper came out to save with his legs. However on 65 minutes the tie was all but sealed when the hosts made it three when a low cross saw Burrell dummy and allowed Gary Ticehurst to finish first time past Godwin-Green from close range.

And a minute later it really was all over when after a spell of pinball inside the Catholic area, Lindfield applied the finishing touch for his second and Ensign’s fourth of the day. Lindfield almost turned provider six minutes later when his superb ball in behind the Catholic defence found Brown but his effort was well saved by Godwin-Green.

On 77 minutes the visitors fired a foot wide from range and then minutes later got into the box but fired wide again. With just under ten minutes to go a deflected cross from the visitors almost caught out the hosts keeper but he managed to make a good save before diving on the loose ball. It had been Catholic’s best spell of the game although it had come far too late in the contest.

Ensign almost put the icing on the cake in the 90th minute when a great move ended with a ball laid across the area and find Ticehurst who managed to sky his effort miles over the gaping goal although the flag had gone up so it probably wouldn’t have counted, but it was a super move from the hosts, summing up their performance throughout the tie. They were superb today and outplayed their 2nd Division opponents who themselves would of no doubt been disappointed with their showing today. So it’s Ensign who progress to the Semi Finals.

Full Time White Ensign 4 Catholic United 0

Arsenal U18s 2 Liverpool U18s 1

FA Youth Cup Quarter Final, Friday 4th March 2016

So a Friday night at the Emirates Stadium in North London for me as I ventured over there to see an FA Youth Cup Quarter Final tie between Arsenal and Liverpool. The fixture was a repeat of the 2009 FA Youth Cup final won by Arsenal and but the winners of this tie would face a difficult trip to Manchester City in the Semi Finals.

Ticket prices were only four pounds which is very good value to watch the future stars of the game potentially. Two of the Gunners winning side from that 2009 were current first team players Francis Coquelin and Jack Wilshire so maybe in a few years some of the current crop of the U18 squad will be stars in a few years.

A decent crowd of 3,293 turned up to watch the game,including a small band of very noisy Liverpool fans congregated at one end of the East Stand,the only stand opened up for the game. It was also unreserved seating so we took our places in row four right on the half way line, a great view of the action.

Arsenal had the first chance of the game after only five minutes when Kaylen Hinds and Stephy Mavididi combined but the latter was left frustrated as Liverpool goalkeeper Shamal George saved. Apart from this the opening twenty minutes were fairly chance less and the pace of the game quite slow, a lot slower than I thought it would be.

The game then saw the best chance of the game thus far when Ismael Bennacer thought he had given the Gunners a 21st-minute lead, but saw his well-executed free-kick rattle the crossbar and go over. It was a brief moment of excitement in the opening exchanges. The hosts did smack a chance of their own over the bar before this but it was largely a half dominated in possession from the hosts but when they got near the goal they tried to walk it over the line rather than shoot and so saw any chances snuffed out. It was no surprise that the first half ended goal less.

Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0

The second half started with the visitors missing a golden chance when they headed wide from yards out but six minutes into the second half Arsenal got their noses in front when Mavididiwas quickest to react as the ball broke in the Liverpool penalty area and the Gunners man poked home and sent the home fans into raptures (ok perhaps not!!!!).

It was certainly a much better half so far and only three minutes after the opening goal the visitors managed to level it up as Conor Masterson equalised for Liverpool in the 54th minute, taking advantage of several deflections before getting the final touch and poking home and giving the away fans something to cheer.

However the Gunners regrouped and managed to get their noses in front once again on 58 minutes as the impressive Hinds ghosted in at the back post to make the score 2-1 to the home side. Arsenal continued to try and get a probable clinching third goal and almost had it but saw Liverpool keeper Shamal George produce a magnificent save just past the hour mark from a Mavididi header before repeating the trick to deny Chris Willock soon after.

Liverpool upped the anti towards the end as they desperately tried to find a leveller but the Gunners held on fairly comfortably to progress through to the last four where they will travel to Manchester City on Saturday 9th April with a place in the final at stake.

Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1