Hereford 1 Morpeth Town 4

FA Vase Final, Sunday 22nd May 2016

So how would Hereford deal with the favourites tag on this massive day for the club, and how would Morpeth set themselves up against them to try and nullify their advances.  Well after less than two minutes it looked bleak for the Northumberland side as in Hereford's first attack Rob Purdie picked up the ball, drove towards goal and hit a wonderful long range effort into the bottom corner of the net, sending 20,000 Bulls fans crazy.

It was the ideal start for them and the worst start for Morpeth, and you did fear for them early on as the Edgar Street side looked like they were going to run away with it.  They came so close to a second after just four minutes but thankfully for Peth keeper Karl Dryden saved the one on one effort from Sirdic Grant.  Pabio Haysham then saw a close range header well saved by Morpeth keeper Dryden after 13 mins, this after a decent cross from Peth had caused alarm inside the Hereford area.

Hereford still looked far more dangerous though and Dryden had to be alert again to keep out a close range volley from Joe Tumelty before Morpeth managed to attack themselves and saw a Sean Taylor effort palmed away by Hereford keeper Martin Horsell.  It had been a breathless start to this final.

And in the 24th minute it should of been two for Hereford as after sloppy play from Peth,  Grant nipped in to pick up the ball and his effort thumped against the bar and over, it was a massive let off for Morpeth, and moments later they had an even bigger let off as Hereford broke down the left and saw the ball squared to Haysham who surely would score, but no he somehow fluffed his lines and the chance went away.

On the half hour mark Ben Sayer struck a decent effort just over the Hereford bar but it had been a rare opportunity for the Northumbrians who had been totally outplayed thus far, but they were only a goal down still, and with just over ten minutes to go till half time they managed to find a leveller when a corner to far post saw 45 year old centre half Chris Swailes bundle home with his chest and breathe life into Morpeth.

And with seven minutes of the half remaining they really should of taken the lead as a ball across to Michael Chilton saw the striker somehow squeeze his effort wide of the far post, it was certainly a head in hands moment for both players and supporters.  Hereford had one last chance in the half with two minutes of it remaining as again they broke down the left, this time through Haysham, but the strikers effort sailed just wide of the near post.  It had been a cracking first half and Peth had fought back well after Hereford's blistering start.

Half Time Hereford 1 Morpeth Town 1

So the question was how would the second half pan out?  Would Hereford regain control of the tie or would Morpeth go on and spring a surprise by completing the turnaround.  Well what was to follow was truly amazing and could not have been predicted.   The tone for the second half was set when barely a minute into the half Luke Carr volleyed Morpeth into a 2-1 lead and really put the cats amongest the pigeons.

Hereford looked stunned, as did most of the crowd returning to their seats after a half time pie and missed the moment, and looked to try and respond to this set back with Haysham, who hit an effort straight at Dryden although he was flagged offside anyway.    And then amazingly Morpeth stretched their lead further just before the hour mark when Taylor was slipped in before he slotted home to send one small corner of Wembley wild with delight.

It really had been an amazing turnaround from the first half hour when Hereford had looked likely to add to their one goal lead, and perhaps should of been further ahead by that point.  However they were now chasing the game, two goals behind, and had a chance to threaten the Morpeth goal when they won a free kick in a decent area outside the box, but Haysham could only curl the set piece miles over the Morpeth bar, as the game entered the final twenty minutes.

If anything it was Morpeth who were looking more threatening now and they had two chances to seal the win, firstly when Steven Anderson got in but hit straight at keeper Horsell, when the better option was to square it to Taylor, and then secondly when Taylor found himself in again but saw keeper Horsell get down well to save his effort across goal.

Time was now running out for Hereford and with six minutes of the ninety left substitute Mustapha Bundu curled one wide of the far post from outside the box and then five minutes later the same man saw his header from a corner headed off the line by a Morpeth defender.  Then deep into stoppage time the game was most certainly sealed when Morpeth substitute Shaun Bell saw his deflected effort go beyond Horsell and into the net for an incredible 4-1 scoreline, and saw the Northumberians record a memorable victory.

Full Time Hereford 1 Morpeth Town 4

Chingford Athletic Reserves 3 Custom House 2

Essex Alliance Division Two Cup Final, Tuesday 10th May 2016

A stoppage time winner from Jake Mignot saw Chingford Athletic Reserves win a very entertaining Essex Alliance Division Two Final against Custom House at Victoria Road,Dagenham.

The two sides had shared fifteen goals in their previous encounters this season so goals were expected in this one. The game started at a fast pace too and within seconds Chingford should of led as they got in front of goal after a flick on but saw the effort smashed over from point blank range. Two minutes later a deep cross to the far post saw Custom House close as a looping volley from that cross glanced off the bar.

A minute after this Chingford went close again as a ball across goal just missed incoming players but in the 8th minute they were to find the breakthrough as a ball played across the box sawTom Kavanagh side foot an effort across keeper Ian Whitmore and into the far corner, and give Chingford an early advantage.

The frenetic nature of the game slowly subsided after a manic opening ten minutes but on 21 minutes Custom House saw a volley from the edge of the box go straight at Chingford keeper Joe Middleweek,who gathered comfortably, before Chingford sent a great ball into the six yard box and saw a Custom House defender just clear over his own bar from yards out.

On the half hour mark Chingford keeper Middleweek tipped wide a superb chipped effort from outside the box in what was Custom House’s best effort at goal since they hit the bar early on, and then three minutes before half time a cross from Custom House saw a free header mis connected with, and the chance was gone. This meant Chingford went into the half time break with a slender one goal lead.

Half Time Chingford Athletic Reserves 1 Custom House 0

So how would the second half fare? Well two minutes into it saw a Chingford corner bundled just wide of the post but then came the equaliser for Custom House as Jamie Wooster was played through and he smashed home with aplomb and this tie was level. Custom House were now looking the better side and nine minutes into the half saw a header across goal cause concern before moments later seeing a volley go just wide of Chingford’s goal.

Chingford slowly doused the flames of the Custom House response and on 64 minutes good football from Chingford saw the eventual cross from a decent position go wide in what was a bit of a waste. However with just under twenty minutes to go the Chingford side were to re take the lead as a ball in from the right saw an unfortunate defender head past keeper Whitmore, who despite getting his hands to the ball, could not prevent it going into the net for an own goal.

However, Custom House responded in spectacular fashion just three minutes later when after some sloppy play from Chingford in midfield, the ball found its way to Paul Wooster, father of Jamie who scored the first equaliser, and he rolled home an effort from the edge of the area and we were back all square once again.

As the game entered it’s final ten minutes a coming together in front of the dugouts saw a mass melee ensue involving most of the players and management from both sides, which hadn’t been in keeping with the contest as a whole which had been played in fairly good spirits. The result was a booking for Custom House as well as their manager Nick Field being sent to the stand.

It had been a very quick paced cup final in most part though and players were going down with cramp as a result so there was bound to be a fair bit of stoppage time, meaning a good chance of a late winner maybe? Custom House then saw themselves go close twice in two minutes, firstly on 86 minutes when a long range free kick just went over, and secondly on 88 minutes as another long range effort was tipped over by Chingford keeper Middleweek.

And then sure enough in the first minute of stoppage time came the winner, and it went to Chingford, as pass into the path of Mignot saw his first time finish from fifteen yards beat Whitmore and send the blue half of Victoria Road wild with delight. They held on for the remainder of stoppage time to record the victory and take the Division Two Cup as a result. A fabulous night’s entertainment and well played both sides.

Full Time Chingford Athletic Reserves 3 Custom House 2

Waltham Abbey Reserves 3 Hullbridge Sports Reserves 0

Essex Senior League Reserve Shield Final, Sunday 8th May 2016

Two goals from Ben Darwin helped see Waltham Abbey to an ESL League and Cup doubleafter victory over Hullbridge in Sunday’s Reserve Shield final, capping a wonderful seasonfor the Cappershots side.

Abbey had already taken the Reserve Division title after twenty wins from twenty two games and with only two defeats all season were obviously big favorites for this title too. However Hullbridge had ended the season well and defeated runners up Redbridge in the semi final, so the Lower Road side would be no pushovers.

The first twenty minutes or so were rather non eventful in the way of chances as both teams looked to try and settle into this big match at a sunny Southchurch Park Arena in Southend. The first real chance didn’t arrive until the 20th minute, and it fell to Abbey, as a corner found it’s way through to Danny Haigh, but he could only divert his header just over the bar.

Abbey thereafter began to take control of the contest and on 25 minutes a free kick swung into the Hullbridge box saw Haigh’s downward header well saved by Dan Blockley at the near post and then on the half hour mark good football from Abbey saw an eventual cross headed wide by Ben Darwin. The Abbey striker then saw a deflected long range effort well saved by Blockley and Abbey were now really cranking up the pressure.

Then moments later, in the 32nd minute, came the breakthrough. A bouncing ball forward into the box saw George Martin poke beyond keeper Blockley and Abbey had finally got their noses in front. It had been coming to be fair and it was to get even better for the ESL Reserve Champions as six minutes before half time as a poor header back from Sports defender Kayne Cambden saw Darwin pounce, round Blockley and slot home and give Abbey a big advantage going into the break and well on course for the double.

Half Time Waltham Abbey 2 Hullbridge Sports 0

Abbey could of extended their lead two minutes into the half, and perhaps should of done, as Ezra Folan was played through but saw Hullbridge keeper Blockley make a good save to thwart the Abbey player. Hullbridge hadn’t really threatened the Abbey goal thus far, that was until ten minutes into the second half when Ash Pibworth saw a decent header tipped wide by Abbey keeper Hugo Rossetti as they tried to find a way back into the game.

Blockley had to come to Sports rescue again just before the hour mark though, blocking a close range effort from Darwin, before Hullbridge came within a whisker of finding a route back into the contest on 73 minutes when sub Bobby Bird saw his poke at goal tipped onto the post by Rossetti.

However any faint hopes Sports had of getting back into the tie were extinguished with five minutes to go when sub Yemi Adelani burst past the full back and squared for Darwin who had the simple task to convert from close range and seal the League and Cup double for the Cappershots outfit.

Abbey had chances to add to their three goals, firstly when a poor clearance found Adelani, but he could only fire well over the bar, before another brilliant save from Blockley denied Darwin his hat trick after the strikers bullet header seemed destined to end up in the top corner. However the game was done and dusted by then and Abbey had completed the double and ended the season in style.
Full Time Waltham Abbey 3 Hullbridge Sports 0

FC Romania 0 Basildon United 3

Essex Senior League Challenge Cup Final, Saturday 7th May 2016

The Bees netted three second half goals, including two headers from Jordan Williams, to see them to ESL League Cup glory against FC Romania at Cricklefields Stadium.

This was a match up between two sides that had finished in 2nd and 3rd in the ESL Premier Division although the Bees were in much better recent form and with the Romanian side missing five regular starting eleven players, this was going to be a slightly more testing afternoon for the Cheshunt based side you would of thought.

However despite this FCR still had a more than talented squad capable of victory in this contest and they created the first chance on 8 minutes when a ball cut back to the dangerous Ilie Vasile saw the winger scoop his effort over the bar in what was a good chance for the Romanian side, and also sent a warning to the Bees that this wasn’t going to be easy.

The Bees in fact didn’t created their first real chance until the 18th minute, but what a chance it was as Robert Clark broke down the left, crossed for Brad Warner, whose effort was wonderfully saved by Leonida Dobre in the FCR goal, and then five minutes later a Clark free kick from the half way line was just pumped into the area and saw the ball bounce high off the hard surface and almost catch Dobre out, who seemed to tip the ball over, but the referee gave a goal kick.

The Romanian’s, known as the Wolves, created a chance on 27 minutes when Vasile laid in Andrei Panel, whose shot across goal just invaded team mates at the far post and drifted away from danger, before the Wolves created another chance nine minutes before the half time whistle when Vasile was involved again, laying a ball across to George Taban, who could only slice his effort well wide from a decent position.

Two minutes later though the Bees should of taken the lead when Jordan Williams was played through, but he could only hit his effort wide of the far post. It meant the sides went in level at the break and although both had created chances, the game had failed to really get going and was lacking a certain spark.

Half Time FC Romania 0 Basildon United 0

The first goal was always going to be very important in what had been a fairly nervous cagey encounter so far and literally seconds into the second half the Bees found a breakthrough when a Warner free kick was swung into the area and saw Cosmin Sandu nod past his own keeper Dobre and into the far corner and gift the Bees the advantage.

It certainly set the tone for the rest of the contest and on 53 minutes a Warner flick up to Williams saw the latters volley go just wide of the FCR goal and then two minutes after this it really should of been two for Basildon when Farhad Nyanja ran at the defence, turned inside but skied his effort miles over with Williams square of him in acres of space, it certainly was a great chance to double their advantage.

Could the Romanian’s take advantage of these misses, well apart from a 69th minute corner that came out to Gabriel Ghinea who struck a long range effort over, the Romanian’s looked flat and not likely to find a leveller. With just under twenty minutes to go the Bees threatened again when Paul Shave flicked on a Nyanja long throw, and saw the defence head over from under their own bar.

However just a minute or so later the Bees did double their advantage and got one hand on the trophy when a Warner corner saw Williams loose his marker and head home past Dobre and moments later it should of been three when goalscorer Williams got in down the right, squared to Nyanja, but he could only lift his effort over the bar.

FCR tried to respond and saw a Taban volley go just wide of the Bees goal but the tie was sealed with seven minutes to go when Williams beat keeper Dobre to a looping ball and headed in off the post and almost certainly scored the goal that settled this contest once and for all. Deep into stoppage time FCR should have grabbed one back, but summed up their afternoon when their effort deflect wide, with the corner also being blocked in what was too little to late for the Cheshunt side.

Full time saw the Bees celebrate their first trophy in this millennium, and also finish a wonderful season with some silverware to show for their efforts. For FC Romania the season finishes in disappointing fashion but a final appearance and third place in the league behind Bowers and Basildon isn’t all bad so they should be proud of their efforts too, although today they fell a little short.

Full Time FC Romania 0 Basildon United 3