So the new season is almost upon us and the first of the pre season fixtures took place this weekend and I was over at Playfootball Southend for a clash between Southend Borough Combination outfit Leigh Town and Essex Senior League side Basildon United, for whom this season brings a whole new squad and management from the last.
The Bees, now managed by ex-White Ensign gaffer Aaron Bloxham, are putting together a decent squad though, and with nine ex-Ensign players coming with the boss he will certainly have some familiar faces to rely on in the coming season.
The new look Bees certainly looked very sharp early on and after going close on a couple of occasions in the first ten minutes they did take the lead through Reece Tranter, who had signed from Olympian Premier outfit Manford Way, for whom he scored thirty plus goals for last season, and he quickly added a second goal two minutes after from close range, after a great run from Hamid Zamani down the left.
Zamani, who has played ESL football for Southend Manor and was one of the nine who came from Ensign, got his name on the score sheet after twenty minutes, heading home a Chris Bush corner and putting the Senior side in total control of this friendly.
Bush himself was involved again before half time but for the wrong reason’s, as after getting into a tangle with his marker, reacted to a push from the Leigh Town player by throwing a punch in his direction. This prompted the referee to ask him to be substituted instead of what would have been a straight red card, and blotted what had been a decent first half for the ESL side.
Half Time Leigh Town 0 Basildon United 3
Ten minutes into the second period the Bees made it four after some great one touch play from the ESL outfit ended with the ever dangerous Zamani crossing for another ex-Ensign midfielderGary Ticehurst to head home beyond Baker.
Leigh did their best to try and compete with their opponents, who are several levels above them in the pyramid, but found the ESL side far to good for them and with twenty minutes remaining it was five for Basildon when Ticehurst grabbed his second of the game, drilling home a loose ball from the edge of the box.
Thereafter the fitness and strength of the Senior Division side really showed and Ticehurst turned provdier two minutes later, crossing for ex-Manor forward Stephen Solarin to head home and then with ten minutes remaining Tranter finally bagged his hat trick, after going close on a couple of occasions before that, by waltzing through a tired defence and firing home.
And moments later pacey winger Jay Brown,another ex-Ensign player and arguably one of their best last season, burst down the right and saw his centre turned in by an unfortunate defender at the far post for the Bees eighth of the contest.
So a good workout for both sides and despite their new look squad, the Bees do look very sharp and more than decent, although they will know much tougher assignments lay ahead.
Full Time Leigh Town 0 Basildon United 8
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