Burnham Ramblers 1 Basildon United 0

Essex Senior League, Tuesday 27th September 2016

Tuesday night saw me over at Leslie Field for the first time this season to see a local derbybetween Burnham Ramblers and Basildon United in the Essex Senior League.

The hosts start to the season has been well documented after nine straight defeats but two wins from their last three outings suggests an improvement. Basildon themselves have had a decent start which has seen themselves into the top six and they started this one favourites among many.

And it was the Bees Jason Brown who had the games first effort at goal after five minutes but he could only drag his long range effort wide of the hosts goal. Ramblers responded with a chance of their own two minutes later when Charlie Hughes broke down the right and squared for Grant Webb but he could only lift his effort well over.

Two more minutes elapsed before Hughes struck a loose ball straight at Liam Pitts in the visitors goal whilst on 17 minutes Nathan Dewberry flicked a header at the hosts goal but Chris Leonard was right behind it to make the save.

It had been a frenetic opening to the game and it didn’t look like letting up as on 20 minutes the hosts gave the ball away in the dangerzone and Brown managed to get clear of the defence but as he tried to round keeper Leonard the stopper saved then down the other end Webb forced Pitts into a very smart save to keep the scoreline goal less.

Midway through the half Dewberry forced a comfortable save from Ramblers keeper Leonard, trying to curl one with the outside of his boot, whilst just past the half hour mark a Bees corner found Taylor Sinfield but his header was way over the bar.

The Bees were starting to have a bit more possession and Dewberry sent a near post header just wide before Dewberry again got in but saw his effort on the stretch saved by Leonard.

However with seven minutes of the half remaining the hosts broke the deadlock when skipperReggie Disley climbed to head home a corner and send the hosts into the lead, a lead that was almost doubled four minutes later when a great effort from Bradley Morgan saw Pitts tip over the visitors goal brilliantly.

A minute later though the visitors almost capitalised on a mistake as the bounce of the ball deceived the hosts defence and allowed Brown in behind but his cross struck a defender and was cleared and then in first half stoppage time a Dewberry free kick forced a save from keeper Leonard before the loose ball was almost turned in by a hosts defender. However it was the home side who ended this frantic half in front.

Half Time Burnham Ramblers 1 Basildon United 0

The second period began with the hosts getting in behind immediately through Morgan but his ball across the box found no one in a blue shirt and then four minutes into the half the visitors went close as a one two on the edge of the box between Alf Lindfield and Brown saw the former get in but see his effort saved by Leonard.

A couple of minutes later the hosts went close as Hughes fired an effort across goal and just wide of the far post as they looked to put daylight between themselves and the Bees.

As the game went past the hour mark their were some meaty challenges going in, which is what you would expect from such a derby, no quarter given from two committed sides. The Bees saw another chance slip by when substitute Daryl Cooper was slipped in behind but he dragged his effort well wide before moments later the Bees were screaming for a penalty as they felt the hosts had blocked an effort with a hand. The next attack saw Dewberry somehow hit over as the hosts were clinging on to their lead.

However Burnham were fully committed to the cause and on 66 minutes saw full back Savino Livornese drive forward into the box, only to end up overrunning the ball and fouling keeper Pitts. Soon after the Bees went close again as Dewberry fired across goal but saw the ball deflect just beyond Lindfield at the far post.

It was then Ramblers turn to go close on a couple of occasions as this derby continued at a frantic pace and saw Hughes break free of the Bees defence before he stung the palms of Pitts and then moments after Hughes again went close as his header from a corner was cleared from in front of goal.

On 77 minutes Hughes was presented with the ball by the visitors in the dangerzone and with keeper Pitts out of goal the striker tried his luck but dragged wide before play switched to the other end and saw Hamid Zamani’s effort deflect just wide although the referee gave a goal kick, adding to the visitors frustration.

And on 83 minutes the Bees came as close to an equaliser as they had come all game when a Dewberry strike hit the inside of the post and was eventually cleared and you sort of felt it just wasn’t going to be his or Basildon’s day after that.

Zamani put in a great cross late on but the hosts were holding on as the game entered stoppage time and after several nervy moments for the home side the referee blew his whistle and Burnham Ramblers could celebrate back to back league wins after a hard earned battling victory against the Bees.

It wasn’t the visitors evening but they more than played their part in a enthralling derby match which was a very enjoyable watch indeed.

Full Time Burnham Ramblers 1 Basildon United 0

Haringey Borough 4 Ware 1

Ryman North, Monday 26th September 2016

Monday night football saw me over at Coles Park for a Ryman North clash betweenHaringey Borough and Ware on the newly installed 3G pitch under the lights in North London.

The hosts had not started the season particularly well and found themselves in the bottom three after only two wins so far. Ware sat in mid table after a more solid opening to their campaign and so the hosts knew a tough examination awaited them.

And after barely four minutes the hosts could easily of found themselves down to ten men after an appalling challenge from full back Anton Blackwood on winger Evandro Delgado saw a flash point between both sets of players, but it resulted in only a yellow card for the Borough defender when it could of easily been a red.

It certainly riled up the visitors who moments later saw striker Brian Haule head just wide of the hosts goal as they had certainly started the better here. The frenetic nature of the contest had a small break on twenty minutes after hosts keeper Harry Palmer received treatment after a clash in the box, giving the players a breather after the frantic opening.

The break seemed to suit the hosts as they took a 20th minute lead when Dean Fenton was slipped in and he duly rifled the ball into the far corner to edge the hosts in front.

It was to get worse for the visitors four minutes later when they gifted the hosts a second goal after breakdown in communication from a free kick ended up with the ball finding Ralston Gabriel about thirty plus yards out and keeper Forster out of his goal so the midfielder fired into the open goal with Forster unable to get back into his net in time, it was a calamitous moment indeed.

And two minutes after that Haringey made it three in six minutes as the hosts were falling apart after a good start and saw a powerful header from Rakim Richards saved by Forster before Richards followed in to smash the rebound into the roof of the net and see the hosts grab a three goal cushion.

A shell-shocked Ware almost responded with a goal of their own immediately but saw Palmer brilliantly tip over a long range effort and with ten minutes of the half remaining Delgado whipped a cross just over the hosts crossbar as they looked to try and find a way back into this contest.

However the hosts then had another spell of attacking pressure and saw Adrian Markus hits straight at Ware keeper Forster in what was a decent opening before the home side then struck the woodwork twice in quick succession.

But in the 44th minute the home side did find a fourth goal as a deep cross saw keeper Forster come to far and miss the ball whilst under pressure and saw Daniel Aristidou sneak round the back to poke home from close range.

Their was still time for the visitors to get on the score sheet before half time though as three minutes into first half stoppage time Gareth Price was brought down for a penalty and Haule converted meaning the visitors did at least have a faint hope going into the second half. It had been a breathless half of football which had started well for Ware but then quickly unravel as the half went on.

Half Time Haringey Borough 4 Ware 1

The first moment of the second half saw another flashpoint after a coming together on the far side ended in a booking for the hosts and a free kick to the visitors, which was scrambled clear by the home defence.

The first fifteen or twenty minutes of the half saw the game continue to be played at 100 mph although their had been no real goalmouth action to speak of in this half.

Josh Oyibo had the first sight of goal for the visitors in the half but hit his effort straight at host keeper Palmer as they looked for a route back into game.

The visitors then went close as Haule forced Palmer to tip over from about twelve yards out as Ware were now pressing for a second goal. Price then went closer still for the visitors when it looked certain he would score but saw his effort cleared off the line, this after the hosts had briefly threatened moments before when they saw a cross flicked across the box.

Another brilliant Monday night crowd at Coles Park of 135 had certainly enjoyed their evening, apart from the ones associated with the visitors for whom time was running out to get back into this one. They had been the better side in this half but had given themselves to much to do after their first half collapse.

And they were unable to breach the hosts defence for the remainder of the game, which also saw the hosts have some attacks thwarted by the visiting back line, but it was the home side who took a well earned three points to lift themselves out of the bottom three and up five places to 17th whilst Ware remain in midtable.

Full Time Haringey Borough 4 Ware 1

Southend Manor 0 Canning Town 0 (aet; 4-5 on penalties)

Buildbase FA Vase Second Qualifying Round, Saturday 24th September 2016

So it was Buildbase FA Vase Second Qualifying round day and I was back at Southchurch Park to see if hosts Southend Manor could reach the First Round Proper as they took onEssex Olympian Premier outfit Canning Town.

The home side were massive favourites for this tie as they play to steps above Canning Town in the non league pyramid and with the hosts also playing Senior football to the hosts who played Junior football only one result was expected in many people eyes.

But this is cup football and you should underestimate the opponents at your peril and the first ten minutes yielded very little in the way of chances for either side. The first real chance came for the hosts on twelve minutes when Rhys Fatt crossed towards the near post were Daniel Okah’s flick just rolled past the far post with Callum Ibe lurking.

The visitors were next to test the keeper five minutes later when they sent a harmless looking free kick into the box but the ball bounced high off the hard surface and almost deceived Ryan Karrer in the Manor goal but he managed to paw the ball away from danger and then moments later Manor went close as a cross just invaded the diminutive George Crispin at the back post.

However these chances were played in a half that lacked pace and tempo and a certain amount of quality as the game seemed to be played in slow motion. On the half hour mark the visitors sent a dangerous ball into the box but the hosts managed to deal with but they had been well off the pace today so far.

However despite this the hosts almost went into the break ahead as a minute before half time aVinny Murphy free kick was brilliantly tipped over by Nick Wilson in what was arguably the only save either keeper had to make in the opening half. It had been a pretty poor first half in general and as D:Ream once said “Things can only get better”.

Half Time Southend Manor 0 Canning Town 0

And the second half was only four minutes old when one of the keepers was tested again, and it was the hosts keeper Karrer who had to make the save, as a great chance for the visitors saw Julian Edwards in the clear but Karrer managed to stick a leg out to thwart the visitors a shock lead.

Apart from this chance though and a few hosts balls into the box it was as you were, tedious and goal less, as we hit the hour mark in this one. Four minutes later Manor did finally test visitors keeper Wilson in this half as full back Samuel Short tried his luck from range but the visiting keeper made a decent save down to his left.

With just over twenty minutes to go Manor went close as Fatt got into the area down the right hand side but his ball across goal just invaded Crispin at the near post and then two minutes later they thought they had finally found the breakthrough as Fatt’s ball to the back post saw Ibe steam in to score but after this happened the linesman then raised his flag to chalk off the effort, much to the home sides dismay.

So the game was still goal less going into the last ten mins and the hosts mounted another attack and saw a cross towards Tim Beckford missed totally by the Manor forward but at the same time caught out visiting centre half Neil Barratt who almost put the ball into his own net. Moments later another cross from Manor saw Barratt again almost score an own goal but keeper Wilson made a good diving save.

This proved the final act and so the game would now enter an extra half hour.

Full Time Southend Manor 0 Canning Town 0

So would Manor’s extra fitness count against a tiring Canning Town side? Well the hosts certainly started the extra time period on the front foot as Beckford forced Wilson into a diving save and then the hosts went close again as Murphy curled an effort just wide of the far post.

Canning Town to their credit kept plugging away and sent a warning to Manor that they still could pose a goal threat themselves when Chris Barratt volleyed a lose ball just wide for the visitors after Karrer and Edwards had battled for a cross into the six yard area.

And in the second period of extra time Edwards lofted over for Canning Town as the Olympian side continued to make life difficult for their Senior hosts and as penalties got ever closer Mark Argent curled a free kick just wide for Town.

Manor saw an effort on goal blocked before the follow up went way off target as penalties were now looking likely but with what was almost the final act of the 120 minutes Manor had a golden chance to nick the win when Ibe burst through into the box on goal but somehow put his effort over the bar. It kind of summed up the hosts day in front of goal. It also meant that the game ended goal less after extra time so penalties would decide the teams fate.

Full Time (aet) Southend Manor 0 Canning Town 0

And so to penalties and they didn’t start well for either side as they both saw their opening spot kicks saved, however the next four penalties from each side were converted meaning it was 4-4 and sudden death. Canning Town converted their sixth penalty leaving Okah needing to score Manor’s sixth kick in order to stay in the competition but he saw his penalty saved by Wilson and cue celebrations from the visitors, who had caused a major shock in dumping Southend Manor out of the FA Vase and see the Olympian Premier side take their place in the First Round Proper and also find themselves £800 richer threw prizemoney, well done to them for that!!!

Full Time (aet) Southend Manor 0 Canning Town 0 (Canning Town won 5-4 on penalties)

Hadley 2 Kings Langley 1

The Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round, Saturday 17th September 2016

I was on FA Cup duty at the weekend and saw me make my first visit to Brickfield Lane inArkley, just outside Boreham Wood, for a match between hosts Hadley and visitors Kings Langley.

Hadley are managed by ex Chelsea and Spurs midfielder Micky Hazard and he would of no doubt have used all of his cup pedigree and experience to help his side this season as the club were enjoying their best run inn the competition in their history, having dispatched Brantham Athletic,Hertford Town and Colney Heath to reach this stage.

However in opponents Kings Langley they were up against a side two levels above and had smashed Sporting Bengal United 6-1 in the last round. The Southern Premier League outfit, who had enjoyed three promotions in as many years, were on a good winning run in the league so this was going to prove tough for the Spartan South Midlands Premier hosts and understandably started as underdogs in this one.

But this is the FA Cup and it’s not been short of a giant-killing or two over the years and the hosts began by trying to take the game to their higher level opponents and saw skipper Sam Lyon loop an early header a foot wide of the goal. However the visitors then went close themselves after flashing a ball across the six yard box. It had been a decent start to this contest.

The visitors went close again when Sean Coughlan volleyed a Josh Chamberlain cross inches over the bar before the hosts responded in kind when a brilliant one two on the edge of the area released Ivan Machado but keeper Danny Boness managed to block the strikers effort.

And then on 18 minutes came the opening goal, and it went to the visitors, as a good pacey run down the left from Immanuelson Duku saw him burst into the box and be taken out inside the box for a penalty. Duku duly picked himself up and converted the spot kick and the Evo-Stik side had an early lead.

This understandably got the away sides tails up and they went searching for a quick second to try and totally stamp their authority on this contest. Connor Toomey fired just over from range for the visitors after a free kick wasn’t properly cleared by the hosts and then Toomey again fired another long range effort just off target as the visitors were now the better side since going in front.

However Hadley were no where near out of this contest and they saw a cross from the right almost falls to Machado in front of goal but the defence managed to block well and as the half was coming to a conclusion it was the home side who were coming on strong again but the visitors still lead 1-0.

Just before half time both sides tested each others goal, firstly when Zane Gangadeen struck an effort straight at Langley keeper Boness as they continued to look for a leveller, and secondly when Duku nearly got a second for the visitors after the ball had dropped to him inside the box but the hosts keeper Charlie Mann saved well to keep his side in the tie. It was a tie that was tight and still very much in the balance as the teams left the field for the half time break despite the visitors slender lead.

Half Time Hadley 0 Kings Langley 1

The next goal was always going to prove crucial in this tie and eight minutes into the second period came that second goal of the game, and it went to the hosts, in spectacular style. Dom Petrucci had only just come on as a substitute for an injured player when he received a pass and duly flicked the ball up and volleyed first time into the far corner of the goal. It really was a great piece of skill and it really fired up the hosts for a crack at a shock win.

However the visitors were the next to attack and they were screaming for a second spot kick after they felt Duku had been hauled down trying to get an effort in on goal but no penalty was given although it had now developed into a great cup tie.

The hosts then should really have taken the lead on the hour mark as a ball into the box found Machado totally free about eight yards out but he saw his effort blocked somehow and the chance went away. Hadley were doing a lot of the pressing and have been better side in this half but the scoreline remained 1-1 with just over twenty left.

The hosts then missed another wonderful chance when Machado beat visiting keeper Boness to a ball played into the area but saw his poked effort bounce just wide of the goal and you felt that they needed to have taken one of these chances if they were going to have any chance of causing an upset.

Langley spent the majority of the half on the back foot but they gave Hadley a couple of warnings that they could still pinch the tie, firstly when they missed a great chance to go back in front with thirteen minutes to go but Kyle Anthony could only head over a corner from point blank range, and then secondly moments later Oran Swailes got in behind the defence but miskicked his effort wide.

As the game entered its final few minutes Machado missed another great chance for the hosts but saw keeper Boness thwart him again and up the other end Duku forced a save from Mann as both sides were looking to find a winner and prevent a replay in the week.

Hadley then missed another great chance as Nick Chryanthou saw an effort blocked after getting in behind but as the clock ticked into stoppage time at the end of the ninety minutes the hosts finally took one of their chances as Machado looped a header beyond Boness and into the corner of the net to send the hosts wild with delight.

The forthcoming stoppage time period saw the hosts easily hold out and take their place in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history as they caused an upset today, and on their second half showing more than deserved their victory. The draw is tomorrow, and the Step Five outfit will be in the hat, eagerly awaiting who they get in the next chapter in their cup run.

Full Time Hadley 2 Kings Langley 1