Hullbridge Sports 3 Sawbridgeworth Town 1

Essex Senior League, Saturday 23rd December 2017

Three goals in eight second half minutes helped see Hullbridge Sports to victory over Sawbridgeworth Town at Lower Road in their bottom of the table clash in the Essex Senior League.

Sports sat bottom but knew a win could take them off the foot and only two points behind 16th placed Sawbridgeworth, for who a win could see them put breathing space between themselves and the bottom four.

And seconds from kick off the visitors almost went in front as Keke Orth shrugged off a defender, lofted an effort over hosts keeper Russell Harley, but saw his effort go over the hosts bar, with the Robin‘s claiming he had been fouled, but this fell on deaf ears.

And on six minutes the visitors should of gone in front but saw Harley produce a wonder save to keep Toby Cleaver out, tipping his effort onto the bar brilliantly, whilst Bridge were reduced to a couple of wayward long range efforts in the opening quarter hour, as the Robins had definitely started the better.

The hosts did threaten in the19th minute Good when Michael Salako’s ball across goal just invaded Damian Siemienczuk coming in, but in the 33rd minute Harley had to be alert again in the Bridge goal, turning a Toby Cleaver effort behind, although it was becoming a battle out there now.

The final chance of the half did fall to the hosts though as a Siemienczuk effort was parried by keeper Matt Ponter, before he gathered the loose ball, and it meant the game remained goalless at the break.

Half Time Hullbridge Sports 0 Sawbridgeworth Town 0

Eight minutes into the second period Sawbo should of led, as a cross saw a defender misses the ball, leaving Orth with a sight of goal, but he could only drill his effort across goal and wide. It had been another guilt edged chance missed by the visitors.

And just a minute later the hosts punished them and showed them how it was done when Jimmy Cox tried his luck from distance after noticing Sawbo keeper Ponter was off his line, and he caught him out although Ponter probably should of done better after getting a hand to the effort, but the hosts led.

Soon after Sawbo sent a decent header over the bar as they continued to pass up opportunities, and in the 58th minute were shown how it should be done when Bridge doubled their lead as a terrific move ended with midfielder Joe Pattinson poking home from the edge of the area, and the hosts found themselves two goals up.

And incredibly in the 62nd minute it was three goals in eight minutes for the hosts as poor defending allowed a ball find its way to the back post where Rob Hodgson was waiting to tap home and somehow the hosts led 3-0.

The Robins found a way back into the contest just two minutes later though when they won a rather soft penalty for an apparent foul, and Billy Skinner duly converted the spot kick and the visitors had around twenty five minutes to salvage something.

Sawbo did strike the woodwork twice late on, firstly in the 89th minute when the visitors broke down the right through Skinner, but his effort thumped against the post, and then in stoppage time Danny Wickenden saw his deflected effort flick off the hosts bar, before moments later Harley had to beat away another effort.

However it was the hosts day and they moved off the bottom and now sit just two points behind their opponents in 16th place and in good spirits heading into the Christmas/New Year break.

Full Time Hullbridge Sports 3 Sawbridgeworth Town 1

Hendon 2 Bath City 1

Buildbase FA Trophy First Round Proper, Saturday 16th December 2017

It was First Round Proper day in the Buildbase FA Trophy, the Final 64, and I was at Silver Jubilee Park in North West London as Bostick Premier Hendon hosted Vanarama South Bath City.

Hendon had seen off Slough Town over two games and a penalty shoot out, whilst Bath City also needed penalties to squeeze past Margate to reach this stage, and with Hendon and Margate 7th and 8th in the Bostick Premier, the 12th placed Vanarama South Roman’s knew another tough test awaited them.

And also Hendon, like Margate, played on 3G, so their were a lot of similarities heading into this one.  And with the recent poor weather, it was probably a good thing!

The opening quarter saw both sides feeling each other out but the first opening didn’t arrive until the 18th minute, and it was the visitors who had it, as a lucky ricochet fell to them, but the resulting effort was rifled across goal.

Moments later the visitors sent a free header straight at the keeper, before Bath went close again as after they had asked for a penalty, a poor Hendon clearance found the visitors, who fired an effort just over the bar.

Eight minutes before the break Hendon had their first real opening as a ball across saw a deflected effort go just to far in front of a fellow teammate and he could only get his studs on it and see it drift harmlessly wide.

But with six minutes of the half remaining Hendon got their noses in front as a nod down from a set piece found centre half Arthur Lee in the six yard box who converted first time past the visitors backline on the goal line, and it meant the Bostick Premier side led at the half.

Half Time Hendon 1 Bath City 0

The players returned to the field with the rain now coming down, and whatever was said in the visitors dressing room at the break worked, as just two minutes into the second period Tom Smith ghosted in to finish from close range and bring the Romans level.

Bath had their tails up now and should of gone when the visitors pounced on a defensive error but saw the keeper make a comfortable save, before down the other end Hendon saw a deflected effort go into the keeper’s hands.

Just past the hour mark the visitors created a great opening as a great turn saw them in on goal but a poor finish meant an easy save for the hosts keeper, before in the 68th minute the hosts attacked and saw a cross shot deflected into the side netting. Some thought it had gone in, and the rain was now pouring down, it was a proper cup tie for sure.

The Romans passed up another decent opportunity when they saw a snap shot go straight at the keeper, before the hosts retook the lead in the 74th minute when substitute Keagan Cole converted a cut back with his first touch and gave Hendon around twenty minutes to hang onto the lead.

But moments later they should of lost that lead when the visitors fizzed two balls across the box, but somehow Hendon survived, and with ten minutes remaining the hosts broke but only a brilliant last ditch tackle thwarted them after cutting back onto right foot.

With three minutes left Hendon sent a dangerous ball into the visitors box which was just about cleared, before Bath attacked themselves in search of an equaliser to possibly force a Tuesday night replay at Twerton Park.

However in the first minute of stoppage time Hendon should of sealed it when another break from a Bath attack saw them bearing down on goal,  but the visiting keeper denied them, meaning Bath had three minutes of stoppage to salvage something.

But Hendon held firm and saw off the Vanarama South outfit to make it through to the Last 32 of the competition.

Full Time Hendon 2 Bath City 1 

Great Wakering Rovers 3 Woodford Town (2017) 0

Essex Senior League, Tuesday 5th December 2017

A Stephen Butterworth brace helped Rovers to victory over Woodford Town at Burroughs Park, taking them up to third in the table and only three points behind leaders Redbridge.

The first chances did not arrive till just before the quarter hour mark and saw the hosts create both, firstly when a Billy Johnson free kick was well saved by Nick Wilson, before a cross from the right was just over the head of Jay Nash.

Rovers then flashed one across goal moments later, but no one could get a touch on it, whilst down the other end in the 20th minute only a great block from hosts defender Oliver Woodhouse denied Larry Asare a clear shot at goal.

Then just before the half hour mark Rovers somehow failed to go in front when a long throw from the left was inadvertently flicked on by a defender trying to clear, and it turned out to be a perfect flick on into Johnson’s path but he somehow headed over from a yard out.

But just a minute later the hosts did take the lead when a ball across found Butterworth who took many touches before finally placing the ball into the gaping goal and Rovers had the lead.

Then with nine minutes of the half remaining it was Woodford’s turn to have a ‘What a miss’ moment as after a terrific run from Ola Ogunwamide, his ball into the box found Taku Mashingaidze who from yards out could only hit over. It may have flicked the bar it was that close but it was a warning to the hosts.

Two minutes before half time Rovers saw a Nash effort deflect into the path of Neil Richmond, but the forward just could not stretch far enough to divert the ball in from close range, however Wakering did go into the break a goal ahead.

Half Time Great Wakering Rovers 1 Woodford Town (2017) 0

The next goal, as is always the case, would be crucial, and it came in the 56th minute as the hosts got their second when the ball broke to Butterworth and he duly buried his left footed effort beyond Wilson for his second of the game, a gained some well earned breathing space for his side.

And only two minutes later it was three for the hosts as Nash bundled the ball, keeper Wilson and all over the line, and Rovers now had a comfortable three goal cushion. Wilson was furious and was claiming he was fouled, and was booked for his protests towards referee Stacey Ford to rub salt into those wounds.

Woodford come close to grabbing a goal back but saw Rovers keeper Louis Hawes brilliantly tip a free kick onto the inside of the post, before the ball flew back across goal and away from danger.

Johnson then sent a powerful header just wide of Woodford’s near post with fifteen minutes remaining, although moments before that a worry for the hosts saw Nash limped off injured.

With eight minutes left and after the hosts had fired a free kick straight at Wilson, the visitors had another opening but substitute Ethan Kessel could only fire his effort at Hawes, this after good work from Dion Lewis-Kirwan on the right.

However the hosts saw out the game although were made to work hard by a battling Woodford side, but the home side took the points and keep themselves right in the mix, and their next three games are against Redbridge, FC Romania and Basildon United, wow.

Full Time Great Wakering Rovers 3 Woodford Town (2017) 0

Coventry City 3 Boreham Wood 0

Emirates FA Cup Second Round Proper, Sunday 3rd December 2017

Goals from Duckens Nazon, Marc McNulty & Jordan Shipley helped see Coventry City into Round Three of the Emirates FA Cup after a hard fought win over a physical Boreham Wood at the Ricoh Arena.

The hosts came into this one after seeing off Maidenhead United from the Vanarama National League in Round One whilst Boreham Wood had caused a big upset after the Vanarama National Leaguers came from behind to dump League One Blackpool out of the competition.

So League Two Coventry were the slight favourites although many expected this tie to be rather close and Wood win could not be ruled out.  And it was the visitors who had the first effort in the opening minute when Dan Holman struck an effort wide.

However the opening quarter hour was a fairly quiet affair and the next opening didn’t arrive until midway through the half when the visitors saw Bruno Andrade find space but saw his effort blocked, and the visitors were certainly giving their league two hosts plenty to think about.

But it was the hosts who were to break the deadlock in the 27th minute with their first attempt on goal, as Nazon played in McNulty and although his effort was saved, Nazon followed up to fire the loose ball home and the Sky Blues had a slender advantage.

This didn’t deter the non league visitors though and on the half hour only a superb block by Haynes prevented Andrade from shooting at goal, and eight minutes before the break a visitors corner dropped behind Ricky Shakes, but he could only hook over the goal.

And six minutes before the break the hosts made them pay by making it two goals from two attempts as Nazon turned provider this time, playing the ball through to McNulty and the keeper came to try and get the ball, change his mind and backtrack, but McNulty lofted it perfectly over his head and into the net.

Wood looked to respond and three minutes before the break looked to counter but Andrade’s effort was saved by Burge, and then right on half time the hosts saw a Shipley free kick evade everyone and go behind.

Five minutes of stoppage time were then added on and saw the hosts attack through Stevenson who slid in McNulty, and he in turn played in Shipley, but his effort was saved, and then Nazon saw a long range effort saved by Smith as the hosts finished the half strongly.

But it was those goals from Nazon and McNulty that saw the Sky Blues go into the break with a two goal cushion although the visitors probably felt a tad hard done by to be two behind at the half.

Half Time Coventry City 2 Boreham Wood 0

Wood knew they needed the next goal to harbour realistic hopes of a comeback and two minutes into the half saw Holman curl a shot wide for the visitors, however a minute later City made it three when Shipley netted his first Ricoh Arena goal, tapping home a McNulty ball across goal, and the hosts had that all important third goal.

In the 53rd minute Shipley struck a free kick inches wide as the Sky Blues threatened to end the contest with a fourth, whilst down the other end Andrade saw a shot comfortably saved by Burge.

The hosts took their foot off the gas for a time and saw Wood with a fair amount of possession again, and with fifteen minutes left almost found a goal back when Andrade put in a terrific ball across the six yard box and saw it almost turned in at the back post.

City responded and saw Biamou strike against the post before Haynes saw an effort from range saved by Wood keeper Smith as the Sky Blues looked to put more gloss on the scoreline, and with six minutes left Grimmer fired an effort towards Smith, who saved.

Coventry then saw Haynes put a ball towards the back post which was met by Vincenti who saw his effort saved, and the final chance of the contest came deep into stoppage time and saw Biamou somehow head wide.

However it mattered not as the hosts had done enough to see off a battling Wood outfit to progress into Round Three of the famous old competition.

Full Time Coventry City 3 Boreham Wood 0

Hullbridge Sports 3 Enfield 1893 2

Buildbase FA Vase Third Round Proper, Saturday 2nd December 2017

Two Jimmy Cox penalties helped see Hullbridge Sports win a frenetic all Essex Senior League FA Vase contest at Lower Road against Enfield 1893 to make the Last 32 of the competition.

The hosts came close to opening the scoring in the fifth minute when after Cox had kept the ball in down the left, his cross into the dangerzone found the head of Michael Salako but keeper Michael Corderoy pulled off a brilliant save to deny the hosts an early advantage.

However midway through the half the hosts were awarded a penalty when a Joe Pattison effort struck the hand of a defender and saw a penalty given although the visitors felt hard done by as it was struck at him from a short distance.  Anyway Cox put the spot kick away and the hosts had the advantage.

On the half hour mark John Bricknell sent a free kick just over for the visitors as they looked to respond to going behind, and as the half wore down towards it’s conclusion Enfield were applying some pressure however the hosts were just about keeping them at bay and went into the break a goal up.

Half Time Hullbridge Sports 1 Enfield 1893 0

If the visitors were unhappy after the first half penalty, they were even more unhappy four minutes after the break when a cross struck a defenders arm inside the box, however the referee gave a free kick, much to the hosts disbelief, however after he discussed with his assistant he changed his mind and gave the penalty, and saw the visitors go mad.

Anyway after two or three minutes of sorting everything out Cox duly stepped up to convert his second penalty of the afternoon and see the hosts grab a two goal advantage.  Enfield though were furious.

And moments after they were incandescent with rage after they felt they should of had a penalty for a foul inside the box but it was not given, and Enfield went absolutely mental, as they felt they weren’t getting the decisions in this one.

Just past the hour mark and with Enfield trying to find a way back into the game, Ben Bradbury saw an effort go straight at Harley, who was then subbed after a calf muscle injury, meaning substitute keeper Jamie Merrells took over in goal.

Enfield then saw a deep ball towards the far post knocked wide, but then with just under twenty minutes to go Enfield were awarded a spot kick of their own, and Bricknell stepped up to fire home and it was game on.

And minutes later Hullbridge keeper Merralls was shown a straight red for kicking out at visitors substitute Josh Sykes, who was also booked for his part in proceedings, however the tie had become rather tasty.  It also meant Cox, who had netted both Hullbridge goals, became the third person to don the gloves for the hosts in this tie, and Hullbridge had to play the rest of the game a man light.

But with eight minutes remaining it was the hosts who increased their lead when Harry Watkins thumped a wonderful free kick beyond Corderoy from twenty yards and the hosts celebrated as if they had sealed it.

However moments later Enfield pulled one to make things interesting once again when a mad scramble inside the box eventually saw Luke Thomas bury the loose ball from close range, it had been some second half.

Enfield piled on the pressure late on and with six minutes of stoppage time to come it was certainly not over, but the hosts managed to keep the visitors at bay and hold on to progress into the Last 32 of the FA Vase. Phew what a tie!

Full Time Hullbridge Sports 3 Enfield 1893 2