Enfield 1893 1 Hullbridge Sports 2

Essex Senior League, Monday 27th February 2017

So with two of Monday’s Essex Senior League games falling foul to the weather the 3G surface of the Harlow Arena saved the day as I took in Enfield 1893 Vs Hullbridge Sports.

I had planned to be at Cricklefield for the Barkingside Vs Sporting Bengal United game but after this had been called off due to a waterlogged pitch I made my way over to North Essex to see a rather intriguing encounter.

The hosts had won their last two home games and narrowly lost to Ilford in the Memorial Trophy in midweek whilst Sports February has yielded just one win in five matches so form wasn’t brilliant for the Lower Road side.

So maybe the hosts would of been fancied to make it three home wins on the spin although Sports knew they had the players their to hurt the hosts. And it was the visitors who did start the better of the two sides and won themselves a penalty in the 14th minute when Luka Frankis saw his burst into the area brought to an abrupt end and Jimmy Cox made no mistake to convert to give Sports an early advantage.

However the visitors recent defensive frailties came back to haunt them five minutes later when a poor defensive header eventually saw the loose ball at the feet of Jadon Hocking-Rising and the striker drilled an effort in off the post and the hosts were level.

Sports were soon back on the front foot though and in the 21st minute almost got back in front as a Sam Taylor free kick curled into the danger zone drifted just wide of the far post and then just before the half hour a great chance for the visitors saw a Cox nod down find Frankis all alone in front of goal but he could’t beat the keeper and the chance was gone.

But with nine minutes of the half remaining they did retake the lead when a wonderful ball to the back post found Charlie Gerada who stretched to convert into the far corner and give the Lower Road side the advantage once again. They so nearly increased this advantage moments before the break too when a Taylor free kick thumped against the underside of bar but the visitors did have the lead at the break.

Half Time Enfield 1893 1 Hullbridge Sports 2

Enfield began the second half on the front foot and saw two early openings for Hocking-Rising, one a free header that he made a total mess off, and two when a long ball was missed by a defender but the forward could not get the ball under control and saw it go though to Jamie Merrells in the Bridge net.

Sports then had a spell of pressure on the Enfield goal and ten minutes into the half Frankis was played in on goal but saw his effort beaten away then just before the hour mark another terrific Taylor free kick was swung into the box and caused chaos before it was headed behind for a corner.

More good football from the visitors in the 67th minute eventually ended with Cox sending a free header straight at the keeper but after this the visitors didn’t really create any more chances as they started to look to hold onto what they had.

Enfield therefore started to put the visitors under some pressure but either could not find a way through the Hullbridge wall or poor execution let them down in the final third. Merrells didn’t really have a save of note to make although he was almost beaten with seven minutes left as a James Briggs long-range thunderbolt glanced off the top of the crossbar and off for a goal kick.

It was the closest anyone was to come for the remainder of the contest as Sports battled and fought hard to take the three points and bring a much needed win to their club and also bring Enfield’s brief winning run at home to an end.

Full Time Enfield 1893 1 Hullbridge Sports 2

West Essex 2 Ilford 1

Essex Senior League, Saturday 25th February 2017

My second Essex Senior League game of the weekend saw me over at Barking‘sMayesbrook Park as tenant’s West Essex were hosting Ilford.

Ilford had won six of their seven games this month whilst the hosts had also been on a decent run until their home defeat to Southend Manor in midweek, but with two attacking sides on show a decent game was definitely on the cards.

The hosts started the better in the opening few minutes but it was Ilford who really have take the lead on five minutes as after keeper Jack Coker had parried out an effort from Sipho Mytanda to Carl Mullings, the forward from inside the six yard box hit his effort straight at Coker for a poor miss.

Four minutes later and Ilford were holding their heads in their hands again as another Foxes chance saw an Eden Nelson glancing header well saved by Coker who dived brilliantly to his left to push the ball away for a corner.

On 13 minutes the hosts forced Ilford keeper Chris Clark to punch over his on bar for a corner but from this corner Tom Macleod volleyed an effort miles wide. Ilford then saw Mullings fire wide of the near post in the 20th minute as the Foxes threatened again.

But then a minute after that the hosts found a breakthrough when Michael Mignot burst down the right and saw his ball across goal tapped home by Cameron Gray at the far post and just like that the hosts led.

It almost got worse for Ilford in the 25th minute too when a visitors free kick was blasted against their own player and almost allowed Isaac Marfo in on goal but the bounce of the ball allowed keeper Clark to come out and avert any danger.

The hosts were now looking the better wide following the goal and on 27 minutes saw a corner flash across goal but no one was there to touch it in at the far post before moments before the break the hosts felt aggrieved after a bounce of the ball defeated Ilford fullback Chris Lockwood and saw Mignot try to get clear and claimed he was pulled back, but nothing was given which didn’t please the home bench/players/spectators.

However they would of been pleased with their teams efforts as they went into the break a goal to the good.

Half Time West Essex 1 Ilford 0

Whatever was said in each dressing room went out of the window seconds into the restart as the hosts made it two almost straight away as Nick Walk nodded home a loose ball after Ilford had failed to clear their lines and they were right up against it now.

The hosts went for a killer third and ten minutes into the half Marfo blasted way over from a good position before centre half Daniel Christie struck an effort against the post three minutes later although it was offside then down the other end Ilford saw another golden chance go begging when the normally reliable Nelson got clean through but could only slot his effort wide.

On the hour mark Mytanda tested hosts keeper Coker from miles out, seeing the keeper punch away for a corner, before on 65 minutes the hosts should of sealed the deal when after Mignot had beaten keeper Clarke to the ball, he crossed to Marfo who netted but was offside so the goal was ruled out.

With just over twenty minutes to go Coker produced a good stop to deny Ilford substitute Joe Killingback and as the game entered into it’s last fifteen minutes the hosts were defending well against quite a few visiting attacks.

Ilford though did eventually find a breakthrough in the 86th minute to give them a sniff of a comeback when skipper Isaac Nkosi headed a powerful effort at goal and saw Nelson get a touch to divert the ball home and give the Foxes hope they could maybe snatch a point.

However Mignot should of made the final few moments more comfortable for the hosts two minutes later when he saw his close range volley lack power and went straight to Clark, but it mattered not as the hosts held on for a very well earned three points.

Full Time West Essex 2 Ilford 1

Barkingside 5 Clapton 2

Essex Senior League, Friday 24th February 2017

Friday night football was upon us again in the Essex Senior League as Barkingside and Clapton locked horns at Cricklefield Stadium.

And a bumper gate of 323 made their way in to see this local derby with at least 200 of those Clapton Ultras who were packed into the covered terrace behind the dugouts. They were as vocal as ever.

The hosts had come into this one off the back of a thrashing at Dulwich Hamlet in midweek although they had only lost two of their last eleven so were in solid form.

The Tons had only played one game in the whole of February but were looking to go back into second spot and try and keep leaders Barking honest.

Side saw David Laird blast over an early chance before the visitors responded with a chance of their own but Jay Knight saw his effort saved by Tyler McCarthys legs as both teams tried to gain an early advantage.

On 13 minutes a snap shot from Jason Ajoodha went a foot wide of the Clapton goal before moments later Raphael Duyile had a chance for the visitors but again this was wasted.

Side almost took the lead in the 21st minute when they had a double chance, firstly when Laird found himself as sight of goal but saw his effort saved then moments later Luke With saw his header well saved by Emmanuel Olayide in the Tons goal.

With went close with another header minutes later which was blocked on the line and just past the half hour mark Clapton almost took the lead as Knight saw a glancing header headed off the line by a defender.

But then seven minutes before the half time break the deadlock was broken, and it was broken by the hosts, as a header back into the six yard box saw Laird flick home a close range header and give his side the advantage.

It was an advantage that only lasted for five minutes though as the Tons hit back two minutes before the break as Knight was played in and he knocked the ball past keeper McCarthy and sent the Ultras into raptures. It also meant a decent half of football finished level.

Half Time Barkingside 1 Clapton 1

The early exchanges in the second period saw Clapton send a couple of efforts off target whilst Side saw a good effort blocked inside the Tons area, but in the 57th minute the visitors took the lead when sloppy play from the hosts allowed Knight to be played in and he made no mistake to net his second of the contest and give Clapton the upper hand.

Side though showed great character to bounce back five minutes later as in the 62nd minute a ball laid back to George Ademilyu saw the Side number eleven strike a first time shot beyond Olayide and into the far corner and we were level once again.

The game was finely poised with both sides looking to get their noses in front. As the game headed towards the last fifteen minutes the hosts looked threatening from crosses into box although the Tons were dealing with the threat whilst down the other end Johnny Ashman almost got on the end of a ball across goal but saw it whipped away from him in the nick of time as Clapton threatened a third too.

But then in the 77th minute came a decision which gave the hosts the upper hand as Ademilyu was adjudged to gave been hauled down inside the area and With converted the penalty emphatically and Side led again.

The Tons threatened a leveller almost immediately as Knight found himself in behind but saw his effort saved by McCarthy but then moments later with ten minutes left came a fourth for the hosts thanks to a wonder chip from Laird giving the hosts a two goal cushion.

And with almost the last kick of the contest Side added gloss to the scoreline by making it five in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Kai Heather belted home a brilliant effort from twenty yards out and cap a wonderful Friday night for the hosts.

The win takes Barkingside back into the top half in 11th place whilst defeat for Clapton leaves them in third place, still eight points behind the leaders having played two games more. Not a good night for the Tons who could drop to fourth tomorrow if FC Romania win.

Full Time Barkingside 5 Clapton 2

Basildon United 1 London Bari 0

Essex Senior League Challenge Cup Round Two, Tuesday 21st February 2017

I was over at The Hive, technically known as The Stuart Bingham Stadium, for a Essex Senior League Challenge Cup Round Two tie between Basildon United and London Bari.

The winners would set up a home Quarter Final against either Enfield 1893 or Wadham Lodge and would move one step closer to reaching a prestigious final at the end of the season.

The Bees had had a mixed month or so with two wins and three defeats in their last six games however the visitors from Forest Gate had lost six in a row coming into this one so you fancied the hosts to win this tie. With Bari also arriving with less than half an hour to kick off it wasn’t ideal preparation for the visiting side.

And the hosts almost made it a disastrous start for the Bari boys when they created a chance within seconds of the kick off as a long range effort from Nathan Dewberry forced the keeper to palm away for a corner. Bari did respond to this early scare by having two decent efforts blocked inside the area as they looked to take a shock early lead.

The Bees then created another opening on seven minutes when Joe Skeels was laid in on goal but his effort was well saved and then three minutes later Bees forward Reece Tranter got in and finished well but was adjudged to have been offside so the goal was ruled out.

And then on twelve minutes Bari won a free kick in a decent position outside the area and saw the effort tipped onto the crossbar by Liam Pitts in what was a warning to the home side that Bari were not here just to make up the numbers.

Midway through the half Dewberry headed over a decent chance from a good position for the hosts but for the next ten or so minutes afterwards both teams struggled to keep hold of the ball as sloppy passing or poor decision making saw the game rather scrappy for a time.

With eight minutes of the half remaining a decent ball in by Tranter saw Bees forward Jack Adlington volley wide but two minutes later came the breakthrough as Basildon were awarded what looked like a rather soft penalty. Adlington got down the right and saw his cross strike a visiting defender and the referee adjudged that the ball had hit his hand and awarded a penalty, much to Bari’s dismay. Dewberry duly stepped up to slot home the penalty with ease and give the hosts a narrow advantage.

Bari looked to respond to this set back and immediately looked threatening after the goal but saw a decent opening blocked before their next attack saw a header hacked off the goal line by a Bees defender. It meant the hosts held a slender lead at the break with both sides knowing the game was still there for the taking.

Half Time Basildon United 1 London Bari 0

The Bees started the second period very well and two minutes into the half saw a Tranter lob well saved before they really should of made it two three minutes later when full back Yaw Danso burst through at pace, rounded the keeper, but took too long to send an effort at goal and eventually his cut back was cleared and the chance gone.

The Bees continued to create chances and in the 53rd minute Tranter saw a twenty yard dipping effort go just over the bar whilst up the other end the visitors forced Pitts into a smart stop down low. Churchill Chia-Titor then went close with an effort from the angle , which was stopped by the visiting keeper, before Bari then glanced a header wide in a frantic spell.

The Bees then squandered another chance in the 65th minute when Danso saw his pace get in behind the Bari back line but yet again the effort was saved before another Bees chance seven minutes later again was missed. They just could not find that second killer goal.

And with just under fifteen minutes remaining the visitors so nearly punished the Bees for their misses in front of goal when they contrived to miss an open goal after they side footed wide of a gaping goal with Pitts committed to a ball across the area. It was a huge let off for the Bees.

And moments later a long range effort from the visitors deflected inches wide of the post as the Bees were holding on somewhat, however they did manage to whether that particular storm and despite making hard work of it managed to sneak over the line and into the Last Eight of the competition.

Full Time Basildon United 1 London Bari 0

South Shields 6 Newport Pagnell Town 1

Buildbase FA Vase Quarter-Final, Saturday 18th February 2017

So it was FA Vase Quarter Finals day and I was making the long journey North East for my first visit to Mariners Park, home of Northern League Division One South Shields as they hosted United Counties Premier Newport Pagnell Town.

The home side were the only Northern League side left in the competition and had the favourites tag around their neck for not only this tie but also the whole tournament itself. They knew they would have to treat the visitors with the up-most respect though having seen the Milton Keynes side dispatch fellow Northern League side Sunderland RCA, a team who had held Shields to a 2-2 draw in the league, in the previous round.

However an expectant record crowd of 3,161 crammed into Mariners Park and were almost stunned into silence in just the second minute when the visitors almost got the ideal start when Elliott Sandy controlled a pass and finished past keeper Liam Connell, but the officials had spotted that he had controlled the pass with his arm so the goal was chalked off.

And moments later the hosts found that early goal they so desperately craved when David Foley curled a brilliant effort in off the post to turn up the volume inside the ground. And four minutes later it got even better for the North East side when Wayne Phillips hit an absolute beauty from range to double their lead and the home fans were now bouncing.

It had been an absolute disastrous start for the underdogs who were in danger of being embarrassed as they were getting totally overrun and on 14 minutes hosts full back Craig Baxter forced keeper Mark Osborne into a decent save after a bursting run forward. And midway through the half the hosts did add a third when a corner swung in found centre half Dylan Morse totally free to power home a header as the hosts were in total control.

And on 25 minutes Shields made it four with yet another unbelievable finish as Robert Briggs hit an unstoppable effort into the top corner and even the home crowd around me were in awe of their own side who were putting on one hell of a show for their record home crowd. The visitors had been blown away inside the opening half hour and just had no answer to the hosts who had given them a footballing lesson and had the tie won all bar the shouting.

Half Time South Shields 4 Newport Pagnell Town 0

The one thing Newport Pagnell had to do was try and dig in in the second forty five and make sure it didn’t turn into a major embarrassment and for the opening fifteen minutes of the half the visitors did have more possession but the hosts tempo had dropped somewhat after such a magnificent first half showing and the game had taken on a going through the motions sort of feel you could say.

The hosts had almost become sloppy at times and just past the hour mark Newport should of had a goal back as sloppy defending allowed Darryl Smith in but saw his effort eventually blocked, and then twenty minutes into the half the hosts made it five from nowhere when afterGavin Cogdon was brought down for a penalty, he picked himself up to convert the spot kick and it was party time at Mariners Park.

The hosts were now right back on the front foot again and in the 69th minute a wonderful move ended with Andrew Stephenson blasting over for the hosts however a minute later another wonderful move from Shields ended with Stephenson flicking the ball up to Cogdon to volley home first time in sublime fashion and bring up the home sides sixth.

Shields continued to search for more goals and saw Carl Finnigan get in on goal in the 77th minute but saw the defence gets back to block effort and then five minutes later they went closer still to a seventh when after another chance saw an effort blocked, Foley drilled an effort against the post.

A couple of minutes later Newport saw Sandy hit a weak effort straight at host keeper Connell, and that was the first effort on target from the visitors since that 2nd minute disallowed goal, it really had been one way traffic for the most part. Foley found himself in again but saw visiting keeper Osborne eventually block his effort and then came a rare high for Newport when they did manage to end the game with a goal as Sandy curled a decent effort into the top corner which brought cheers from home fans who could now feel sympathy for the demoralised Pagnell side.

The referee brought proceedings to a close soon after and South Shields now take their place in the Last Four and only one two legged semi-final away from Wembley and on this showing will take some stopping. Commiserations to Newport Pagnell Town who came up against a side who were a class apart today. To reach the Last Eight is still a great achievement though so they should be applauded for that.

Full Time South Shields 6 Newport Pagnell Town 1