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
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