Bowers & Pitsea 1 Egham Town 1

Buildbase FA Trophy First Qualifying Round, Saturday 28th October 2017

I was back at the Len Salmon Stadium to see my latest match in my Buildbase FA Trophy trail as Bowers & Pitsea hosted Egham Town in a First Qualifying Round tie.

Bowers had needed a replay to see off fellow Bostick North side Dereham Town to progress into this round whilst Egham had a much simpler passage through after the Evo Stik Southern East side demolished Bostick South bottom side Shoreham 7-1 in Surrey.

Both sides were doing well in their respective divisions too so a close hard fought cup tie was expected.  It was the visitors who started the better though and saw an early Matt Woods effort fly wide of the far post and on seven minutes Aaron Berry struck a fierce effort straight at hosts keeper Callum Chafer as the hosts struggled early on.

The hosts first chance came in the 13th minute and saw David Knight fire wide from the edge of the box and four minutes later they created another opening when a long throw was headed down to Gavin Cockman but the Bowers forward scuffed his effort and it dribbled into Pat Ohman’s hands.

Egham were soon back on the front foot minutes later though and an attack down the right saw a dangerous low ball in well fielded by Chafer as Liam Tack was ready to pounce and then just before the half hour mark a great free kick into the Bowers box by Egham full back Ryan Phillips almost found the head of Rhys Paul.  Any touch and surely the visitors would have taken the lead.

And moments later they should of done as Woods ran in on goal, rounded keeper Chafer,  but then fires across goal as Bowers survived another scare.

In the 33rd minute Bowers attacked and saw a Tony Stokes effort blocked before it came out to Ben Sartain who fired over from distance and two minutes before the break the hosts almost pinched a half time lead when a flick on from Cockman found  Stokes who laid in Knight but his effort was tipped wide by Ohman.

And from the second corner in the attack the ball came out to Cockman whose fierce drive at goal was diverted over by Stokes.  It meant the teams reached the half goalless although the visitors would have been the happier so far.

Half Time Bowers & Pitsea 0 Egham Town 0

Bowers came out much better than they had begun the first period and saw Sartain try a spectacular dipping effort from range early in the half but it went over the visitors bar and then seven minutes later Jamie Salmon curled a free kick over the bar.

But just before the hour mark Bowers were rewarded for their decent spell when Jamie Dicks sent a corner to the back post and into a posse of defenders on the line who made a mess of it and hacked into the corner of their own net.  Who got the final touch is anyone’s guess but it was definitely an own goal and Bowers had a slender advantage.

Egham tried to respond five minutes later when substitute Lewis Stead drilled a free kick from distance but this was saved by Chafer then up the other end Bowers had a great chance to possibly kill the visitors off when Knight saw a close range header saved by Ohman before the rebound was scrambled wide.

With thirteen minutes left a cross into the Bowers box saw Chafer fail to claim under pressure but Woods could only hook the loose ball wide and then two minutes later they went even closer when
substitute Brendan Matthews glanced a header over Chafer but onto the post and Bowers survived.

However they could survive only a minute longer as with ten minutes left the visitors found an equaliser as Woods got in and squared across goal to substitute Ryan De Battista who rammed home first time and set up a frantic final few minutes.

But neither side could find a winner as the game became rather fractious at times, and so it ended all square setting up a replay in Surrey next week.  Should be a tasty one that.

Full Time Bowers & Pitsea 1 Egham Town 1

Southend Manor 2 Enfield 1893 2

Essex Senior League, Wednesday 25th October 2017

A late Bayley Newell strike salvaged a point for hosts Southend Manor in their Essex Senior League encounter with Enfield 1893 at Southchurch Park.

Manor had the first attack in the fourth minute when they burst down the left and sent in a dangerous cross which was sliced just over their own bar by a visiting defender however in the 11th minute Enfield won a penalty after hosts skipper Lee Delf was adjudged to have handled inside the box, and Danny Jones converted the spot kick to give the visitors the lead.

Midway through the half Manor threatened when Delf sent a header back across goal before it was headed clear from goal but just before the half hour mark the hosts did level when after a corner from Jamie Brown caught out Michael Corderoy, the keeper managed to claw it out only for full back Alfie Lindfield to blast the loose ball over the line.

However just moments later Enfield almost went back in front but Mullins saw his effort saved by David Leader but nine minutes before the break Enfield did go back in front when a through ball found Jones who finished confidently beyond Leader for his second of the contest.

Manor pressed hard for a leveller before half time and three minutes before it saw some superb play from Brown give himself a sight of goal but his finish was wild and miles off target.

And just before the break the hosts threatened twice more when a Brown cross hit Jacob Cleaver and ended up in Corderoys hands, and then Newell found himself in on goal but saw Corderoy save meaning the visitors held a slender lead at the break.

Half Time Southend Manor 1 Enfield 1893 2

Eight minutes into the second half Enfield should really have gone further ahead when the ball dropped to Jones in a great position but he could only blast his effort over the bar.

And three minutes later the hosts should of levelled as a brilliant ball into the box saw Newell miscontrol, however Robbie Norris picked up the loose ball but could only lift his effort over.

Manor attacked again just past the hour mark and saw full back Lindfield in down the left, however his effort was saved by Corderoy, before a sloppy pass in midfield by Manor saw Ben Bradbury intercept, but his long range effort flew way off target.

I’m the 68th minute the visitors went close to a third when Mullings turned his marker and fired a cross come shot across the six yard box but moments later the hosts were fuming after Newell tussled with a defender going through on goal but the referee adjudged there was no foul, and Cleaver and Lindfield were booked for their protests.

With fifteen minutes remaining Jones burst forward for the visitors but saw his effort at goal saved by Leader and in the 89th minute as Manor piled on the pressure the visitors caught them on the break and should of sealed the points but after Carl Mullings had been put clear, he could only fire straight at Leader, then their next break out saw a ball fly just wide of the far post.

Corderoy then had to come and snuff out a hosts effort as the game entered stoppage time but two minutes into it Manor finally found an equaliser when a ball into the box by late substitute Rhys Fatt fell to Newell who rifled home via keeper Corderoy’s hands and snatch a point for the hosts.

Full Time Southend Manor 2 Enfield 1893 2

Bowers & Pitsea 2 Dereham Town 2

Buildbase FA Trophy Preliminary Round, Saturday 7th October 2017

My FA Trophy trail for this season began at the Len Salmon Stadium in Pitsea, Essex, for Bowers & Pitsea vs Dereham Town in an all Bostick North Preliminary Round tie.

Both teams had started their league seasons well and sat third and fifth respectively so a close battle was expected.

It was the hosts who saw the first opening on three minutes as Knight got the other side of the visitors back line but saw the defence recover to make a last ditch tackle to thwart him, although he wanted a penalty claiming he had been fouled.

On ten minutes Knight hit an effort straight at Dereham keeper Pride after a cutback from Ashman then moments later Dereham hit the bar after going up the other end, it was a big let off for the hosts.

On the quarter hour mark Crisp diverted a cross just over the Bowers bar as the visitors went close again but five minutes later the hosts went close when a great Bowers move ended with the ball finding Tony Stokes in the middle, but he got his feet in a tangle and saw the chance wasted, before Bowers got in again but saw Pride save the effort.

The resulting corner saw Nyanja receive the ball in a decent position inside the box however he could only sky his effort well over the bar and in the 28th minute another hosts corner saw centre half Martyn Stokes send a free header at the back post well over.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure and with seven minutes of the half remaining were almost gifted the lead when a poor header back by the visitors went straight to Knight, and he rounded Pride but couldn’t get his shot away from a tight angle, and from the corner Martyn Stokes struck an effort off the bar and over.

It meant the half ended goalless, a half Bowers should of been two of three goals in front, however Dereham were still in the tie.

Half Time Bowers & Pitsea 0 Dereham Town 0

Bowers continued to pressure Dereham at the start of the second period and four minutes into it forced an error in the back line which was pounced on by Tony Stokes who dinked an effort over Pride and into the net and the hosts had finally broke though.

On the hour mark another great Bowers move ended with a Sartain effort pushed away by Pride as they looked for a second and a more comfortable position in this tie.

However the visitors exploded into life and levelled on 62 minutes as a ball played into Logan saw him lift an effort beyond Chaffer and suddenly we were all square.

Three minutes later Logan fired a decent effort straight at Chaffer as the visitors tails were well and truly up after that goal, and midway through the half went close to taking the lead when the impressive Logan cut inside onto his left foot and smacked an effort off the bar.

But with just under twenty minutes left Dereham did grab the lead as centre half Ebbage got the faintest of touches to an inswinging free kick and divert the ball into the far corner and The Magpies were now in the driving seat.

Bowers should of wiped out that lead five minutes later though when Sartain got in for the hosts, but he clipped his effort wide of the far post. It had been another great chance for Bowers in a game where they had squandered many.

With eight minutes left Logan threatened again for visitors, driving across the box before hitting a right footed effort just wide of the near post, whilst both sides also had free headers at goal but both were wasted.

But just as the game reached the 90 minute mark Bowers were level as after Sartain had sent a terrific long range dipping effort against the bar, Tony Stokes was the only one to react and prodded the rebound over the line to earn the hosts a replay at Aldiss Park on Tuesday evening.

It should be another decent cup tie in Norfolk, and the winners host Egham Town in the next round.

Full Time Bowers & Pitsea 2 Dereham Town 2

Burnham Ramblers 4 Redbridge 3

Essex Senior League, Tuesday 17th October 2017

A Charlee Hughes hat-trick helped Burnham Ramblers end Redbridge’s long winning run with victory in a pulsating seven goal thriller at Leslie Field.

The hosts themselves came into this one having won their last two games, netting ten goals in the process, so were confident they could beat one of the big boys in the division.

However The Motorman are a decent side and the hosts would need to be on their metal to beat them but only 18 seconds into the contest the visitors took the lead when a ball over the full backs head saw Reside Coxi-Sebastfao run onto the ball and strike an effort against the bar, and Brian Moses was quickest to reach to ram the ball into the net.

It took the stunned hosts a few minutes to regather themselves and on five minutes saw a close range effort from William Howard palmed away by Greene, however the hosts managed to find a leveller in the 17th minute when a lovely ball behind the backline released Hughes in on goal and he fired beyond Lewis Greene to bring the hosts level.

And in the 27th minute the hosts had turned the match on it’s head when a ball into Julian Bavin saw him swivel and volley home a brilliant effort beyond Greene from the edge of the box and they should of made it three in the 32nd minute when Morgan nipped in behind the defence, rounded keeper Greene, but saw his close range effort somehow blocked on the line by centre half Jonathon Mbamarah.

However just two minutes later the hosts did increase their lead when a shot from Bavin was diverted into the corner by Hughes and the impressive hosts had a two goal cushion.

The stunned visitors, who had started the game so well, needed something before half time to get back into this contest and two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half found a lifeline when a Eljay Worrell free kick was headed home by Lindisipho Mtyanda as the visitors ended the half as they started. It had been a breathless half of football and it set up the second half nicely indeed.

Half Time Burnham Ramblers 3 Redbridge 2

The Motormen came out a team possessed in the second period and five minutes into it saw a Patrick Duggan free kick palmed away by hosts keeper Joshua Strizovic and then five minutes after that Worrell struck well wide after the ball had fallen to him inside the Ramblers box. The visitors were now well on top in this one.

Just past the hour mark another chance for Worrell, this time from close range, saw Ramblers keeper Strizovic save well from the full back, but midway through the half Redbridge finally found the leveller when Worrell played a free kick into Coxi-Sebastfao, and the winger duly smashed the ball beyond Strizovic and we were all square.

You felt there was only going to be one winner now and in the 69th minute Mtyanda got in down the left for the visitors but saw his drilled ball to the near post well saved by Strizovic and then six minutes later Mtyanda found himself free down the left again, but saw his ball across goal invade all and drift harmlessly away.

The hosts, who had barely got out of their half in the second period, had their first effort on goal in the second half in the 77th minute when Hughes diverted a header at goal but Redbridge keeper Greene made a fairly routine save, and three minutes later the hosts went close when a firm ball towards goal was deflected just past the post.

But moments afterwards the visitors should of gone in front when a loose ball dropped to Mtyanda inside the box, but the Redbridge forward somehow fired wide from point blank range, it was a golden chance, and in the 84th minute it was compounded when Burnham went back in front in spectacular fashion as Hughes sent a dipping shot over Greene from way out and unbelivably the hosts were in front.

The visitors threw men forward in search of another equaliser and in the 89th minute saw them miss another opportunity as a great cross found Moses unmarked in the middle, but he could only head wide, and then deep into stoppage time a Worrell free kick into the mixer saw Redbridge substitute Liam Thomas beat keeper Strizovic to the ball, but saw his header go over, and with that Redbridge’s chance of taking anything from the game as Burnham held on for a marvellous win.

Full Time Burnham Ramblers 4 Redbridge 3

Maidenhead United 2 Havant & Waterlooville 1

Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, Saturday 14th October 2017

So it was FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round day and I was over at York Road to see Maidenhead United and Havant & Waterlooville do battle for a place in the First Round Proper.

This was the hosts first encounter in this seasons FA Cup as being a Vanarama National League side (Step One) they receive a bye to this round.  For Havant this was their third tie after the Vanarama National South side (Step Two) entered at the Second Qualifying Round stage.

The hosts probably started as favourites in this one although it was the visitors who would of been happier of the two sides in a rather scrappy opening quarter hour but midway through the half the hosts struck when after Barratt had been fouled, he got back up and the referee played on and saw Barratt strike a terrific effort into the far corner beyond Young and give the hosts the advantage.

Three minutes later Havant came close to wiping out that lead when hosts keeper Pentney somehow kept out a Lewis close range header, and just past the hour mark Havant saw a Rose effort cleared off the line.

In the 34th minute the hosts broke forward and ended with a ball going across goal, then two minutes before half time Barratt’s pace took him beyond the Hawks back line but keeper Young managed to rush from his goal and thwart any danger.

And just before half time Clifton burst into the visitors area and put in a good ball that was hacked clear by the Hawks backline, and it meant the hosts had a slender lead at the break.

Half Time Maidenhead United 1 Havant & Waterlooville 0

The visitors probably felt unlucky to be behind at the break but four minutes into the second period found an equaliser when moments after Rose had seen another effort cleared off the line, Havant kept the pressure up and saw a loose ball drop to Prior who volleyed home and we were all square.

However Maidenhead so nearly restored the lead almost immediately when firstly Clifton headed over the Hawks bar and then secondly Barratt managed to get in but lifted his effort miles over the bar.

Just before the hour mark another good ball into the Hawks box saw hosts forward Clifton head wide of the near post and then on the hour mark came the closest to retaking the lead when Odametey thumped an extraordinary effort against the bar. It had been the hosts best spell of the game for sure.

But just past the hour mark Havant almost took the lead when a good move ended with the ball rolled into the path of Tarbuck, but his effort was well beaten away by Pentney for a corner, which was headed well wide in the end.

A rather scrappy period followed but as we approached the final few minutes you felt it was the hosts who were more intent on finding a winner as the visitors seemed happy to earn a replay and take Maidenhead back to the south coast on Tuesday.

With five minutes remaining Hawks keeper Young had to be alert to beat away a Pritchard effort from thirty yards out, but as we hit the ninety minute mark the board went up for three additional minutes, so three minutes for someone to find a winner.

And in the first of those minutes the hosts pounced to find that winner when Upward ran onto the ball and smashed a terrific effort across Young and into the far corner to spark scenes of joy amongst the home contingent.  It was a shame for Havant who had played so well throughout but had fallen late on.

Pritchard almost sealed it for the hosts when after bursting into the area could only loft an effort wide of the post, however the hosts saw it out to take their place in the First Round Proper draw on Monday evening.

Full Time Maidenhead United 2 Havant & Waterlooville 1