Sunday 15 July 2018

White Ensign 1 Basildon United 2

Pre-Season Friendly, Saturday 14th July 2018


New signing Eljay Worrell netted an early second half free-kick to help Basildon United win their latest pre-season friendly as they defeated local rivals White Ensign at Len Forge.

On another hot day the hosts, who have now entered senior status after being accepted into the new step six Eastern Senior League South Division, were looking to build on their superb win at Great Wakering Rovers two days before, however they were up against newly promoted Basildon United who will be in the Bostick North Division for the coming season, who had also netted a good win against Stansted two days prior to this.

The Bees were the first to have an opening as another new arrival, Brian Moses, charged past an Ensign defender as if he wasn’t there, but his effort was blocked before a follow up effort was cleared off the line by the hosts, before the visitors then fired wide from long range, this after Ensign had got in down the right but saw their cross cleared.

And then in the 17th minute saw a huge chance for the hosts when a poor goal kick from the Bees keeper found an Ensign player who played the ball to a teammate who turned and lofted an effort against the bar, before the follow up was blocked, and the chance had gone.

The Bees then dragged an effort wide two minutes later, and this game was being played at a fairly decent tempo as both sides looked to get their noses in front.  Just beyond the half hour mark Ensign almost got in until a last-ditch tackle thwarted them, but the step six hosts were more than holding their own against their step four opponents.

They nearly gifted Basildon the lead twice in the coming minutes though, firstly in the 34th minute when a poor clearance allowed the visitors in but the effort was deflected wide, before two minutes later Kendall was presented with the ball by poor Ensign defending but the effort was dragged horribly wide.

And then six minutes before the break Ensign broke the deadlock when a ball through saw Liam Sewell run onto it and he coolly slotted home and the hosts led, although the lead lasted two minutes as the visitors levelled thanks to a great long-range effort giving the hosts keeper no chance whatsoever.

The Bees saw Moses hit an effort straight at the keeper and also see Kendall head over an Asamoah cross right on half time, but this good competitive friendly reached the break all square.

Half Time White Ensign 1 Basildon United 1

The Bees began the second half well and should have taken the lead five minutes into it when Remi Nelson, another new addition for the Bostick side, head an effort against the post before somehow blasting the rebound wide, but a minute later they did lead when Worrell curled home a brilliant free-kick and the Bees had turned this one around.

Ensign’s first opening of the second period didn’t arrive until the hour mark but it was a poor side footed effort which was easy for the keeper, before Moses went close for the Bees but saw his effort deflected into the side netting, which cued a mass change of personnel from the visitors, who changed most of their eleven as well as their kit!!!

Ensign almost netted an equaliser in the 69th minute but saw their effort tipped wide, and then with thirteen minutes left a good run from Bees winger Jamie Brown, who used to play for Ensign, set up Marcus Bowers but his effort was always rising and it flew over the bar.

With six minutes left Ensign tried an effort from long range which almost caught out the keeper, but it was the visitors who edged this one to make it another win in pre-season.  A very enjoyable game though and lost of positives for both sides to take from this one.

Full Time White Ensign 1 Basildon United 2 









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