Harwich & Parkeston 1 Wormley Rovers 2

Eastern Senior League South Division, Saturday 29th September 2018

Wormley Rovers came from behind to net an 87^th minute winner, seeing off Harwich & Parkeston at The Royal Oak in Dovercourt to pick up their first league win of the season and also inflict the hosts first defeat at home in the league too.

Harwich came into this one with three wins and two draws at home so far this season, whilst Wormley were yet to pick up a win at all in their eight league games so far, although the hosts had lost last time out away at in form Hashtag United whilst the visitors had come into this off the back of two disappointing home defeats, so maybe they welcomed an away game.

But as I said Harwich are a much better side at home and had won their last three at The Royal Oak, and after ten minutes they had the lead in this one as a cut back saw the ball driven at goal and then helped on its way into the corner of the net, and you thought another home win was on the cards.

Wormley though responded well to going behind and almost got behind the home side defence after a brilliant defence splitting pass, and then saw an angled header go straight at the hosts keeper.

And as the half went on Wormley were having a lot of possession but were lacking conviction in the final third, and the hosts almost made them pay for this by almost doubling the lead when hesitation between keeper and defender allowed the hosts to nip in and score, but a hand had been used so the goal was chalked off.

Harwich then fired another effort wide but then came three decent openings for the visitors, firstly when a lofted effort was tipped wide, before the resulting corner was then volleyed inches wide, before a decent run into the box was blocked on route to goal as Harwich were hanging onto their lead.

Wormley squandered another two openings, one where they blasted over from close range, as the home side could consider themselves fortunate to still be ahead, but they twice nearly doubled their lead before the break as they ended the first half well, however the whistle came and Harwich did hold that slender lead still.

Half Time Harwich & Parkeston 1 Wormley Rovers 0

The opening quarter hour of the second period saw Harwich go close a couple of times, firing a free kick wide of the post before seeing an effort from an acute angle kept out by keeper and woodwork as the home side looked to double their advantage and take control of this contest.

But on the hour mark the visitors found a way though as after the keeper had made a save, the ball looped up and was headed back across goal for an easy close-range header by Davy Edmee, and the game was all square.

As the game entered the final quarter hour you felt both sides still had a chance to win this one, and the hosts had two great chances to edge in front again as they saw a brilliant long range effort thump against the underside of the bar before a headed rebound looped over, and then another long range effort was beaten away before the rebound was converted, only for the flag to have gone up for offside.

Down the other end and the visitors headed an effort into the side netting, before the hosts burst into the box but saw another effort saved, and then with three minutes of the ninety remaining Wormley won a penalty after a cross was handled, and although the keeper saved Kyle Head’s spot-kick, Head kept his, erm, Head to smash home the rebound, and the visitors had that lead.

Frustration was apparent to see amongst the hosts, and a show of dissent by one to the referee saw a straight red pulled from the pocket, meaning the hosts would finish the game with ten men. 

The visitors then had a chance to seal the points, but dragged wide, and then the hosts frustrations grew bigger still when they wanted a penalty after what they thought was a foul on them, however the referee deemed it the other way and gave a free-kick to the visitors, much too the dismay of the hosts.

And with the last kick of the game the hosts volleyed way way over the bar, with the whistle being blown before the ball had been retrieved, and the visitors had grabbed all three points in what was a very entertaining contest.  Harwich are eighth whilst Rovers are up to third from bottom and only a win or so away from the top ten, it’s tight down there!!

Full Time Harwich & Parkeston 1 Wormley Rovers 2

Redbridge 1 Woodford Town 3

Essex Senior League Premier Division, Friday 28th September 2018

Woodford Town are up to seventh after they put in a dominant performance to defeat Redbridge at Oakside and make it back to back league wins in two days.

The teams came into this one with nine points each and sitting next to each other in mid table so a tight yet exciting contest awaited us.  The hosts had come back from two goals down in their last league outing to win at Southend Manor whilst Woodford had thrashed Sporting at Mile End, so both were looking for back to back league wins to hoist themselves into the top ten.

Well from the off the visitors took it to their opponents and after nine minutes found the net when after keeper Lewis Green was caught out on the by line, a ball squared across goal saw Samir Ali who tapped home and give the Woodford boys an ideal start.

That ideal start became even better four minutes later when Ali turned provider, muscling his way into the box before squaring across to Taku Mashingaidze who converted into the net and Redbridge were already up against it.

A group of sixteen men who had flow over from Sweden were present to support the hosts, but even their chanting of ‘Motormen’ failed to galvanise the hosts, and in fact it was the Woodford Towners on the far side of the pitch who had the most to cheer as their side continued to dominate and really should have been further in front.

Ali went close a couple of times whilst Temi Babalola flashed a ball across the area but no one could get anything on it were some examples of the chances they had, and the only sight of goal the hosts mustered was a half-headed effort at the back post which looped up into the air and was easily caught by visiting keeper Alex Reed.

The visitors spurned further chances before the break and were almost made to pay for this when Calvin Poku had a sniff for the hosts but his effort was blocked near the goal line and it meant the visitors went into the break with a fairly comfortable two goal cushion.

Half Time Redbridge 0 Woodford Town 2

The expected second half onslaught from the Motormen never materialised if truth be told and the visitors were more than comfortable with their two-goal lead.

They did send a point-blank header straight at keeper Reed in what was their best chance of the game, however the visitors were still fairly comfortable, but then things got worse for the home side when skipper Vinny Murphy was given a straight red for a challenge on the far side, and it meant the Motormen had to try and find a way back into the contest with a man short.

This looked almost impossible with twelve minutes to go when Woodford bagged a clinching third as Babalola burst through the home sides defence and slotted beyond Green to spark celebrations between himself, his team mates and the bench, they were heading for a second brilliant away win in two evenings.

Redbridge though gave themselves faint hopes of a remarkable comeback when with seven minutes remaining Brian Kyunga struck a wonderful effort into the top corner from all of thirty yards for what was the best goal of the game, the visitors had gone close to adding a fourth either side of this goal as well but it was now a two-goal cushion heading into the final stages.

Redbridge saw an effort, that by the way was heading straight for the bottom corner, deflect just wide, before Reed had t punch the resulting corner away, but this was the closest the hosts came to making a game of it to be honest.

Woodford saw a couple of effort flash across goal in stoppage time as they looked to put the icing on the cake with a fourth, but it had been a brilliant performance from them and they took all three points against a Redbridge side who were just not at the races in this one.  The result leaves them in 12^th spot with the weekend fixtures to come.

Full Time Redbridge 1 Woodford Town 3

Horsham 4 Heybridge Swifts 3

The Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round, Saturday 22nd September 2018

Horsham came from behind twice to win an absolute classic Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie against Heybridge Swifts at The Sussex County FA Headquarters at Culver Road in Lancing.

It was a hard call to chose a winner between these two Step Four Bostick league sides, both sat 13^th in their respective divisions with six points and a minus two goal difference, so you could say it would be a tight contest.

Well the visitors certainly came out the better side early on and after Matthew Price and put an effort wide Swifts took the lead after just six minutes when a cut back into the path of George Craddock saw the midfielder side foot an effort at goal and see it take a deflection and beat keeper Josh Pelling and give the Essex side the ideal start.

Craddock then saw a goal-bound free-kick deflected over the bar, before things got even better for the visitors as they doubled their lead, although it was a poor poor goal for the hosts to concede, as keeper Pelling punched a cross onto Swifts defender Alejandro Seoane-Barber and the ball trickled back over the line for a two-goal lead for the visitors.

A shell-shocked hosts, who had not got out of the changing rooms as yet, suddenly found themselves back in the contest in the 19^th minute as Rob O’Toole nodded the ball back into the dangerzone and skipper Steve Metcalf stole in to nod the ball over keeper Danny Sambridge to reduce the arrears for the hosts.

This gave them belief and they were now the team on the front foot, and full back Joey Taylor fired a sweet left footed effort inches over the bar, and then they managed to bring themselves level just past the half hour mark as Joe Shelley sent a powerful header into the net from a corner, and the tie had completely changed.

Swifts keeper Sambridge then had to beat away a brilliant free-kick from Charlie Harris, and then make an excellent near post save from another Shelley header, as the hosts threatened to grab the lead before the break, but they didn’t and the contest went in level at the break although the hosts were certainly now in the ascendancy.

Half Time Horsham 2 Heybridge Swifts 2

The second half started as frantically as the first one, and saw Swifts have a decent effort blocked, before the hosts then saw a great chance brilliantly blocked wide for a corner.  Then came a moment of controversy when O’Toole went crashing to the deck inside the penalty area, and saw the linesman flagging away, however the referee chose to ignore his assistant and wave play on, much to the disgust of the hosts.

And the home side were even more disgusted just past the hour mark when Swifts managed to retake the lead in this epic cup tie, as Nicholas Brown drove towards the area and hit a shot which took a deflection and wrong-footed keeper Pelling who could not get to the ball and saw it end up in the bottom corner.

Horsham tried to respond again and saw Metcalf hit an angled drive straight at Sambridge, but a relative period of calm, if you could call it that, came and you started to think could the Swifts see this one out and end the tie the way they started it?

Well, no in a word, as with fifthteen minutes remaining Horsham levelled again as a ball across goal saw O’Toole convert from close range, and then down the other end Swifts were screaming for a spot-kick, but again the referee decided no and waved play on.

As the tie entered its final stages though Horsham began to take control again, and saw O’Toole somehow send a chance over the bar from a great position, before Chris Smith then screwed another great chance wide of the target, as Swifts were now clinging on.

But with seven minutes remaining the hosts managed to find that all important fourth goal as after Sambridge has saved a powerful effort, the ball came back out into the box and saw Smith react quickest to send the rebound beyond the Swifts keeper and send the hosts wild with delight as they now had a priceless lead for the first time in the contest.

Swifts afternoon got worse with two minutes left when second half substitute Luke Callander received a straight red, probably for something he said to the referee, meaning they would have to finish the game with ten men.

With Swifts now pushing forward in search of the leveller, Horsham had chances on the break to seal the deal, but saw a square ball cut out when two on one, and then saw Sambridge produce another decent save down to his right.

But Swifts never really looked like finding that equaliser and saw the hosts hear the final whistle and win one of the best games of football I’ve seen for some time.  A great cup tie so well played to both sides in awful conditions it has to be said.  Horsham now take their place in the Third Qualifying Round draw which will be made on Monday.

Full Time Horsham 4 Heybridge Swifts 3

Benfleet 2 Leyton Athletic 3

Essex Senior Cup Round Two, Wednesday 19th September 2018

A Dwade James hat-trick helped see Leyton Athletic get through to the Essex Senior Cup Third Round after edging out Benfleet at Park Lane.

The Eastern Senior South hosts had knocked out Newbury Forest at Oakside in the last round whilst Essex Senior League Premier Leyton Athletic had edged past Burnham Ramblers on penalties to set up this tie.

The visitors would have gone into the tie as slight favourites no doubt and they were the closest anyone came to scoring in a fairly even opening quarter hour when a long range effort deflected just wide of the upright.

But in the 17th minute the visitors did take the lead in what was a very soft goal for the hosts to concede when an effort from player boss Jason Ngandu saw the keeper spill the effort allowing James to pounce and prod the loose ball over the line.

James then went close to doubling the visitors lead when he saw a shot well saved, but the hosts were still well in the game and the contest was still a fairly even affair although the hosts had yet to really cause the visitors any problems.

That was to change though as the final exchanges of the half saw Benfleet create several openings, some examples when they cut inside and fired over and then a looping ball to the far post just invaded them, and another chance saw a brilliant double save from James Scammell in the Leyton goal.

The visitors did break down the right late on in the half but the cross was poor and it meant the Step Five visitors had a slender lead at the break although knowing they were very lucky to still have that lead.

Half Time Benfleet 0 Leyton Athletic 1

The second period began much like the first had ended, with the hosts on the front foot, and they passed up another couple of opportunities and you started to wonder if it would be their day.  You certainly felt they needed the next goal in this tie for it to continue to be a contest though.

But in the 64th minute they finally found a way through when defender Alfie Fletcher looped a brilliant header into the far corner of the net and grab a more than deserved equaliser in this one.  They really had been dominant since the latter stages of the first half.

The visitors then had a huge handball shout turned down at the other end, although it looked more like ball to hand if truth be told, before the hosts saw a decent effort brilliantly tipped over by Scammell who kept his side level in this one.

But with thirteen minutes remaining the visitors did get their noses in front as Ngandu and James combined again with the former's square ball across goal being tapped home by the big centre forward, and the Step Five outfit led again.

The lead only lasted for two minutes though as Benfleet roared back in style, squaring a ball across goal for Ben Ford to tap home from inside the six yard box, and the tie was back in the balance once again.

This tie though had one final twist, as after Ford had missed a golden chance to give Benfleet the lead, Leyton went up the other end and after Ngandu had driven at the penalty area he laid a ball into the path of James who fired a brilliant left footed effort into the far corner with eight minutes left, and the visitors had edged in front again.

Another hosts effort was again passed up, before Ngandu had the chance to seal the win but dragged wide, before Benfleet then headed another effort over the top.  And with the hosts pushing forward and leaving space for the visitors to attack, Leyton missed a couple of chances to add a fourth, but they did eventually hear the whistle and took a hard fought win in this one.

Benfleet will rue those missed chances no doubt, but they did themselves proud this evening, whilst fair play to Leyton Athletic for hanging in there at times and getting that victory, it was certainly an entertaining encounter indeed.


Full Time Benfleet 2 Leyton Athletic 3 

Enfield Borough 3 Sporting Bengal United 2

Buildbase FA Vase Second Qualifying Round, Sunday 16th September 2018

A Tage Kennedy brace helped Enfield Borough see off Sporting Bengal United at Summers Lane and progress into the First-Round Proper stage of the Buildbase FA Vase Competition.

The hosts had won five and drawn two of their seven league games in the Spartan South Midlands One whilst the visitors were unbeaten in their first three league games in the Essex Senior League Premier, one step above their opponents. 

Both had also recorded 6-0 home wins recently too and had also lost last time out, and with two pacey attacking sides on show here a decent game was expected.

Well the hosts settled quicker and lead after just four minutes when Kennedy managed to get in behind the defence to slot home emphatically and give the North London side the perfect start to this cup tie.

Bengal almost hit back immediately but saw a free-kick flick off the bar, and then the visitors then fired an effort wide of the near post as they looked to find a leveller.  The hosts though were still very dangerous too and flashed one across the box as they themselves looked to quickly double their advantage.

The hosts then went close a couple of times more before forcing Sporting keeper Cem Temur into a smart save to his right, whilst down the other end David Vaughan went down inside the hosts area but no penalty was forthcoming.

The dangerous Kennedy thought he had got in behind and put his side two goals ahead with another crisp finish, however the offside flag had gone up and chalked that effort off, but nine minutes before the break the hosts did double their lead when skipper Dervon Hurde let fly from long range and saw the ball end up in the bottom corner for only his second goal for the club.

Soon after this Sporting saw a free-kick well palmed away by hosts keeper Jonti Purdom, whilst down the other end Kennedy forced Temur into another save down to his right.  Sporting then saw a huge penalty shout turned down, much to the visitor’s disgust, and it meant a two-goal cushion for the hosts as the teams reached the half time break.

Half Time Enfield Borough 2 Sporting Bengal United 0

Sporting knew they had to score the next goal if they were to get anything out of this tie, and they began the half well and five minutes into it found that goal back when a free-kick floated into the box saw centre half Kamarl Duncan loop a header into the far corner of the net and it was game on as they say.

The visitors continued to be the better side in the opening exchanges of the half but despite this found themselves two goals behind once again in the 56^th minute when Kennedy found space inside the box to slot past Temur from close range and the hosts once again had some breathing space in this one.

Sporting continued to create openings but weak finishing let them down on more than one occasion, whilst the hosts were looking to put the tie to bed and saw one effort blocked whilst another close-range effort was somehow deflected wide, but it remained 3-1 to the home side.

Sporting then dragged a free-kick wide whilst the hosts sent a ball across the goal-line but with no one able to get to it saw the ball roll away from danger, and the home side still held that two goal lead going into the latter stages of the contest.

Then came a crazy ending to the game which saw Codey Cameron get in for the visitors down the right and his deft lob saw keeper Purdom tip the effort onto the post, and then see one of his defenders play the ball back to him and the keeper claimed the ball ahead of the striker and a back pass was awarded three yards from goal.

In the aftermath Borough’s Brian Tshibangu was shown a second yellow so was dismissed, and then the visitors totally messed up the indirect free-kick and the chance was gone.  Sporting though did then win a spot kick moments later, which Yasir Rashid converted, but it was too little to late for the visitors and it meant Borough held on to progress into the next round and see Step Six defeat Step Five once again.

Full Time Enfield Borough 3 Sporting Bengal United 2

Saffron Walden Town 1 May & Baker 4

Buildbase FA Vase Second Qualifying Round, Saturday 15th September 2018

Goals from Reece Tranter, Craig Hall, Dan Gilchrist and Tom Harvey saw May & Baker stun Saffron Walden Town at Catons Lane to progress through to the First Round Proper of the Buildbase FA Vase.

Walden came into this one as favourites for the tie after their decent start to life in the Essex Senior League Premier Division and with the one step advantage to visitors May & Baker, who are now in the Eastern Senior League South Division, felt they should be able to defeat their opponents.

The two sides did meet in the County Cup here at Catons Lane earlier this season and saw Walden come out on top with a very entertaining 4-3 win, so knew that their opponents would no doubt push them in this one, and with Bakers netting eight in their previous Vase tie knew that attacking wish the visitors would be lively.

The opening fifteen minutes were rather subdued to be honest although both sides did see a chance each early on, but the deadlock was broken just before the half hour mark when Ashley Skeggs attempted to head back a bouncing ball to keeper Neil O’Sullivan but totally miscued his header and saw Tranter run onto it and eventually rolled the ball into the net after it had ricocheted off the home side’s keeper and the visitors had the lead.

Walden had just not been at the races for some reason, maybe suffering a hangover from their cup replay against St Ives Town in midweek, and although they created a couple of openings towards the end of the half, May & Baker would have been very happy with their work so far and went into the break a goal ahead.

Half Time Saffron Walden Town 0 May & Baker 1

It wasn’t long before May & Baker’s afternoon got even better when they doubled their lead five minutes into the second period when Craig Hall glanced home a cross from the left and the visitors were certainly causing some surprise amongst the home fans who had gathered for this one.

Walden tried to get themselves back into this contest but the visitors were creating the better moments in attack and saw a Gilchrist effort well saved by O’Sullivan before the same keeper then made a mess of a long-range effort but luckily had a defender behind him to clear off the line and prevent the visitors from netting a clinching third.

But in the 66^th minute Bakers did find that third goal when after Tranter had seen a downward header brilliantly saved by O’Sullivan, Gilchrist received the ball outside the box and he took a touch before firing a terrific effort beyond O’Sullivan into the far corner for a wonderful goal and almost certainly a game clincher for the visitors.

A stunned hosts saw Craig Calver and Lewis Francis go close, before Charlie Portway thumped an effort off the underside of the crossbar as Walden looked to try and mount some sort of late pressure on their opponents, whilst Baker substitute Luke Dickins almost put the tie completely to bed down the other end too when he almost caught keeper O’Sullivan out, but the keeper got back to field the ball.

And with ten minutes remaining the hosts found a goal back and give the visitors something to think about when Portway managed to beat the offside trap to be all alone inside the area and thump a powerful effort into the roof of the net, and suddenly Walden believed they could pull off a miracle comeback perhaps?

And just a few minutes later they so nearly found a second goal which would have set up a grandstand finish but Francis could only volley over from inside the box and miss the chance to really ramp up the pressure on the visitors.

With two minutes remaining Bakers did finally put this tie to bed when they netted a fourth goal as a ball laid back to Harvey saw him side foot an effort inside the near post and seal an impressive win for the Step Six outfit in a Step Five opponents’ own backyard.

Full Time Saffron Walden Town 1 May & Baker 4  

Southend Manor 2 Ilford 2 (Southend Manor won 3-0 on penalties)

Essex Senior Cup Second Round, Wednesday 12th September 2018

Southend Manor fought back from two goals down at the break to eventually edge out Ilford on penalties to progress through to the Third Round of the Essex Senior Cup.

The hosts had hit Halstead Town for five in the previous round whilst Ilford scored an impressive win at Walthamstow to get to this stage, but it was the visitors who made the better start in this one.

And they took the lead after just three minutes when Lion Docaj sent a wonderful looping effort over hosts keeper Connor Pearce and into the far top corner of the underside of the bar, and give Ilford the perfect start in this one.

The next fifteen minutes or so saw Manor come close when an effort was flashed across goal, whilst the Foxes themselves had decent chances to double their lead, seeing an effort blocked and also a follow up cross headed just wide of the post.

But in the 27th minute the visitors did double their money when after Yasseir Nazor had struck an effort against the bar, the loose ball was turned back across goal and saw David Oyeleku convert from inside the box, and the visitors were looking comfortable.

The hosts did create a chance when Nathan Dewberry almost converted a close range header, whilst Nazor saw a cross cum shot glance of the bar, but six minutes before half time Nazor won a penalty after he was fouled inside the box, but his spot kick sailed over the bar and the deficit remained two.

The hosts tried to find a goal back late in the half but saw an effort off the line before a cross to the far post was put wide, and it meant the visitors went into the break with a two goal cushion.

Half Time Southend Manor 0 Ilford 2

The early exchanges of the second period saw Ilford go close on a couple of occasions, firstly when a Manor defender sliced an effort over his own bar and then secondly when the visitors burst through but saw a great tackle thwart them, whilst down the other end second half substitute Rhys Fatt saw an effort deflected onto the bar.

Just before the hour mark though Manor got themselves right back into the contest when after Dewberry was fouled side the box, skipper Lewis Sparrow converted the spot-kick and saw the deficit halved.

And then just two minutes later Manor were level as after Mohamed Kargbo had driven to the edge of the box,  he laid the ball into the path of Dewberry who fired an effort into the net, and just like that Ilford's lead had been wiped out.

Both sides flashed efforts wide thereafter it what was a terrific cup tie, and both went for it in the final stages of the contest but neither could find that illusive winner meaning the tie would go to penalties.

It was to be a shoot-out the visitors would forget as they saw their first one saved by Pearce and their next two sent sailing over the bar.  And with Manor converting all three of their spot kick's it meant the hosts went through to the next round of the competition to complete the comeback.


Full Time Southend Manor 2 Ilford 2 (Southend Manor won 3-0 on penalties)