Burnham Ramblers 0 Benfleet 7

Eastern Senior League South, Tuesday 16th October 2018

Sam Dulieu netted a hat-trick for Benfleet as they hit seven at Leslie Field against a struggling Burnham Ramblers to go seventh in the Eastern Senior League South on Tuesday evening.

The hosts have had a largely tough season to date after their relegation from the Essex Senior League Premier Division last season, whilst Benfleet are starting to find their feet now after a slow start to their campaign.

The opening exchanges in this one saw Ramblers hook a close range effort over the bar whilst Fleet forced the home keeper into a decent save down to his right to keep the game goalless, but in the 12^th minute that changed when the visitors grabbed the lead as an attempted defensive header looped into the path of Dulieu and he slotted across the keeper and into the far corner.

And only seven minutes later it was two for Benfleet and two for Dulieu as he cut inside before seeing an effort deflect off a defender into the same bottom corner as before, and the visitors had taken a firm grip on this one already.

Ramblers top scorer Karl Swanborough then struck a decent effort wide of the Fleet goal, before the hosts then saw a close range header well saved as they attempted to get back into this contest, but just before the half hour mark it got worse for them as Fleet added a third when Leon Gordon volleyed into the ground and saw the ball bounce up and over the keeper and into the far corner.

It was becoming an embarrassing evening for the hosts and more so when in the 32^nd minute Fleet added a fourth goal when Dulieu volleyed towards goal but it was going wide until it hit Jack Unwin on the head and saw it divert into the top corner as a result, as everything was going right for the visitors and against the luckless hosts.

And four was to become five nine minutes before the break and what a goal it was, as Taylor Lawrence took aim from around thirty yards out and struck an unstoppable left footed effort into the top corner of the net for a sensational goal, and the visitors now had a five-goal cushion.

It had been a clinical display from Fleet whilst for Ramblers it had been a half to forget and they were in danger of been totally embarrassed in this one.

Half Time Burnham Ramblers 0 Benfleet 5

It didn’t take long for Benfleet to find their feet again in the second period as they added a sixth goal five minutes into the half when Unwin sent an effort at goal which the keeper parried up into the air but then saw the ball bounce into the far corner anyway, and he should have had his hat-trick after that but somehow guided a close range effort the wrong side of the post.

Ramblers then won a free-kick some way out but Swanbrough had a go anyway and saw the set-play dip just over the bar, whilst up the other end Gordon could only poke an effort wide of the post, but the half was certainly more competitive than the first one had been.

Unwin then had a chance to grab his treble once again but saw his effort saved, before another effort was saved before he ran onto the loose ball and sent it across the goal but saw no one able to get on the end of it, and then down the other end Ramblers almost netted a consolation goal but saw the danger eventually averted by the visiting defence and keeper.

With four minutes left though, Fleet made it seven as Dulieu got in and clipped a lovely finish over the keeper for his hat-trick and cap a memorable evening for the visitors, who are now level on points with fifth placed May & Baker.  For Ramblers it was another match to forget and they remain in 15^th after this one.

Full Time Burnham Ramblers 0 Benfleet 7