Tower Hamlets 0 Walthamstow 2

Essex Senior League Premier Division, Saturday 24th November 2018

Early second half strikes from Craig Pope and Matt Brinklow were enough for Walthamstow to get back to winning ways by defeating Tower Hamlets at Mile End and inflict the hosts second home defeat in less than a week in the ESL Premier Division.

The home side had lost at home to Enfield on Monday night but prior to that had beaten Sawbridgeworth Town in the cup before pulling off a stunning win at Stansted in the league last weekend, whilst for Walthamstow they suffered a rare defeat at home to Woodford Town last time out, so wanted to quickly bounce back from that.

The hosts were to have the first opening of the game, and it came early on when Luke With sent Ijah Currie-Williams clear and with Stow keeper Danny Sambridge off his line the Hamlets attacker sent a lofted effort crashing against the bar and the visitors survived that early scare.

James Peagram then had a decent opening for the visitors but saw his effort go straight at home keeper Jordan Stanbury, and then they saw another effort flash wide from range in what was a fast start at Mile End, but it did remain goalless.

Hamlets did then have the ball in the net but the flag had gone up for offside meaning Currie-Williams saw his effort chalked off, before a brilliant overhead kick from With saw Sambridge tip over smartly to keep the score level.

Stow finished the half well and saw a ball dangerously deflected across the goal, before a close-range header was sent over the top, but the half did end goalless with all to play for still.

Half Time Tower Hamlets 0 Walthamstow 0

Stow began the second period as they started the first and three minutes into it they got their noses in front when a ball to the far post eventually dropped to Pope who stretched to send an effort beyond Stanbury.

And just five minutes later Stow doubled their advantage when Brinklow shifted onto his left foot before firing a brilliant effort from outside the box into the top corner giving Stanbury no chance at all and the visitors suddenly had a two-goal cushion to savour.

Hamlets tried to respond and fired wide of the far post but the visitors were holding firm and making it difficult for their opponents, and when an opportunity did come along, the visiting defence brilliantly blocked the effort.

As the game entered its final quarter Hamlets felt they should have had a penalty when claiming a foul inside the box, but the referee waved away their claims and you felt it just wasn’t their day in this one.

Hamlet’s fired a free kick at goal which was flicked over by Sambridge, before another long-range effort from the hosts flew off target, whilst down the other end the visitors nearly sneaked in at the back post although the flag had gone up anyway so it would not have counted had they converted.

The remainder of the contest passed without incident meaning those early second half strikes were enough for Stow to take the points, meaning sixth place for the visitors and thirteen points off the leaders with two games in hand, whilst Hamlets sink back into the bottom three.

Full Time Tower Hamlets 0 Walthamstow 2

England 2 Croatia 1

UEFA Nations League Group A4, Sunday 18th November 2018

England netted twice in the last twelve minutes to turn what looked like relegation from the elite group around to qualification to the finals of the inaugural UEFA Nations League and relegate opponents Croatia into Group B as a result.

Group A4 had certainly thrown up it’s drama so far and this was the final showdown in that Group with all results still possible as all three sides, Spain, England and Croatia could all still win the group and make next summer’s finals in Portugal.

Spain, who were hoping for a draw in this one to see them qualify, had began this group with two wins from two, however two losses then followed meaning a win for either England or Croatia would send them through whilst the losers would be relegated to the B group. 

It certainly all pointed to a tense and exciting afternoon at Wembley in the November sunshine and after the hosts had almost gifted the lead to the visitors inside two minutes, the hosts started to dominate proceedings.

The Croats were struggling to deal with the pace and directness of Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling, and the hosts were guilty of missing some guilt edged chances.  Sterling saw a one on one chance saved, before Harry Kane made a mess of a chance at the back post when totally unmarked, and Kane again saw a shot at goal blocked on the line by a defender after the keeper was left in no man’s land.

But for all of England’s attacking threat you always knew the Croatian side could cause problems, although they didn’t really test Jordan Pickford too much in the first half, with any efforts they had going off target, although just before the half time whistle a floated ball into the home box just invaded Perisic, in what was a warning to the hosts not to rest on their laurels.

So the half ended goalless, meaning it was as you were, with Spain through to the finals as group winners, England finishing second and Croatia facing relegation to Group B.  But there was a long way still to go as they say.

Half Time England 0 Croatia 0

So forty five minutes to decide this group, who would blink first?  Well just before the hour mark Croatia struck a major blow when Andrej Kramaric received the ball inside the box, twisted and turned and then sent a curling effort which took a nick off Eric Dier and beyond Pickford into the corner of the net, and suddenly Croatia were in the driving seat and England were now facing the drop.

The goal gave the visitors a boost for sure and you could sense the nervousness inside the stadium as Croatia threatened a second goal, but this did not arrive and England remained in the contest but knew they needed to find at least one goal to save their Group A status.

But it looked as though the hosts would find it very difficult to do this as the visitors had set up very well defensively and looked to counter at any opportunity and Gareth Southgate decided a change was necessary and brought on Jesse Lingard and Jadon Sancho to try and get the attacking flair back into the side.

This young England side now had to show some character, and boy did they do just that, as with twelve minutes remaining Kane stretched to squeeze an effort under keeper Kalinic’s body, and as the ball trickled towards the goal., Lingard was on hand to side foot into the empty net from a yard out and bring the Three Lions level.

It now meant we were back to square one again, with Spain now in the driving seat, so the final ten minutes would certainly be interesting to say the least.

Croatia then so nearly went back in front moments later though but Lingard turned defender to clear off the line and deny the visitors what could have been a massive blow to the hosts, just moments after they had got back on level terms.

But England poured forward again in search of that winner and with five minutes remaining found it when skipper Kane, who else, slid in to convert Ben Chillwell’s free-kick in off the post and send the home players and fans wild with delight, and it meant that England will take their place alongside Portugal and Switzerland in June’s UEFA Nations League finals with one spot still to be filled by either World Champions France or Netherlands.

It also means the Three Lions are guaranteed a EURO 2020 play off spot as well after reaching the finals, whilst defeat for Croatia means they are relegated to Group B along with Germany, Iceland and Poland.  A dramatic finish then, and the new look England continue to make strides to being one of the very best in the world.  Exciting times indeed!!!

Full Time England 2 Croatia 1

England 3 USA 0

International Friendly (Wayne Rooney Foundation Match), Thursday 15th November 2018

Goals from Jesse Lingard, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Callum Wilson saw the Three Lions to a fairly comfortable victory over the USA at Wembley Stadium on a night where the country paid their respects to Wayne Rooney in what was his farewell performance for his country.

This was also a friendly to help raise money for the Wayne Rooney Foundation so a great cause and a worthy charity to raise money for, and it was also fitting that his final game for England would be against the Americans considering the success he is now having out their with DC United in the States capital.

It was also a very important warm up game for the big one on Sunday against Croatia at Wembley in the final UEFA Nations League Group match, which we now know sees the winners take all and progress into the final stages of the competition, so Gareth Southgate took this chance to field some players who were on the fringes or coming back from spells out.

The much-changed team were soon into their stride and had much zip and enthusiasm about them and were soon causing the visitors problems with their pace and power, and you thought it would only be a matter of time before they broke the deadlock, however this didn’t arrive in the opening twenty minutes.

And in fact, it was the US who so nearly broke the deadlock when going clean through but Jordan Pickford made a brilliant stop to deny them, and kept the scoreline at 0-0.

The hosts then struck a double blow midway through the half to take control of the contest, firstly when Lingard received a pass from Deli Alli before curling a wonderful effort beyond Brad Guzan into the far corner of the net, and then secondly when Alexander-Arnold ran onto a through ball to fire an unstoppable effort into the far corner to double the Three Lions lead.

The hosts were now purring and threatened to overrun their opponents, but fair play to the Americans who did whether the storm eventually but these England players certainly showed that they have what it takes to play at the highest level as they reached the break two goals to the good.

Half Time England 2 USA 0

The early exchanges of the second half saw the visitors with a bit more of the ball than they had had in the early part of the first half, although England still looked threatening when in possession, and in the 58^th minute came the moment everyone had been waiting for, the introduction of Rooney for this 120^th and final cap for his country.

The cheer when he came on sent shivers down your spines, and I’m sure he must of felt amazing having that much love and support from a crowd he had wowed for 15 years as an international, but he also had an important half an hour or so to play and help out the youngsters around him.

Both teams had openings in the second period but could not find that goal, but the hosts always looked in control and did make it three inside the final fifteen minutes when Wilson got ahead of his marker to steer an effort beyond Guzan and in off the post to cap a memorable evening for the Three Lions.

Rooney showed class touches in his final appearance and played well, but all we wanted was a Rooney goal, and it so nearly came on a couple of occasions, one when he shifted onto his right before hitting an effort which Guzan saved, and then another when stretching to try and divert a ball across goal but couldn’t quite get there.

So alas it wasn’t to be for Rooney, but he had certainly bowed out with his head held high, whilst for this England team the squad looks healthy now and are certainly moving in the right direction.  Croatia awaits us on Sunday in what promises to be one hell of a showdown, can’t wait!!!

Full Time England 3 USA 0

Little Oakley 1 White Ensign 2

Eastern Senior League South Division, Saturday 10th November 2018

Centre half Andy George netted a stoppage time winner to see White Ensign to all three points at The War Memorial Ground against Little Oakley, sending the Southend side top of the Eastern Senior League South on goal difference in the process.

The hosts were under the stewardship of new boss Matt Carmichael for the very first time and were hoping this would breathe new life and impetus into their side after going five league games without victory after beginning the season well, but they were up against a good Ensign outfit who sat second and knew a victory could take them top on goal difference.

The opening fifteen minutes brought little in the way of quality and goalmouth action, and the closest anyone came to scoring was when a visitor’s cross was almost converted by a host’s defender who in trying to clear the cross sliced it over his own bar.

Ensign then flashed a decent effort across the Oakley six yard box as they looked to get their noses in front, but it was the hosts who did just that in the 19^th minute when a long throw into the box caused chaos inside the visitors backline, and after the ball had been headed against the post, Rodger was there to volley home from close range and put his side into the lead.

Oakley then saw a ball cleared off the line after visiting keeper Parkins caught the ball but then on the way down dropped it onto the head of an opposing player and saw the ball bounce towards goal before being cleared, and then skipper Limber almost netted an own goal after his header nearly beat his keeper Parkins who managed to claim the ball.

After this though the remainder of the half certainly belonged to Ensign, and after they saw another decent ball into the dangerzone invade all, player-boss Munyard should levelled but saw his point-blank effort brilliantly saved by hosts keeper Joyce.

The visitors continued to knock on the door and saw Joyce punch clear a dangerous free-kick before Locke saw a downward header saved by the home keeper to keep his side ahead.  And three or so minutes before the break Ensign saw centre half George thump a free header straight at Joyce as Oakley made it to the break a goal to the good.

Half Time Little Oakley 1 White Ensign 0

The early exchanges of the second period saw Mayhew run onto a flick on but fire into the Ensign side netting before the hosts attacked again and almost got on the end of a brilliant cross but see visiting keeper Parkins get there in the nick of time to clear the danger, whilst down the other end the visitors headed wide.

Oakley again threatened and saw Rodger loop a header just over the visitor’s bar before Mayhew burst in down the right but before he could pull the trigger saw a recovery tackle from the visitors to thwart him.  Ensign then went down the other end but again missed the target as they saw a header go way over, but it was a good battle this one.

But in the 69^th minute Ensign found an equaliser when centre half George rose to send a powerful header in off the bar and set up the final twenty minutes perfectly.  The hosts almost re-took the lead when a decent header was pushed away by keeper Parkins, and the resulting corner was headed wide as Ensign managed to remain level in this contest.

So could anyone find a winner?  Well Oakley so nearly found one it seemed at the time when substitute Eggericks went clean through on goal and with keeper Parkins stranded out of goal, the striker someone sent his lobbed effort wide of the post and Ensign breathed a sigh of relief.

And then Ensign thought they had blown the chance to win it when McWee headed against the bar from point blank range, and it looked as though it would end all square, that was until deep deep into added on time when George got across his marker to glance home a header into the far corner and win the game for the visitors with the last kick of the contest.

Full Time Little Oakley 1 White Ensign 2

Haringey Borough 0 AFC Wimbledon 1

Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper, Friday 9th November 2018

A 90^th minute strike from Mitch Pinnock denied Haringey Borough a well-earned replay as AFC Wimbledon took a last-gasp Emirates FA Cup victory at Coles Park to move into the Second Round Proper of the competition.

This was the hosts biggest game in their history after they had seen off Stanway Rovers, Brentwood Town, Erith Town, AFC Sudbury and then Poole Town last time out to reach the First Round Proper for the very first time, and they had a home tie with AFC Wimbledon from League One, four leagues higher, on the Beeb on a wet Friday evening in North London.

And a record crowd of 2,710 packed into Coles Park for this one and most of them had high hopes of a big cup upset.  And with the visitors second bottom in League One and only three league wins all season maybe it could be possible?  The visitors had come into this one off the back of a good 4-0 win in the Checkatrade Trophy tie though so this may have boosted their confidence a bit.

The visitors certainly started the better and saw a tame header from Joe Pigott and then a shot from Wagstaff go wide in the first ten minutes as you felt the Bostick Premier hosts were trying to adapt to the extra zip and pace of the League One visitors, and on 21 minutes Anthony Hartigan blasted narrowly wide for the visitors.

Terrell Thomas then headed over a Dons corner three minutes later but the hosts were now beginning to settle into the tie and went close just before the half hour mark but Michael O’Donoghue saw his angled effort fly inches over the bar as the big crowd inside the ground got very excited.

Two minutes later and it was Haringey Keeper Valery Pajetat who was almost caught out from a cross, having to backtrack to claw it away from under his bar, and ten minutes before half time the visitors came very close to opening the scoring when Pinnock saw his free-kick skim off the bar.

Late on in the half Pigott sliced wide for the Dons, whilst up the other end Boro were screaming for a penalty but these were waved away, and then Purrington fired straight at Pajetat in the Boro goal and it meant the game reached its halfway stage goalless and with the underdogs still very much in this tie.

Half Time Haringey Borough 0 AFC Wimbledon 0

The visitors almost netted three minutes into the second period when Pigott headed a Pinnock cross just wide, whilst minutes later the hosts looked to break on their opponents but Deji Oshilaja managed to intercept in the nick of time to save the League One side.

It was a much more even half though you felt in terms of possession and general play, but the visitors almost netted in comical circumstances when a Pinnock cross caught the wind and diverted onto the hosts bar before going over, and then two minutes later Kwesi Appiah played in Toby Sibbick but the right-back had his shot saved by Pajetat in the hosts goal.

The hosts then attacked in the 71^st minute and a ball through saw them fire home into the roof of the net, sending the home fans wild, but the flag had gone up and to be honest it was at least five yards offside so the correct decision, but it certainly pumped more belief into the hosts that they could possibly get something from this.

Pinnock then saw an effort saved by Pajetat, before the hosts attacked through Nouble but as he was about to shoot fell over teammate Ademiluyi in what was another comical moment and had a few of us laughing in the crowd.  On a serious note though it was a decent opening wasted by the hosts.

With five minutes left Tom Soares saw a good effort well saved by Pajetat from long range, as the hosts continued to frustrate their Football League opponents, however as the clock ticked into the 90^th minute heartbreak for the hosts as the Dons finally found a way past Pajetat in the Boro goal as Pinnock saw his left footed effort deflect beyond the keeper and into the net.

The hosts could not find that heroic leveller to earn a replay, and it meant the visitors went through to the next round.  But whatever the result Haringey Borough are the winners here, earning plenty of money along the way as well as plaudits and fans, and no doubt anyone who hadn’t heard of the club before would of sure done now, what a journey for them, and what an effort they gave, well done!!!

Full Time Haringey Borough 0 AFC Wimbledon 1

May & Baker 0 Swaffham Town 1

Buildbase FA Vase Second Round Proper, Sunday 4th November 2018

A stoppage time winner from substitute Luke Reed saw Swaffham Town defeat May & Baker at Barking Rugby Club to progress through to the Third Round Proper of the Buildbase FA Vase, setting up a home tie with Stowmarket Town at the start of December.

Both sides came into this one fourth in their respective divisions, the hosts in the Eastern Senior League South whilst the visitors were in the North section of that league, so there wasn’t a lot to chose between the sides. 

May & Baker had played a game more to reach this stage though, defeating Burnham Ramblers, Saffron Walden and then North Greenford United, whilst Swaffham had dispatched Framlingham Town and Haverhill Borough to set up this tie.

The hosts then had certainly had the tougher route you could say, and the sides league form leading into this game was very different too, with the hosts having picked up nine points in a week having won three straight, whilst the Norfolk side hadn’t won in three with two draws, and us so called experts felt the hosts were slight favourites going into this tie.

The opening fifteen minutes saw the hosts have the best chance by far when centre half Sam Dickens struck a dipping effort from outside the box onto the top of the bar, and the following period of play saw Baker’s keeper Michael Gooch punch away a decent corner, before the visitors then sent in a dangerous set-play which just invaded all at the far post.

It had been far from a classic though as both sides struggled to really get going, but late on in the half both teams had chances, the visitors seeing a Matthew Gilchrist effort blocked at the back post, and then the hosts went even closer when Kiel Chandler got in but saw his effort brilliantly tipped over by Swaffham keeper Tommy Rix.

It meant the teams went into the break level and with much to think about in their respective changing rooms.

Half Time May & Baker 0 Swaffham Town 0

Baker’s had two terrific chances early on in the second period as they looked to take control of this tie, and they both fell to Connor Okus, firstly when he managed to get through the Swaffham back line before seeing his effort brilliantly saved by Rix, and then moments after a cross to the back post was nodded wide by the midfielder, and left everyone on the hosts side with hands on heads.

But just like the first half chances were few and far between, and any chances that were being created by the hosts as they saw a dangerous cross flicked wide of the far post by a defender, but it looked likely that the game would end up in extra time.

Swaffham, who had not created anything of note in the entire second period so nearly netted with two minutes of the ninety remaining when a ball across to Joe Jackson saw him someone slice wide from point blank range, and May & Baker could breathe a sigh of relief.

Sadly for them they did not heed the warning, as in the 91^st minute Swaffham attacked again and saw the ball fall into the path of substitute Reed who side footed home to send his side into the next round of the competition and end Baker’s marvellous run in this season's Vase.

Full Time May & Baker 0 Swaffham Town 1

Buckhurst Hill 2 Great Baddow 1

Essex Premier Cup Second Round, Saturday 3rd November 2018

Hosts Buckhurst Hill netted inside the final twenty minutes to defeat Great Baddow for the second weekend in succession at Roding Lane to reach the Third Round of the Essex Premier Cup, setting up a home tie with Sungate in three weeks’ time.

The two had met last weekend in an Essex Olympian Premier Division clash and the hosts had ran out 1-0 winners in that thanks to a late goal to continue their brilliant start to the season as they continue to lead the way in the division, whilst Baddow are languishing in the lower reaches of the division but showed they can match the best in the division.

Buckhurst Hill had a couple of early chances in this one but saw one cleared off the line after they had got around the keeper, and then from the resultant corner a near post header was well saved, whilst down the other end Baddow almost capitalised on sloppy play from the home side but could only fire wide.

The hosts then saw a header blocked before a ball forward almost saw a Baddow defender head beyond his keeper, but midway through the half Buckhurst did take the lead when a ball through found a teammate who slotted well beyond the keeper and the hosts had the advantage.

Baddow though so nearly levelled moments after going behind, before the home side had a opening too, but both were missed, and then Baddow got in again but saw a lofted effort well saved by the hosts keeper to keep his side in front.

Baddow then hit the bar straight from a corner but moments later in the 34^th minute they levelled after lobbing over the keeper and the tie was now all square going into the latter part of the first half.

Baddow then put in a couple of brilliant corners which the hosts keeper just about punched clear, whilst a strong finish to the half for the hosts saw an effort cleared off the line, but the half did see the sides go in level.

Half Time Buckhurst Hill 1 Great Baddow 1

The opening fifteen minutes of the second half saw the best chance fall to the hosts when a driven ball into the six-yard box was almost touched in on the way through, but it was another good battle between these two sides at Roding Lane.

The visitors then were screaming for a penalty after they were convinced their player had been fouled when trying to hit an effort at goal, but the referee said it was a fair tackle and gave a corner, whilst down the other end a close-range lob was cleared off the line by the Baddow defence.

But with just under twenty minutes remaining the hosts grabbed the lead once again when a ball across the area was slotted first time beyond the keeper and into the net, meaning Baddow would once again have to find a goal to take the tie into extra time at least.

They so nearly found that goal too but for a brilliant double save from the hosts keeper, saving a free-kick before saving the rebound too, whilst the hosts won a free-kick inside the Baddow area after a back-pass, but this was also saved by the visiting keeper.

And after several minutes of stoppage time the referee brought this keenly contested contest to a close and Buckhurst Hill came out on top again between these two but were made to work very hard for it by a decent Baddow side who will not be down in the bottom three for long if they continue to play like this.

Full Time Buckhurst Hill 2 Great Baddow 1