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