A Dave Stubbs brace
helped Old Southendian Reserves to league title glory after they defeated
fellow title and promotion chasers Westhamians on the main pitch at Garon Park
in Southend.
The teams came into this one knowing whoever won this
contest would lift the Essex Olympian Division Three title, the hosts began the
day top and just two points ahead of third placed Hamians, so only a win would
do for the visitors if they wanted to take the championship away from the league
leaders, and also confirm promotion too.
The hosts knew that even defeat would still see them promoted
anyway after confirming that last time out against Wakering Sports, but they
wanted the title as well, so this was billed as a rather tasty looking contest.
The first chance fell to the visitors though when they glanced
a free-header off target, before the visitors then burst down the left although
the final effort drilled across goal went just wide of the far post.
In the 18th minute though OS took the lead when
Stubbs managed to swivel and strike an effort back across goal, through a
crowded box, and beyond the keeper into the far corner, and the league leaders
had the advantage with their first real attack in the game.
The visitors tried to respond and swung over a corner but
the header again was off target, but the visitors will wonder how they weren’t level
when their next attack should of saw the leveller, as after the hosts keeper
and mishit a clearance straight to them, the effort struck the post before
coming out to another Hamians attacker, but his effort was saved before the
follow up was blocked, and the hosts managed to escape somehow.
Just before half time though the hosts almost doubled their
lead when an effort drilled across goal went just wide of the far post, and it
meant the hosts went into the break with a slender lead and still all to play
for.
Half Time Old
Southendian Reserves 1 Westhamians 0
The visitors had a chance early on in the second period when
cutting inside to open up some space, but the effort was straight at the
keeper, before a hosts free-kick almost saw the keeper drop the effort over the
line, but he recovered to stop that happening.
The visitors then saw an effort deflected wide before the
home side should really have made it 2-0 as they burst into the area, forced a
point blank save from the keeper, but somehow sent the rebound wide from two
yards out.
A long ball over the top of the home sides defence almost
released Hamians in on goal, but the home keeper came to punch clear and advert
the danger, and then the hosts got in down the left side of the box but could only
thump the effort over the bar.
The visitors then forced a good stop from the OS keeper,
before the hosts somehow missed again to seal this contest when a ball laid
across goal was miscued towards goal, meaning the keeper could just about keep
the ball out, but the loose ball was then fired over the bar, much to the dismay
of the hosts.
However, with five minutes remaining the hosts sealed the
win and title glory when a defensive error allowed Stubbs in on goal, and he
brilliantly lobbed the keeper into the far corner and cued wild celebrations
amongst the home contingent.
The visitors almost gave themselves a late lifeline when
heading against the post, but with the last kick off the game Oliver
Tatton-Bennett thumped home a penalty after a foul inside the box, and it capped
a good season for the home side. Westhamians,
although now cannot win the league, will still be promoted if they beat
Basildon Town Reserves in their last match of the season.
But if they fail to win, they will miss out on promotion and
see Laindon Orient finish runners-up instead and take that promotion
place. Watch this space as they say.
Full Time Old
Southendian Reserves 3 Westhamians 0
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