Hullbridge Sports 5 Enfield 1

Pre-Season Friendly, Tuesday 30th July 2019


Hullbridge Sports carried on their build up to a first ever season in the Isthmian League by hitting five against old Essex Senior League foes Enfield in a pre-season game at Lower Road.



The hosts, who won the ESL Premier last season, began their first ever season at Step Four on August 17^th whilst Enfield begin their latest Senior League campaign at Hadley this weekend so it’s getting towards the end of both sides pre-season workouts as they both look to shape a squad ready for the 2019/20 season.



It didn’t take long for the hosts to go in front either as they burst down the right and sent in a cross which went in off a defender inside the opening minute, and it was nearly two moments later when Adebayo Sotoyinbo sent a powerful effort at goal which the keeper managed to beat away.



But in the 11^th minute it was two for the hosts when new signing Jamie Salmon curled home a beauty of a strike from the edge of the box into the top corner as the Isthmian North side stamped their authority on proceedings early.



The visitors tried to respond by stealing in at the back post, however the volley was sent back across goal and away from danger, before a visitor’s corner to the back post was headed towards the near post but beaten away by home keeper Lewis Greene.



Midway through the first half though Hullbridge added a third as after the keeper had dropped a cross, Joe Wright was on hand to fire home the loose ball and the home side were threatening to run away with this contest.



The visitors almost netted another own goal as a Courtney Homans cross was sliced just over the bar, and from the resulting corner Salmon could only head wide of the target before another home attack saw a cross flicked across goal before eventually finding it’s way to Salmon, but his chip towards the goal was easily saved.



Sotoyinbo then stole possession for the hosts and laid in Yemi Adelani whose dinked effort was tipped over, and then Wright managed to charge down a visiting defensive clearance before firing at goal but this was also beaten away.



Enfield though managed to pull one back with two minutes of the first half remaining, and it was a very familiar face for Hullbridge folk as ex-midfielder Joe Pattison managed to fire into the bottom corner after a loose ball had fallen to him inside the box to reduce the arrears to two.



The three-goal lead was almost restored immediately though but Wright could only send his header at the keeper, and it meant the hosts went into the break with a two-goal cushion.



Half Time Hullbridge Sports 3 Enfield 1



There was an early chance for the hosts in the second period but centre half Jamal Allen saw his effort blocked, but six minutes into the second period Bridge made it four when Soytoyinbo struck home brilliant across the keeper into the far corner.



Another chance for the home side saw Sotoyinbo burst down the left before playing a ball across to Dan Okah whose effort was straight at the keeper, before Enfield then got themselves into a good shooting position but sent an effort way over the bar.



Another hosts effort was then beaten away by the keeper, before a chance for the visitors saw a decent effort struck wildly off target but take a nick off a defender in the process, before a low dangerous cross from the visitors was well fielded by Greene.



The hosts then fired wide from long range before the visitors keeper almost gifted Hullbridge a fifth after his clearance went straight to Hornsley, but his effort was way off target, before good play from Enfield saw an effort almost squeeze through Green’s grasp but the keeper managed to stop the ball going in by diving on top of it.



Then a terrible Crossfield ball by the visitors allowed Hornsley to intercept and run through at goal, and although he was held up briefly he managed to get a shot away which hit the post before the follow up from Nathan Scarborough was saved, but with four minutes left it was five for the hosts when after Perry Dunn had played a wonderful pass out to Scarborough, his ball across to Hornsley saw the striker control and then fire home left-footed.



Pattison then fired wide for the visitors before Hornsley almost flicked home another for the home side, and although Enfield curled a free-kick wide late on they were well beaten here by a very strong and clinical Hullbridge outfit.



Full Time Hullbridge Sports 5 Enfield 1

Southend United 2 Millwall 1

Pre-Season Friendly, Wednesday 24th July 2019


Substitute Theo Robinson struck twice in three minutes as Southend United came from behind to defeat Millwall at Roots Hall on a warm sunny evening on the Essex coast.



Both sides were nearing the end of their pre-season campaign as they build up to their respective seasons in the SkyBet Football League, the hosts looking for a much better campaign in League One under boss Kevin Bond whilst Milwall, managed by ex-shrimper Neil Harris, were looking for a solid season in the Championship.



A decent crowd of 2,070, including 509 from South London, were inside Roots Hall to see their relative sides, but chances in the opening fifteen minutes were rare, with a blocked Skalak shot from eighteen yards and a McLaughlin shot straight at Sanford the only efforts at goal.



Yearwood then struck one over the visitor’s bar, before Humphrys saw a free kick go way over the Millwall goal, and then a Goodship header back across goal saw Humphrys attempt a bicycle kick but he missed it and the chance went.



Millwall then saw Jed Wallace fire a free kick over the hosts bar, before Mantom played a decent ball across the face of goal looking for Yearwood but a Millwall defender managed to cut it out, but the hosts were doing well and creating chances.  But the half did end goalless with the hosts more than holding their own against higher league opposition.



Half Time Southend United 0 Millwall 0



Two minutes after the restart Millwall got their noses in front in very fortuitous circumstances as an attempted clearance from Lennon hit fellow defender Ralph and looped over Oxley and in off the crossbar for a comical own goal, and the South Londoners had the lead.



It took a while for the hosts to settle after this as Millwall had the better of the play in the opening exchanges of the half, but just beyond the hour mark Milligan struck a brilliant first time effort from range which flew inches over the visitors goal, and this seemed to wake the Blues up somewhat.



Another Blues chance saw Hyam chest the ball down and then volley over from fifteen yards, and then with twenty minutes remaining Robinson came on for Humphrys, which turned out to be a masterstroke from manager Bond.



As only five minutes after coming on, Robinson levelled the match up as he received the ball before turning towards goal and rifling a brilliant effort into the roof of the net, and then after Goodship had seen a decent effort saved by visitors keeper Sandford, the resulting corner saw Robinson head home at the near post for two goals in three minutes, and the hosts now had the lead.



Millwall put some pressure on the Blues goal late on, but the hosts just about held out to record a very impressive victory over the Championship side, with Robinson taking the plaudits in this one for the final twenty minutes at least.



Full Time Southend United 2 Millwall 1

White Ensign 8 Old Southendian 0

Pre-Season Friendly, Tuesday 23rd July 2019


Player boss Brett Munyard netted four as his White Ensign team thumped local Essex Olympian Premier side Old Southendian at Eastwoodbury Lane on a sultry evening in South East Essex.


This was Ensign’s penultimate pre-season outing before they embark on another Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South campaign, whilst for visitors Old Southendian this was their first proper pre-season run out, jumping into help at the last minute after Ensign’s original opponents for this game Hoddesdon Town pulled out.


After a couple of early attacks from the visitors the hosts grabbed a fifth minute lead when Buffin swept home a loose ball inside the box, and then in the 11^th minute they doubled their lead after a brilliant long ball had invaded the defence, Barnby rounded the keeper to slot home.


An Ensign corner saw a header at goal nicely tipped over by the visiting keeper, before the hosts went close again as a ball found Munyard but his effort was well blocked, and then the visitors, who had had their moments, saw a flick towards goal blocked.


Ensign then saw a through ball put just wide on the stretch after the keeper had come and had been beaten to the ball, and then after half an hour we all found out that this game was going to be played in three, thirty minute periods, so after the first of three Ensign held a 2-0 lead.


Score after 30 minutes White Ensign 2 Old Southendian 0


Four minutes into the second thirty-minute period Ensign added a third when Barnby muscled past his marker before rounding the keeper and slotting him his second of the contest, and then it was almost four but Munyard saw his free-kick deflect onto the bar.


Ensign then smashed a ball across goal before another attack saw a flick on hit a host’s player and trickle wide, but they did find a fourth in the 51^st minute when they carved their opponents apart and saw Skinner square to Munyard who slotted home from close range.


It should have been five when an effort from inside the box was scuffed wide, and then after Skinner had burst forward towards the visitors box, his lay off found Munyard who cut inside and unleashed a powerful effort at goal which went just over, but as the second half hour ended Ensign had a four goal lead.


Score after 60 minutes White Ensign 4 Old Southendian 0


Five minutes after the second restart it was five for the hosts when Skinner once again laid in Munyard who fired home his second of the contest, before a rare chance for the visitors produced a brilliant save from the hosts keeper, and then the visitors fired into the side netting soon after as they looked for a consolation.


A long ball over the top saw the hosts in but a poor finish allowed the keeper to make the stop, but with nine minutes remaining Munyard completed his hat-trick to net Ensign’s sixth when slotting home a Hilliard through ball, and then Hilliard should of netted himself soon after but struck a point blank effort straight at the keeper.


The visitors almost netted themselves after a through ball almost found them, but the keeper came to thwart any attempt on goal, and then with four minutes left it was seven for the hosts when Munyard grabbed his fourth by slotting home another loose ball inside the visitor’s box.


The visitor’s keeper had to brilliantly tip over another Ensign effort soon after, but with two minutes left it was eight for the rampant hosts as a cross into the six-yard box went in off a defender for an own goal and cap a rather miserable evening for the Garon Park side.  A good workout for both nonetheless.


Full Time White Ensign 8 Old Southendian 0

Walthamstow 2 FC Romania 0

Pre-Season Friendly, Saturday 20th July 2019

Dwade James and Olly Fortune netted for Walthamstow as they defeated FC Romania at Wadham Lodge to win their latest pre-season outing in what was a good workout for both sides.

The hosts, who are many peoples tip for the Essex Senior League title this season, started straight onto the front foot and saw three openings pass them by in the first couple of minutes before the visitors, who play their football in the Isthmian South Central these days, loop a header over the bar.

James then had a chance when he got goal side of his marker but saw his effort across goal deflected wide for a corner, before the visitors turn and struck an effort at goal which James Bransgrove got down to save, as the game was now becoming a decent contest.

FCR then played a corner out to the edge of the box but the effort was curled away from goal and wide, but in the 26^th minute the hosts took the lead when a free-kick from Ryan Reed was whipped in towards goal and saw the ball bounce right in front of the keeper, bounce off his chest, and allow James to tap home the rebound.

FCR tried to respond by sending a wonderful diagonal ball to the right hand side before a ball across goal just invaded an incoming attacker, before the hosts so nearly made it two but saw the visitors keeper make a brilliant save from a free-kick before a ball back into the box found an unmarked Jack Grosvenor but he could only head wide.

Stow then carved the visitors open again but saw the keeper make another brilliant save to deny the hosts a second, and then late on in the half Gus Douglas fired an effort wide of the visitor’s goal as they ended the half strongly, a half they ended a goal to the good.

Half Time Walthamstow 1 FC Romania 0

FCR had the first effort in the second period when a corner was missed by a defender at the near post but hit an attacker behind him and went wide, before the visitors got themselves into a decent shooting position but saw the effort wayward and off target.

The visitors then volleyed wide another corner as they began the second period well, but Stow almost grabbed a second when Samrai Gebrai produced a brilliant run down the left before his cross was flicked just wide by James.

Stow threatened again after a James cut back saw an effort towards goal blocked by a defender, before an FCR free-kick at the hosts goal was routinely saved by Bransgrove, and then Stow had another decent chance but scuffed wide of the target.

Olly Fortune then thought he had doubled the hosts lead but the keeper was deemed to have been fouled in the build up so the goal was ruled out, but with fifteen minutes remaining Fortune did grab a second for his side when his manager Ryan Maxwell played him in and he struck a first time finish beyond the keeper.

FCR drilled a ball into the six-yard box but Bransgrove got down well to field the effort, and in the final chance of the game the visitors swung a decent ball into the box but the header was wide of the far post, and it meant the hosts took a decent victory here.

Full Time Walthamstow 2 FC Romania 0   

Hornchurch 0 Leyton Orient 1

Pre-Season Friendly, Wednesday 17th July 2019

Second half substitute Lee Angol curled home a 65^th minute winner as Leyton Orient got the better of Hornchurch at Bridge Avenue in both sides’ latest pre-season workouts in Upminster.

Both sides were playing their second games in their pre-season schedules and the visitors were obviously looking to build ahead of their first season back in the SkyBet Football League after winning promotion last season. 

Obviously, this game a day after the funeral of their much-loved manager Justin Edinburgh so emotions no doubt were high and everyone at the club will be looking to do him and his family proud this season.

For the Urchins it was preparation for another season in the Isthmian Premier Division and a decent crowd were in to see this one, and it was the hosts who had an early penalty shout turned down before a swift attack minutes later saw an effort struck just wide of the visitors far post.

Orient then saw Matt Harrold head over from close range before the Urchins fired another decent effort wide, and then after Harrold again had glanced a free-kick wide of the far post, the hosts fired across goal.

Hornchurch went close again as a one two ended with a powerful effort flying inches wide, and another hosts attack saw a left footed effort saved.  The home side were certainly looking impressive and were taking the game to their higher league opponents.

Moments later though it was the hosts keeper’s turn to be tested as he had to save a decent effort from the O’s, and then moments later the Urchins saw an effort blocked as the chance count continued to climb.

Orient then burst down the right but the cross was too high and overhit, before Harrold saw a point-blank header at the back post brilliantly saved by the home keeper, and then a great run down the right saw a cut back find Harrold whose goal bound effort was blocked.

The Urchins then curled wide before Orient fired a ball across goal to the far post were an effort was saved by the keeper, and then back up the other end a promising Hornchurch attack ended with a defensive block, before Orient then headed wide at the back post.  It meant despite all the chances created by both sides the half somehow ended goalless.

Half Time Hornchurch 0 Leyton Orient 0

The opening fifteen minutes of the second period saw little in the way of goalmouth action, and then Orient changed pretty much their entire XI for the final half hour as they looked to give all as many minutes as possible.

The hosts made some changes too, but five minutes after those wholesale changes from the O’s they took a 65^th minute lead when after the hosts had given the ball away, Angol composed himself before curling a lovely effort beyond the keeper into the top corner and saw the deadlock finally broken.

And Angol so nearly doubled the visitors lead when he absolutely walloped an effort against the woodwork, and with the O’s now going for a killer second, they curled a free-kick wide of the hosts goal.

Orient then sent a free-kick towards the back post and saw it headed wide, they really should have hit the target, whilst the Urchins made some more changes to try and finish the game strongly.  They had been much less of a threat in this half for sure as their professional opponent’s wholesale changes for the final half hour certainly made it more difficult for the home side.

And with no more goals in this one it meant the O’s ran out winners in this one in what was a very decent work out for both sides.

Full Time Hornchurch 0 Leyton Orient 1

Harold Wood Athletic 0 Redbridge 4

Pre-Season Friendly, Tuesday 16th July 2019

Maskell was amongst the scorers as Redbridge hit four in the final half hour of their pre-season friendly at The Recreation Ground against Harold Wood Athletic to record victory in their latest run out prior to the season which starts in just over two weeks’ time.

The ESL Premier Division visitors had the first chance when they saw an effort tipped wide of the near post, before the EOFL Premier Division hosts then slid an effort wide of the far post.

Wood then headed wide, before Redbridge almost capitalised on a poor headed back pass but could only loft the effort wide of the near post, and then a long throw into the visitors area saw the keeper misjudge the flight of the ball, but the hosts could not force home the loose ball and the keeper gathered.

A brilliant ball into the hosts box saw the visitors glance a header wide, before Redbridge should have had a penalty for a foul, however the referee deemed it not a foul so played on, and then another super ball into the box from the visitors saw a looped header go inches wide of the far post.

The Motormen then gave the ball away in midfield and saw the hosts break forward, but they ended with striking an effort straight at the keeper, before Wood then had another good chance but saw a weak effort again go straight at the keeper.  The half though did end goalless.

Half Time Harold Wood Athletic 0 Redbridge 0

Redbridge came so close to taking the lead when seeing an effort tipped onto the bar, before a flowing move down the right ended with a poke at goal being saved by the hosts keeper.

Redbridge then somehow failed to take the lead when an effort was cleated off the line before a scramble eventually saw the ball squirm wide of the post, however just before the hour mark The Motormen did break the deadlock when Maskell powered home a header from close range.

Redbridge almost immediately doubled their lead when a close-range effort went just off target, but they did add a second in the 66^th minute when a cross from the right was diverted into the corner by an unfortunate defender for an own goal and the visitors had breathing space.

Redbridge then burst through but scuffed an effort wide, before the hosts broke the offside trap but the Redbridge goalkeeper coach, who had just replaced the keeper who had picked up an injury, made a fine save at the feet of the attacker.

The visitors then got in again but slid the effort across goal and wide, before Wood forced another save from the keeper coach of Redbridge, and then the visitors somehow missed from six yards out, hitting the bar when it looked easier to score.

Wood then saw a near post flick saved, before Redbridge then forced a near post save and then sent another effort over the bar, but with four minutes left it was three for the visitors as a cross was glanced home by a young trialist.

And that trialist added another in the 90^th minute with a very well taken finish to make it four for the visitors, and then nearly completed his treble but saw a more than decent effort brilliantly saved by the hosts keeper.  Redbridge though had put in a more than decent second half showing to run out convincing winners.

Full Time Harold Wood Athletic 0 Redbridge 4