Takeley got their season underway with victory over Cockfosters after goals from Bryn Thorpe, skipper Jason Todd and a penalty from centre half Nicky Barrett meant they started the new Essex Senior League season positively.
Takeley had ended last season in fifth position after their title/promotion challenge fell away in the final weeks of the season, whilst Cockfosters were starting their first season in the division after moving over from the Spartan South Midlands, and only survived relegation in the final day last season in that division.
An early attack from the hosts down the right was cleared out to as far as Reece Barrett whose effort flew just over, and then the hosts attacked down the right again but ended with a Dylan Florence effort flying across goal and wide of the far post.
Thorpe then headed wide from eight yards out after the visitors had left him totally unmarked, before George Beattie tried to catch out home keeper Matt Gill by curling a free-kick into the near post, but the effort was off target and into the side netting.
Florence then got into a good shooting position for the hosts but struck wide, and then Cockfosters should really have taken the lead when Beattie found himself in on goal, but he showed no conviction and allowed Gill to come and make a decent stop.
It proved to be crucial as barely a minute later just beyond the half hour mark Takeley went in front themselves as a long ball was misjudged by keeper Josh Bradley and allowed Thorpe to nip in behind to slot into the empty net and the hosts now had the edge.
They almost netted a second when Nicky Barrett saw a free-kick go just off target, before the visitors then fired a ball across the area but saw it hacked clear by the hosts, and then the hosts were then thwarted by a last-ditch tackle down the other end.
Cockfosters had the final effort of the half but this was straight at Gill, and it meant the home side went into the break a goal to the good.
Half Time Takeley 1 Cockfosters 0
The hosts burst into the right hand side of the visitors box early in the half but saw an eventual effort blocked, before Gill made a brilliant double save to keep Takeley ahead, and then the visitors struck the post soon after although it was flagged offside anyway, but Cockfosters were the better team in the opening exchanges of the second period.
Takeley though could always create chances and a superb ball from Mike Castle found Thorpe whose volley across goal was turned away for a corner, and from this corner Takeley found that all important second goal as Nicky Barrett’s set play was glanced home at the near post by skipper Todd.
The hosts had now hit a purple patch in the game and were soon three goals to the good when after second half substitute Mitchell Das had been fouled for a penalty, Nicky Barrett converted with ease and the home side were now looking likely to run away with it.
Das almost added a fourth when his shot across goal was brilliantly saved by Bradley, whilst down the other end a visitor’s substitute Mark Summers volleyed over from ten yards or so.
Das almost added a fourth, again, but saw keeper Bradley come and dive at his feet to stop any effort to be struck at goal, however the hosts didn’t really care as they had already got this game won.
The game was much closer than the score line suggested as the visitors did create some good openings, but they were wasteful when they came whilst the hosts took theirs when it mattered and run out winners on the opening day of the season.
Full Time Takeley 3 Cockfosters 0
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