White Ensign 1 Lopes Tavares 2

Eastern Senior South, Saturday 7th March 2020


Goals from Tony Cookey and Richard Kone saw Lopes Tavares to victory over White Ensign at Burroughs Park, ending the hosts brilliant eleven match winning run in the process and enhancing their chances of promotion as a result.


League leaders Ensign knew that a win would see them continue their club record breaking winning run, and also see the gap at the top extend to ten points, whilst Lopes knew they could still keep the title in their hands as a win would see them pull to eight points behind the leaders with four games in hand.


So, a big game at the top then, and it was the visitors who had the first openings when firstly Simon Bamidele sent a ball across goal before moments later a scramble inside the hosts box was eventually cleared by the home side.


The hosts responded when Brad Gates sent in a good ball which just invaded Connor Barnby who had he reached the pass would have been in on goal, before Ensign went close again as a lovely pass from Brett Munyard released Dominic Locke in down the right, but from an acute angle he could only fire wide of the far post.


Munyard then almost got in for the hosts but saw the ball get away from him, whilst down the other end Jeff Idemudia saw an effort deflect wide, and then Joel Appiah saw a header headed off the hosts line by Charlie Buffin as the game began to liven up.


Lopes then had a golden chance to take the lead when Cookey was sent clear, but his finish was miles over, before Ensign saw a Gates ball in headed wide by Andy George, then Lopes went close again as a ball in by Guerrero just invaded the incoming Carlos Indjai at the back post.


Good play down the left by Munyard and Gates saw the latter lay a pass over to Barnby, but his finish was off target, but three minutes before the break Lopes edged in front after a ball in from Bamidele saw Cookey send a brilliant header into the far corner beyond Nick Wilson, and it meant the visitors had a slender lead at the break.


Half Time White Ensign 0 Lopes Tavares 1


Lopes burst forward early in the second period but Idemudia saw an effort fly over, and with the visitors threatening a second Wilson had to save before the loose ball was fired off target by Guerrero.


Ensign then had a spell of their own and almost saw Munyard get on the end of a Barnby cross, but it was deflected just behind the attacker with keeper Wilkinson Boateng committed to the cross so was nowhere had the striker been on the end of it, and Boeteng then had to claw over a header from George.


Dave Limber, on as a second half substitute, then saw a header at the visitor’s goal cleared off the far post, and then Munyard sent a looping header over the Lopes goal soon after.


Munyard then found himself in on goal but saw his finish sliced horribly wide, and then Idemudia sent another long-range effort whooshing past the hosts net as the game entered the final fifteen minutes.


Boeteng was again called into action, tipping over a Jason Reynolds-Blanche header, before Limber saw a header blocked and then Locke then got in down the left but could only drag his effort wide of the far post.


Guerrero then sent a free kick wide for the visitors, but with twelve minutes remaining Lopes grabbed a crucial second when substitute Kone was sent clear, and he slotted beyond Wilson into the far corner to send the visitors wild with delight, and gave the hosts a mountain to climb if they were to rescue anything from this one.


Ensign then nearly shot themselves in the foot when they messed up a quick free kick which saw Lopes break two on one, but Kone saw his effort saved by Wilson before the keeper then had to punch away a cross from Appiah and then Kone fired another effort way over.


With four minutes to go though Ensign were handed a lifeline as Locke was brought down inside the box for a penalty, and Luke Skinner stepped up to bury the spot kick and the hosts had four minutes plus stoppage time to find a leveller.


The hosts though again almost gifted their opponents a clinching third when they sent a throw on straight into the path of Kone, but his effort was saved by Wilson, before Kone got in again after some quick feet, but his effort was brilliantly blocked by George.


The game ended on a rather sour note though as in stoppage time Skinner fouled Idemudia and as Skinner got up he appeared to stamp on his opponent, sparking a melee involving almost the entire playing staff and benches.  Once the dust had settled Skinner was shown a straight red, whilst Idemudia was also dismissed after receiving a second yellow, and Lopes would end the game with nine as Indjai was also shown a second yellow for his involvement in the fracas.


Anyway, after those crazy few moments Ensign had one last chance to send the ball into the box, and another substitute John Hilliard sent in the set play and found his keeper Wilson, who had come up for the free kick, on the edge of the area, but his header at goal was saved by Boeteng and soon after the whistle went to confirm the end of Ensign’s winning run and a huge three points for the visitors.


Despite the defeat Ensign still have a seven-point lead at the top though and a ten-point gap to fifth, whilst Lopes remain fourth and eight points behind the leaders with four games in hand on them.  Winning those games could be difficult though but it is still technically in their hands.  And they still have to play Ensign at home too……oooooh


Full Time White Ensign 1 Lopes Tavares 2

West Bromwich Albion 2 Newcastle United 3

Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round Proper, Tuesday 3rd March 2020


Miguel Almiron netted a first half brace as Premier League Newcastle United saw off a late rally from Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns to progress into the Quarter Finals of the Emirates FA Cup.


The hosts made several changes for this tie, as did the visitors, but this was probably because the home side had bigger things on their mind, i.e promotion to the Premier League, whilst Toon were still fielding a pretty strong eleven as they feel they realistically have a decent chance of reaching Wembley.


The Baggies had already seen off Premier League opposition in West Ham United on route to this stage, whilst Newcastle had to fight off League One Oxford United over two close encounters to get to this stage, so this was billed by many as a potential cracker in the West Midlands.


Whilst reading through the matchday programme prior to this contest, a quote was pointed out to me by two gentleman sitting at the table I was on in the Richardson Suite (which by the way was a amazing experience so thank you) and it read ‘It would be more satisfactory if the Press would adhere to a policy of reporting facts and not the whimsical thoughts of their Sports writers’, well rings true doesn’t it!!! We all had a laugh over it, and I promised them I’d include this in my blog!!!


Anyway, to the game which is what I’m here about and their was an early chance for both sides, the visitors pouncing on a poor defensive pass but failing to capitalise, and then the hosts saw an effort beaten away by Karl Darlow in the Toon goal, before Newcastle chased down a ball to the by line and the eventual cross was headed off target.


Toon attacked again and a terrific run by Joelinton saw him burst into the box and cut onto his right foot but saw his near post effort saved by Jonathan Bond in the Baggies net, and then a visitors corner saw Joelinton head back into the path of Sean Longstaff but his effort was wayward and no trouble for the hosts.


Allan Saint-Maximin then almost gave Newcastle the lead in spectacular style when thumping a terrific long range effort off the post with Bond nowhere near it, whilst down the other end Darlo had to make a smart stop to deny the hosts as the game reached the half hour mark goalless.


But, in the 33^rd minute that changed as Newcastle deservedly went in front as a lovely pass from Saint-Maximin found Almiron in on goal, and the attacker fired into the far corner to send the 5,000 strong visiting support wild.


The Baggies tried to respond and sent a dangerous ball into the box but it was too high, and the hosts found themselves further behind in first half stoppage time when a cutback found Almiron whose rifled home his second of the contest and Newcastle went into the break in control and two goals to the good.


Half Time West Bromwich Albion 0 Newcastle United 2


West Brom needed the next goal you felt if they were to get back into this contest, but the second period started disastrously as poor defensive play from the hosts allowed the visitors into the box and a cutback saw Valentino Lazaro bundle home from a yard out, and you felt Newcastle may go on and win big now.


The Baggies really needed a goal now and saw a lofted header cleared away from the far post, before Toon almost got in again via the brilliant Almiron, but his square pass was just about intercepted by Bond who managed to scramble away with the help from a teammate.


The hosts then sent a ball into the mix again, but a weak header went well wide, before another good chance from Albion saw a cut back strike a defender and fly across goal and away for a corner, but the game was coming up to the hour and Toon were still fairly comfortable with their three goal lead.


Sean Longstaff then sent a daisy cutter at the hosts goal which was straight at Bond, before the hosts then rifled over at the other end, and then Charlie Austin, who had been pretty ineffective for the hosts, played a decent ball into the box but no one gambled, and the ball drifted away for a goal kick.


The visitors then broke up a host’s attack before counter attacking at pace through Almiron (who else!!!) and after he laid the ball off to Joelinton, he saw an effort blocked, and then moments later a ball forward almost saw the visitors get on the end of it but Bond came out to thwart them.


As the game entered it’s final twenty minutes the hosts began to finally get going, and they almost pulled one back but saw a deflected effort thump off the bar, but in the 74^th minute they did find the net to give them a slim hope of a comeback when Matt Phillips thundered an effort in off the bar.


Bond then had to beat away a thunderous effort from the visitors, but the hosts now had their tails up and sent a long range effort flying towards goal, but Darlo saved, before a corner almost was flicked in at the near post but saw a relieved Darlo claim.


The Baggies then so nearly grabbed another when a goal bound effort was brilliantly cleared off the line with five minutes of normal time left, before Albion then fired wide soon after as the visitors breathed another sigh of relief.


Fabian Schar then burst through for the visitors but saw his effort beaten away by Bond, and in stoppage time the hosts pulled another one back when a cut back saw Kenneth Zahore convert from close range, and West Brom had around a minute or two to complete a remarkable comeback.


And the hosts were screaming for a penalty but saw their claims waved away as Newcastle were now clinging on, but they managed to see it out and take their place in the last eight.  Toon made it harder than it should have been after dominating for two thirds of the game, but fair play to The Baggies who at least made it interesting till the end.   


Full Time West Bromwich Albion 2 Newcastle United 3

Lopes Tavares 2 Frenford 1

Eastern Senior South, Monday 2nd February 2020


Jeff Idemudia netted twice in the second half as Lopes Tavares came from behind to defeat Frenford at the Terrance McMillan Stadium and jump back into the top four of the Eastern Senior South.


The hosts knew a win would take them back into the top four on goal difference and with games in hand on the teams above, they still had a chance of catching them too before the season was out, so three points was very important.


For Frenford it’s been a terrible 2020 so far, only one win and seven defeats in the eight games they have played since the turn of the year, and their chances of a top four finish and promotion was slipping away, so three points would probably just about keep them in the hunt still.


Frenford skipper Carl Conway should of given them the lead with the games first chance when he got in on goal but saw his effort struck straight at Wilkinson Boateng in the Lopes goal, but in the 11^th minute Frenford did grab the lead as Shane Wallace struck home a free-kick and the visitors had the start they wanted.


Lopes then saw Tony Cookey get in on goal, despite it looking suspiciously offside, but the hosts attacker could only send his effort wide of the far post, before a visitors corner towards the near post was headed over the bar by Lee Forbes, and then Frenford got in down the right through Kambo Smith, bit his effort was sliced wide.


Alvaro Guerero then fired over for Lopes from outside the box, and then soon after a cross to the near post saw Joel Appiah challenge the ball with visiting keeper Sean Hinton, and the ball hit Appiah and looped wide of the near post.


Lopes then went even closer when a ball fired across goal just invaded the stretching Carlos Indjai, and then soon after Appiah fired across goal and wide of the far post, but just before the break Frenford missed a sitter as after a ball in had slipped away from keeper Boateng, Dylan Jones could only fire over the gaping goal.  It meant Frenford went into the break with a slender one goal lead.


Half Time Lopes Tavares 0 Frenford 1


The second half began superbly for the hosts and the worst possible way for the visitors when barely a minute after the break Lopes levelled when Idemudia got across his marker to power home a header at the near post. 


Frenford then had the chance to retake the lead when a ball forward saw keeper Boateng totally mis his kick and the ball fell to Smith but he could only fire across the goal and wide, and in the 69^th minute Lopes turned it around when Idemudia was laid in before he fired across Hinton into the far corner to put the home side ahead.


Frenford again tried to reach and saw a corner kick into the six yard box fail to see anyone apply the finishing touch and the ball drifted away for a goal kick, before Lopes almost added a third after a ball fell to Appiah but he could only send his effort at keeper Hinton.


Idemudia then messed up a header after being found with a corner, before Frenford fired across goal down the other end, and then the visitors so nearly levelled as a loose ball fell to substitute Julian Edwards but Boateng got down to save.


Lopes then broke and almost sealed the deal when Richard Kone burst through but saw his effort saved by Hinton, but the follow up from Appiah was blasted over the bar, but the hosts did take the points to move into fourth spot and see Frenford to an eighth defeat in nine as their chances of promotion slip further away.


Full Time Lopes Tavares 2 Frenford 1

Buckhurst Hill 5 Rayleigh Town 2

Anagram Records Trophy Quarter Final, Saturday 29th February 2020


Suleyman Zuhdu netted a first half hat-trick as Buckhurst Hill blew away their opponents Rayleigh Town at Roding Valley School 3G to reach the Semi Finals of the Anagram Records Trophy, setting up a last four clash against either Bovingdon or Letchworth Garden City Eagles.


The hosts were immediately on the front foot and almost led after two minutes as they broke the offside trap but the visiting keeper pulled off a good save, before the hosts then got in behind again and a ball across was volleyed just wide, the hosts could have been two up inside four minutes.


Buckhurst Hill then won a free kick out on the right after an appalling challenge, which resulted in a yellow card, and the free kick was swing in and found an unmarked player on the far side, but the shot was drilled wide of the target.


The hosts early pressure was rewarded on 12 minutes though as after the keeper had brought down an attacker, Zuhdu stepped up to convert the spot kick and Buckhurst Hill were on their way.


The hosts then got in down the left hand side again but the angle was too tight and an eventual shot at goal was saved at the near post, but in the 21^st minute it was 2-0 as Sam Sollosi was played in and he slotted beyond the onrushing keeper and the hosts were in total control of this tie.


And five minutes later it was three for the home side as a ball played forward saw Zuhdu and the keeper run for the ball, and the striker easily beat the keeper to it to round him and slot brilliantly in from the angle for his second of the contest amid a heavy sleet shower that had enveloped Loughton!!!


After the hosts saw another effort saved, they duly made it 4-0 on the half hour mark as Zuhdu completed his hat-trick, after getting through the back line again to slot home, and this was becoming a very one sided contest it has to be said.  Rayleigh were being blown apart here.


The visitors did finally have a couple of efforts on goal, rifling one wide from the edge of the area before getting in down the left but slicing wide of the near post, before the hosts then got through but saw a poor finish saved, and then Rayleigh saw a near post effort beaten away.


A curling effort from the home side was then plucked out of the air by the keeper, but a minute before the break it was 5-0 to Buckhurst Hill as a ball laid back to Tyler Dolan saw him send a lovely side footed finish beyond the keeper from outside the box, and the hosts had pretty much won this tie by the break, they had been superb.


Half Time Buckhurst Hill 5 Rayleigh Town 0


For Rayleigh this was a damage limitation job surely now after a first half to forget, and it was they who had the first moment of the second period when they were screaming for a penalty after they felt a challenge as they were shooting at goal was illegal, but the referee said no.


The hosts then almost made it six but the keeper made another decent stop at his near post, before Rayleigh almost got in but good defending stopped them from having a strike at goal, and then a looping header from the visitors was claimed by the hosts keeper.


Buckhurst Hill then burst free down the left but the ball in was hacked clear, and the corner was sent to the back post, but two hosts players got in each other’s way and saw a header on the stretch go nowhere near the target.


The home side then got in down the left once again, but the keeper made another superb stop to prevent the hosts making it six, before down the other end the visitors cut inside and fired a shot at goal but it was straight at the keeper as the game entered the final fifteen minutes.


In the 78^th minute Rayleigh did pull one back to prevent the hosts from getting a clean sheet as Bailey Moss fired an effort from inside the box at goal and despite a defender desperately trying to clear it off the line, the ball still found its way in.


The hosts then almost immediately found a sixth but saw a close-range effort blocked, before more hosts chances passed them by as they looked to end the game as they had started, on the front foot.


But with five minutes to go Rayleigh found another goal back to make it 5-2 after getting through and poking under the keeper, and you could sense the frustration amongst the hosts who had switched off at times during this second period.


Ultimately though the game was over at half time, and in stoppage time the hosts fired an effort into the side netting, and after four minutes of time added on the referee brought proceedings to a close just before another shower was brewing, and Buckhurst Hill progressed into the last four of the competition.


Full Time Buckhurst Hill 5 Rayleigh Town 2