Corinthians 4 Wakebury 3

Pre Season Friendly, Tuesday 25th August 2020 

Pre-Season number twelve prior to the 20/21 season saw me over at Stambridge Road for an all Essex Olympian League clash as Senior Two Corinthians hosted Senior Three side Wakebury on what was a very blustery evening on the outskirts of Rochford.

Again thanks to Dan Blewett of Wakebury for giving me a lift to and from the ground, and also many thanks to the hosts for being so welcoming once again, always get a good welcome to the Stambridge Road ground, which I must say was looking very good.

Also was nice to see my good friend and footballing colleague in Scott W, and also was nice to see Paul Groundtastic too!!!  Always nice to chat and watch the game with.

To the game and the hosts who play a division above of course took a ninth minute lead when a cross from the left found Jake Lang in the middle and he sent a decent first time finish into the net, and then three minutes before the break double that lead as Luke Owen swung over a free kick with the wind behind him and the ball was heading in but full back Bill Wilton headed in on the line.

Not entirely sure if the ball was already over the line before the header, but it mattered not as the hosts went into the half time break with a two-goal cushion.

Half Time Corinthians 2 Wakebury 0

The visitors had the wind at their backs second period and two minutes into the half used this to their advantage as Ben Munday took aim and fired an unstoppable effort into the top corner of the net, but just past the hour mark Lang added his second of the contest after curling a brilliant twenty yard effort into the corner to restore the hosts two goal cushion.

Three minutes later though it was 3-2 as Munday fired a free kick towards goal which somehow ended up in the back of the net for his second of the game, but five minutes later a terrible back pass from the visitors was seized upon by Jake Hodder who lofted over a stranded keeper to make it 4-2 to the hosts.

But just two minutes later Wakebury made it a one goal game again when after Harry Kateley had seen an effort saved, Billy Bonham-Dare followed up to convert the rebound, and I’ll be totally honest I missed the goal as was still tweeting the hosts fourth goal, it was a mad moment you get sometimes and you just cannot keep up!!!

The conditions, which were very blustery during the whole game, deteriorated towards the end when driving rain was added to the mix, and the referee decided he had had enough and blew a couple of minutes early so everyone could dash for the cover outside the clubhouse and trees near the car park and shield from the rain.  It was pretty cold for August!!!

A decent game though considering the conditions, and a decent run out for both, and very enjoyable to watch too despite hanging on for dear life for most of the contest.  Not happy with the pictures below either but did the best I could with difficult light and windy conditions!!!

Full Time Corinthians 4 Wakebury 3