Hullbridge Sports 3 Coggeshall United 1

Pre Season Friendly, Saturday 29th August 2020 

My final pre-season prior to the 20/21 season took me back to one of my favourite local clubs in the shape of Hullbridge Sports as the now Isthmian North side hosted Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South outfit Coggeshall United at Lower Road.

The Bridge Boys of course competed at Step Four of the non-league pyramid for the very first time in their history last season after winning the Essex Senior League the previous season and they competed very well despite their lowly position of 16^th in the table when their season ended early after 27 games played.

This was evident in the game I saw them play last season at home to runaway leaders Maldon & Tiptree where they arguably could of won the game but lost to a late goal to lose 1-0, but it was performances like that which showed to me they belong at this level, and no doubt this season they will be excited to push on and try and improve this time around.

It also shows how far the hosts have come when they can attract the likes of ex-Arsenal academy player Jay Emmanuel Thomas to play for them in this one, the 29 year old has played for a number of EFL clubs in recent years so no doubt will add more quality to this squad that Darren Manning and James Wakeling have assembled.  The job those two have done must not be underestimated, taking Bridge from the lower reaches of the ESL to the Isthmian League, super stuff.

The visitors today were Coggeshall United, who play in the Eastern Senior South, two levels below at Steo Six, but don’t let that fool you.  Under the guidance of boss Cliff Akurang they have become a very solid side in that division and after finishing runners up two seasons ago behind the winners Hashtag United, they were looking good to mount a promotion charge last season, sitting ten points behind fourth with three games in hand before the season ended early.

I did watch them a few times last season in the FA Vase and they knocked out three Step Five sides before being knocked out in an entertaining encounter on the outskirts of Milton Keynes against a very good Spartan South Midlands side in the shape of Newport Pagnell Town, so they most certainly will be aiming for a strong season this time around and promotion must be the aim.

Now the first difference I noticed on the pitch was the hosts colours, normally blue and white stripes, however they appeared in grey tops and very bright yellow shorts/socks, so this took a bit of getting used too!!!  The opening ten minutes saw Kieran Bishop have a half chance for the hosts before Callum Fitzer saw a shot saved by the visitor’s keeper before the follow up was also saved.

On eleven minutes though Bridge took the lead when Emmanuel Thomas produced a brilliant reverse pass to send Bishop in down the right, and his finish saw the keeper get a hand to the ball but it still found it’s way inside the near post and into the net, and the hosts had an early lead in this one.

Hullbridge were pretty dominant for the opening half hour but conceded just past the half hour mark when The Weavers sent a ball in from the left which saw their full back on the right in acres of space and he sent a shot at goal which deflected into the far corner and the visitors were level.

The remainder of the half became rather scrappy and it meant the sides went in all square at the break which would of pleased the side from North Essex a lot more after they had been on the back foot for a lot of the half.

Half Time Hullbridge Sports 1 Coggeshall United 1

Bridge began the second half on the front foot with Fitzer causing plenty of problems down the left, and five minutes into the period they restored their lead as a loose ball inside the box was swept home from close range by George Cocklin who was making his debut for the side today after signing only a couple of days before, so this was a good way to mark his debut.

And seven minutes later Bridge had the chance to add a third and increased the lead when a trip inside the box saw a penalty awarded, but Bishop’s spot kick was well saved by the Coggeshall stopper and it remained 2-1 to the hosts.

It mattered not though as Hullbridge continued to have the better of the contest and with twenty minutes remaining did add a third when Caiden Thomas drove at the box and produced a lovely strike from outside the box which found the bottom corner and the hosts did now have a two goal cushion.

Fitzer deserved a goal for his troubles but skied over from close range as the hosts were now piling on the pressure to add more goals, and although The Weavers did compete at times they were well beaten here although they were up a good side in Hullbridge who have assembled a pretty strong squad for the season ahead.

Darren and James would no doubt of been happy with that performance against a very good Step Six side who will surely be in Step Five before long, and no doubt Cliff and his side would have learnt much from this contest too in defeat.  Feel both will have strong seasons in their respective divisions which would be nice to see.

Full Time Hullbridge Sports 3 Coggeshall United 1