May & Baker 4 Hutton 2

Pre Season Friendly, Tuesday 18th August 2020 

My ninth pre -season this month saw me over in the Romford/Dagenham area at The Robert Clack Leisure Centre for a match between Eastern Senior South May & Baker and Essex Olympian Premier side Hutton in my first match under floodlights this season.

May & Baker, who were the hosts this evening, enjoyed a pretty decent campaign last season before the null and void scenario halted their promotion push towards the Essex Senior League, sitting in the last promotion spot in fourth when the season was ended, only behind third placed Little Oakley on goal difference too.

They would of also harboured hopes of a push for the top two as well but alas it wasn’t to be and they will have to go again this season, and their campaign in pre-season has been a mixed one so far, thrashing ESL side St Margaretsbury before losing to Spartan South Midlands Enfield Borough and then sharing a topsy turvy 4-4 draw at Olympian Premier Harold Wood Athletic at the weekend.

Their opponents Hutton endured a difficult season in the Olympian Premier before the season was curtailed, they sat second bottom having only collected eighteen points from their fourteen games although this does not tell the whole story.  They had plenty of games called off due to the weather and although they did not score too many their defensive record was the fourth strongest in the division.

Their pre-season campaign has been very very encouraging too, winning all their games so far and scoring plenty too, and they are tipped by many to do well this season, but this was the first pre season test against a side higher up in the pyramid, Hutton are Step Seven whilst Bakers are a step above in Six and could easily be Step Five had the season finished last time around, so this would be a stern test for Hutton, although Bakers knew this would be a tough test for them too.

After waiting for a previous session booked on the 3G to come off the facility, the game didn’t kick off until 8:08pm, eight minutes late, but we didn’t have to wait long for an opening as Bakers took the lead when Eddy Cooper swung a cross in from the left and it went over the keepers head and into the far corner.  Whether he meant it or not who knows, but it mattered not as the bottom line was it was a goal and the hosts head a second minute lead.

On 26 minutes it was two for the home side and a moment to forget for the visiting stopper, as a corner swung in from the right saw Jake Piper rise to send a downward header towards the right corner but it should have been a routine save for the keeper but he made a meal of it and saw him push the ball against the post and into the net.

And just before the half hour mark Bakers netted for a third time and again the visitors should of done better defensively as a deep cross to the back post saw the ball headed back into the danger zone where Scott O’Connor was placed totally unmarked and he duly rammed home an unstoppable effort into the net and the hosts had a three goal lead to take into the break.

Half Time May & Baker 3 Hutton 0

Hutton had shown signs of their attacking prowess in the first period, especially towards the end of the first period, and they were soon knocking on the door and had a great chance to pull one back when they were fouled inside the hosts box, but the penalty was well saved by Bakers keeper Frankie Worboyes and it remained 3-0.

It did not remain that way for long though as in the 58^th minute the visitors swung a cross in from the left and just like Bakers opener flew over Worboyes and into the far corner, and again did he mean it or not?  Who knows but it was most certainly 3-1.

Five minutes later and with Hutton now totally in the ascendency they pulled another goal back and it is one that Worboyes will want to forget in a hurry.  A back pass to him saw the keeper take a total air shot trying to clear the ball and see it roll behind him and into the net, and suddenly it was now 3-2 and you felt the visitors would surely find a leveller at least.

Seven minutes later though Bakers won a free kick just outside the box after a good run from Henry had seen him fouled, and George Dawood stepped up and curled a brilliant free kick around the outside of the wall and in at the near post, it was a lovely strike and totally caught out the keeper.  It also meant Bakers had a two-goal cushion for the final twenty minutes.

Hutton continued to attack in the latter part of the contest but just could not find the net, and it meant Bakers recorded their second preseason win although they were certainly second best in the second period.  A very good workout for both though and both sides can take plenty from it for sure.  A very enjoyable contest too!!!

Full Time May & Baker 4 Hutton 2