Wakebury 2 ACD United 3

Essex Olympian League Division Three, Saturday 24th October 2020 

Shoebury Park was my venue for Saturday as I went to take in a big top of the table clash between Wakebury and ACD United, and it saw league top scorer Michael Wade net a hat-trick as the visitors picked up a well-earned three points in tough conditions on the Essex Coast.

Wakebury had played four league games so far and had won three of them and were unbeaten, whilst ACD United and played a game less but had won all three of their games netting twenty goals in the process, including a 9-1 win over Collier Row last time out.

The hosts themselves had netted sixteen goals in their four games so were no slouches in front of goal, and with both only conceding one goal per game in the division too, this certainly was a battle of the titans in this division!!!

So what about the cups, well Wakebury did cause a big shock in Round One of the Senior League Cup, knocking Division One Chingford Athletic out on penalties before falling to Division Two side Beacon Hill Rovers, whilst ACD United stunned Division One side Shoebury Town before so nearly knocking out Premier side Sungate but lost on penalties after a goalless draw.

So both teams were certainly doing well against sides higher up the pyramid so this contest sure had the potential to be a humdinger as they say, but would it live up to expectations, or would the hype all be for nothing and we get a scrappy affair and no excitement?

I took my place in the press box (which was a bench in the middle of Shoebury Park but more than adequate!!!) and one funny story was a young chap came and sat next to me for a few minutes prior to the game and his dog named ‘Bella’ tried to steal my lunch (and chicken and bacon sandwich), you wouldn’t get that in the Premier League now would you!!! All quite funny and we all had a laugh about it.

Anyway, I was there for the football and the gusty winds blowing across the park were certainly not helping in terms of the quality of the game, both sides struggled with it early on, and midway through the period was a factor in the visitors taking the lead, as a ball forward was misjudged by the full back, and allowed Wade to get in and get to the ball before keeper Nicky Keys and have the simple job of slotting into the empty net.

Nine minutes before the break though Wakebury levelled, and it was as route one as you could get, as a long clearance from keeper Keys dropped into the opposing box and right onto the foot of Billy Bonham-Dare who diverted the ball superbly past the onrushing keeper and into the net, it was a really well controlled finish and the hosts were back on terms.

They did not manage to get to the break all square though as more sloppy defending allowed Wade to get in down the right hand side of the box, and he duly sent a decent finish across Keys and into the far corner, and it meant the visitors would go into the half time break ahead.  It had been a battle out there in conditions that had not helped either side in what had been a rather scrappy encounter for the majority.

Half Time Wakebury 1 ACD United 2

The second half was very much the same as the first, a scrappy battle in terrible conditions expect now we had driving horizontal rain added to the mix too, lovely stuff!!!

Crosses swung into the hosts area were causing the Berries issues, and one such cross saw a close range header thumped against the bar as the visitors so nearly opened up a two-goal cushion, but Wakebury then saw a superb long range effort crash off the bar themselves, although the assistant had flagged for a throw to ACD prior to this and the referee chose to ignore him, so that would have been interesting had the hosts found the net!!!

Both teams continued to battle the elements and there were plenty of meaty challenges going in too, as both teams did not want to give the other any space or advantage in this top of the table clash, and at times the wind and driving rain did not at all proceedings but it was the same for both, with many passes catching the wind and either sailing out of play or not finding their targets.

Wakebury then saw a close range effort somehow kept out before a follow up was blocked, some thought it had crossed the line but it wasn’t given although it happened so quickly it was hard to tell, and the visitors sent a ball across the hosts six yard box but was just about cleared.

With ten minutes left though ACD grabbed a crucial third goal to open up a two goal cushion, when a ball across the six yard box was converted by Wade who completed his treble in the process, and the way the celebrated told you they thought this goal could well be the clincher in this tight tight battle.

The Berries though did not give up and rolled their sleeves up for one final assault on their opponents goal, and with three minutes of the ninety to go won a spot kick and saw skipper Chris Gore step up and send the ball into the net, and the hosts had around seven minutes left to find a leveller.

ACD did come under a lot of pressure in the final few minutes and tempers flared up after one ball into the box saw a visiting player take offence to a challenge, but it soon all calmed down, it really was a battle out there!!!

After a few minutes of added on time though the referee blew for full time and ACD had their win and continued their 100% start to the league campaign, and saw them go two clear at the top and leapfrog their opponents who are now second on goal difference after their first loss in the league this term.

Wade remains top scorer in Division Three this term as well, netting eleven league goals in just four games, so that is no bad is it!!! He also became the first player to net 100 goals for ACD United, a feat achieved in just over eighty games!!!  Fantastic stuff at any level that!!!

You could see why he scores goals after taking his chances well today after some sloppy defending by the home side.  Not the classic we were expecting mainly due to the weather, but enjoyable nonetheless, as ACD take the honours in this one.

Full Time Wakebury 2 ACD United 3