Bowers & Pitsea 0 Harlow Town 3

Eastern Region Womens League Premier Division, Wednesday 4th November 2020 

My final game before lockdown saw me over at The Len Salmon Stadium on Wednesday night to see an Eastern Region Womens League Premier Division contest between Bowers & Pitsea and Harlow Town, and it saw the visitors net three goals without reply to grab their first away win of the season and go fourth in the division.

The hosts had sunk to the foot of the table at the weekend after a poor 3-0 home defeat to Bedford for whom it was their first win of the season to lift them off bottom spot, whilst Harlow Town had won a penalty shootout at the weekend to set up an FA Cup First Round proper tie at home to Ipswich Town, so they would have been in good spirits from this no doubt.

Despite the hosts slow start to the campaign, they knew a win here would take them level with their mid table opponents, whilst Harlow, who have games in hand on teams around them and above, would go fourth and level on points with third placed St Ives Town, and knew if they won their games in hand on leaders Wymondham Town after lockdown would only be two behind the leaders.

So points were as important as always despite the enforced break looming large, and predictions from most before the game expected the visitors to net a comfortable although these two had met in the FA Cup earlier this season and Harlow had edged to a 1-0 win, so maybe it would be another tight contest who knows.

Bowers actually began well and looked the more dangerous in the early exchanges although Harlow did venture forward themselves too with Chloe Bassett firing in a dangerous ball but no one was on hand to tap home, and then Olivia Steele almost capitalised on keeper Bethany Page’s error but the keeper managed to redeem herself.

Bowers then broke but saw a cross shot held by Walker, before a shot from the hosts went inches wide, but on the quarter hour mark Harlow edged in front as a cross from the left was sliced into the net by an unfortunate defender attempting to clear, it was certainly a poor way to go behind from the home sides perspective.

Georgia Box, famous for her wonderful voice and it is a very good singing voice it has to be said, sent a header at the visitors goal but this was comfortable for Page, before Nicole Farmer tried her luck from distance for the visitors but Page gathered well, and then Sophie Rhodes dragged well for the hosts as the half entered its final ten minutes.

The hosts mounted another attack through Ammarah Ali, but her ball to Juliet Thomas was pounced upon by Walker, and then a header from Hannah Porter went just wide of the hosts goal, and then came a really good chance for Harlow to extend their lead as after Page had spilt a ball forward, Steele saw a shot blocked before the follow up was lobbed over.

Bassett then saw an effort well held by Page, and that was to be the final act of the half as Harlow went into the break a goal ahead.  It had been a well contested match, but it was Harlow who had the only goal of the contest thus far.

Half Time Bowers & Pitsea 0 Harlow Town 1

Bowers had the first effort of the second period but saw an Ali shot well held by Walker, before Harlow went close with their own header, and then Harlow had the ball in the back of the net seven minutes into the second period but Steele had handled the ball before finishing into the corner so the goal was rightly chalked off.

Tayla Handscombe then tried her luck from distance but saw Bowers keeper Page equal to it, before a deflected effort from the hosts almost wrong foot Walker but she managed to hold on to the effort, and then another good run from Handscombe ended with her lost her footing while shooting so Page comfortably gathered for the hosts.

Steele then saw another effort at goal easy for Page, but with just over fifteen minutes remaining Harlow did double their lead when Handscombe was played in down the left and she curled a lovely finish beyond Page into the far corner and gave the visitors some breathing space heading into the final part of the contest.

Handscombe almost added another soon after when getting in down the left her shot to the near post was well saved by Page, whilst down the other end Bowers were looking for a route back into the game but could only fire over after a couple of blocked challenges from the visiting defence.

Harlow though were to have the final say in this one when they added a third in stoppage time after Davina Smith headed an effort into the far corner, and the visitors had sealed their first away win of the season and the points to boot, and heading for the top four as a result, a nice way to sign off before lockdown.

Bowers did play some nice stuff this evening themselves, but they had no end product sadly so lots to work on for when they do come back next month, but many positives to take from it too no doubt.  They do remain bottom though for now.

Full Time Bowers & Pitsea 0 Harlow Town 3

 

Barking 1 Ashford Town (Middx) 0

Isthmian League South Central Division, Tuesday 3rd November 2020 

Tuesday saw me over at Mayesbrook Park for an Isthmian League South Central contest as Barking hosted Ashford Town (Middx) and it saw a late winner from substitute Dumebi GB-Dumaka hand the hosts a deserved three points.

Barking came into this one having won two of their six league games so far and sat down in 15^th, whilst the visitors were nestled in 8^th spot after four wins from their seven games thus far in the league.

Those two league wins for the hosts had been their last two outings, winning 1-0 at Westfield before they swept aside league leaders Waltham Abbey 3-0 at Mayesbrook Park, so they were certainly in form after a four game winless start, so they were going for three straight wins heading into the month long lockdown.

Ashford them came into this one having lost 3-0 at home to Chertsey Town, although it was their away form that had been more impressive this term, winning three of their four games away from their Robert Parker Stadium, and were unbeaten on the road too, so they were hoping to continue that excellent form in this one.

Goals were probably not on the agenda though, as the hosts had on average netted just over a goal a game so far, with three of those coming in their last outing, whilst Ashford themselves had only netted eight goals in seven starts, and with both defences pretty watertight too, this is why I had come to that conclusion.

Barking started well and saw Junior Luke causing early problems down the left, and he had two chances, one a shot across goal going wide before another effort was put over the bar, and then Luke got down the left and crossed to the near post but Isaac Westendorf could only put the ball wide of the post.

Ashford saw a Brad Sweeney effort blocked down the other end but this was a rare forage from the visitors into the hosts third, and The Blues were the ones carving out the chances first half, and saw Paul McCarthy make a couple of decent saves to thwart the hosts the lead, and so despite a number of openings coming the hosts way, they went into the break with no goals to show for their dominance and a goalless score line.  Ashford certainly knew they needed to up their game.

Junior Luke had certainly been the main attacking threat down the left for the home side, but poor finishing from the hosts along with those two saves from McCarthy kept this one scoreless so far.

Half Time Barking 0 Ashford Town (Middx) 0

The second period began with the hosts on the front foot, much like the majority of the first period had panned out, and Luke again got in down the left and squared for Westendorf who missed his kick and saw the chance go, and then a ball into the six yard box saw McCarthy try and claw the ball over the bar but instead clawed it against his own crossbar before it dropped down into the six yard box and The Blues looked certain to poke home but the ball was somehow cleared off the line.

It was another terrific chance for Barking and you did start to feel it wasn’t going to be their night in front of goal, and as the half went on Ashford did start to get a foothold in the contest as the hosts attacking threat diminished the longer the half went on.

The visitors did have a couple of half chances but these were dealt with by the Barking back line who were having a bit more to deal with in this half, whilst Barking saw a couple of long range efforts fly over the bar as they began to run out of ideas it seemed.  You did feel that for all those missed chances one moment of lack of concentration at the back from the hosts could hand the visitors a smash n grab win, but a couple of decent balls into the home area saw keeper Manny Agboola claim well to thwart any danger.

A goalless draw looked likely though as we entered the final stages of the contest, but, in the 89^th minute the hosts finally grabbed a goal that would win the contest, when a loose ball inside the box was poked home by substitute GB-Dumaka and overall it was a well deserved lead too for the Blues who had huffed and puffed but failed to blow the door down until this moment.

There was still to be a good five or so minutes of stoppage time to go (not sure where the referee got these from but anyway!!!) and the visitors did fire an effort at goal but saw Agboola equal to it, whilst down the other end Barking so nearly put the result to bed with a second but another substitute Junior Dadson thundered an effort against the post.

But that late goal from GB-Dumaka turned out to be enough for Barking to make it three straight wins and lift them up three places to 12^th, whilst Ashford, who lost away from home for the first time here, stay in 8^th.  Both head into lockdown now like the rest of us.

Full Time Barking 1 Ashford Town (Middx) 0

 

Barkingside 1 Burnham Ramblers 0

Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South, Monday 2nd November 2020 

Monday night saw me over at Cricklefield once again for a Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South matchup between Barkingside and Burnham Ramblers, and it saw Side take the points after James Peagram netted eight minutes into the second period to settle a scrappy affair on a clear cold night in Seven Kings.

This was to be the last game for both for at least a month due to the impeding lockdown measures that were to be enforced across the country from the Thursday following this contest, so both sides wanted to go into the enforced break in a positive frame of mind with a victory.

The hosts form coming into this one was good, unbeaten in three with two wins, netting seven goals in the process, whilst Ramblers had just come off back to back victories against Little Oakley and then May & Baker, netting seven goals in those two games, so both sides were confident coming into this matchup.

Side began the evening a point behind their opponents in tenth and knew a win would take them up a place and replace Ramblers in ninth and go two above them and be in touching distance of the top four, whilst three points for the visitors would see them climb a place to eighth and also be in touching distance of those towards the summit.

The opening exchanges saw a hosts effort parried away by Adam Seal in the visiting goal, whilst down the other end an effort from an angle was fired over the hosts bar, but it was a pretty average opening to the contest as both sides struggled to control the ball on a bobbly surface.

Side then came even closer when Jack Gibbons thumped an effort against the post, whilst Ramblers then responded with a great chance for Tom Ranger, this after Side keeper Duncan Smith had kicked a clearance straight to him, but he took too long to get his shot away and the chance went.

And the visitors went close again after Lee Scott burst in down the right but could only fire a high effort across goal and wide, before Side then had a great chance to grab the lead just before the half when Grant Francis got free down the left, but his effort across goal went just wide of the far post.

A rather scrappy encounter then so far with chances for both, but the game reached the break with no goals to show.

Half Time Barkingside 0 Burnham Ramblers 0

Would we get a goal in this one then was the question on many peoples lips after that first half, and eight minutes into the second period Side broke the deadlock to answer that Q in a positive way.

It was all down to superb work on the left by Reece Simpson, who burst down past the full back and cut into the box before sending an effort towards goal that although Seal managed to save, the loose ball was turned over the line by Peagram for a rather scrappy goal, in keeping with the contest, but it meant the hosts had a slender advantage.

Simpson himself had two decent chances to extend the hosts lead but was thwarted on both occasions, whilst down the other end Ramblers saw a dangerous corner almost catch out Smith and glanced off the bar, and they also saw Ben Ward head wide at the far post from point blank range as they searched for a leveller.

Side got in down the right a couple of times but both times failed to find a teammate with the balls in, and with time running out Side almost sealed the points with a second but Joe Oates rushed his finish and sent it wide when he had more time than he realised.

But it was Peagram’s 53^rd minute goal that ended up settling this rather scrappy affair at Cricklefield, and it sent Side up a place to ninth, replacing their opponents who drop a place to tenth. Both now go into the enforced break knowing that once they resume in December/January they could certainly challenge the top four with a decent run.  They would both need to be better than they were this evening though, that is for sure.

Full Time Barkingside 1 Burnham Ramblers 0

 

Southend United CSC 2 Silver End United 3

Essex County Womens League Premier Division, Sunday 1st November 2020 

Sunday saw me pop up to the Garon Park 3G for my first Women’s match of the season as Southend United CSC hosted Silver End United in an Essex County League Premier Division contest, and it saw the visitors hold of a second half comeback from the hosts to take a hard earned three points.

 For anyone wondering what the CSC part stands for on the hosts name, it’s Community Sports Club, and they had played two leagues games so far this term and were still without a win in those two encounters, those had been a 2-2 draw against Chelmsford City, whilst their last game resulted in a heavy 7-2 loss at Barking. 

The hosts cup exploits saw them lose in the Tiptree Charity Cup to fellow Premier side Billericay Town Development 2-0, but they had picked up a win this season as they defeated Division One North side Beacon Hill Rovers 6-3 at Garon Park in the BBC Essex Womens Cup.

Silver End United themselves had only played one league game so far this term, a narrow 3-2 home defeat to Rayleigh Town, but there only other game this campaign came in a BBC Essex Womens Cup tie at home to fellow Premier Division side Billericay Town Development, and they had won that 5-2, so they did have a win in the locker this term at least.

The sides sat third and second bottom respectively in the division and a win for either could propel them into the top four, but it is very early days so league positions at this stage are not really that meaningful, but still both teams would of wanted to win this one to at least get themselves up the table at least.

The visitors started the game very well, going two goals up in five minutes, firstly seeing a ball squared across goal tapped home by Rosi Webb after just three minutes, and then two minutes later doubling that advantage when Ella Tooley put the ball over the line after a scramble inside the six yard box.

And when Silver End made it 0-3 after twenty five minutes after Lynsey Bowman curled a brilliant free-kick over the keeper into the top corner (slightly wind assisted too) you did fear the hosts would be on the end of a very heavy loss once again (they had lost 7-2 at Barking last time out).

Thankfully for the hosts no further damage was forthcoming and towards the end of the half they began to show signs of life going forward and did force a save from keeper Amy Vernon, who had to tip an effort onto the bar.  The visiting keeper had barely seen the ball in the first period as was the visitor’s dominance, and Silver End did reach the break with a three-goal lead.

The only positives Southend could take from the opening half was it was only a three goal deficit and they had ended the half well, and also had the wind with them second half too, but they needed to improve quite a bit to get themselves back into this contest.

Half Time Southend United CSC 0 Silver End United 3

The hosts, now with the strong gusty wind behind them, continued were they left off at the end of the first period and were straight onto the front foot, and suddenly Silver End were now having to do a lot of defending.

The hosts were now having most of the possession and also the chances, but they found a visiting keeper in Vernon in top form., and she made three unbelievable saves to keep the hosts out, and as the half went on you felt it just wasn’t going to be Southend’s day, and that such a slow start was ultimately going to cost them.

Southend kept going though and to be fair to them never gave up, and with eighteen minutes remaining finally broke the door down and grabbed one back with eighteen minutes to play when a lovely corner from Ellie Wood caught the wind and saw it go over keeper Vernon and find Kate Wiseman on hand to smash the ball home from close range, and the hosts could now sniff a remarkable comeback.

And when Cristina Fragnito drilled a wonderful effort beyond Vernon with two minutes of normal time remaining, suddenly Silver End were now in danger of throwing away that three goal cushion they had at the break, and it was very much game on with some stoppage time to come too.

Silver End though managed to cling on to grab the points but the hosts most certainly deserved something from the game after a brilliant second half showing, but ultimately the opening twenty five minutes cost them in the end, but many positives to take forward for the hosts no doubt.

The result sees The Blues remain third bottom with one point from their three games so far, whilst the win for Silver End sees them claim their first points of the campaign and go above their opponents to fourth bottom with three points from their two games played.

Full Time Southend United CSC 2 Silver End United 3