Essex Senior League - Len Cordell Memorial Cup Group A, Saturday April 17
Saturday saw me make the long (ish) trip to North London and
Chalk Lane for a Len Cordell Memorial Cup Group A clash between Cockfosters and
St Margaretsbury in an all Essex Senior lunchtime showing, and a dramatic end
to this contest saw both sides end up sharing the spoils.
Both these sides had drawn their opening games, Cockfosters
had snatched a 96th minute leveller at The Harlow Arena against DTFC
whilst St Mags earned a point at home to Hoddesdon Town in their first game of
the competition, and with all four sides having one point after one game, the
group was wide open.
Both sides had come from behind to earn points too in their
opening group games too so this showed character from them both, but who would
show the most in this one and grab the points to put them top of the Group?
It was the hosts who drew first blood midway through the
first period when Carl Mullings chested a lovely ball into the path of Ned
Clarke who drove through into the box and produced a lovely finish into the far
corner, and it saw Fosters take a slender lead into the break, although it was
a lead they were good value for after having the better of the exchanges, with
Reuben Campbell a particular menace down the right for the home side.
The minutes into the second period though came a big moment of
controversy though as St Mags found a leveller, as a corner from the right by
Kirk McPherson was flicked onto the back post where Dominic Winter-Stephens was
to nod the ball at goal and over the line according to the assistant referee on
the near side, although the hosts were furious and were adamant it had not crossed
it, but the goal was given and the game was level.
This galvanised the visitors and it took Cockfosters five or
ten minutes to regroup, and you felt maybe St Mags could possibly get another,
but they didn’t, and soon Fosters were back on the front foot and searching for
a second to retake the lead, but St Mags stood firm and with the game winding
down to it’s conclusion the score line remained 1-1.
Then came a dramatic final six minutes, firstly Cockfosters
won a free-kick about twenty yards out on the right side of the box, and
substitute Ryan Wade struck a wonderful free kick into the opposite top corner,
giving keeper Emanuel Ola no chance whatsoever, you could have had three keeps in
that goal and they would not have saved it, it was that sublime, and it looked
like it would be the winner with 87 minutes on the clock.
But St Mags didn’t not give up and Fosters failed to see the
game out as three minutes into stoppage time a poor pass back left home keeper
Adam Seymour stranded, and it saw Giovanni Palmer nip in to round Seymour and
fire into the net to send the visitors wild and deny Cockfosters a first win in
the competition.
The hosts certainly felt they should have won this game and
will point to that controversial leveller ten minutes after half time as a big
moment in the game, but they also should have seen the game out with seconds remaining
but could not, and credit to St Mags who certainly stayed in the game and got
their rewards at the end for doing that, a good contest though and a very enjoyable
watch, especially the end!!!
Full time Cockfosters 2 St Margaretsbury 2
Let’s have a recap of what happened this weekend on Matchday
Two in the competition’s Group Stages…
Group A
Saturday April 17
DTFC 2 Hoddesdon Town 0
In the other Group A contest today Alliance League Premier
side DTFC grabbed their first win of the competition by seeing off Essex Senior
League Hoddesdon Town at The Harlow Arena after goals from Jermaine Francis and
Jake Kissiedu sent them to the top of the Group and into the knockout stages of
the competition. For a more detailed look at this game go to
Standings
1. DTFC 4pts
2. Cockfosters 2pts
3. St. Margaretsbury 2pts
4. Hoddesdon Town 1pt
DTFC are into the knockout stages, whilst it’s wide open for
second and third between the rest, so it should be an interesting final round
of games next weekend, Cockfosters host Hoddesdon Town, whilst St Mags travel
to Harlow to take on DTFC.
Group B
Friday April 16
Barkingside 1 Redbridge 2
The Motormen had to battle back from a goal down to defeat
Barkingside at Oakside and make it maximum points from two games, Side went
ahead just past the quarter hour mark through Jacob Dingli, but Redbridge
levelled seven minutes before the break thanks to a fine finish from Shawn
Harris. And just before the hour mark Redbridge netted what proved to be the
winner through Tony Martin’s close-range finish, and it means two wins from two
for The Motormen. To see a more
detailed report on this game check out Scott W’s blog at https://survivor16b.wordpress.com/2021/04/17/s-20-21-match-report-barkingside-1-2-rebridge-fri-16-april/
Saturday April 17
Clapton 2 Woodford Town 0
The Tons got their first win of the campaign and gave
themselves a big chance of reaching the main knockout draw stage after a home
win over pointless Woodford at The Terry Mac. Brandan Rooks rounded the keeper
ton score eight minutes before the break to give the hosts the lead, and then
with twenty minutes remaining Lewis Francis doubled their advantage to seal the
points.
Standings
1. Redbridge 6pts
2. Clapton 3pts
3. Barkingside 3pts
4. Woodford Town 0pts
The Motormen are through, and Clapton and Barkingside will
confirm top three spots if they draw their game next weekend, Woodford must win
against Redbridge in their final game at Coles Park if they want to be in the knockout
stages of the main draw.
Group C
Saturday April 17
FC Clacton 2 Billericay Town U23s 2
Holland 4 Stansted 2
There were braces from Sam Thompson for the hosts and Gabby Ipanga
Mbambo for the visitors, but it finished 2-2 at The Austin Arena between FC
Clacton and Billericay’s U23 side, whilst Holland bounced back from their
opening round defeat by hitting four past Stansted at Dulwich Road.
Standings
1. Billericay Town U23s 4pts
2. FC Clacton 4pts
3. Holland 3pts
4. Stansted 0pts
The top two are into the main knockout stages after they
drew with each other, Holland are now in pole position for that other spot
after they saw off Stansted who have no points from two games, The Airportmen
will probably have to win their final game at New Lodge against Billericay to
have a chance of making the main knockout draw, Holland take on Clacton in their
derby game with the winners finishing highest in the group and gaining ‘bragging
rights’ in the process.
Group D
Friday April 16
West Essex 2 Frenford 1
The hosts made it two wins from two after they came from
behind to defeat Frenford at Mayesbrook Park, Deyonte Anthony have Frenford the
lead early in the second period but goals from Emmanuel Oluwole and a late
Callum Bloss volley saw West to victory, for a more detailed look at this game
please visit my blog on this one at http://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2021/04/west-essex-2-frenford-1.html
Tuesday April 20
Barking v Hackney Wick (Mayesbrook Park, 7.45pm)
The other Group D clash takes place on Tuesday as Wick are
involved in County Cup action this weekend, I will be over to cover this game
next week so please check back for my blog on this one, Barking drew their
first game whilst Wick lost, so both will be chasing that first win in this one
to try and keep tabs with West Essex who top the group with two wins from two.
Standings
1. West Essex 6pts
2. Barking 1pt
3. Frenford 1pt
4. Hackney Wick 0pts
Group E
Saturday April 17
Athletic Newham 2 White Ensign 3
Brimsdown 0 Great Wakering Rovers 0
Ensign made it two wins from two after they saw off Athletic
Newham at The Terry Mac, and Brimsdown and Great Wakering Rovers drew a blank
at Chadfields meaning a point a piece in that one.
Standings
1. White Ensign 6pts
2. Brimsdown 2pts
3. Athletic Newham 1pt
4. Great Wakering Rovers 1pt
Ensign are group winners with one round of games still to
play, whilst the three other sides still have chances to finish in the top
three, Newham host Great Wakering next weekend whilst Brimsdown host Ensign.
So, that is you all up to date with the Len Cordell Memorial
Cup, check my blog on Tuesday night to see how Barking and Hackney Wick get on
in Group D.
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