Holland 3 FC Clacton 2

Essex Senior League - Len Cordell Memorial Cup Group C, Saturday April 24

Saturday saw me up the east coast and Dulwich Road in Holland-on-Sea for a first ever local derby between Holland and FC Clacton in a Group C clash in the Len Cordell Memorial Cup, and it saw a first half hat-trick from Louis Olybois enough to give Holland all three points in a feisty encounter.

The visitors had already qualified for the knockout stages of the main competition but knew a win or even a draw could see them top the group, Holland also knew the same results would see them go through as well, but with local pride at stake both would have been going all out for the victory.

The only way Holland could possibly not reach the knockout stages and end up in the plate semi-final was if they lost and Stansted, who were at New Lodge against Billericay’s U23s, won and there was a two-goal swing, so Holland had to make sure they did not lose and allow this scenario to happen. And if Holland won this one and Stansted won at New Lodge, Holland would actually end up winning the group, so all results were still possible!!!

Visitors FC Clacton had no such worries though and knew if they could better Billericay’s result at New Lodge would top the group going into the Last 16, and with the possibility of knocking their local rivals out of the main competition too this was surely enough motivation to go and get the win.

Holland so far had been humbled 3-0 at New Lodge by Billericay’s youngsters before they bounced back to defeat Stansted here at Dulwich Road 4-2 last weekend, FC Clacton had also beaten Stansted at home 2-1 before they drew 2-2 at home to Billericay’s U23 side, setting up the final day possibilities, but which one of the sides would prevail today?

Well, it could not have begun much better for the hosts who found themselves in front inside a minute after a ball swung over to the back post was met by the head of Olybois who thumped a header past Finlay Shorten in the visitor’s goal, and the hosts doubled their lead inside twenty minutes when no one picked up Olybois in the middle and he nodded another header past Shorten and the hosts were in dreamland.

How would the visitors respond, well six minutes before the break they were awarded a penalty for a handball, which infuriated the hosts, but Kevin Coyle saw his penalty brilliantly saved by Luke Avenell, but the assistant on the far side he had stepped off his line before the kick was struck, so a retake was ordered, and this time Coyle fired it down the middle and Clacton had a goal back.

Holland though were to go into the break two-goals ahead when a wonderful pass from Keelan Sorrel found star man Olybois who bared down on goal and although his initial effort cannoned back off the post, he followed in to bundle home the rebound for his treble and Holland’s third, and they looked in good shape as they went into the changing rooms for their half time break.

How would the visitors respond after what had been a rather uninspiring opening forty-five minutes, well they were soon on the front foot and putting the hosts defence under pressure, but time and time again they found Holland’s back line lead by skipper Harvey Cowler and Steve Downes at centre half a hard nut to crack.

The hosts then had the chance to seal the deal and go 4-1 ahead when Harry Willoughby raced clear after a breakaway, but his effort was well saved by Shorten, and then with just over twenty minutes remaining the visitors grabbed a goal back which they deserved on their second half pressure when Joe Martin, on for the injured skipper Harvey Cowler, put the ball in his own net after a free kick into the box by Coyle, and it was very much game on.

Holland again had the chance to seal it when a Willoughby volley was superbly tipped over by Shorten, but apart from those two Holland chances in the second period it was all FC Clacton who were applying a lot of pressure on the hosts defence, the hosts case wasn’t helped when hat-trick hero Olybois was shown a second yellow with a minute of normal time to go after one to many infringements, and deep into stoppage time the visitors had the chance to grab a point when the ball found it’s way to Kyle Ferguson at the back post and all he had to do was hit the target but he skewed his shot wide and the chance had gone.

It meant Holland did manage to cling on and take a win that sees them win the group after Billericay’s loss to Stansted, it had been a well contested game between two sides who gave their all and made sure the first derby between these two was entertaining and feisty, and it was very enjoyable to watch and commentate on too.

Full time Holland 3 FC Clacton 2

 

Let’s see what happened down at the other game at New Lodge and how these two results affected the final standings in Group C…

Billericay Town U23s 2 Stansted 3

Stansted came from two goals down to net their first win of the competition and as a result get through to the Last 16 as the best placed fourth side. The hosts led 2-0 at the break and were seemingly on course for a second win in three after goals from Gabriel Ipanga Mbambo and Nyan Mesuira, but Stansted fought back in the second period to net a superb win and end up through to the main knockout stages along with Holland, Billericay and FC Clacton.

 

 

Let’s now look ahead to what happened in the other four groups and who went through to the main knockout draw and who ended up in the plate…

Group A

Cockfosters 3 Hoddesdon Town 2

DTFC 0 St Margaretsbury 2

Marcus Crowther and Joe Entwistle were amongst the scorers as Cockfosters finished as runners up in Group A following a 3-2 home win over Hoddesdon who finished bottom and will go into the Plate Semi Final, whilst over at The Harlow Arena St Margaretsbury ended up winning the group after goals from Read and Jermaine Nicholson helped them to a 2-0 success over DTFC who end up finishing third but still qualify for the Last 16.

 

Group B

Clapton 2 Barkingside 0 (Friday)

Woodford Town 2 Redbridge 3

Second half goals from Melos Ajuazi and Bayemore Ndiaye helped Clapton to all three points against Barkingside, for a more detailed look at this game please check out my blog at http://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2021/04/clapton-2-barkingside-0.html, whilst goals from Martin, Kadiri and Fish helped The Motormen to victory over Woodford. It all means Redbridge top the group after maximum points from three games, Clapton end as runners up and Barkingside end up third meaning all three qualify for the last 16, Woodford end the group stages with no points so will go into the Plate Semi Final.

 

Group D

Barking 2 West Essex 1 (Friday)

Frenford 0 Hackney Wick 2

Barking came from behind to defeat West Essex at Mayesbrook Park on Friday night, James Jewers rocket put West ahead early on but goals from Louis Dillon and Jonny Ashman handed The Blues the win and saw them top the Group with West finishing runners up, and Hackney Wick defeated Frenford at The Drive to qualify for the knockout stages meaning Frenford finish bottom and will contest one of the Plate Semi Finals.

 

Group E

Athletic Newham 6 Great Wakering Rovers 2

Brimsdown 0 White Ensign 3

Goals from Luke Skinner, Dominic Locke and Luke Woodword handed Ensign victory at Brimsdown to see them through as Group Winners with a perfect record, Brimsdown are still into the knockout stages though after they finished third, this is because Athletic Newham beat Great Wakering Rovers 6-2 at Terry Mac to see the hosts finish runners up and Wakering end up bottom and in the Plate Semi Final.

 

The draw for the Last 16 and the Plate Semi Finals were made on Saturday evening, and this is how that draw panned out…

Main Competition Last 16

DTFC v Redbridge

Cockfosters v Barking

Brimsdown v Clapton

White Ensign v Barkingside

Holland v Hackney Wick

Billericay Town U23s v Athletic Newham

St Margarertsbury v FC Clacton

West Essex v Stansted

 

Plate Semi Finals

Great Wakering Rovers v Woodford Town

Frenford v Hoddesdon Town

 

Both the last 16 and Plate Semi Finals are planned to take place next weekend, with the possibility of games taking place on Friday, Saturday, Monday and even the midweek after before the Quarter Finals take place the following Saturday.