Brimsdown 0 Clapton 0 (Clapton won 7-6 on penalties)

Essex Senior League - Len Cordell Memorial Cup Last Sixteen, Monday May 3

Bank Holiday Monday saw me over at The New River Stadium for an Essex Senior Len Cordell Memorial Cup Last Sixteen tie between Brimsdown and Clapton, and it was Tons who prevailed on penalties to reach the Quarter Finals in wet and very windy conditions in North London.

The hosts were yet to win in the competition so far, they had drawn with both Athletic Newham and Great Wakering Rovers before they were soundly beaten by White Ensign in their final group match, but still managed to qualify in third in Group E with two points after Wakering finished bottom with just the point.

Clapton in the other hand managed to win two of their three games on Group B, as after losing their opening group match at Redbridge they went onto record 2-0 wins against both Woodford Town and Barkingside and end the group in the runners up spot and a place in the final sixteen.

Goals were not expected here though, Brimsdown had managed just one in their three group matches whilst The Tons had managed just four, and with the visitors having only conceded one goal in their three games too it was fair to say that it was going to be a tight and competitive fixture played in very windy conditions from the off.

The first half saw Clapton with the better chances that came along, they saw two corners just about scrambled clear, but their best chance of the half saw Kerry Ogbeifun played clean in on goal and he controlled well before sending an effort which struck the post rather than creep inside it, but unsurprisingly the game reached the half goalless.

Idries Turay was one to pick out for the visitors as he played some lovely balls into his strikers, so the hosts needed to get onto him to stop any danger coming from the middle, and also Reece Capleton for the hosts made some decent runs through the middle of the park too so Clapton needed to watch out for him as well.

Brimsdown did start the second half well and their best opening was a free kick right on the edge of the box, but the effort from Bertug Seyhan was dragged wide of the post resulting in a rather anti-climactic moment, and a good chance for the hosts wasted too, whilst Clapton corners were causing some issues for the hosts defence too, and as the game got closer to the end, The Tons were piling on the pressure.

Young keeper Ali Dogan was doing very well to deal with some very difficult balls into the box with the wind and rain howling towards him, and under immense pressure did well to keep them out, but Clapton should have made one of these crosses count as a lovely ball to the back post saw substitute Josh Coulson somehow head over the bar from point blank range, he had to score, but he didn’t and the game ended up going into a penalty shoot-out.

This would be taken into a hurricane along with sideways rain, so not entirely pleasant for the penalty takers, just keeping the ball on the spot was difficult enough, let alone having to take a pressurised spot kick too, but there were some very decent penalties scored and after five kicks each it was tied up at 4-4.

Both sides netted their next two meaning 6-6, and then Brimsdown saw their next one saved by Tons keeper Carlos Simeon, meaning if they netted their next one, they would win, and Simeon himself stepped up to convert the winning penalty and send his side into the Quarter Finals of the Len Cordell Memorial Cup, a largely forgettable game played in very tough conditions and to be honest both sides did pretty well considering this, so well played all.

Full Time Brimsdown 0 Clapton 0 (Clapton won 7-6 on penalties)

 

There are still three Last Sixteen ties to come, these are below…

Cockfosters v Barking (Chalk Lane, Tuesday May 4, 7.45pm)

Holland v Hackney Wick (Dulwich Road, Wednesday May 5, 7.45pm)

DTFC v Redbridge (Harlow Arena, Friday May 7, 7.45pm)

 

Also, the draw for the Quarter Finals were made on Saturday evening, and here are those games…

Stansted v Clapton

Cockfosters/Barking v Holland/Hackney Wick

FC Clacton v White Ensign

DTFC/Redbridge v Athletic Newham

 

Dates/Venues are yet to be announced but will be in due course, details of the Semi Finals were also announced…

Stansted/Clapton v DTFC/Redbridge/Athletic Newham

Cockfosters/Barking/Holland/Hackney Wick v FC Clacton/White Ensign

 

Details of the finals weekend at Oakside were also announced after the draw, here are those details for you…

Saturday May 29

12pm – Woodford Town v Hoddesdon Town (Senior Plate Final)

4pm – Memorial Cup Final

 

Sunday May 30

12pm – Sawbridgeworth Town Reserves v Walthamstow Reserves (Reserve Plate Final)

4pm – Memorial Trophy Final

 

Tuesday night I will be at Cockfosters v Barking so will have a blog and photos of that to come probably on Wednesday as will be home rather late on Tuesday!!!