Basildon Town 2 Hutton 1

Essex Premier Cup Round Four, Saturday January 15th

I made the short trip to Basildon Sports & Leisure Club for a big Last 16 Essex Premier Cup clash between Basildon Town & Hutton, and a second half brace from player boss Marcus Bowers saw the home side come from behind to progress into the Quarter Finals.

These two sides sat one and two in the Essex Olympian Premier, the hosts had won twelve of their fifteen league games, losing only once, whilst Hutton had eleven wins from sixteen although had lost four, and when the two met here in the league back in October, Town netted a 5-2 success.

A lot has happened since that game though, and nether side had played a competitive game for over a month, so with no form as such going into this big cup tie for either side to look back on, it would be a hard one to call, although many expected a decent contest between the top two in the division.

Town's form prior to the unofficial shut down prior to Christmas saw them on an eight game winning streak in all competitions, which began with that 5-2 win over today's opponents back on 9th October, whereas Hutton had won seven out of eight since that heavy defeat against today's opponents, so both sides had been in pretty hot form before they had their breaks, but who would get the upper hand in this one and shake of any rustiness that they may have.

Both sides had chances in a tight scrappy first period, Town saw an effort thump against chest of the visiting keeper before the rebound failed to find the net, and another couple of attempts also failed to find the net, Hutton, who probably had the better of the opening half hour or so, saw their best attempt strike the frame of the goal, but it was the visitors who were to have a slender lead at the break.

This is because the visitors drew first blood after 25 minutes when George Nash managed to send a rebound back across goal and see it go in off an opponent in the six yard box for an own goal, and although Town ended the half with their first real sustained period of pressure on the visitors goal, they had been below par, and Hutton would have felt good at the break with their one goal lead.

Whatever was said by player boss Bowers in the home changing room certainly had the desired affect though as they came out with a lot more purpose after the break, and they only had to wait five minutes for a leveller when after the visiting keeper had made a superb stop, Bowers himself was on hand to fire the rebound into the roof of the net, and now Town had their tails well and truly up.

Hutton did have a couple of moments going forward but they were largely second best for the opening quarter of the second period, and just before the mid way point of the half Bowers netted again to give his side the lead, showing that strikers instinct after the defence had blocked a couple efforts to fire home from twelve or so yards out, and they had turned this tie around.

What did Hutton have left? Well, they could and should have levelled thereafter as they took the game to their opponents, somehow volleying wide from close range and then seeing the hosts keeper brilliantly tip wide another decent effort, and the visitors also saw two goals ruled out for offside as they searched for a goal that could take this contest into an extra half hour.

Town did have moments themselves to seal the deal on the counter as Hutton pushed forward, but they certainly had to do a lot of defending too and put their bodies on the line for the cause, and it proved enough for the home side to win the game and take their place in the Final Eight of the competition, setting up an away tie at fellow Essex Olympian Premier side Sungate.

A decent battle then between two good sides, not a classic as some may have expected but on a heavy pitch and having not played for so long, they certainly served up an honest battle which was played hard but fair, so that was good to see, well done to Town though who are one stage closer to winning this competition, they will certainly fancy their chances that is for sure.

Full time Basildon Town 2 Hutton 1