Southend Manor 1 Stansted 1

Essex Senior League, Saturday 30th July

I was over at Southchurch Park as the Essex Senior League got underway this weekend, and saw Southend Manor and Stansted play out a very hard fought draw in very warm and muggy conditions on the Essex Coast.

Both these sides harboured hopes of having a very good season indeed, Manor had made ten signings over the summer and had a decent pre season showing, whereas The Airportmen had also seen a few changes of personal in their squad and had also had a decent showing leading up to this season beginning, although pre season doesn't count for much if you have a poor start to the campaign.

The visitors could and should have netted inside the opening minute but saw an effort scrambled away somehow, before they saw another effort cleared off the line and a shot somehow slotted wide of the post, Manor's only real effort of note saw a long range effort fly inches wide from outside the box, but the hosts were lucky to be level as they approached the latter part of the first half.  

And with six minutes of the half remaining the home side edged themselves in front, which was totally undeserved on balance of how the half had gone, when Jon Evans nodded home a cross from the left, although that lead was short lived as just three minutes later a lovely ball from Ashaan Siddik released Jack Mitchell who lofted a lovely effort over a stranded Luca Collins, and it meant the sides went into the break all square.

Manor boss James Wakeling had a right go at his players in the dressing room at the break and it seemed to have the desired affect as they looked much more of a threat second period, and almost took the lead when Ben Allen's superb effort was brilliantly saved by Louis Hawes, but it was a much tighter second period overall and Manor keeper Collins had to make a smart save late on to make sure his side came away with something.

So a point a piece in the end, Stansted will be unhappy they didn't take all three points after their first half showing, but Manor would have been pleased the way they came back in the second period an at times dug in and stayed in the game, especially first half, and could easily have won it in the second period, but both teams at least are off and running now ahead of important FA Cup ties next weekend.

Full time Southend Manor 1 Stansted 1

Southend United 0 Crystal Palace U21 3

Pre Season Friendly, Friday 29th July

Friday night saw me over at Roots Hall as the Blues continued their warm up to the Vanarama National League Season but fell to defeat to Crystal Palaces youngsters on another bright evening on the Essex coast.

This was The Blues penultimate game ahead of the the new season and they had early openings as they started brightly with Shaun Hobson heading an early chance off target before a Dan Mooney effort from distance almost caught out Palace keeper Own Goodman, and then Chris Wreh got a shot away which was straight at Goodman.

In the 20th minute though a flowing move from the visitors saw them take the lead, which was started and finish by Scott Banks, he spun away inside his own half before carrying the ball forward, played a one two with Killian Phillips, before Banks slotted home from inside the box, and although The Blues had a wonderful chance to level when Wreh beat the offside trap, only for Goodman to come off his line to thwart him, and then Callum Powell glanced wide a Tom Clifford centre, Palace were to double their lead before the break.

It all came from The Blues trying to play out from the back but messing it up and conceding a corner, a corner that Banks played into the box which was headed back across goal by Jake O'Brien and then nodded home from close range by Rob Street, and it saw the hosts go into the break two goals behind.

Kevin Maher's side looked very lively after the break and could have easily been level within ten minutes of the restart, Clifford saw an effort cleared off the line before Hobson then sent a header against the bar, and then Clifford crossed for Mooney whose effort was also cleated off the line by Noah Wilson, but any revival was put to bed when Palace made it three around the hour mark.

This occurred when Steve Arnold managed to pull off a smart save to thwart Street, but the ball fell to Banks who smashed home his second of the evening and sealed a 3-0 win for the visiting side.  

Full time Southend United 0 Crystal Palace U21 3

Tilbury 0 Romford 2

Pre Season Friendly, Monday 25th July

My latest and possibly last pre season game ahead of the new season saw me over at Chadfields as Essex Senior League Romford got the better of Isthmian North Tilbury thanks to goals from Emmanuel Kouassi and Kris Newby.

Romford suffered relegation from the Isthmian North last season after what can only be described as a season to forget, thirteen points from thirty eight games and a goal difference of minus 113 tells ths sorry story, so the club were looking to get back on their feet and try and bounce back this season, they were up against a Tilbury side who did not have a brilliant season themselves last time out, finishing 14th and only eight points above third bottom Witham Town.

Both then were looking for much better season's in their forthcoming campaign's, and it was the visitors who started the better and already had a candidate for goal of the season after just three minutes when Kouassi let fly from range and saw his powerful effort thump off the inside of the post and into the net, it really was a superb strike.

Tilbury tried to respond but saw a free kick well saved by Billy Lawlor, but they almost found themselves further behind when a curling effort from Jesse Olukolu struck the bar, and Lawlor had to make a good save towards the end of the half, whilst both sides had penalty appeals turned away as the half ended with the visitors maintaining that slender lead.  

Boro were appealing for another penalty early in the second period when Justin Bailey appeared to be fouled, and then Olukolu forced a decent stop from the keeper just past the hour mark, however shortly after that Boro did double their advantage when a Newby free kick hit the wall, came back to Newby, who drove into the box and fired a terrific left footed effort across the keeper and into the top corner, it was another superb strike, and Romford now had a two goal cushion.

Tilbury, who were pretty off colour for the majority of the contest, almost pulled one back but saw the effort hit the post, and then another attack saw one cleared off the line, however, Boro nearly made it three when another wonderful strike cannoned off the bar and just failed to cross the line, according to the assistant although Boro were adamant it had crossed the line, but it remained 0-2. 

And that is how it ended with Boro ending their pre season five unbeaten and no doubt giving themselves and their suffering supporters hope ahead of the new Essex Senior League season this weekend as they travel to Buckhurst Hill, who many fancy to do well this season, so on this evidence that should be a good watch. Romford will be tough to beat going on this showing.

The Dockers on the other hand would have learnt much from this run out, it wasn't the greatest showing it must be said and they have one more friendly against their big rivals Grays Athletic at the weekend, to get things right ahead of their FA Cup Extra Preliminary tie the following weekend, it's likely their last friendly won't be so friendly either so will be good preparation ahead of that cup tie at Milton Keynes Irish.

Full time Tilbury 0 Romford 2

Pre Season Double Header - Motormen thrash youthful Orient, Grays edge Hill

(Action from Roding Lane as Buckhurst Hill took on Grays Athletic)

Pre Season Friendlies, Saturday 23rd July

On another gorgeous weekend weather wise I took in two pre season games on the edge of our capital city at Oakside and Roding Lane, and it featured two Essex Senior League sides both putting in their final preparations ahead of their league start next weekend, Redbridge and Buckhurst Hill.

The Motormen, who are looking to back up a magnificent season last time out, took on a Leyton Orient XI made up of mainly their U18 side, whilst Buckhurst Hill, who are making their first forage into Step Five football for the coming season, took on Isthmian North side Grays Athletic.

First up it was the morning kick off at Oakside, here is what happened...

Redbridge 5 Leyton Orient XI 0

On a warm lunchtime in Barkingside, the hosts began well and only took three minutes to break through after a great finish from an acute angle, but the rest of the opening half saw a scrappy contest with Orient having more possession as the half went on.

Sandwiched in between a good start and end to the half by the hosts, the young Orient side did force a couple of good stops from the hosts keeper, and at half time there wasn't a lot to split the sides, but this all changed in the second period as Redbridge took total control.

They doubled their lead eight minutes into the second period after a superb corner from the right to the far post saw a header at goal kept out, but the loose ball was rifled home, and then five minutes later it was three when after the ball spun up into the air, it was volleyed home brilliantly first time by the hosts. 

And it was three goals in fifteen second half minutes when a mishit effort after a cross from the left found the net, the home side were running riot now, they had hit the crossbar twice prior to their fourth and it felt it was how many Redbridge were going to get in the remainder of the contest.

It was only to be one more for the home side as with eight minutes remaining another corner caused issues inside the box, and after a defensive header had gone up into the air, it came down right inside the six yard box and was eventually prodded home from a yard out to complete the rout.

So, in the end the Redbridge side were too good for this young Orient side, and no doubt George Christou's men will head into the season with a confident side hoping to challenge for the top positions once again.

After a ten minute car ride from Oakside to Roding Lane, courtesy of Buckhurst Hill secretary Anthony Mercer, who had kindly picked me up and taken me to game two (many thanks for that!!) it was time for Hill's contest with Grays Athletic, let's see how that went...

Buckhurst Hill 1 Grays Athletic 2

Hosts Buckhurst Hill had of course won promotion from the Eastern Senior South division after losing the play off final to Halstead Town, this because another step five side elsewhere in the country could not go up, meaning Hill were up courtesy of PPG, although it would have been tragic had they not gone up after finishing the season with 98 points!!!

They were up against a Grays side who just missed out on the playoffs last season in the Isthmian North and were looking to go one better this season, and it was the visitors who started the better and edged ahead after thirteen minutes when great play on the left by Aron Gordon saw him cut inside and fire a lovely effort inside the near post.

The hosts though gave their higher league opponents a decent tussle though and managed to level things up with thirteen minutes remaining when a lovely pass in behind the visitors back line found Lou Wynter who sent a lovely finish beyond the keeper, but Grays were to net a winner late on.

This is because the much travelled Sam Bantick, who had cut a frustrated figure for much of the time he was on the field, produced a lovely piece of skill to turn his marker before firing a left footed effort into the far corner despite the keeper getting a slight hand to the ball, and see the visitors to a hard earned pre season victory.

Hill will take much from this game though and are expected to have a very good season in the Essex Senior League in the coming season, and after today's display and with players to return to the squad as well, it's hard to disagree with that view.

  

Germany 2 Austria 0

Women's Euro 2022 Quarter Final, Thursday 21st July

My final experience of the Women's Euro 2022 was a Quarter Final at Brentford Community Stadium and saw Germany battle past a very competitive Austria to reach another major tournament Semi Final, setting up a last four showdown with either France or Holland.

The German's came into this tournament not being spoken about for once in terms of winning the competition,  weird considering they won it six times in a row prior to a shock quarter final loss in the last Euros in Holland five year ago, but they have certainly put themselves into top contenders after a very good group stage, defeating The Danes, Spain and Finland, netting nine and conceding none in what was labelled the 'Group of Death'.

And they were firm favourites against rivals Austria who had done very well to reach the Last Eight, as after a narrow loss to England on the opening eve of the tournament, they netted wins against Northern Ireland and then Norway without conceding, so they were certainly coming into this tie with lots of confidence and nothing to lose, which can often be a dangerous animal.

And it proved to be The German's toughest contest so far as they continued in pursuit of a record extending ninth European title, and another brilliant crowd of just over 16,000 creating yet another wonderful atmosphere, were treated to what proved to be a superb contest between two good sides.

The Austrian's took it to the German's early on and s nearly took the lead when sending a header against the post, and prior to that a lovely pass released them in on goal but the effort was struck straight at the keeper, although on that occasion it may have been ruled out for offside, but no one was to know that at the time, they were two great chances though for the underdogs to get ahead. 

But one defensive lapse in the 26th minute cost Austria dear, as after keeper Manuela Zinsberger had almost lost the ball to an attacker whilst trying to be to cute and play out from the back, her pass found a teammate, but she then lost out to Klara Buhl who then crossed into the box, and Alexandra Popp left the ball to find the arriving Lina Magull who side footed a first time effort into the far corner, and just like that the Germans were ahead.

And seconds into the second period Germany so nearly doubled their lead but struck the post, but this did not deter an Austria side who were not scared to take the attack to their more illustrious opponents, and had another purple patch, striking the bar and then post in quick succession, Germany's 100% clean sheet record in these Euros was coming under serious threat.

But the Germans rode that storm and then with the game getting more and more stretched as it went on had chances to seal their passage into the Last Four, they also struck the bar themselves before Kuhl somehow missed an open goal after the ball had been squared across goal to her, but as the game ticked into stoppage time, Germany were handed a second to end this contest.

Not for the first time Austria took a risk playing out from the back, or attempting to at least, especially with the German's high press, and keeper Zinsberger will not want to see what happened next anytime soon, or ever in fact, as her attempted clearance was blocked back past her and into the net by Alexandra Popp for the German's fourth goal in four games at these Euros.

It was a very embarrassing moment for the Austrian Number One, and not the way she would have wanted to end these championships, but she and her team should be proud how close they ran the German's in this one, and how well they had done at this tournament, to get out of a group containing England and Norway is testament to them.

Alas though it's Germany who get the job done, so often the case at major championships, they rode their luck in this one for sure, but they are through and that is all that matters in the end, and they now turn their attentions to France or Holland next week in Milton Keynes in what will be some semi final I am sure.

Lastly, it's been a great experience for me at these Euro matches, I ended up doing four and all of them were a great advert for Women's football, superb friendly atmospheres enjoyed by all in lovely weather (mostly!!!) so it's been a joy to behold, I now look forward to watching the rest of the tournament from my sofa, my the best team win!!!

Full time Germany 2 Austria 0