Southend United 2 Maidenhead United 0

Vanarama National League, Monday 29th August

I was over at Roots Hall on Bank Holiday Monday and saw goals from Gus Scott-Morriss & Callum Powell help seal Southend United all three points after a commanding win over Maidenhead United.in the Vanarama National League.

Both sides have had similar starts to the season, and both were in the lower reaches of the table as a result of mixed starts, The Blues only win of the season came in their last home game against Oldham Athletic, whilst Maidenhead's only two wins so far both came at home against Scunthorpe United and Altrincham, but since then they had lost two on the bounce.

Goal scoring has also been an issue for both sides, the hosts had only three goals in their five league starts thus far, whereas Maidenhead were fractionally ahead and had just five goals from their five games, so this would need to improve if they were both to start climbing the table that was for sure.

The Blues dominated the opening exchanges, but they almost fell behind in bizarre fashion just before the midway point of the first period when Wesley Fonguck sent a pass back towards his own keeper Collin Andeng-Ndi, but the pass was misplaced and headed towards his own net, and the hosts keeper managed to stretch out a leg to prevent it from going in, it was the only effort on target the visitors had, and they had nothing to do with it!!!

After that rather heart stopping moment for the hosts, they went back up the other end and earned a corner, and from this corner they grabbed a deserved lead when right-back Scott-Morriss, who was making his full debut for the Shrimpers, stooped to head home a corner from Dan Mooney, and the home fans were up on their feet applauding what had been a superb start to this contest for their side.

Could Maidenhead, who were backed by 102 of their own fans in a crowd of over 5,000 once again at Roots Hall, respond?  Their only other real effort at goal, apart from that near own goal from the hosts, saw an Adrian Clifton header go over the crossbar, but it was the hosts who had a slender lead to take into the break. It had been a decent game so far, and the hosts had certainly edged the contest with some decent football it has to be said.

A lot of The Blues threat was coming from Mooney & Powell, they had caused the visitors defence all kinds of problems in the first period, and early on in the second half they combined to double the blues lead, and it was a fabulous goal too, as Mooney did brilliantly down the right with some awesome skill before his cutback was turned in by Powell for his second goal in as many matches, and The Shrimpers were well on their way to a second successive home win.

The Blues looked to kill the game off now, and with twenty minutes remaining saw visiting goalkeeper Dan Gyollai keep out a 25-yard effort from Mooney, but with eleven miniutes left Maidenhead almost found a goal back when a ball forward saw Shawn McCoulsky run onto it and with keeper Andeng-Ndi stranded he poked it beyond him and saw the ball rolling towards goal, but Tom Clifford chased after the ball and heroically cleared it off the line to prevent the goal and preserve the clean sheet. 

That pretty much ended any hopes of the visitors had of getting back into the contest, a contest The Blues controlled for a large majority, and they so nearly capped a fine display with what would have been a unbelievable third when after what seemed a million passes amongst the home side, bringing out the ole's in the process, it ended with a pass from Aaron Cosgrave finding Mooney whose effort struck the post before coming back to the striker, but he could only fire the rebound over when he really should have found the net.

It mattered not though as The Shrimpers heard the full time whistle soon after and took the applause from the home fans who were more than happy with what they had seen today, a good performance and hopefully for them something to build on no doubt, that's two home wins on the bounce now and none conceded, maybe they can make Roots Hall into a fortress once again?

As for Maidenhead, yes they had brief moments in attack, but they were second best in large parts of this contest and it's three losses in a row now with no goals scored, this will be a slight concern for them going forward no doubt, but it's still early days as they say so plenty of time to sort things out and no need to panic just yet.

Full time Southend United 2 Maidenhead United 0

May & Baker 2 Stotfold 2 (May & Baker won 4-2 on penalties)

Isuzu FA Vase First Qualifying Round, Sunday 28th August

Sunday saw me over at Parkside for another FA Vase First Qualifying Round contest, and it saw Eastern Senior South side May & Baker shock Spartan South Midlands Premier outfit Stotfold after the hosts won on penalties to set up a home Second Qualifying Round tie against another SSM Prem side in the shape of Colney Heath.

Bakers have started the season well, and did lead the Eastern Senior South table up until the weekend, but they have began the season unbeaten in five with four of those wins although this was likely to be their toughest test of the season so far as they were up against a Stotfold side who play a step above and sit tenth in the Spartan South Midlands Premier table.

And the visitors today arguably should have beaten Grays Athletic, a Isthmian North side, in their two FA Cup ties recently, after a 2-2 draw last weekend they played here at Parkside on Wednesday and Stotfold saw a 2-0 lead slip from their grasp as Grays managed to turn it around to win 3-2, so this would be a stern test for the hosts and Stotfold were hoping for better luck at this ground this time around.

Things looked good for the visitors too when just before the quarter hour mark they went in front as a nice cross in from the right by Samuel Nicholls found Mason Spence at the near post to nod a header across goal into the far corner, but seven minutes before the break Bakers found a leveller when a long ball into the box found Idris Animu and the forward twisted and turned before firing a left footed effort into the net.

The early part of the second period saw the higher step visitors put plenty of pressure on the hosts back line as they tried to gain control of the contest, and just past the hour mark they broke through to lead again as a nice ball into the right channel by Spence found Kade Bagge, and after good work from him he lifted a ball over to the far post where Joe Sutton was on hand to head home, and at that point you felt the visitors may go on to win this one comfortably.

But they did not push on after this and to Bakers credit they kept plugging away and also kept their belief that they could find a leveller and take this tie to penalties, and sure enough with five minutes of the ninety to go they won a spot kick and saw Abedemi Lamini send keeper Liam Gooch the wrong way and restore parity for the second time in this contest.

No further goals meant a second Vase shoot out between Step Five and Six in three days for myself, but unlike Friday night it was the lower league opposition who prevailed this time, as Bakers caused an upset by dumping their opponents out, winning the shoot out 4-2 after the hosts netted all their penalties and Stotfold saw hosts keeper Jack Riddell save two of their four penalties, cueing joyous scenes amongst the hosts players/management.

An marvellous result for May & Baker then, and they now take on Colney Heath, also of the Spartan South Midlands Premier, in the Second Qualifying Round towards the end of September, Stotfold go out and will be sick of the sight of Parkside after the last few days.

Full time May & Baker 2 Stotfold 2 (May & Baker won 4-2 on penalties)

 

Wakebury 7 Old Southendian Reserves 2

Essex Olympian League Division Two, Saturday 27th August

Saturday saw me over at Cupid's for an Essex Olympian Division Two contest and saw an inspired Harry Kateley net four as he helped Wakebury come from behind to demolish Old Southendian Reserves on a warm sunny day on the outskirts of Southend.   

Wakebury had began the season two weeks ago with a 2-1 win at now fellow Cupid outfit Wakering Sports Reserves before they fell to defeat last time out away at Harold Wood Athletic Reserves, also 2-1, meaning they came into this one having netted three and conceded three in their two games so far.

OS had only played the one game so far this campaign, a 3-1 loss at AS Rawreth, and it did not start well for the visitors here too as only a minute and a half into the contest they fell behind after Will Wheeler had got in down the right before squaring to Kateley who produced a skilful flick past the keeper.

OS responded well though and managed to find a leveller in the 17th minute when a poor clearance by the keeper went straight to Jared Brand, and the visiting number nine punished this error to the full by firing a powerful effort into the far corner, and then just two minutes later they had turned the match on it's head when a corner wasn't dealt with by the hosts, and Billy Ransome managed to squeeze the ball over the line at the far post, it had been some response as said.

If truth be told OS probably carved out more opportunities than their opponents did for the remainder of the half, the hosts, who had started so well, were struggling to get their normal free flowing play going, but despite this did have chances of their own too, and four minutes before the break managed to level this contest as a lovely ball from John Hilliard found Kateley in on goal, and although his lob over the keeper came back off the post, Wheeler was on hand to nod the loose ball over the line, and it meant the sides went into the break all square.

OS would have been the happier of the two sides thus far, despite that late leveller in the opening half for the home side, and some strong words were said in that Wakebury dressing room that was for sure, but whatever was said ended up having the desired effect, the the home side played much much better in the second period took control of the contest.

It took them twenty minutes into the second period to find a third goal, which came after the magnificent Kateley produced a wonderful finish into the far corner, but once that goal went in it opened the floodgates as Wakebury quickly added a fourth with twenty minutes to go when Kateley was involved again, laying the ball back into the path of  Tommy Pinkerton who produced a superb finish into the top corner.

And it was five in the 85th minute as after Kateley had been brought down inside the box for a penalty, he picked himself up to take the spot kick, and although he saw a fairly average penalty saved, he was alert enough to prod the rebound home and complete his hat-trick, and then in the first minute of stoppage time he added a fourth for himself and a sixth for Wakebury as after Wheeler had burst through down the right and seen an effort come back off the post, Kateley had the simple task of burying the loose ball from close range.

And the Berry Boys still had enough time to make it six second half goals in less than half an hour's play when Mohammed Sesay produced a lovely finish into the bottom corner from outside the box for what was the last kick of the contest, a contest that had seen the hosts completely blow away their opponents in the final half an hour of the match. Wakebury's first half showing had not been great, but they more than made up for that in the second period after some terrific football indeed, and some brilliant finishing too.

It all means that after today's results Wakebury top the table on goal difference although they are the only side to have played three games so far, whereas OS slip to the bottom of the pile , also on goal difference, in an afternoon that started badly for them, got much better before going downhill alarmingly in the second period, that's two defeats from two now for the OS Reserve side.

Full tome Wakebury 7 Old Southendian Reserves 2

 

West Essex 0 Harwich & Parkeston 0 (West Essex won 5-3 on penalties)

Isuzu FA Vase First Qualifying Round, Friday 26th August

I was over at Wadham Lodge on Friday evening as the FA Vase got underway for the 2022/23 season, and it saw West Essex squeeze past Harwich & Parkeston on penalties to set up a Second Qualifying Round tie at either Romford or Potton United in a months time.

The hosts have started the season well, home league wins over Woodford Town and Buckhurst Hill, the latter a 6-1 victory no less, had come either side of victory over Crawley Green in the FA Cup, which was also at home. But they suffered their first set back of the season as their first away game of the season at the weekend saw them fall to Dunstable Town in the FA Cup, a game they really should not have lost, leaving West very despondent indeed. 

How would they bounce back then? The chance of another cup run in the Vase was now their focus and they welcomed to Wadham Lodge Harwich & Parkeston who were a step lower in the pyramid in the Eastern Counties Division One North and had had a mixed start to their league campaign, losing 4-3 at home on the opening weekend to Cornard United before a goalless draw at Swaffham Town and a 3-0 home win over Norwich CBS saw them come into this one with renewed confidence as they looked to cause a surprise here.

A tough physical battle ensued, and the first period certainly belonged to the hosts, but saw visiting keeper Brad Cook make three brilliant saves to deny the home side, and then when he did not manage to make a save, the post came to the visitors rescue after Marlon Ortiz had got in on goal but failed to make it count, meaning the half would end goalless, and West, who had missed several chances in their FA Cup game the weekend before, were suffering from more failures in front of goal once again.

Harwich & Parkeston's only real effort on goal in the opening period was a looping header that went just over the bar, but they had two wonderful chances early on in the second half, seeing a close range header brilliantly saved by hosts keeper Arthur Leblond, and then moments after that the visitors somehow failed to convert from close range, seeing the ball blocked on the line, it was a huge let off for the hosts.

Another tense and physical half followed, but neither side could force a winner, meaning the tie would go straight to penalties, and after both sides converted their first two spot kicks, West netted to make it 3-2, and then Leblond saved, meaning the hosts had the advantage in the shoot out.

West then made it 4-2, meaning the visitors had to score, they did, but it now left David Bell the chance to clinch the shoot out if he netted Wests fifth and final kick, and he duly did, meaning the hosts had won through to the next round and a tie at either Romford or Potton United.

A relieved hosts are through then, and bounce back from their disappointment from last weekend, whereas Harwich & Parkeston bow out in heart-breaking fashion, it's never nice to loose in a shoot out but they can be proud of their performance in this one, it had been one hell of a shift that was for sure, but sadly it just wasn't enough in the end.

Full time West Essex 0 Harwich & Parkeston 0 (West Essex won 5-3 on penalties)

 

Romford 1 Takeley 1

Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round, Sunday August 21st

Sunday saw me over at Mayesbrook Park for my first Emirates FA Cup contest of the season, and it saw an all Essex Senior League tie between Romford and Takeley end all square after a very tough and niggly battle in the Barking sunshine meaning a replay in the coming week at Station Road.

Romford have started their first season back in the ESL in solid fashion, and in fact defeated Takeley here at Mayesbrook Park only a few days ago, making it two wins from three so far, whereas for Takeley that was a third straight defeat in the league as the visitors have no points to show so far this campaign.

Both sides had also won a game to reach this stage and set up today's contest, Romford put in a superb showing against fellow ESL side Saffron Walden Town in a 5-2 success, whereas Takeley netted a superb win, also at a fellow ESL side in the shape of Redbridge, to progress into this round, could they put there league form aside once again and reach the First Qualifying Round and avenge that defeat from a few days ago?

That game saw Takeley net an early lead before the hosts turned it around to win thanks to a Kris Newby winner, and after just five minutes it was he who gave the home side a great start when after Alex Balisani had been felled inside the box, the Romford skipper stepped up to fire home the resulting penalty and Romford were ahead.

How would Takeley respond? Well, very well actually, and were level just five minutes later when Jordan Wescott burst through, and although his powerful effort was saved by Romford keeper Billy Lawlor, George Frodsham was on hand to fire home the rebound and bring the visitors back on terms.

And it was the visitors who were the better side for the remainder of the half, Romford had started so well but after they went ahead had gone off the boil somewhat and Takeley were the ones looking more likely to go in front, and even early on in the second period that pattern continued, however ten minutes into the second period came a moment that threatened to change that.

This is because Takeley full back Andre Humphreys put a challenge in on an opponent and a melee ensued, I personally didn't think the challenge was as bad as everyone made out but to my astonishment, and the Takeley players and benches too, Humphrey's was shown a straight red card, with the referee's reasoning it being a high and dangerous challenge, I didn't agree with this, it seemed very harsh to me, as equally bad or worse challenges during the game were not punished with the same penalty.

Anyway Takeley would now have to play the remaining thirty five minutes or so with a man light, could Romford, who had been average in this contest, possibly take advantage of the man extra?

Well in a word, no, as it was hard to see who had the extra man quite frankly, Romford failed to really push that man advantage home and even though both sides had openings in the remainder of the contest, Takeley missed the best one when a George Wappett corner swung into the box was somehow headed wide by George Powell when he seemed destined to find the net.

It had been a battle and a half, that was for sure, but as neither side could find a winner it meant it ended all square and a replay will be required in the coming days to see who will take their place in the First Qualifying Round and a third meeting in a week too, sure both sides will be sick of the sight of each other by then!!! Should be another tight and tough battle once again too, that is for sure.

Full time Romford 1 Takeley 1

 

Benfleet 1 Burnham Ramblers 2

Eastern Senior South, Wednesday 17th August

Wednesday saw me over at Park Lane as a stoppage time winner from Shemarie Perkins-Palmer sealed all three Eastern Senior South points for Burnham Ramblers over Essex rivals Benfleet in a fiercely competitive derby on Canvey Island.

Both sides had started in solid fashion in the division, the hosts had won two and drawn one of their three games so far and were trerefore unbeaten, whereas Burnham had won two of their opening four games as both were in touching distance of league leaders Stanway Pegasus, but which one of these sides would prevail in this one and close that gap.

Many expected a tight but entertaining tussle, but the first half was indeed tight but very scrappy and stop start, not helped by three lengthy stoppages for treatment to players on both sides, hosts attacker Billy Carter was injured early on but did manage to recover after some treatment, but Sonny Hartman wasn't so lucky for the hosts as he was eventually helped off the pitch after a long stoppage.

And Ramblers defender Grant Webb suffered a gash to his head after preventing Harry Doyle from heading home at the back post, and he could not continue either, it really was a brutal opening forty five minutes for both sides, and the visitors even had to play the latter part of the first period with ten men when Joe Howard, incensed by the injury to Webb, was sin binned by referee Bruno Marques for too much back chat, and in fact Howard never returned to the field after he was subbed once his ten minutes had expired.

There was brief moment of quality in the half though which produced the only goal in the first period and it went to the visitors after eighteen minutes after Karl Swanborough had got down the left before squaring across into the path of the arriving Adebolu Adeyemi, and the number nine sent a fine effort beyond Flo Gislette and into the far corner.

Could Benfleet fight back in the second period, well with less than a minute on the clock in the second period they were level after Carter rifled a powerful effort beyond Ben Loftus, and for a time thereafter the hosts threatened to grab the lead and take control, and Loftus in fact had to make a superb save to keep his side level, it took a while for the visitors to get going in the second half, but once they saw out that storm, they began to threaten themselves.

One particular player who was brought on in the second half, Tyler Forbes, caused the hosts defence absolute nightmares with his devastating pace and direction, and if he had been able to finish he could easily have had a hat-trick, but just as it looked as if the game would end all square, Forbes was the catalyst for a stoppage time winner, bursting through down the left before putting it on a plate for fellow sub Perkins-Palmer who had the simple task of tapping home and winning the game for Ramblers.

It had been a much more free flowing second period which certainly helped make it a much better spectacle, and the visitors probably deserved to win overall, and the win takes Ramblers into the top five, somewhere they would like to be when the season ends, for Benfleet it's a first defeat of the season and they are now two places and two points behind their opponents now.

Lastly I would like to dedicate this particular blog to the late Ramblers chairman Martin Leno, who sadly passed away recently. Martin was Mr Burnham Ramblers and he single handidly kept that club going through some of it's toughest times, he was such a gentleman and always treated us media/hoppers/radio folk very well every time we visited Leslie Field.

This win was the first the club had achieved since his passing too, so it was nice to see that happen and no doubt they would dedicate this win to the legend that was Martin, may he forever rest in peace, and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him, I for one was proud to have had the chance to speak with him on many occasions, and it was deeply upsetting when I heard the news.

No doubt he was up their in the sky cracking a smile at seeing his side prevail in what was a very hard fought derby, sleep tight Martin.....

Full time Benfleet 1 Burnham Ramblers 2