Corinthians Ladies 1 Leigh Ramblers Ladies 1

Essex County Women's League Division One, Sunday 30th October

I made a trip to Stambridge Memorial Ground for my first watch of Corinthians Ladies, and a stoppage time leveller from Broghan Kelly saw them grab a point against Leigh Ramblers Ladies in their Essex County Women's Division One contest.

The hosts are only in their second season as a side, and they are competing in Division One of the Essex Women's County League, which is the eighth tier in the Women's game (I believe!!!) and they were up against Leigh Ramblers who had started the season with three wins from three in the division so far.

The visitors then knew a win would send them to the top of the division if Toby Ladies slipped up against Blackmore Ladies, whereas the home side were looking for their second win of the campaign after winning one and losing two of their opening three games so far, and a win here would move them up three places in the standings to fifth, which is just above half way in the eleven team division.

The first half saw the visitors dominate in large parts, and had it not been for home keeper Zoe Brown, Ramblers may well have been at least three goals up at the break, but she made two superb stops to keep the score line level, however, twelve minutes before the break she could do nothing to keep our a corner kick from Rebecca Dalgarno, the attacker swinging one in from the right which managed to find its way into the net and giving Ramblers a deserved lead.

The hosts though when they did get the ball played some decent football with it, and led by the superb Marie Barker and aided by Ashley Debham, they did at least keep the Ramblers defence honest although the visitors keeper Ellise Strickland had very little to do in the first period, although the game only had one goal in it as the teams went in for their half time break, it had been an enjoyable contest to watch too.

Whatever Corinthians boss Daniel Mann said in the dressing room at the break certainly worked, as his side came out of the traps well on the front foot, and this was aided by him bringing on Kelly, as she and Barker, who for me was one of, if not, the best player on the park in the contest (I told her this in the bar afterwards) caused the visitors all kinds of problems.

They were aided by other teammates as well and the hosts missed a glut of chances to level the game as their luck in front of goal deserted them, although they didn't really test keeper Strickland which would have been a disappointment, and with the hosts pushing forward in search of a leveller they were in danger of being countered on.

This did happen on three occasions (of what I can remember!!!) when the dangerous and brilliant Halle Turrell twice burst into the box, on one occasion seeing her effort brilliantly blocked by Sarah Murphy, who also had a brilliant game alongside her sister (I assume!!!) Nicola Murphy, and then seeing Brown make another brilliant save to deny what surely would have been a clinching second. And then Rebecca Dalgarno fired a powerful effort across goal and wide on another occasion, she had also been a constant thorn in the hosts defence side too.

Despite these moments for Ramblers, they were definitely more on the back foot in the second period though and survived the hosts barrage of chances, and with four minutes to go saw a Corinthians penalty from Kelly saved by Strickland, this after Kelly had been brought down inside the area, and you felt it just was not going to be the hosts day and the visitors would come away with a hard fought win.

Kelly though was to have the final day, she had hit the bar, missed a penalty, but it was to be third time lucky for the attacker who let fly from twenty yards or so out four minutes into stoppage time and see the ball find the bottom corner with Strickland unable to keep the shot out and could only watch as the ball sailed past her, and Corinthians grabbed a point right at the death.

It had certainly been a game of two halves, the visitors were the better side in the first period, however, the hosts had certainly turned the tables in the second period so a draw was probably fair in the end, and it turned out to be a superb contest in all, and a very enjoyable watch.

So, the point sees Corinthians stay in eighth, they now have four points from their four games so far, whereas that late late goal ends Ramblers 100% start, and sees them stay in third spot, although they are still unbeaten after four games. 

Shoebury Town 3 Hutton Reserves 1

Essex Olympian League Division Two, Saturday 29th October

The final Saturday in October saw me over at Ekco Sports & Social Club for only the second time and it saw late goals from Mechack-Kisoka Ausuka and Luke Jackson hand hosts Shoebury Town all three points against Hutton Reserves, maintaining their 100% start to their league campaign.

Shoebury boss John Galley had invited me over to this game and offered to pick me up on the way through from Great Wakering, where is lives, so I could not turn down this offer, and on arriving at Ekco they have certainly done some work to the pitches and facilities since I had last been there (quite some years ago).

Yes the changing rooms were still the same, although still not bad for the level they are at, but there is a summer house in front of it now, and although it wasn't in use for this game they will be getting permission to use it in the cold winter months for hot drinks and shelter, although this was defo not needed today as it was 21c and sunny, at the end of October, marvellous stuff.

The pitches, which their are two of them, are immaculate and some of the best surfaces I have seen in non league football, and certainly the best I have seen in games I cover that is for sure, it certainly encourages teams to get the ball down and play, which is why the hosts have obviously had some good results there so far this season. 

At home this season they have won their two league games 10-0 and 6-0, and in fact their league form this season read played four, won four, meaning they were one of very few who still had a 100% league record left in the entire EOFL. (Only three other sides held 100% records, two in Division Four, Herongate Athletic Reserves and Leigh Ramblers Reserves, and one in Division Five, Basildon Town A)

They did only sit third in the standings despite this though as the teams above them, Wakering Sports Reserves and Hashtag United Development, had played more games so had more points, but they knew a win here could see them leapfrog both into top spot if Sports Reserves lost (Hashtag were in cup action so were not playing for points today)

Their opponents today were Hutton Reserves who were having an average start to their campaign, five games, two wins, a draw and two defeats so far meant a mid table position, both those wins had come at the end of August and beginning of September though so no win since then (a run of four games in all comps) meant they were certainly underdogs in this contest.

However, it was not to be straight forward for the hosts at all, and were very slow out of the blocks, and with Will Marlowe leading the line for the visitors, they certainly caused some problems for the hosts, it was a very lethargic and at times a panic stricken performance from Shoebury as they failed to get their normal fast flowing free attacking game going, which you must say was partly down to Hutton's performance too.   

A goalless opening forty five minutes entailed as a result although Shoebury did grab some momentum at the end of the first half, and they certainly took that into the second period, early on at least, when they grabbed an important lead two minutes after the break when a cross to the back post saw Mechack-Kisoka Ausuka volley home brilliantly, and although the club linesmen for Hutton had his flag up, the referee ignored this and allowed the goal to stand, breakthrough for the hosts finally.

This saw a purple patch, the only one from the hosts in the entire game, ensue, and they should really have been three goals up inside the opening ten minutes of the half, firing over from point blank range, and slotting another effort inches wide of the post, but thereafter Hutton managed to get themselves back into the contest and it was no surprise when Marlowe levelled the match up just past the hour mark as after he beat two defenders twice, switching one way then the other way, before firing home and all of a sudden it was the visitors who were now looking the likelier to go on and maybe net a stunning win.

Shoebury though seem to find a way to win in the league right now, and they dug in and finally grabbed an opportunity with three minutes of the ninety to go when a ball from their own half saw it bounce with a defender and the dangerous Mechack-Kiskoka Ausuka going for it, and the attacker won out to burst through on goal and slot home to send the home contingent wild, it had been a tough game for them but they had managed to grab a priceless lead.

And with the game deep into added on time Luke Jackson was felled inside the box, and he duly picked himself up to fire home the penalty and seal a very hard fought win for the home side. It had been a grind that was for sure but they had managed to grab those three points, taking them up to second now and three behind leaders Wakering Sports with two games in hand, and that 100% record in tact too.

For Hutton it would have been a tough one to take, this was arguably their best performance of the season, but they could not take the chances that came their way when on top, and they were eventually beaten by two late goals in the end, plenty of positives to take from this one though for sure, as they remain in sixth spot and in mid table.

Finally thanks to all who made me feel very welcome at the club today, and it was nice to have a couple of beers with you all after the game, the squad certainly have a good camaraderie with each other and this surely helps them achieve the results they do, they certainly needed it today, and they came out on top in the end, good to see, and good to share it with you today.

Full time Shoebury Town 3 Hutton Reserves 1

 

Basildon United 1 Brentwood Town 2

Isthmian One North, Friday 28th October

Friday night saw me over at Gardiners Close and saw a late Andy Freeman goal hand visitors Brentwood Town all three points against Basildon United in a keenly contested Essex Derby in the Isthmian North.

These two sides have had differing starts to their campaigns, The Bees are under new management after the sacking of Mark Bentermen a few weeks ago and are now under the stewardship of joint management Darren Manning and James Wakeling, who both of course took Hullbridge Sports to the Essex Senior League title a few years ago now.

The duo are trying to steer Basildon away from the foot of the table and have signed some players in the weeks of their tenure to try and build a side to do just that, and after a disappointing loss to struggling Gorleston they had a lot of positives to take in the draw with AFC Sudbury who are towards the top of the standings.

And like AFC Sudbury, Brentwood Town were another side flying high and would be another stern test for the home side and their still relatively new management, and the visitors had won every game in October too, and were on a five game winning run, so many were expecting a win for the high flying visitors who were trying to chase down league leaders Lowestoft Town along with several others.

The opening twenty-five minutes or so certainly suggested that The Bees would be in for a long night, Brentwood looked far more organised and confident, and on twelve minutes took the lead when Marlon Agyakwa's effort from outside the box seemed easy meat for keeper James Askew, but sadly for the keeper the ball went underneath him and into the net, a poor one to concede, and it looked as if it would be a comfortable evening for the visiting side.

But credit to Basildon who didn't give up and showed that determination they need to pull themselves up that table, and they gradually got back into the contest and found a leveller three minutes before the break when a corner swung into the box from the left found Michael Salako who sent a header into the back of the Brentwood net, and the sides went into the break all square and with everything to play for.

A decent Friday night crowd of 232 were inside the ground all wondering who might go on and win this one, could The Bees stun the visitors, or would Brentwood restore some order and grab yet another win, well momentum was certainly with the hosts after the way the ended the first period, and they certainly carried that into the second period and were pushing their opponents back, however no end product meant it remained all square.

Brentwood did regather themselves though and it became a very competitive derby, as you would expect, and the game really could have gone either way, but with around twelve minutes to play The Bees were to be reduced to ten men after an awful challenge from Sid Walker on Chris Gregan, it was a second yellow although it could have easily been a straight red, and it meant the hosts would have to dig in and try and at least get a point from the game in the time remaining.

With seven minutes left though, Brentwood struck the fatal blow, as after two opposing players battled for the ball on the far side, it looked as if the hosts should have been awarded a free-kick, but no, play on said the referee, and after the hosts failed to clear their lines and allow the visitors to burrow their way into the box, and ball across goal found Freeman who had the simple task of converting from close range.

The home side were not to happy with the non award of what they thought was a foul in the build up on one of their players, but that is how it is going for them right now, not getting the rub of the green, but if they keep battling that way, they will soon be moving in the right direction. Their fans certainly appreciated their efforts and gave them a rapturous applause as they came off the field, their side remain 16th though after this loss.

For Brentwood, well this one was one of those ugly wins, a win you seem to get when your on a run like they are, they simply can't do anything else right now and now have six straight wins, winning all five games in October too, frightening form on the eve of Halloween you could say, and they are now up to third and level on points with Grays Athletic in second and six behind leaders Lowestoft Town, Stringer and Co must be happy with how things are going that's for sure.

Full time Basildon United 1 Brentwood Town 2

Leyton Orient 2 Gillingham 0

EFL SkyBet League Two, Tuesday 25th October

I popped over to E10 on Tuesday evening to see high flying Leyton Orient take another three points after second half goals from Paul Smyth and Ruel Sotiriou helped the O's see off struggling Gillingham at Brisbane Road.

The hosts have been flying this season, ten wins from fourteen league games and top of the tree by a point, and they welcomes a Gills side who were twenty points worse off and down in 19th place in the division and perilously close to the drop zone and the trap door out of the football league. 

On paper then it looked as if this would be a comfy home win then, but football is not played on paper, and the opening forty five minutes saw a rather uninspiring half of football with neither keeper being tested, the O's were looking very subdued it has to be said and lacked the normal zip they played their football with. 

Orient's Jayden Wareham, on loan from Chelsea, had come closest to breaking the stalemate on his first league start when he drilled a close-range effort into the side netting, and the Gills also did see a rasping drive go just over the hosts net, but this aside goal mouth action was hard to find, but the visitors did have a bit more spring in their step, which was frustrating the majority of the 7,099 inside Brisbane Road.

Those fans expected and wanted more in the second period, and seven minutes into the second half the home fans had their wish, as a fine strike from Smyth edged the O's ahead, the hosts leading scorer cut in from the left, danced past a tackle from a defender and drilled his shot low into the net for his sixth goal of the campaign.

The goal inspired Orient, who discovered the purpose and invention that had been missing in a forgettable first half, and although The Gills did have an effort from range beaten out by O's keeper Vigouroux before the rebound was fired miles off target into the stand behind, they spent most of the second period having to soak up Orient pressure.

And with sixteen minutes remaining the contest was as good as done when the hosts doubled their lead when Theo Archibald crossed from the right and an unmarked Sotiriou slammed the ball into the net from close range to send the home fans wild with delight and hurtle them to an eleventh win in fifteen league games, maintaining their one point lead at the top.

For The Gills it's another disappointing evening for them and their decent following who made a lot of noise during the contest it has to be said, but they slip a place to 20th now and are just three points above the relegation spots.

Full time Leyton Orient 2 Gillingham 0

Deal Town 7 Tooting Bec 0

Isuzu FA Vase First Round Proper, Saturday 22nd October

I made my first ever visit to the Kent costal town of Deal on Saturday for an Isuzu FA Vase First Round Proper contest and saw a first half hat trick from Man Of The Match Tom Chapman help hosts Deal Town demolish Tooting Bec on a lovely October afternoon at The Charles Sports Ground.

The one and only time I have seen Deal Town came when they netted their one and only Vase success, a feat not many have achieved over it’s almost fifty years in existence, when they defeated Chippenham Town 1-0 at Wembley, after extra time, in the 2000 final, so some twenty odd years ago now.

This was obviously totally different to that day in terms of the situation and surroundings, this was my first visit to Deal in both the town itself and the ground, and after having some lunch at Wellington's Bar & Bistro, which was very pleasant, a nice stroll along the seafront and around Deal Castle, and then stopping at an ice cream parlour on the way to the ground, I arrived at The Charles Sports Ground.

It is a lovely set up it has to be said, it had three refreshment places, a lovely new clubhouse, seated stand and some covered standing areas, just what you need for this level, and also an electronic scoreboard too, it certainly was a decent step five ground that was for sure, oh and the bar did a lovely IPA too as well as their own 'Deal Town' lager, very home grown for sure!!!

The hosts are having a decent start to their campaign, sitting fourth in the Southern Counties East Premier Division, winning six of their eleven league games so far, although they hadn’t won in three games in the league and lost at Phoenix Sports last time out 3-0, so it had been around a month since they had last tasted victory in their division.

They did however thrash fellow Premier Division side K Sports 5-1 at home coming into this contest a week ago in the Kent Senior Trophy, so that would have given them a much-needed boost coming into this big FA Vase 1^st Round contest and, they would have been coming into this contest as strong favourites no doubt.

This is because their opponents in this tie were Southern Counties East First Division side Tooting Bec, a side who didn’t even exist when Deal won the Vase back in 2000, as the club were only formed four years after that so are not even twenty years old, however it only took them just over a decade to reach Senior football after several seasons in Junior Surrey football.

Their league form had been decent lately, three wins on the bounce after a poor start before they were beaten by Bridon Ropes last time out, but this would be a much tougher assignment against a Deal Side who are a step above them in the pyramid although as said before anything can happen in cup football, and the visitors had nothing to lose.

So, how did these clubs reach this stage of the Vase, well Deal saw off Southern Combination Premier Alford 3-1 at Alford’s Recreation Ground before needing penalties to see of another SCEFL Division One side FC Elmstead after a goalless draw, so hope for Tooting Bec who are above Elmstead in that Division, maybe they can go one better than them, who knows.

Tooting Bec themselves played both their previous rounds at home, beating fellow SCEFL One side Sporting Club Thamesmead 1-0 before thrashing Southern Combination One side Billinghurst 5-0, meaning they haven’t conceded a goal in this year’s competition yet, although it would be a tough task to keep that record going in this one, but who knows as they say?

Enough background info on the game anyway, shall we talk about what happened in the game itself?? Why not, after all that’s why we are all here isn’t it.

Well, it didn't take long for the hosts to gain the advantage as with only seven minutes on the clock they found the net after Tom Chapmen caught the visiting keeper out at his near post to net from an angle from inside the box, and then he had his and Deal's second midway through the first period with a lovely deft chip over the keeper into the far corner for a beautiful finish.

Tom Chapman was causing the visitors all kinds of problems, and nine minutes before the break he duly completed his hat trick when sweeping home from inside the box, and when Aaron Millbank thundered home a powerful header from close range just two minutes later, the tie was already well and truly over and you felt at this point it was how many Deal would get, it had been an horrendous half for Tooting Bec, and it was now damage limitation for sure in the second period.

The second period was just as one sided as the first though, and eight minutes after the break it was five when Ben Chapman got in on the act too, firing an effort in from outside the box with ease, and then around twenty minutes into the second half the two Chapman's combined when Tom crossed for Ben to tap home from close range, and then two minutes after this a wonderful team goal ended with Connor Coyne sweeping home from inside the box, and the real possibility of double figures of on the cards for sure.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors with fifteen minutes left too as Jack Martin, the Tooting number four, was shown a straight red after a poor challenge on Ben Chapman, when it rains it pours for the visitors here, it had certainly been an afternoon to forget, apart from a decent chance in each half, floating one across goal and wide in the first half at 2-0, and somehow heading wide from close range at 5-0, it was pretty much one way traffic.

It was a ruthless display from the home side though, and they missed several decent openings too so could have easily netted double figures here, and the majority of the 466 crowd inside the Charles Sports Ground would have more than enjoyed that display from their side in this one as they breezed into Round Two's draw on Monday.

Full time Deal Town 7 Tooting Bec 0 

Finally it was a very enjoyable day, Deal is a lovely town and the club are lovely too, fantastic set up, good people and a great side, would certainly recommend you visit here if you haven't done already, you will not be disappointed that is for sure.

  

 

  

Sporting Bengal United 3 Barkingside 0

Thurlow Nunn Division One South, Wednesday 19th October

My first mid week action since August came from the East End and saw a Liam George brace plus a Shermandin Artmeladze spot kick help Sporting Bengal United take three points against Barkingside at 'fortress' Mile End in their Thurlow Nunn One South contest.

I mentioned fortress Mile End their didn't I, well for very good reason, as in the eight games they have played on the ground this season, they have won seven of them, netting twenty one goals in the process and only conceding six. That's six home wins and one away win, the away win being when they were they were the away side against Tower Hamlets, who also use Mile End as their home ground too.

That 'away' win is one of only two they have had this season, with their only win away from Mile End in the league being a 2-1 win at Oakside against Newbury Forest, their form at home against their form away could not be more different, so they are certainly making their form at Mile End count right now, imagine how they would be if they could sort out their away form too.

Today's visitors were Barkingside and they were looking to join a very small list of sides who have won at Mile End this season, leaders Burnham Ramblers are the only ones to have done this so far, could Side join that list, well they were certainly in good form, one defeat in nine in all competitions, and that defeat was an unlucky 3-2 loss at Essex Senior League Takeley, although four of those league games were draws, and draws were becoming a habit for the visitors, they need to turn some of them into victories if they want to be in the mix for promotion.

Still, they are showing all that they are a side that is hard to beat, and early on in this contest they were probably the better side and created a couple of decent openings, but on 27 minutes it was the hosts who struck the opening goal of the contest when Ashaan Siddik, back at the club helping out his beloved Bengal side (I believe he is dual signed with Stansted), produced some lovely work down the right before getting almost to the goal line and cutting a ball across goal for George to thump home from a yard or so out.

How would Side respond to this set back, they had been the ones doing most of the pressing up till then, well, they probably should have levelled but saw an effort roll across the goal line before a defender cleared, and then disaster for the visitors came when they attempted to clear their lines, but instead sliced a miskicked effort back into their own area, and straight to George who duly fired home to double the hosts lead, an awful mistake from the visitors punished, and they would go into the break two goals down and leaving themselves a mountain to climb.

Bengal suffered a blow when George had to go off at half time because of a trapped nerve in his shoulder (at least that's what I think he said when coming to sit in the stand for some of the second period) however Side could not get themselves back into the contest and then with twenty minutes remaining Bengal sealed the points with a third as after Artmeladze had been brought down inside the box, he picked himself up to slam home the penalty, although he was then replaced soon after following a knock.

It mattered not though for the hosts who ended the game strongly, and were searching for another four goal haul at home, they had netted four in each of their last three at Mile End, and they did come very close to doing it again, but just failed, but it's another win at home and it puts them up to seventh now and just two points off the play off zone.

For Side, it's only a second loss in ten but this loss will disappoint them, they had plenty of openings but were wasteful in the final third, and silly errors at the back proved very costly here, and this loss means they remain 13th in the table and eleven points off the top five, food for thought you could say, but they need to cut out those errors if they want to progress that is for sure.

Full time Sporting Bengal United 3 Barkingside 0