Pre Season Friendly, Saturday 8th July
So, my 2023/24 season got underway at Rayleigh Sports & Social Club as Essex Olympian Premier Division hosts Rayleigh Town were taking on Thurlow Nunn First Division South side Barkingside, this was the hosts second pre season encounter, their first one last weekend saw them defeat another Thurlow Nunn South side in the shape of Cannons Wood, so were looking to carry on their good start to their preparation ahead of the season.
Side were getting there pre season campaign underway so this was the first chance for new boss James Wakeling to see what he had to work with, and after three minutes he saw his young keeper make an error to gift the hosts an early lead, striker Luca Frankis robbing the ball off the stopper before putting the ball into the net, and after the first half drinks break (conditions were sweaty to say the least!!!) Town doubled their lead just before the half hour mark when more hesitant defending saw the hosts win the ball in a dangerous area before a more then decent finish from the number ten saw the home side in control.
No doubt new Town boss Rob Hodgson would have been encouraged by another decent showing, although he would not have been happy with how his side allowed the visitors straight back into the contest just past the half hour mark when a good ball across goal saw the dangerous and impressive number seventeen (now known as Kevin Seventeen!!!) to arrive at the back post to thump home and reduce the deficit.
Four minutes later though Town restored their two goal cushion as a lovely move ended with a lovely ball in from the right converted first time by the Rayleigh number twelve, but Side reduced the arrears once again two minutes before the break when a tackle clearance from a visiting defender resulted in Kevin Seventeen running onto the ball, rounding the keeper, and slotting home, meaning the half ended with the hosts having a 3-2 lead, it had been a very entertaining half of football.
Rayleigh had chances to add more goals in the opening exchanges of the second period but found the Side young keeper in fine form, but just past the hour mark the hosts did add a fourth goal when the visitors failed to clear a corner and saw the hosts eighteen swivel and thump home a powerful effort from close range.
Barkingside though kept plugging away and with just over fifteen minutes remaining netted a third to reduce the arrears to a single goal once again when Lee Harris swept home a decent effort from just inside the box after a teammate had been challenged and the ball had fallen into his path, setting up a grandstand finish.
However, the hosts had been the better side in the majority, and they were to add two more goals to their tally, both coming from Gianni Frankis, the first came with six minutes left when a ball forward caught the visiting defence out, and the home striker ran in on goal before slotting home, and the second came with just two minutes left after he managed to scoop a left footed effort into the far corner and cap a fine performance from Hodgson's side.
Not a bad game to get my season started then, a nine goal thriller, marvellous.....
Full time Rayleigh Town 6 Barkingside 3
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