Essex Senior League, Friday 15th December
A rare Friday night under the lights at Lower Road, Hullbridge was my latest footie outing as I went to see if hosts Hullbridge could get back to winning ways and end a rather poor recent run against a Woodford side who themselves were trying to go level on points with second placed Tilbury and also close the gap to leaders Sporting after a sticky run of results lately as well.
Despite the hosts recent poor form, they were still only two points off the top five and down in ninth place, showing how competitive this league is shaping up to be this term, Woodford had lead the division after a blistering start to their campaign but a recent run had seen them slip to as much as six points behind the leaders and fall to third, so this was an important game for both to try and get themselves back on track.
So what sort of game would we get on a dry but chilly (ish) Friday night, one full of drama and goals and plenty of entertainment, or one which lacked quality and drama and saw little in the way of goalmouth action, well sadly for the ones who came, it was the latter that played out, although their were moments for both sides at either end, but sadly both lacked quality in the final third once they got into that area.
Woodford, backed by their four Towners who sang through the whole game, had the better chances or moments in the final third, they had the best one when they struck the post from inside the box and also ballooned a couple of decent openings well over the bar too after getting in down the left, Bridge saw a long range lob end up on the roof of the net and a close range header loop over as well in their best first half efforts.
Many hoped for a better second period as the temperatures dropped a bit more, and it was Woodford who were building up a head of steam and with the introduction of tricky attacker Emmanuel Robi down the right initially, this caused the hosts defence a headache or two, that's for sure, but they stood firm to their credit and also saw keeper Lamar Joseph-Johnson make a couple of decent stops to keep out the visitors.
But, like the first half neither side could find a way through as the attacking prowess of both lacked any real cutting edge or quality, Hullbridge did get up a head of steam towards the end of the game and briefly threatened to nick the contest and saw a superb long range volley fly inches wide when for a moment it looked like the only moment of real quality would find the top corner, Woodford keeper Eddie Allan certainly was worried as it flew past him and inches wide!!!!
Woodford then thought they had won it late on when Robi prodded home from close range, but then saw the assistants flag go up to rule that out and deny us all a goal and save us from the dreaded double bagel (a 0-0 draw to those who have no idea what I am going on about!!!).
So, no goals and not a lot of drama or entertainment in the end, never mind these games do come along from time to time, still much better than sitting at home on the sofa hey, well I think so anyway hehe!!! I spoke to both managers briefly after the game, Bridge boss Justin Gardiner was fairly satisfied, as was the rest of his management team at a well earned point and clean sheet, whereas Town's Shane Baptiste was frustrated afterwards as he felt the game was their for the taking, especially when the visitors were on the front foot in the second period.
A point a piece it was though which means Bridge stay ninth but are a single point off the top five, whereas Woodford close the gap to the top two and stay in third, three points off the leaders and still right in the fight as we approach the festive period of the season.
Full time Hullbridge Sports 0 Woodford Town 0
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