Athletic Newham 1 FC Clacton 1 - Teddy Collis second half spot kick earns point on the road for ten man visitors against play off chasing hosts

Essex Senior League, Wednesday 31st January

The final evening of January and I chose to pop over to The Terry Mac at Newham Leisure Centre to watch two sides who have had to rebuild somewhat after changes on and off the field in the last couple of months or so, play off chasing Athletic Newham, who were hosting FC Clacton in a rearranged fixture from earlier in the season.

The hosts were looking to try and break into that top five club and a play off position, and three points here would get them level with fifth placed Barking, and a healthy home win could have taken them above The Blues into that fifth spot on goal difference, so that was the aim for the hosts who had managed to win on their last outing in the league at the weekend, this after back to back losses.

They were up against a FC Clacton side who were unbeaten in four games in all competitions, so even if they were down in 14th spot before the game they were still going to be a tough assignment for the hosts, the two had met back in September on the North Essex coast, and Clacton had ran out 3-2 winners in that one, although neither sides were the same from that game so hard to read into that one, it was four/five months ago and a lot has changed since then.

Now before the game had even began the evening had it's dramas, the visitors had a nightmare in getting to East London from North Essex, the A12 was shut for several hours at Colchester meaning a big diversion through some small towns and villages to get around the issue, this caused havoc in anyone North of Colchester getting south of it, meaning when I arrived at the ground at around 7pm, half the visiting side were nowhere near arriving.

A new kick off time of 8pm was announced, although the Clacton management were still not sure if all of their starting eleven would even be there by that time, and discussions between the hosts and the visitors plus the match referee ended with an agreement that the game would be delayed further till 8.15pm, which was the latest they could kick off. Fingers were then crossed that the players in question would arrive before that time so they could get going.

Now, the added issue was that the game had to be finished by 10pm as the Leisure Centre and grounds were to be closed at this time, and kicking off at 8:15pm meant that time was very tight shall we say, the solution was to shorten the game time, yes shorten the game time, to, forty minutes per half, so an eighty minute contest, this then gave them a bit more leeway with the timings, and it was all agreed by the league after the referee called them to get the ok to do this, so we had an eighty minute game which eventually kicked off at 8:17pm, 32 minutes after the original kick off time.

All present were just thankful we had a game as anymore delays may have resulted in the game not starting at all, so thankfully that didn't happen, but it meant Athletic Newham were very warmed up after being on the pitch for quite sometimes prior to the original kick off time, and the visitors literally turned up, had a chat and then off they went, it certainly was not ideal preparation for the visitors that was for sure.

Clacton actually began quite well, but it was the hosts who grabbed a 14th minute lead as pacey attacker Idris Aminu cut in from the left hand side and after running across the area to try and get a shooting angle, he eventually struck a decent right footed effort back across goal and into the far corner, and now the visitors would have to try and battle back in this contest.

Clacton's already miserable afternoon/evening got even worse six minutes before the break when they were reduced to ten men after a poor challenge on the right wing resulted in a second yellow, and now not only did the visitors trail by a goal at the half they also were a man light too.

But instead of feeling sorry for themselves and throwing in the towel, the visitors actually did pretty well considering they had ten men, although they should have found themselves further behind when the hosts struck the crossbar with a pretty decent effort from range, and they also missed a point blank header too as they looked to take advantage of their extra man.

But it was Clacton who were to grab the next goal as after the hosts keeper had brought down a visiting attacker to give away a penalty, Teddy Collis stepped up to send the booked keeper the wrong way in the 63rd minute and hand the ten man side a leveller, meaning it was all to play for in the final seventeen minutes plus added on time, of which their would not be much of due to the time constraints.

For a time you felt the ten men may go on and win it, but they were more than happy with a point after what had gone on before, and so the hosts were the ones trying to win it at the end, but Clacton stood firm although with literally the final act of the game it looked like the hosts should have had a nailed on penalty, but instead of it being given the referee blew the full time whistle instead, leaving the hosts frustrated to say the least.

It means Athletic Newham do climb a place to 8th and a point closer to the play offs, but they really wanted all three, especially after leading at the half and having a man extra, whereas Clacton would have been delighted to have come away with something after the afternoon/evening they had endured, and the point takes them up a place to 13th having extended their unbeaten run to five games now.

So, a rather bizarre turn of events this evening, but we got a game in and it wasn't to bad a contest in the end, and I hope all the Clacton guys and girls had a much better journey home than the one they had coming to the game, the were at least rewarded with something to cheer and didn't return home empty handed.

Full time Athletic Newham 1 FC Clacton 1

 

Redbridge 2 Heybridge Swifts 1 - Substitute James Barlow nets 80th minute winner as hosts grab their first win of 2024 by seeing off play off chasing visitors

Isthmian League One North, Tuesday 30th January

Tuesday night saw me over at Oakside for the first time since hosts Redbridge had been promoted to Step Four and the Isthmian North from the Essex Senior League, and on this occasion they were hosting play off chasing Heybridge Swifts who had travelled down from North Essex to the Eastern side of the capital.

The hosts first season at this level for a few years had been mixed, they had won only four of their seventeen league games, with the other's being five draws and eight defeats, the Motormen had been in many games this season but had fallen on the wrong side more often than not, although despite their lowly 17th place standing in the table, they were thirteen points clear of the drop zone with plenty of games in hand.

They were up against a side who were coming to Oakside having lost their local derby at Witham Town 3-0, this after going on a nine match unbeaten run to get them right in the play off mix, they sat in sixth at kick off and only outside the top five places on goal difference, so they knew if they could get back to winning ways here in Barkingside, they could potentially break into those play off spots.

Now the hosts were yet to win in 2024, they did lead 2-1 at New Salamis at the weekend in stoppage time before the game was abandoned after some rather unsavoury scenes, that result is yet to be confirmed, so for now they were still winless in the new year, could they grab one here and get their 2024 off and running finally?

Well, it could not have began any better for the home side when they struck a very early blow when grabbing a third minute lead when a ball fed into the box from the left hand side saw striker Ayo Odukoya send a first time powerful effort with his right foot sail into the far corner, giving visiting keeper Callum Chafer no chance whatsoever, a superb start for the home side, how would the visitors respond.

They almost replied very quickly when forcing a pretty smart save from hosts keeper Connor Wheatley at his near post, but just before the quarter hour mark Swifts found a leveller when after a powerful effort from inside the box could only be parried up into the air by Wheatley, Ben Sartain was on hand to nod the dropping ball home, and the contest was all square.

Swifts for a time had a good spell and threatened to quickly turn this one around, and only another decent stop from Wheatley prevented the visitors grabbing the lead when they got behind the hosts back line, however it was Wheatley's opposing number who was to keep the score line level towards the end of the first period as Redbridge finished the half strong, Chafer pulled off an amazing point blank save before beating away another decent effort soon after, and sandwiched in between these saves saw the hosts somehow blast over from two yards out, it looked easier to score.

It meant an entertaining end to end first period ended all square, and the tempo didn't really drop to much in the second half either, although the hosts were producing the better openings but saw Chafer once again produce another awesome stop to prevent them from grabbing the lead, however with ten minutes of the ninety to go, The Motormen managed to find what proved to be the winner when James Barlow, on for early goal scorer Odukoya, nodded home a brilliant cross from the right.

Now the visiting players and management were adament Barlow had put the ball into the net with his hand, but the referee was adament he had not done, pointing to his head to suggest he felt the ball had been headed home, and after a consultation with his assistant, the goal stood and the hosts now had a slender lead to hold onto heading into the final moments of this decent contest.

The hosts had to survive some rather hairy moments in the bundle of stoppage time that was added on at the end, but they did manage to survive some late scares to record a very important and hard fought win, taking them up two places to 15th and sixteen points away from that dreaded drop zone, whereas for Swifts it's now back to back defeats as their play off chase stalled, although they are only three points off those places with plenty of games still to play.

Full time Redbridge 2 Heybridge Swifts 1

Corinthians 0 Romford 4 - Visiting skipper Shannon Simpson nets brace to help her Romford side to all three points at Stambridge Memorial Ground

Essex County Women's Football League Premier Division, Sunday 28th January

I decided to pop over to Stambridge on the last Sunday in January for a Essex County Women's Premier match up between hosts Corinthians & visitors Romford, this was an important game at both ends of the division too.

The hosts were sitting second bottom in the division and only four points clear of bottom side Tigers, so points in this one could put more daylight between themselves and the bottom side and enhance their fight against relegation, they were level on points with the side above them too (Leigh Ramblers) and in fact they were only four points off sixth placed Toby, so they were not to far off being pretty much mid table.

Romford on the other hand were at the opposite end of the table, sitting third and trying to keep tabs with the top two sides (Chelmsford City & Frontiers) and they began the afternoon in third spot and two points behind second spot and eight points off leaders Chelmsford, so three points here was paramount for the visiting side if they wanted to keep tabs on the ones above them, and also increase the gap to fourth placed Stanway Rovers & fifth placed Bowers & Pitsea Reserves, who were four points behind Romford heading into today's games.

The game on paper at least suggested an away win then, but the hosts had began 2024 in positive fashion, winning a thriller at Leigh Ramblers 5-4 in the final minute before grabbing a 0-0 draw with Hutton Reserves although those sides were in and around themselves so there was no denying that today's test would be a much tougher one for sure, Romford had dispatched Hutton Reserves 3-0 before thrashing Tigers 4-0 away, so the visitors had also began 2024 in very positive fashion too.

Now the two sides had met back on bonfire weekend at Noak Hill Sports Complex and Romford ran out 2-0 winners in that contest, with goals from Raquel Mezquita & Chloe Eastwell settling that one, and after only eight minutes Romford had already matched that scoreline as they dominated the early exchanges, they took the lead after only two minutes when skipper Shannon Simpson managed to get through to slot past hosts keeper Zoe Brown and into the net.

And just six minutes later the visitors doubled their lead when a free kick swung into the box was turned past their own keeper by a defender, and at this point you feared for Corinthians as they were being totally outplayed and had not come out of the dressing room so far.

To their credit though the hosts did fight their way back into the contest, maybe not by goals, but at least in determination and spirit, and they did manage to force a save from the visiting keeper (one of three in the game I think as they swapped who was in goal a couple of times in the second period to allow the ones who were in goal to have spell on the pitch!!! This was because their regular keeper wasn't available so some took turns in goal, which is fair enough) but that was really the only real chance the hosts mustered in the opening forty five minutes. Tanya Holley was their main threat and did an awful lot of chasing and running, mainly to no avail sadly.

Romford's pace up front continued to trouble the hosts although they did as well as they could and actually did well against them for large parts, Samantha Koski & Simpson were the main threat for the visitors along with Sharmari Crawford, and on more than one occasion hosts keeper Brown had to be alert to thwart them from going further ahead.

The second period was a lot more competitive and although Romford did continue to look dangerous, especially on the counter attack, Corinthians did muster a few more openings than what they had done in the first period, they did have a golden chance to pull one back when a mix up between defender and keeper saw the hosts prod wide when it looked certain they would score, but despite a more improved hosts in the second half Romford always looked in control.

Simpson & Co continued to threaten, and with nine minutes to go they grabbed a clinching third when a ball across the area was missed and it seemed the chance had gone, but Venetia Stuart (I think as she was wearing the number four shirt although I am almost certain she was in goal in the first period, but who knows!!!) managed to strike a decent left footed effort into the net, and ran off celebrating wildly as it was her left foot, so assuming she doesn't score many with that boot.

The hosts continued to try and find at least a goal to cheer even though the game was lost, and they almost had a spectacular moment when substitute Katie Whiter-Chapman struck a wonderful effort from range and saw it cannon back off the crossbar, it would have certainly been the goal of the game for sure, but it wasn't to be, and then three minutes from time Romford managed to add a fourth when skipper Simpson netted her second of the game by slotting past Brown after getting in on goal, and cap a decent afternoon for the visiting side.

Full time Corinthians 0 Romford 4

Let's look at what else happened in the division today as their were three other games that took place, and how that affects the table:-

Chelmsford City 4 Bowers & Pitsea Reserves 1

Leigh Ramblers 1 Frontiers 3

Toby 1 Hutton Reserves 3

Leaders Chelmsford City made it ten wins for the league season after defeating Bowers & Pitsea Reserves, they maintain their six point lead a the top as second placed Frontiers also won with their road victory at Leigh Ramblers. It means it's as it was for the top three, and Romford's win also opens the gap to fourth to seven points now.

Defeat for Corinthians means they remain second bottom but will be pleased that Leigh Rams lost, although Hutton Reserves did build a three point gap to Leigh and Corinthians after they won at Toby, who themselves are now just a point above today's opponents.

That's all for my latest blog, thanks for reading. 

White Ensign 2 Hullbridge Sports 1 - Austin Smart nets 81st minute winner as hosts see off play-off chasing visitors at Burroughs Park

Essex Senior League, Wednesday 24th January

I took in some local midweek action and popped over to Great Wakering for an Essex Senior League match up between White Ensign and Hullbridge Sports, the visitors not having to far to travel to this one, making the 11 mile trip over from the village of Hullbridge to the village of Wakering, so as well as this being an important league match, it was also a local derby too.

The two sides may only be eleven miles apart but they are certainly miles apart in terms of what they are looking to achieve and what they can achieve this season, the hosts have a very young squad currently and are looking to just continue to establish themselves at this level, they began this one fourth bottom of the table but way clear of the bottom two teams and were more looking up than down if truth be told, a midtable finish by the end of the campaign would be a very good result for this club.

Their opponents on the other hand have much loftier and realistic ambitions, they of course were relegated from the Isthmian North last season and are expected by many to be challenging for at least a play-off spot come the end of the season, they began the evening in eighth spot and four points off these positions, so a win here would take them even closer to those top five positions.

Now this was Ensign's first home game since November 18th when they recorded a 3-1 home win over bottom side Coggeshall Town, but since that win they have played seven games away from Burroughs and only recorded one win in those games, a pretty impressive 1-0 win against West Essex at Wadham Lodge, and even though they had lost five of those seven games, three of those had only been by the odd goal, so they were in a lot of their games but just falling the wrong side of those contests.

The weekend did see them lose 6-0 at Barking although three of those goals came in the latter part of the contest when they were down to ten men due to an injury, but they desperately wanted to grab victory over their higher placed opponents who were themselves going for back to back wins on the road after their late comeback win at The Terry Mac against Athletic Newham at the weekend.

The new year had seen Hullbridge starting to find some form again after a pretty ordinary run before that, they netted five at struggling Ilford in their first game of the new year so they had netted back to back victories away from home headed into this one but no doubt they were hoping the new year would bring a upturn in fortunes and a charge for promotion straight back to Step Four in the non league pyramid.

Now this was the first meeting between the sides this season, the return game at Lower Road isn't till the end of March, and this contest was only five minutes old when the hosts got their noses in front, it wasn't the best defending from Bridge that was for sure, and hesitantly at the back allowed Ensign's Ezekiel Bademosi to lob an effort a stranded Lamar Joseph-Johnson in the visitors goal.

The visitors had started the game the better of the two as well so it was no surprise that they found a quick leveller as only eight minutes more had elapsed when a cross swung in from the right found Zayshaun Asamoah who planted a very decent header beyond the outstretched arm of hosts keeper Harry Fairs, finding the bottom corner and quickly bringing this contest back to level terms.

Bridge thereafter created the better of the openings, striking the woodwork twice before the half was out and having quite a few sights of goal, but they could not find the net, Ensign did create a couple of decent efforts themselves but they would certainly have been the happier of the two sides at half time, the second half was a bit more of a scrap as both sides tried to grab an advantage.

The visitors though were again creating the better opportunities but were wasteful in front of goal, and in the 81st minute paid for not finding the net when they fell to what proved to be the winner as a ball into the box saw keeper Joseph-Johnson and hosts centre half Nathan Wilson challenge for the ball, Wilson managed to get to the ball first and the loose ball fell to Austin Smart who produced the finish to put Ensign ahead.

Hullbridge only had themselves to blame for losing this one, they struck the woodwork again in the second half and also somehow had one off the line in the dying moments, and hosts keeper Fairs also produced two brilliant stops to keep them out, it just was not the visitors day (or night) in front of goal, and the hosts showed superb character and battling qualities to dig in at times and then pounce when a chance came their way, the one thing this young team have is heart, and they showed that in abundance this evening.

The result means that Ensign climb a couple of places to 15th and are eight points off a mid table position now, Hullbridge remain four points off the top five and will be very disappointed to have lost this one, Ensign though would have been delighted to get one over one of he big boys in the division as they recorded a very big and satisfying win here.

Full time White Ensign 2 Hullbridge Sports 1

Essex Senior League/Thurlow Nunn First Division South Review - Friday 19th/Saturday 20th January

 (Action from Friday nights derby between Ilford & Frenford, with the visitors running  out 6-3 winners)

Despite the freezing weather there were some games that did go ahead in the Essex Senior League & the Thurlow Nunn First Division South this weekend, four in each division over Friday & Saturday, let's see how those games went and how it affected the league standings.....

Essex Senior League

Friday

Ilford 3 Frenford 6

Braces from centre half Tom Troubridge & striker Kieran David helped Frenford to the points over a new look Ilford under the new management of Chris Davis & Ray Bartlett at Mayesbrook Park.  It looked good early on when the hosts grabbed the lead after twelve minutes when a ball down the channel and towards the right edge of the box saw striker Michael Dafer and keeper Matt Knight converge towards it, Knight tried to clear but saw it blocked by Dafer who managed to get to the loose ball and finish brilliantly from an acute angle, but with eight minutes of the fist half remaining Frenford levelled when a free kick swung towards the back post by Tyler Morgan found Troubridge who had lost his marker and volleyed in off the inside of the post, 1-1, but not for very long. This is because whilst the visitors were still celebrating their leveller, they switched off and allowed Mo Kaudeer to burst through and slot past Knight to immediately restore Ilford's lead, very frustrating for the visitors who had worked so hard to get back on level terms, but they were to head into the dressing rooms behind and The Foxes were half way towards a first win under their new guise. Frenford though didn't let the disappointment of the first period unsettle them, and seven minutes after the restart they were level again when centre half Troubridge nodded home a header back across goal from close range for his second of the game, and then six minutes later they had the lead after what can only be described as a moment of madness from keeper Boateng who was far to lax on the ball inside his own box, and allowed David, who was lurking, to pitch the ball off of the keeper and slot into the empty net, not what Ilford needed that's for sure!!! In the 63rd minute though The Foxes produced some more decent forward play to level the game once again, getting Kaudeer down the right to cross into the box, and although Dafer couldn't convert, the ball ran through to Quincy Warner who provided a first time finish beyond Knight and this superb game was now 3-3 heading into the final twenty five minutes or so, who was going to take this game by the scruff of the neck and grab an important win here? Well, with twenty minutes to go Frenford got themselves back in front for the second time when a total miskick from Morgan went across goal and fell perfectly for David to slam home into the bottom corner for his second of the game, and then seven minutes after that Frenford had a two goal cushion when Dion Johnston fired a ball in from the right and it ended up in the far corner of the net, whether it took a deflection I don't know, but it meant for the first time in this contest someone had some breathing space. And deep into added on time and with pretty much the last kick of the contest, substitute Sandro Camara struck an effort from distance which took a massive deflection, wrong footing Boateng and ending up in the net for a sixth goal for the visitors and a big three points too. For a more detailed look at this contest check out my blog entry on it at https://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2024/01/ilford-3-frenford-6-braces-from-tom.html

Saturday

Athletic Newham 1 Hullbridge Sports 2

Francesco Zabotti tasted defeat for the first time as Athletic Newham boss as his side saw two late goals from the visitors earn them all three points at The Terrance McMillan stadium. Idris Aminu's goal had given the hosts the lead with just over twenty minutes remaining and that looked like being enough to take all the spoils, however Bridge skipper Sam Owosu levelled with less than two minutes of normal time to play, and then there was still time for Michael Agboola to grab a winner for the visitors and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Romford 0 Tilbury 1

Third placed Romford were up against league leaders Tilbury at Rookery Hill, and the latter netted a massive win after Sam Carter's 56th minute goal proved enough to take all the spoils here.  The winning moment came when a corner was won by Connor Martin whose header looped over the keeper and appeared to be touched home by Carter, meaning the visitors unbeaten run in the division now stretches back to August 28th, against none other than Romford, that's sixteen games having won eleven of those to boot, amazing.

Sporting Bengal United 1 Barking 2

Another side who are flying right now are Barking, and they stretched their unbeaten league run to ten games after coming from behind to beat fellow promotion rivals Sporting Bengal United at Mile End. After a goalless first period the hosts took the lead two minutes after the restart when Yassine Kachi produced a cross for Christian Adu Gyamfi to head home at the back post, however The Blues netted a leveller with eleven minutes remaining when Tony Martin netted a penalty. And the Blues won it with seven minutes to go when Jack Folan's lofted free kick wasn't cleared and Luke Hirst headed home from close range to send Barking into the play off places for the first time this season.

Let's see how those games affected the table.....

That Tilbury win at Romford saw the Dockers increase their lead at the top to four points after Sporting's loss at home to Barking, that result for the Blues takes them up to fourth spot now too as they continued their impressive recovery after a poor start to their campaign. Still plenty of sides in and around those play off spots though, tenth placed West Essex are only five points off those top five positions, crazy stuff!!!

Down at the foot Ilford now trail third bottom Frenford by nine points after that humbling loss at Mayesbrook Park on Friday night, although they still have a seven point buffer back to bottom side Coggeshall Town although the latter do have two games in hand, and with the announcement that only one side will be likely relegated at the end of the season, Ilford do for now hold the advantage, you would say it was between the bottom two for that position now.

Ok let's head down to the level below and the Thurlow Nunn South and see what went on in that division over the weekend.....

Thurlow Nunn First Division South

Friday

May & Baker 1 Burnham Ramblers 3

Ramblers netted only their third league win since the end of October as goals from Alfie Ayers, Aiden Brown & Leon Isaac saw them to a huge three points at Parkside against May & Baker.  The visitors grabbed a third minute lead when Ayers volleyed home superbly from the edge of the box but Bakers levelled from the spot in the 26th minute with Gabriel Odili smashing home the spot kick after Ben Wood had committed a foul inside the box. Ramblers though retook the lead just after the break when a lovelt through ball from Ayers found Brown who beat the keeper, and then just before the hour mark Brown squared to Isaac who found the net, handing Ramblers a very very vital win on the road.

Saturday

Barkingside 0 Harlow Town 2

It's now six league wins from seven for Harlow as they continued their charge for promotion with a 2-0 win at The Drive against Barkingside, both goals came in the opening forty five minutes, Raheem Gray netted the opener seven minutes before half time before Sheikh Ishaq Ameen doubled that lead three minutes later, and that proved enough to take all the spoils here.

Clapton Community 3 Newbury Forest 2

CFC remain top of the pile after they saw off a spirited Newbury Forest at The Old Spotted Dog, Julian Austin headed in a Sherwin Stanley cross to give CFC the lead, and then the visitors saw their keeper sent off when bringing down Stanley for a penalty when clean through, a penalty that Stanley duly dispatched to give the hosts a two goal lead. The ten men though managed to pull one back before half time but CFC were to restore that two goal lead after the break when Taylan Gul smashed home from the edge of the box, and although Forest did pull one back from the spot late on, CFC held on to take all the points.

Park View 1 Cannons Wood 2

Cannons Wood survived a scare at bottom side Park View after coming from behind to net all three points at the New River Stadium, Zivonimir Lopes found the bottom corner of the net four minutes after half time to give Park View the lead, but an immediate response from the visitors saw Samuel Adetiba net for the visitors and then Adetiba netted at the death to snatch victory for Cannons Wood and break the hosts hearts who also saw Emmanuel Etcheri sent off after the visitors had taken the lead.

Let's see how the table looks after those games.....

Clapton Community's win saw them with a two point gap to Harlow who jumped above Benfleet after their win over Barkingside, although Benfleet were not in action and have a bundle of games in hand over the top two and are still the team to watch in my eyes, Cannons Wood's late late win at Park View sees them four points outside the play off positions, it's between the top seven really to see who can get into that top five realistically.

Down at the bottom that injury time loss to Cannons Wood will hurt Park View who remain eight points from safety and with a terrible goal difference to boot, Burnham Ramblers bounced out of the bottom three and into 17th after a very impressive win at Parkside against May & Baker who themselves are only seven points above the drop zone in 14th, it's a very tight bottom half of the division for sure, so nobody can count themselves completely safe just yet.

That concludes this latest round up, hope you enjoyed reading and until next time, goodbye.....

Ilford 3 Frenford 6 - Braces from Tom Troubridge & Kieran David help visitors to big derby win at Mayesbrook Park

Essex Senior League, Friday 19th January

With no football for me this weekend on Saturday I made a Friday night journey over to Barking and Mayesbrook Park for what was a rather big derby game between Ilford and Frenford, and when I got to the ground I found out that the hosts were much changed from previous games.

This was because former Athletic Newham boss Chris Davis & his assistant Ray Bartlett how been announced as the new management team at the club, and they had brought in a decent group of players too, including the likes of Wilkinson Boateng & Joel Appiah from their former club too as the hosts looked to try and change their fortunes around after what had been a rather difficult season on and off the pitch.

To say the hosts form had been poor leading into this derby fixture would be an understatement, as despite a draw against White Ensign in November & a surprise win over FC Clacton just before Christmas, it's been losses all the way for some time now, since the start of November they have lost seven of their nine league games, conceding 32 goals in those games too, and with an 8-0 loss to Great Wakering Rovers followed by a 5-1 loss to Hullbridge Sports leading into this game, changes were necessary

Davis & Bartlett's, along with former West Essex boss Kwarme Kwateng (who is also there as a coach I believe) first assignment as a management team would be against their closest rivals in more ways then one, Frenford, whose name comes from the slogan 'Friends of Ilford', play minutes down the road from Ilford and with Ilford being six points behind third bottom Frenford, it was an important game in terms of league positions too.

It has been announced that only one team will likely be relegated from the ESL this season, and at kick off Ilford had a seven point buffer to bottom side Coggeshall Town, the Seedgrowers though would have two games in hand after this fixture, so Ilford knew a win here with their new look squad would put a ten point gap between them, and also close the gap to Frenford too, so important for both sides this one, as well as bragging rights in the area, Ilford won the corresponding fixture 4-2 at The Drive, so the visitors wanted to avenge that too.

The visitors form leading into this contest had seen them lose narrowly against Buckhurst Hill when they really should have got something from the game and lose a cup game at Saffron Walden Town, and prior to this they had been in most games, winning at Coggeshall Town, before a home win over Athletic Newham and a creditable point against FC Clacton and Stanway Rovers, although they had also suffered heavy losses at home to Barking & West Essex, so a bit of everything you could say.

How would this derby go then? How would the new look Foxes under new management get on? Well, it looked good early on when the hosts grabbed the lead after twelve minutes when a ball down the channel and towards the right edge of the box saw striker Michael Dafer and keeper Matt Knight converge towards it, Knight tried to clear but saw it blocked by Dafer who managed to get to the loose ball and finish brilliantly from an acute angle, first blood and first goal for the new Ilford era you could say.

Frenford probably had more of the play if truth be told, and saw an effort hit the post, Ilford though were looking very dangerous on the counter attack, but with eight minutes of the fist half remaining Frenford levelled when a free kick swung towards the back post by Tyler Morgan found Tom Troubridge who had lost his marker and volleyed in off the inside of the post, 1-1, but not for very long.

This is because whilst the visitors were still celebrating their leveller, they switched off and allowed Mo Kaudeer to burst through and slot past Knight to immediately restore Ilford's lead, very frustrating for the visitors who had worked so hard to get back on level terms, but they were to head into the dressing rooms behind and The Foxes were half way towards a first win under their new guise.

Frenford though didn't let the disappointment of the first period unsettle them, and seven minutes after the restart they were level again when centre half Troubridge nodded home a header back across goal from close range for his second of the game, and then six minutes later they had the lead after what can only be described as a moment of madness from keeper Boateng who was far to lax on the ball inside his own box, and allowed Kieran David, who was lurking, to pitch the ball off of the keeper and slot into the empty net, not what Ilford needed that's for sure!!!

Ilford though responded well to going behind, Kaudeer somehow hit the post when he should have scored, but in the 63rd minute they produced some more decent forward play to level the game once again, getting Kaudeer down the right to cross into the box, and although Dafer couldn't convert, the ball ran through to Quincy Warner who provided a first time finish beyond Knight and this superb game was now 3-3 heading into the final twenty five minutes or so, who was going to take this game by the scruff of the neck and grab an important win here?

Well, with twenty minutes to go Frenford got themselves back in front for the second time when a total miskick from Morgan went across goal and fell perfectly for David to slam home into the bottom corner for his second of the game, and then seven minutes after that Frenford had a two goal cushion when Dion Johnston fired a ball in from the right and it ended up in the far corner of the net, whether it took a deflection I don't know, but it meant for the first time in this contest someone had some breathing space.

Ilford did their best to try and haul it back, they saw a header crash against the bar late on, but defensively they were found wanting yet again, and deep into added on time and with pretty much the last kick of the contest, substitute Sandro Camara struck an effort from distance which took a massive deflection, wrong footing Boateng and ending up in the net for a sixth goal for the visitors and a big three points too.

It all means that Frenford now have a nine point gap back to their rivals, whereas Ilford still have that seven point gap to Coggeshall, but with the latter having two games in hand, they will hope they don't pick up to many points in those, Davis, Bartlett & Kwateng will now know what they need to do, sure up the back first and foremost, they looked decent up front but wanting at the back for sure, whereas for Frenford they managed to take a lot of their chances this evening, not something they have been doing lately, so that will please them for sure, as well as derby delight here. 

Full time Ilford 3 Frenford 6

 

 

Hilltop 1 Erith Town 1 (Hilltop won 3-2 on penalties) - Hosts continue to make history as their record Vase run continued after a fantastic cup tie ends with penalty shoot out glory to reach the Last 16 of the competition

Isuzu FA Vase Fourth Round Proper, Saturday 13th January

It was FA Vase Last 32 day and all sixteen ties took place on the same day, I was over at Burnham FC's 1878 Stadium on the outskirts of the village for the very first time to see Combined Counties Premier North Hilltop take on Southern Counties East Premier Erith Town.

Now Hilltop were only formed in 2005 as a club for the Somali diasporta in North West London, they are based in Stonebridge, London, and in their short history they have managed to come from the Middlesex County League Division Two all the way through to Step Five football today, they even threw in a County FA Junior Cup in that time too.

This Vase run was also three rounds better than they had ever achieved before, so they were creating more history for themselves in this season's competition, although it was effecting their league form for sure as they amazingly sat bottom of their division having lost eight of their fourteen league games thus far, but they do have quite a few games in hand so they can still put that right too.

Their opponents Erith Town have been established for quite a while longer having been formed in 1959 although they were known as Woolwich Town until 1996 when they transferred from the Spartan League over to the Kent League (The SCEFL) and changed their name to Erith Town due to their move to the Erith Stadium and have competed in that division ever since, winning a couple of county cups along the way too.

Erith Town had already matched their best run in the Vase and would set their best ever with victory in this one, their league form this season had been rather mixed, sitting seventh in their division having won twelve but losing seven of their twenty two games so far this campaign, but like Hilltop, all they cared about was the Vase this afternoon, this was a big one for both of course.

Now this tie as said before was being played at The 1878 Stadium, which is home to Burnham FC, who play in the same division as Hilltop, Burnham were due to play Hilltop on this day as a league fixture. However, Hilltop went through in the FA Vase so Burnham arranged a league game which happened to end up as as an away match with Wallingford & Crowmarsh. Hilltop seeing a vacancy at the 3G facility asked to use The 1878 Stadium and Burnham agreed to this, which was nice of them to do. Hilltop normally play their home fixtures at Hillingdon Borough's Middlesex Stadium which is of course grass and could not be guaranteed to be played what with all the weather around lately.

Hilltop certainly began the tie on the front foot and had two golden chances in the opening ten minutes or so, one chance seeing visiting keeper Mackenzie Foley save with his legs and then another chance when the hosts somehow thumped an effort off the post when it looked easier to score, but just before the quarter hour mark came the breakthrough.

More wonderful play from Hilltop saw a sweeping passing move end with a ball played in from the right and find Adnan inside the box to send a finish beyond Foley and give the hosts a more than deserved lead, and it was a lead that should have been greater as they were literally running rings around their opponents in the opening half hour or so.

Erith were lucky to still be in the tie but did show glimpses of life towards the end of the half, their only real chance in the entire opening forty five minutes came from an error from the home side but keeper Victor managed to tip over the effort and make sure the hosts did have a lead heading into the break.

No doubt some choice words were said in the visitors changing room during the break, they had to improve on ther first half showing, although they nearly fell further behind early in the second period but had keeper Foley to thank again for making a decent stop to prevent this, but then after this for a period of time it was Erith who looked the stronger of the two sides, and during that period they found a leveller.

It came in the 56th minute, a corner from the left by James Miles into the danger area saw keeper Victor and visiting striker Harry Taylor challenge for the ball, and it looked as though Victor in trying to punch clear failed to do so, and instead saw Taylor head the ball home and bring his side level and set up the tie perfectly with just over half an hour to go.

You did feel though after Erith levelled that momentum was now with them, and that they may well go on to win the tie, which did not look the case in the opening forty five minutes, but as the tie entered it's final stages, it was now becoming one hell of a cup tie, very enjoyable indeed, unless you were involved with either side were the tension was palpable.

The tempo of the game had been fairly decent throughout, and both sides looked to try and win the game, Erith definitely had the better chances in the second period, which was a total reverse from the first half, however neither side could find a winner and it meant the dreaded penalties would be needed to decide who progressed into the next round.

The shoot out began with Erith keeper Foley taking the first kick, which I've never seen before, but he slammed it into the corner, giving Victor no chance, but the Hilltop stopper was to be the hero in the shootout, as he saved the next two spot kicks meaning the hosts built up a 3-1 lead after three pens each, and at 3-2 the hosts had 'match point' but saw their fourth one saved by Foley, meaning a late twist perhaps?

Sadly for Erith no, because Victor produced a third save out of five spot kicks to win the tie for Hilltop and cue mad celebrations between themselves and the crowd behind the goal who had also charged onto the pitch to celebrate with them, it had been a terrific cup tie and it's a shame someone had to lose it this way, but it's Hilltop who go through to the Last 16 and continue to make their own history as a result.

Full time Hilltop 1 Erith Town 1 (Hilltop won 3-2 on penalties)