Hullbridge Sports 1 Little Oakley 1 - Derek Asamoah's late leveller salvages Bridge Boys a point at Lower Road to deny visitors all the spoils after early Oliver Hart goal looked enough for the win

Essex Senior League, Tuesday 27th February

I was back over at Lower Road to see if hosts Hullbridge Sports could get an important three points in their quest for a play off spot, and they were up against Little Oakley who themselves were looking for a win to take them level on points with tenth placed Stanway Rovers.

It's been a frustrating season for the hosts so far though, although despite their inconsistent form across the season (thirteen wins, six draws, twelve defeats) they headed into this one in eighth spot and still only three points off fifth placed Sporting Bengal United who occupied that final play off berth, so they were still right in the mix for sure, as were several others all the way down to at least tenth spot, so only half the division!!!

League form since the turn of the year had seen them net four wins from five before they were humbled at home to Barking last time out so they needed a response to that woeful showing, and they were up against an Oakley outfit who were having an equally frustrating campaign, having won nine, drawn ten and lost ten to be in the lower half of the table, although they did come into this contest off the back of  victory at home to Takeley, so something to build on after a first league win since the turn of the year.

Form and league position certainly pointed towards a home win though, but the hosts had the worse possible start when they fell behind after only five minutes when a lovely free kick delivered into the box by Luke Hipkin saw Harry Mann miss contact but Oliver Hart was right behind him to convert from close range and Bridge would now have to try and come from behind to get something from this one.

Both sides certainly had chances thereafter to either level in the hosts case, or in the visitors case increase their lead, examples for the hosts being a couple of efforts from full back Alfie Whiteaker with his left foot flying wide of the far post, and then visiting keeper Billy Lawlor beating away an effort from the hosts in what was probably his only real save he made in the entire game, despite a lot of pressure being applied by the home side in periods of the contest.

Oakley themselves had chances to kill the game with their best one by far being a Mann effort striking the bar before a follow up effort from Jordi Papple being skied over the bar, had that have gone in then it probably would have sealed their win, but they were made to pay for this when Bridge did manage to finally find the net as a cross from second half substitute Michael Dixon was spilled by the unfortunate Lawlor, and 42 year old Ghanian forward Derek Asamoah was on hand to turn the ball home and bring his new side level.

Could anyone find a winner, well the momentum seemed to be with the hosts but they had to be alert to thwart some late breaks from Oakley, however neither side could find one and it meant the game ended all square and a point a piece in the process. Both sides ended the game frustrated as both felt they could and should have won it gaging by the body language of both sets of players/management/fans after the game. It has been a frustrating season for both as said above, so this game kind of summed up both sides seasons so far.

At least Bridge managed to salvage something from a game they could easily have not, they are now a point closer to fifth place now as well, so every cloud and all that you could say, whereas for Oakley they could not quite hold on and would be annoyed with that after leading for so long, they are 13th and five points off a top ten position now.

Full time Hullbridge Sports 1 Little Oakley 1

Barkingside 2 May & Baker 4 - A Bobby Breen brace, a goal from ex-Side Dan Jones & a Laurie Wiggins spot kick help Bakers come from two goals down to take all three points at Cricklefield

Thurlow Nunn First Division South, Monday 26th February

After no football at the weekend and none since last Tuesday, I needed to get out and do some more games, so Monday night saw me return to Cricklefield since the opening week of the season to watch Barkingside take on May & Baker in a Thurlow Nunn South contest.

Both these sides realistically haven't a lot to play for, the play offs are out of the question, Side were in 15th spot and some twenty six points off fifth placed Wormley Rovers, Bakers were only three places and three points further on, so pretty much no chance of grabbing a post season spot, both were much closer to the relegation spots mind, although I still think both will be fine in that regard too.

Side were only five points above the bottom three so yes, they do probably need a couple more wins at least to be comfortable, but with everyone beating everyone down there I felt that the hosts didn't have too much to worry about, Bakers had an eight point buffer to the bottom three so I reckon one more win or two will definitely give them plenty of breathing space in that regard too.

One thing that maybe worrying the hosts recently though is their form since the turn of the year, only two points from a possible eighteen although with games against the likes of Clapton CFC, Clapton, Benfleet, Harlow Town and Dunmow Town, all sides bar Clapton who are in the top five, this was a truly awful run of fixtures for them, so take that into account. 

Could they grab their first win in seven against a Bakers side who since the turn of the year had twelve points from a possible twenty seven, that's four wins and five defeats, and only one of those defeats came against a top five side in Benfleet, so very inconsistent form, meaning the hosts fancied a chance in this one depending what Bakers team turned of course.

The opening half hour or so was pretty uneventful with very little in the way of quality, and I was sitting there thinking how creative I may have to be with this blog with not a lot to write about, but, thereafter things perked up shall we say, beginning in the 36th minute when the only real moment of quality up to that point when Jack Allen netted his first goal for Side after curling home a superb free kick to give the hosts the lead.

And five minutes later Allen netted his second goal for the club with another superlative effort from range into the same corner, and suddenly Side had opened up a 2-0 lead, but, they were unable to go into the break two goals up because Bakers managed to find a goal a minute before the break when Idris Aminu burst down the right and he squared a ball across goal for Bobby Breen to apply a finishing touch at the far post.

This would have been extremely frustrating for the hosts who had a habit of giving up leads this season, so to concede so close to the break meant doubt was sown into the back's of their minds, could they go on and net the next goal because that was now crucial in how this game would end up.

Side actually began the second period on the front foot but were unable to find that illusive third goal, and then in the 66th minute came a leveller from Bakers, and what a messy goal it was for Side to concede, as Bakers skipper Anthony Cooke swung a free kick into the box which appeared to miss everyone and seemed to be heading in, but was kept out just about, however, Dan Jones, ex Barkingside of course, was on hand to prod the loose ball home.

From that moment onwards the visitors confidence really grew as the hosts diminished, and ten minutes after levelling, the 76th minute, Bakers had turned this one around as another free kick from Captain Cooke (sorry I had to say it!!!) caused chaos amongst the hosts backline, and Bobby Breen was there to fire home from close range and now the hosts needed to find something to get anything from this game.

They could not though, and with five minutes left Bakers sealed the points after they were awarded a penalty for a sinical foul inside the box, and Laurie Wiggins stepped up slot home the spot kick for their fourth of the game, although moments later Joao Rodrigues was sent off for a second yellow after an apparent trip, meaning the visitors would finish the game with ten men, but it mattered not really as Bakers recorded a fifth win of 2024.

It's three points that took Bakers into the top ten and eleven points away from danger, for Side it's now two points from seven games in 2024, they need to stop this poor run of form although they come up against Wormley Rovers, another top five side, next so it won't get any easier in that one!!! 

Full time Barkingside 2 May & Baker 4

Buckhurst Hill 0 Great Wakering Rovers 3 - Max Gnandi brace helps Rovers see off Buckhurst Hill at Burroughs Park to progress into Round Two of the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy

Essex Senior League Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy First Round, Tuesday 20th February

Thanks to GWR boss Marcus Bowers, assistant Bunny & the players, this game would not have been possible for me, a lack of funds meant I would not have been able to attend tonight's game until they stepped in and and said just get myself to Burroughs Park and they would take care of me and get me home after.

I therefore accepted their kind gesture (Bunny bought me a cheeseburger and chips before the game, and Marcus and the players chipped in to get me a cab back home afterwards) and so with me already having a media pass from the league, it ended up not costing me much at all, an amazing gesture from such a great set of lads, I will never be able to thank them all enough.

The club are certainly bouncing with confidence right now as well, into the Quarter Finals of the FA Vase for the very first time, and on a play off charge in the Essex Senior League too, and tonight they were in Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy action as they welcomed Buckhurst Hill to their Burroughs Park surroundings, although this was actually a Buckhurst Hill home game. 

The tie was switched yesterday though as they could not guarantee that their Roding Lane pitch would remain playable by today/this evening, so it was decided that the tie would need to be played on the Essex Coast, which immediately handed the initiative to Rovers as they were now the ones with the home comforts and didn't have to travel like their opponents now had to do on a midweek matchday.

This was the last remaining first round tie of the competition though, so it needed to be played and out of the way, these two had already played twice at Burroughs Park this season, GWR winning a seven goal thriller 4-3 back in September in the early stages of their now record Vase run, and then they also played in the league for Marcus Bowers & Bunny's first game as the management duo for GWR and won 6-1, so could Hill make it third time lucky here or would GWR net a third win out of three.

The score line by the end of this contest seemed to suggest a comfortable and straight forward win for GWR, but it was anything but as Hill had some decent openings and on another day could easily had netted goals themselves, Shae Hutchinson missed a guilt edged chance early on and there was another decent chance in the opening half that was spurned by the men from Roding Lane.

Hill had the ball in the net as well after Rovers had gone in front, but this was ruled out for offside, however Wakering did have their chances as well, Jake Gordon curled just wide early on but unlike Hill, they did manage to grab a 16th minute lead when a cross into the box found Owen Bellamy whose effort was well saved by Ben Lane in the Hill goal, but Jack Stone was quickest to react to fire home the rebound.

Wakering, probably still suffering a slight FA Vase hangover from the weekend, were certainly not at their best, but they were doing enough still to hold onto that lead as the game entered the second period, and the game was still in the balance until Rovers grabbed a second goal in the 64th minute when a corner swung in by Gordon was clawed away by Lane, but the loose ball ended up at the far post where substitute Max Gnandi was on hand to nod the ball home, and now Rovers had some breathing space.

And with four minutes to go they sealed the deal with a rather messy goal, Sonny Noble burst down the right and squared the ball into the box where Hill's Abdulia Sarr sliced the cross towards his own net, and although Lane just about managed to tip the ball onto the bar, Gnandi was on hand to nod home the loose ball home and net his second of the game.

The score line probably didn't reflect the game as said, but credit to Wakering who despite not being at their best still produced a decent enough performance to grab the win, Hill will count themselves a tad unlucky to loose by three, but a lack of cutting edge and lack of concentration at critical moments cost them here as they came up a more than decent outfit.

It means Wakering win through to Round Two and set up an away tie at Mayesbrook Park against Ilford with a date to be announced, it's going to be a rather busy final two months of so for the Green and White army, that's for sure, but an exciting one to for sure.

Full time Buckhurst Hill 0 Great Wakering Rovers 3

 

Hullbridge Sports 0 Barking 4 - Brace from Martin plus strikes from Rowland & Hirst help see Barking to comfortable win at Lower Road and increase unbeaten run to sixteen

Essex Senior League, Saturday 17th February

Mid February now and there were another eight games in the Essex Senior League including two big ones bringing together four sides who had serious play off ambitions, one at The Terry Mac between fifth placed Athletic Newham & fourth placed Sporting Bengal United, and the one I attended at Lower Road as sixth placed Hullbridge hosted seventh placed Barking.

The season is now entering it's final two or so months so results now are becoming even more important in terms of the final shake up, and for Bridge & Barking it was an important game to see who could keep that momentum going as well, Hullbridge had won four our of five games in the league in 2024 to get themselves right back in the play off mix, whereas Barking have been on a fifteen game unbeaten run stretching all the way back to late October, an incredible run of form following a change of management at that time.

Could the hosts end that long unbeaten run, or could The Blues stamp their mark on this one and continue their amazing form and charge towards the top five, well the opening twenty or so minutes saw the visitors have two brilliant chances, heading wide with one such opening before seeing another header glance of the post, but in the 25th minute they did get their noses in front deservedly when Luke Hirst played in strike partner Tony Martin who thumped an effort beyond Lamar Joseph-Johnson into the bottom corner via the keepers hand.

The hosts did actually respond well to going behind and probably had the better of the latter part of the half, and they thought they had levelled when Michael Dixon snuck in behind the visiting defence to finish past Max Spence from close range, however, the assistants flag on the far side went up to deny them, but they would have certainly gone into the break with some positive things to take from that, but they were not to build on this as the second half began badly for them.

This is because barely two minutes after the break Barking won a penalty after Hirst had got in down the left, and after cutting inside he was brought down for a stonewall spot kick, and Martin duly stepped up to send Joseph-Johnson the wrong way from the spot and hand the visitors a two goal advantage, it was going to be a mountain to climb against a side who had only conceded six goals in that fifteen match unbeaten run.

And on the hour mark things became even more difficult for the hosts when their skipper Samuel Owusu, who had been booked only minutes before for pushing and shoving with Blues Jack Folan, was shown a second yellow for a late lunge on Shane La-Rose (I think) meaning this hosts would now have to try and get back into this game a man light for the remaining half hour or so, not likely to be honest.

And sure enough with seventeen minutes left Barking sealed this one when they added a third goal when substitute Bradleigh Rowland fired a decent effort at goal which took a slight nick off a defender and ending up in the bottom corner, game set & match.

And in the 94th minute and with pretty much the last action of the contest, Blues added a fourth and it was a ball forward which keeper and striker went for, the strikers foot did seem a bit high but no foul was forthcoming, and allowed Hirst the simple chance of slotting into an empty net to cap a fine performance from him after an assistant and winning the penalty for the second goal, he didn't stop running all game and for me was probably MOTM for his all round work rate and performance, so for him to get a goal with the final kick of the game was well deserved.

It also capped a fine win for the visitors who apart from a spell from the hosts in the latter part of the first period were comfortable and totally deserved the three points here today, for Bridge it was a fairly flat and subdued performance so they will need to put that right in their next game for sure. That's sixteen games unbeaten now for The Blues too, with eleven of those being clean sheets, an amazing run.

Full time Hullbridge Sports 0 Barking 4

Right, lets see what happened in the other seven games in the division this weekend.....

Athletic Newham 3 Sporting Bengal United 1

Hosts Athletic Newham won the other big contest at the top of the table, defeating Sporting Bengal United at The Terry Mac, they took the lead after thirteen minutes when an attempt to clear the ball by the visitors hit Andy Greenslade and rolled back into the net, and it was 2-0 just before the half hour mark when Reece Simpson slotted home. And the hosts pretty much ended the contest three minutes after the break when Idris Aminu got some luck when after his initial effort was saved the ball bounced back off of him into the net. Sam Edwards did net one back for Sporting just before the hour mark, but it was merely a consolation for the visitors who fell to defeat here.

Coggeshall Town 1 Tilbury 3

It was bottom vs top at West Street, and it was the league leaders who netted another win to open up an eight point lead at the top of the division. The game was only nine minutes old when Tilbury got their noses ahead when Roman Campbell poked home from close range, and Campbell was to double The Dockers lead from the spot eleven minutes before the break to hand them a two goal half time advantage. The hosts did make things interesting though when pulling one back just past the hour mark when Adedejo converted a cross from Roy Syevens, but their comeback charge was made harder when the hosts saw James Pugsley sent off with twelve minutes to go for a late challenge on Donovan. And in the 90th minute David Knight sealed the points with a third for the visitors.

Frenford 3 FC Clacton 2

Hosts Frenford saw off FC Clacton at The Drive, Tom Potter headed the hosts ahead after just five minutes and they led 2-0 at the break after Camara had netted midway through the first period, the visitors did pull one back just past the hour mark but Frenford restored their two goal lead four minutes later when Morgan slotted home a penalty. Clacton reduced the arrears once again with twenty minutes to go, but the hosts held on to net a big win here.

Little Oakley 2 Takeley 1

Oakley came from behind to defeat Takeley at The Memorial, the visitors led from the spot but Oakley then levelled when Harry Mann's left footed effort found the roof of the net, and then Dan Rowe found the far corner to hand the hosts the half time lead, a lead they were to not relinquish meaning they grabbed all three points in this one. Takeley also saw a man sent off in the second half too as they fell to defeat here.

Romford 4 West Essex 3

Promotion chasing Romford won a ding dong battle at Rookery Hill, West took the lead after just five minutes when Effah nodded home, but Romford levelled just six minutes later when Dorrell tucked away a finish and then lead in the 21st minute when Nalbant capitalised on indecision in the visitors back line. But just three minutes after that West were level when Ayoola powered home a header, only to see Romford regain the lead twelve minutes before the break when Nalbant pounced again. West levelled once again though two minutes after the break when Bartlett-Antwi slotted home, but in the 84th minute Romford netted the winner as substitute Phillips bobbled one home and settle a crazy contest.

Saffron Walden Town 3 White Ensign 2

Walden had to survive a fightback from Ensign to eventually win this one at Catons Lane, Stan Leech & Tom Head netted inside five minutes to have the hosts two goals up, but Ensign netted one back three minutes before the break through Ezekiel Bademosi and with six minutes left levelled through Henry Hart. Both sides then went for a winner, but it was the hosts who netted a 93rd minute winner through Ryan Melaugh as The Bloods claimed all the points here.

Stanway Rovers 3 Buckhurst Hill 1

Rovers got the better of Buckhurst Hill at The Hawthorns, George Okoye & Jose Noel Santa de La Paz netted late in the first half to hand the hosts a two goal cushion, and although the visitors saw a deflected effort find the net to reduce the deficit, Rovers saw Tom Maycock net late on to seal the points for the home side.

Right, where does that leave sides in the table, let's have a look.....

Tilbury look like the ones to catch, eight points clear with games in hand too, it looks like the rest are playing for a play-off spot, and with sides down to ninth or tenth still in with a chance of making the top five, it really is going to be some last couple of months in the division.

Down at the bottom, games are running out for Coggeshall Town to try and pull themselves out of the one likely relegation spot in the division, they trail Ilford by ten points although they do have two games in hand, although it's not looking likely right now they will get themselves out of that position.

Finally, congratulations to Great Wakering Rovers today who saw Perry Dunn net a 95th minute winner at Highworth Town to seal a 3-2 win and reach the Quarter Finals of the FA Vase, joining Romford who got through last weekend of course, having two sides in the last eight of the Vase is an amazing achievement for the league this season, fingers crossed at least one of them can go on and win it!!! It's also worth noting that Tilbury came so close to making it three in the last eight but they lost out on penalties to North Greenford United last weekend, but well done to them for getting so far in the competition too, NGU face Romford now in the Quarters whilst GWR host Falmouth Town for a spot in the semi finals.

    

Billericay Town 1 Chatham Town 1 (Chatham Town won 3-2 on penalties) - The Chats prevail in shootout at New Lodge to win all Isthmian Premier League Cup contest & reach Velocity Trophy Semi Finals

Isthmian League Velocity Trophy Quarter Finals, Tuesday 13th February

Tuesday night saw me pop over to New Lodge for an all Isthmian Premier Velocity Trophy Last Eight tie between hosts Billericay Town, who sat third in the division, and second placed Chatham Town, both are going for promotion into Step Two of the non league pyramid but tonight it was about league cup glory and a place in the last four of the competition.

The hosts had seen off local Isthmian North side Bowers & Pitsea & then needed penalties to see of Cheshunt in Round Four, visitors Chatham Town netted victory on the road at Three Bridges before defeating Basildon United, who are just down the road from New Lodge, in the last round to set up this tie between two high flying sides.

Both sides form has been mixed of late though, and they both had three wins and two losses in their last five outings, which sees them both losing ground to runaway leaders Hornchurch who are now nine clear of second placed Chatham and thirteen clear of Billericay Town, so realistically these two are headed for the play offs providing they can find some good form between now and the end of the season.

The two sides had already met here at New Lodge earlier in the season, and Billericay recorded a 2-0 win on a Tuesday night back on November 7th with Richard Asamoah & Moses Emmanuel netting the goals in front of 462 that night, Asamoah was in in the hosts line-up again for this cup tie, could he net again and could The Blues record another win against the Kent visitors?

Well, the crowd was down from the previous game these two played as despite a reduced entrance fee for this tie, only 238 were in the ground to watch this contest, with a good number from Kent who made themselves heard at times, and after a decent start from the home side which saw Alfie Cerulli miss a golden chance inside the first few minutes, once Chatham settled they began to have the better of the opening half.

And with twenty eight minutes on the clock they countered on the hosts with devastating fashion, and it ended with defender Jamie Mascoll being slipped in on goal, and he showed striker qualities so slot beyond Dan Wilks in the hosts goal to give The Chats the advantage, and make their fans behind the goal very happy indeed.

Wilks then produced an amazing double save to deny Chats from doubling their lead just before the break, but after half time the match really got bogged down with very little in the way of chances, and I was sitting there thinking how I was going to have anything to write about in this blog, it was a very poor second half but thankfully for me things did happen late on.

The hosts, who did not look like scoring, found a leveller with eighty three minutes on the clock when Cerulli pounced on a loose ball inside the box to slot past visiting keeper Mitchell Beeney and into the far corner, and suddenly the hosts sensed victory, but it did not come and so penalties were needed to decide this contest.

Beeney was to be a major factor in the shootout too, as after both sides had netted their opening two spot kicks, one of which Beeney got a big hand too but could not keep out, the Chats stopper saved the next two leaving his side on the brink of victory, Chatham did miss a kick to win the shootout leaving the hosts having to score to keep it going, but sadly for the hosts they blazed that one over the bar meaning it's Chatham Town who progress into the Semi Finals of the Velocity Trophy.

Full time Billericay Town 1 Chatham Town 1 (Chatham Town won 3-2 on penalties)

Bowers & Pitsea 1 Gorleston 1 - Two in form sides share the spoils at The Len Salmon Stadium in a very hard fought Isthmian One North contest

Isthmian League One North, Sunday 11th February

Game two of my weekend saw me over at a familiar surrounding of The Len Salmon Stadium although not a recent familiar side in Bowers & Pitsea who I haven't seen so much since they won promotion out of the Essex Senior League some years ago now, and as I was passing on my way back from my step mum's I felt it was a good opportunity to go and watch them again after some time away.

They welcomed Gorleston to their surroundings in what was an Isthmian League North contest, both sides were in pretty good form of late, the hosts sat fourth in the standings and in the play off spots after a run of seven games without defeat, Gorleston themselves had just seen a seven game unbeaten run come to an end in their last outing, and they were in eleventh spot and kind of in non mans land in the table although that run had taken them well away from the drop zone at least. (although it looks certain that Stowmarket Town will be relegated along with the now defunct East Thurrock United)

This then could well be a good match up between to confident sides, the hosts were obviously playing for much more in terms of what they could achieve at the end of the season although this didn't mean that the visitors would not try and win as many games as they could before the season was out and see where they could end up (they began the day seventeen points off the play offs, so an unlikely target however ambitious some may be).

The first half saw the hosts edge the contest in terms of openings, but there wasn't an awful lot between them which was expected after the form they had both been in, and it seemed the opening half would probably end goalless, but then came two goals in as many minutes, firstly in the 38th minute when Dion Frary met a corner from the right to power home a header and give the visitors the lead.

But, just two minutes later Bowers were level with a perfect response to going behind as a hosts corner from Benas Viavada found Lewis Chambers who sent a downward header into the bottom corner, and the sides still went into the break all square, but it wasn't goalless, although it was a nice burst of action at the end of the half for sure.

The sides traded chances early in the second period, Soloman Addy saw an effort deflect inches wide of the post before a great block from Malakai Hyman denied Frary from restoring the visitors lead, and then Jake Jessup then produced a brilliant save to deny Matt Price after he had been slipped in by Ben Williamson.

But thereafter Gorleston really had some chances to get their noses in front as they certainly had the better of the second period, Lewis Johnson burst towards the hosts area but could only drag an effort wide, and then Adam Tann then snuck in at the back post but somehow saw his close range effort saved by David Hughes.

Jacek Zielonka then saw an acrobatic effort go wide of the target before a corner to the front post found Ryan Curtis but he saw his shot go just past the far post, Bowers then did have an opportunity but saw Jessup get down well to deny Vaivada, but probably the best player on the pitch, Gorleston's Ismael Fatadjo, fired a brilliant free kick at goal but he found Hughes equal to it to tip over superbly and keep the score line level.

Bowers did have a chance to nick it late on but Vaivada and Price sort of got in each others way after almost getting through the visitors firm back line, and allowed keeper Jessup to come and deny Thomas Stagg at his feet, this would have been very harsh on Gorleston though had they stolen a win as the visitors certainly created more than enough to win this one in the second period.

It ended all square though meaning neither side gains to much from it and stay as they were in the table, Bowers increasing their gap to sixth placed Maldon & Tiptree to four points the only gain on the day I guess, oh and they are now eight unbeaten which isn't to be sniffed at, it was a hard earned point that was for sure. Another gain on the day was for me as I was invited into the boardroom at half time and full time, and they allowed me to leave my bag in their during the game as well.

Many thanks to Barry Hubbard for the gesture, it's very much appreciated, Bowers are a great community club and they deserve all the success that comes their way.

Full time Bowers & Pitsea 1 Gorleston 1