Essex Senior League, Saturday September 14th
Mid September and the second weekend of the month saw me over at Parsloes Park for the second time this season and two more sides doing battle on the main pitch at the state of the art facility in Dagenham, and it saw Athletic Newham host Buckhurst Hill in an Essex Senior League contest.
This was one of five matches taking place in the division today, and their was also an Emirates FA Cup tie involving one of league sides, more on that and the other four league games later in a brief round up of the action, but the main focus was on the game I was attending, it had large significance for the hosts as this was their first home game at their now new home after finally leaving The Terrence McMillan Stadium behind.
They join the likes of May & Baker and several Essex Alliance League sides to call this 'home', it's certainly a magnificent hub for the community and with plenty of sides using it for their games, football is always on at the venue, which is also good for the locals who can go and either watch these sides and support them, or when those sides are not playing can participate themselves in various programmes there for sure, so a very useful facility indeed.
Newham's first game there competitively saw them welcome Buckhurst Hill, Newham were sitting in sixth coming into this one and only outside the play off places by a point, and they did have two games in hand as well, athough they did see their unbeaten league start end at Great Wakering Rovers in midweek when they were defeated 3-1, that off the back of their first defeat in all comps against Amersham Town in the FA Cup, although sandwiched in between those two defeats was a 2-1 win at Frenford.
Opponents Hill sat down in 16th place in the division having lost four of their seven games so far, although in the two games I'd seen of them so far this season, a 2-0 win at Saebridgeworth Town (their only league win so far this season) and a 2-2 draw at White Ensign (they conceded a 98th leveller in that one) suggested to me they were probably better than that 16th place suggested.
They had also defeated Cockfosters 3-1 in the Vase too this season, although they came into this contest off the back of a 1-0 loss at Hullbridge Sports, a side Newham had dismantled 6-1 at the same ground last month, but it would be interesting to see how Newham's attacking prowess would match up against a tough and well drilled Hill side who themselves had plenty of weapons to hurt their opponents.
And it was the visitors who drew first blood in this one, just before the half hour mark saw a ball towards the back post hit the arm of a defender which was punished with the award of a penalty to the visitors, much to the dismay of the hosts, George Thompson duly then stepped up to convert the spot kick and Hill had the advantage, although it was an advantage that was only to last nine minutes.
This was because a lovely long ball from George Rankin split the visiting defence and allowed goal machine Jaime Obama Nvumba to run onto the pass and loft a lovely effort over Muhammed Otuyo in the visitors goal and find the net for what was his ninth goal already this campaign, it also meant the sides went into the break all square.
Hill though were to regain the lead early in the second period as when 55 minutes on the clock a ball fired into the area straight at Tyreece Robertson saw the attacker control a cushioned pass back into the path of Thompson who rifled a lovely powerful effort beyond home keeper Lindrit Beqiri and into the roof of the net, meaning the hosts would have to come from behind once again to try and grab something from the contest.
This hosts certainly tried all they could to get back to parity thereafter, and with ten minutes remaining they made their pressure tell when finding a leveller, as after a handball on the edge of the box, Alex Kozak smashed home an unstoppable free kick to set up a grandstand finish to what had been a brilliant entertaining contest it has to be said.
Momentum was with the hosts you felt, and most of us thought their would be only one winner, but football continues to throw up surprises doesn't it, and in the seventh minute of stoppage time, Oliseh Okuguni played a lovely through ball to substitute Suley Zuhdu who made no mistake by slotting beyond Begiri into the far corner and send his side wild with delight, they had soaked up a lot of pressure in this one, especially second half, but they had dug in and then snatched a point right at the end, leaving them very happy indeed.
It was utter despair though for the hosts who will be scratching their heads on how they lost this one, but it's a second league defeat in three now, whereas it's a superb battling win for Buckhurst Hill who now have two wins in the league this season, oh and I have seen both those wins too, just saying.....
Full time Athletic Newham 2 Buckhurst Hill 3
Right, to the day's other action, starting with Barking's Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round contest at Gorleston:-
Gorleston 2 Barking 2
It was another tough away trip for The Blues in this years FA Cup as they travelled to Great Yarmouth to take on Isthmian North Gorleston who had started the season well, but Barking had dispatched Redbridge who are in the same division as Gorleston and have had a similar start too, so the visitors were certainly not lacking confidence in another upset. Well, at half time it looked as if Barking were nailed on to cause another one as an eleventh minute goal from Marcel McDonald and a further strike from Abuntunde Olawajuwon just past the half hour mark saw The Blues two goals to the good at the break, but Harley Black then pulled one back early in the second half and then Adam Tann netted a leveller with eleven minutes to go to force a replay at Mayesbrook Park next week, still in the hat though for Monday's draw despite the disappointment of losing such a commanding lead.
Onto the other four Essex Senior League games that took place today, here is how they panned out:-
Benfleet 3 Halstead Town 2
ESL newboys Benfleet have had a mixed start to life at this level having won three and lost three so far this season, meaning they sat in a still decent eighth spot, and they were up against a Halstead Town side who up until last weekend were winless and bottom of the pile, that was until they netted a late late winner against Stansted last time out. And it was the visitors who drew first blood in this one, netting through Asa Cansdale after thirteen minutes, but the hosts roared back and levelled through Billy Carter in the 25th minute, and then took the lead four minutes into the second period thanks to Max Jobson. Aaron Russell then added another for the hosts with just 53 minutes in the clock, and although Cansdale pulled one back for The Humbugs in stoppage time, it was not enough to deny the hosts a fourth win of the season.
Hullbridge Sports 0 Stanway Rovers 3
It was seventh placed Bridge against third placed Rovers at Lower Road, Bridge came into this one off the back of a very welcome win over Buckhurst Hill, this after a run of three without a win, visitors Rovers had recovered from their opening day loss to be unbeaten since then in the league. Reece Conway gave the visitors the lead just before the half hour mark and they took total control after the break when Joe Debell netted early in the second period, and when Debell netted again just past the hour mark, the match was as good as done. The result sees Rovers go top of the division too.
Stansted 5 FC Clacton 1
This was an important game down at the bottom of the division, these sides have just one combined win between them so far this season, Stansted's 3-1 win at Benfleet, the hosts did manage to earn a point last time out whereas bottom side FC Clacton have just two points from eight games and have lost the last three in a row without scoring. Well, it was to start well for the struggling visitors when they grabbed a sixth minute lead through Emmanuel Ikwuegbu, but sadly for the visiting side that was as good as it got, Psaul Henry brought the hosts level midway through the first half before John Clarke gave Stansted the lead just before the break. George O'Connor then extended that lead just past the hour mark before Correy Davidson added a fourth goal a minute later, and the scoring was completed with seven minutes to go when David Limber got himself on the scoresheet to cap a brilliant day for The Air portmen and a heap more misery on the visitors who have now suffered four defeats in a row and seventh of the season.
Takeley 1 West Essex 0
Despite Takeley's 11th placed position in the league, many have tipped them to be dark horses for the playoff places, they have only lost one of their five league games so far and come into this one off the back of a very creditable draw at Saffron Walden Town, West themselves are only two points below their opponents, but have suffered back to back defeats coming into this contest. Just the one goal was enough to settle this one too, it came after just nine minutes to, Lanre Balogun netting for the home side as they took all the points at Station Road, their third of the campaign.
How does the table look after today's games, let's find out:-
Stanway Rovers hit the summit, they lost their first game of the season but since then have gone in a good run, Benfleet's fourth win of the season sees them into the play off places, closely followed by Takeley who have only lost once so far this campaign, Woodford, who were not in action today, are now the only unbeaten side left in the division.
Stansted & Buckhurst Hill put more daylight between themselves and the teams down at the bottom after they both netted second wins of the campaign, the only side not to have won this season are FC Clacton, who remain glued to the foot of the table after another tough day at the office today.
That concludes today's blog, it's been another decent day in the ESL, thanks for reading and until next time, take care and goodbye!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment