Essex Olympian League Premier Division, Saturday September 21st
This weekend saw me turn my attention to some local intermediate football for the first time this season, and I popped up to Garon Park to see unbeaten league leaders Old Southendian host Bishop's Stortford Swifts.
This match was one of seven Premier Division match ups today, more on those later, but for now it's all about whether OS could continue their unbeaten start to their season or if Swifts could grab a fourth win of the campaign and continue what has been for them a very solid start to their season so far.
OS had played six league games thus far, winning four and drawing the other two, and they were the last remaining unbeaten side in the division and a point clear at the top, they began the season with back to back wins (against Sungate & Hashtag United Development) before they drew with Runwell Sports, they then beat Leigh Ramblers before drawing at Shenfield AFC, and then last time out a week ago they squeezed past Harold Wood Athletic.
Swifts were bang in mid table (7th) after winning three and losing three in their six games, after losing back to back games to start off their season (against Runwell Sports & Leigh Ramblers) they bounced back with victories over Old Chelmsfordians & Wakering Sports, they then lost at home to ACD United before they saw off Catholic United at home a week ago, that's three very good wins in the last four outings.
In fact that win against Wakering Sports are the only points Sports have dropped this campaign, so that result was certainly an eyebrow raiser, and showed exactly what Swifts could achieve, it was also at Cupid's too, so it was a superb away win for the Swifts, so OS would have to be very wary and on their game to maintain their unbeaten start for sure.
With less than twenty minutes on the clock the hosts were already in a strong position and already well on their way to another positive result, the opening goal coming after twelve minutes when a ball into the box caused confusion between keeper and defender and Callum Ludlaim was on hand to pounce and fire home the lose ball, and then five minutes later a corner swung in by Matt Tonking found an unmarked Ryan Still well at the back post who converted easily, and the hosts had a two goal cushion.
It did seem at this point it would be a matter of how many the hosts would manage, but as the half went on Swifts did muster some decent attacks of their own, but with moments of the first half remaining they handed the home side another goal as after a deep corner was volleyed back into the mix by Stillwell, Jack Lelliott did well to manufacture an effort at goal, this was cleared off the line by a defender but unfortunately for him straight into another defender and the ball crashed off him and into the net, and the hosts went into the break with a three goal cushion.
It had not been a vintage performance from OS despite a 3-0 lead at the break, they had done enough as they say and still got a telling off in the dressing room during the half time interval, but they were in a very good position still but set such high standards and wanted to reach those levels, and in the second half they had the chances to add further goals but wasteful finishing meant they could not add to it.
That was until midway through the second half when they did manage to add a fourth, a ball into the box was nodded back across goal from Ludliam to apply the finishing touch for his second of the game, Swifts had quite a bit of the ball after but failed to create much, OS had plenty more chances on the counter but could not add to their tally, the game kind of fizzled out in the warm conditions at Garon Park.
OS do remain unbeaten after seven league games though and open up a three point lead at the top, whereas Swifts lose their fourth game of the season and fall a place to eighth.
Full time Old Southendian 4 Bishop's Stortford Swifts 0
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