Essex Senior League, Saturday October 4th
It had been a whole month since I'd last covered any type of football for various reasons, so it was nice to be able to finally get back to it and feel well enough to do it again, the last few weeks have been a struggle but after taking a step back and having a week in the Greek sun, I felt refreshed and ready to go again.
I plumped for a nice local game in the Southend area, and one of my favourite divisions in the Essex Senior League at Burroughs Park where promotion chasing Great Wakering Rovers welcomed ESL new boys Hackney Wick to a rather blustery Essex Coast thanks to Storm Amy, although the conditions were not quite as bad as it could have been.
In fact a full programme of ESL fixtures all took place despite the overnight rain/wind etc, so more on those later, but for now let's see what happened at Burroughs Park:-
Great Wakering Rovers Vs Hackney Wick
Hosts Wakering had suffered a disappointing loss at Benfleet in midweek so were looking to bounce back from that, Wick themselves had recorded some very notable wins this season, especially in the cups, so they were not fazed by anyone in this division and with their dangerous attacking talent would certainly cause Rovers some issues today.
And in the first period that certainly was the case, Rovers had been disappointing at Benfleet in midweek and they were not really on it in the first half here and had Wick found their shooting boots then this game could really have been over by half time, Leo Lopate fired wide with one effort before Wick grabbed the lead in the 17th minute, it had been coming, when Andre Anderson fired a left footed effort into the bottom corner.
And they really should have doubled their lead when a sublime pass from skipper Adam Cheniti sent Issa Sidibe clean through, but hosts keeper George Martin managed to deflect the ball onto the post before it bounced back out and into his grateful arms, had that gone in then Wick would have been well in control, instead GWR went up the other end and levelled, fine margins as they say.
It came when a ball swung into the box by Shaun Gittleson (I think!!!) appeared to be overhit, but, the gusty winds seemed to hold the ball up and deceive visiting keeper Mohammed Nasim who failed to get to the cross and saw Harry Talbot rise the highest to beat him to the ball and send a looping header into the net, meaning the game was all square heading into the break.
Wick should really have been 3 or 4-1 up at the half, they certainly were found wanting in front of goal, apart from Anderson's goal aside, hosts keeper Martin certainly earned his corn too, and with the hosts now having the wind with them, they must have felt happy to be level and now with a chance to put some pressure on their opponents, they had been miles off the pace so far so needed to improve.
And three minutes into the second half and after Wick almost pounced on an opening down the other end, Rovers edged in front and it was that man Talbot once again, capitalising on some lacklustre defending to fire home from inside the box, and now Wick were the ones who needed to respond, although initially after that goal the hosts had their tails up and you felt if they got another things to go very south for the visitors quickly.
To Wick's credit though they dug in and then started to become a threat, just like the first half, although it was a half where both sides had chances to net further goals, Nasim had to get down smartly to stop one Wakering effort, and Talbot somehow headed a golden chance off the bar and over, had it gone 3-1 then you felt GWR would go on and win the game.
Wick though always looked a danger, and you knew if they could stay in the game they would always have a chance of scoring again and levelling the contest up, and in the 88th minute they won a corner, which was swung into the box where Sidibe rose brilliantly to plant a powerful header in off the post, 2-2, with a heap of stoppage time to come, and they felt they could go on and win it.
Rovers themselves also felt they could win it, it made for a very exciting conclusion to the game, a game that had been pretty exciting throughout, Wick could easily have won it but fired over, Rovers put plenty of pressure on the visiting back line but stood firm, and in the end the game was to end all square, it had been a very enjoyable watch, so not a bad one to witness after a months sabbatical.
Oh, and one final thing, the Wickers fan's behind the goal decided to chant in my direction 'Dudley give us a wave, Dudley Dudley give us a wave' to which I responded with a nice friendly wave back and a clap too, it was a lovely thing to experience and they will never know how much of a boost it gave me after my recent struggles, so I thank them for that, am sure they were happy enough to head back East with a point. The hosts hospitality was excellent as always too, so I thank them for this, it's what makes this level of football so special, the people who make the matchday experience so enjoyable.
Full time Great Wakering Rovers 2 Hackney Wick 2
Right, shall we see what else happened this weekend in the ESL, it started on Friday evening at Ashton's:-
Friday 3rd October
Woodford Town 1 Ilford 2 (Woodford suffered a shock home defeat at home to Ilford, the opening goal came inside the first minute when Daniel Izekor scored, and Ilford doubled that lead early in the second period through Greg Akpele, and although Ollie Sotoyinbo netted a late penalty to give the hosts hope, Ilford held on for a superb win)
Saturday 4th October
Barking 4 Hullbridge Sports 0 (The Blues put Bridge to the sword at Mayesbrook Park, with all the goals coming in the second period. Sam Edwards gave the hosts a 50th minute lead from the penalty spot before he added another twenty minutes later, Lekan Osideko then sealed the points with a third in the 84th minute and it was Edwards who completed his treble in the 92nd minute to cap a wonderful afternoon for the home side)
Basildon United 3 White Ensign 2 (United grabbed a vital win over local rivals Ensign at The Hive, Jadon Yamoah gave the hosts a 15th minute lead, a lead that was doubled two minutes into first half stoppage time through Emmanuel Shana, the hosts then saw Harry Baker sent off midway through the second half but then made it 3-0 shortly after thanks to a Nikolay Zlatev spot kick. Ensign though almost pulled off a miraculous comeback, Rio Campbell's penalty in the 88th minute reduced the arrears before Reece Latimer's stoppage time goal made it a nervy ending for the hosts, but they did hold on for a morale boosting win)
Benfleet 5 Romford 0 (Max Jobson netted a hat trick as Benfleet put Romford to the sword at Woodside, Jobson netted his first in the 16th minute before doubling his and Fleet's tally nine minutes before the break, Toby Dickinson then made it 3-0 two minutes after the break & then Jobson completed his treble in the 54th minute as the hosts were now well on their way to victory. And Dickinson grabbed his second of the game and the hosts fifth with just over fifteen minutes to go to complete the rout)
Buckhurst Hill 1 Little Oakley 1 (The points were shared at Myrak Park, Tyler Dolan had given the hosts a 31st minute lead, but this was cancelled out by Bobby Badham's leveller with just under fifteen minutes remaining)
Harwich & Parkeston 1 Athletic Newham 1 (The points were shared at The Royal Oak in Dovercourt, Luke Mayhew had given the hosts a great start by giving them the lead in just the fifth minute, but the visitors from Parsloes levelled through Enzo Sanchez with nine minutes to go and rescue them a share of the spoils)
Saffron Walden Town 1 Sporting Bengal United 1 (And the points were also shared at Catons Lane as Walden and Sporting shared a draw, Timi Joseph had given the visitors the lead nine minutes into the second half, but this was cancelled out four minutes later by Kaleel Green, meaning the game would end all square)
Soul Tower Hamlets 3 Frenford 0 (Soul carried on their brilliant season so far by heaping more misery on Frenford with victory at Mile End Stadium, Kevin Krans gave the hosts a seventh minute lead, Samir Bihmoutine then added another in the 14th minute before he added another seven minutes later as the hosts were three up inside the midway point of the first half. And that proved enough for the hosts to take the win)
West Essex 2 Halstead Town 3 (The Humbugs continued their brilliant start to the season although they were made to work hard for it by a struggling West side, Oliver Travell had given the hosts a 16th minute lead but this was cancelled out six minutes before half time through Lewis Clifford, West then restored their lead two minutes before the break through Saliu Lo Seye but the visitors levelled again courtesy of Kane Gilbert's goal in first half stoppage time. And Matt Coppen's 64th minute goal proved to be the winner for the visitors as they edged out their opponents in this one)
Right, let's see what these results have done to the table:-
Well, to say the top half is tight is an understatement, only five points separate the top nine and only two points between the top six, it's so tight. Soul Tower Hamlets are the new leaders with Halstead only second on goal difference, previous leaders Woodford are now fifth after their shock defeat, and GWR have dropped outside the play off places after they failed to win for the second game running.
Barking are into fourth whilst Benfleet are now right in the mix after their thumping win over Romford, down at the bottom West are still the only side without a win this season, Frenford remain in the bottom two after their defeat at Mile End today, Basildon's win saw them jump up to 17th, it was their first win since the opening day, so very much needed for a side who have gone through two managers already this season.
Anyway, that concludes the Blog, it's been good to do one again and was good to be back watching the game I love too, thank again to all who support me and are their for me, it really does make a difference, onwards and upwards as they say, and thanks for reading too, always appreciated.
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