Waltham Forest 2 FC Romania 3

Essex Senior League, Saturday 15th November 2014

Forest's eight match unbeaten run in the league came to an end today at they went down to FC Romania in an enthralling match at Wadham Lodge.  The visitors had the better of the first half hour but it was the home side who led at the break thanks to Kamissoko's curling effort from the edge of the box on 33 minutes.  FCR levelled six minutes into the second period when a ball forward by Vasile was missed by the defender allowing Pitaru in behind to slot past Hunt for 1-1.   FCR took the lead on 66 minutes when a fantastic ball into the box by captain Bugiu saw Brown poke the cross past Hunt.   FCR looked as if they would go on and win the game with more comfort but Forest were a danger up front all game, especially through Ofori and it was him that levelled the game up once again on 80 minutes when he was played in and he duly rounded Banica and slotted into the net to set up a great final ten minutes.   With two minutes of the ninety left FCR scored what proved to be the winner when Romaru got the ball on the edge of the box and curled a neat effort past Hunt and in off the post.  A thoroughly enjoyable game it was and the visitors probably deserved their win.

Southend Manor 0 Sawbridgeworth Town 3

Essex Senior League, Wednesday 12th November 2014

The Robins put in a commanding performance to see of Manor at The Southchurch Park Arena.  The visitors started the better and it was no surprise when they took the lead on 19 minutes when a corner from Mitchell Das was flicked home by Harold Craston.  Four minutes later it was two for the side from Hertfordshire when a free kick pumped into the box by Mark Robinson went over the Manor back line and saw Charlie Cole sneak in at the back post unmarked and he volleyed past Alex Warren with aplomb.  Sawbo continued to have the better of the play as they went in two goals up at the break.  Three minutes into the second half Manor were screaming for a penalty when Churchill Chia-Titor went down under a challenge inside the box but the referee said no and then Sawbo went up the other end and duly won a spot kick themselves, although Manor were livid and after the referee had calmed down proceedings Gavin Cockman stepped up and saw his spot kick saved by Alex Warren but the ball came back to Cockman who made no mistake from the rebound.  Manor saw a lot more of the ball thereafter but the visitors more than comfortably held out for the three points and a decent night's work.

Leyton Orient 2 Northampton Town 0

JPT Southern Area Quarter Final, Tuesday 11th November 2014

Orient booked their place in the Southern Area Semi Finals with a deserved win over Northampton Town at the Matchroom Stadium this evening.  Orient showed virtually all the attacking threat in the first half as the visitors rarely threatened going forward but Orient only had one goal to show for their first half efforts although it was a good goal as on 26 minutes Dagnall's brilliant flick into the path of Simpson sent him through on goal and he kept his cool to slot past Duke.  Orient continued their attacking dominance in the second half but as the half wore on they went off the boil although apart from a header wide from Mohamed with twenty minutes to go they didn't cause the O's defence to many problems.  Orient were making heavy weather of it though in the second half and Dagnall hit the outside of the post after a lung busting run down the left by Batt in one of many chances to kill the game off.  But just as the game entered stoppage time Orient grabbed the clinching goal when Man of the Match Dagnall laid the ball off to Bartley who side footed home from just inside the box.  Yes the home side made hard work of it second half but they ultimately deserved their win and a place in the next round.

Braintree Town 0 Chesterfield 6

FA Cup 1st Round Proper, Sunday 9th November 2014

League One Chesterfield easily made their way through to the second round of the FA Cup as they thrashed Conference Premier side Braintree Town with a clinical performance to totally outclass their opponents.
Town started well in the first five minutes or so but after this the League One visitors took control and it was no surprise when they took the lead when Eoin Doyle tapped in Sam Clucas's deflected shot on 20 minutes. Ten minutes later it was two when Jones got down the left hand side and the ball eventually came back to Jay O'Shea and he curled home an unstoppable effort past Hamann.  Clucas bundled in a third from Tendayi Darikwa's through ball right on half time to virtually end the contest and eight minutes into the second half after another bright start from the hosts Gary Roberts, Chesterfield's man of the match in my opinion, powered a fourth in from distance, again giving Hamann no chance whatsoever.  Braintree had chances to score a goal but found the Spireites defence in commanding form as well as there keeper Lee who made a couple of decent saves.  With fifteen minutes to go a cross from Jones was inadvertently put into his own net by Remy Clerima for number five and the match was ended with another clinical goal from the away side, capping off a fine performance when another flowing move found Doyle who was through and he finished past Hamann with aplomb for number six.

 

Newham 1 Greenhouse London 0

Essex Senior League, Sunday 2nd November 2014

Newham scrapped past bottom side Greenhouse London at The Old Spotted Dog this afternoon thanks to a Shamrez Darr goal early on in the game.  After a fairly quiet opening ten minutes Newham grabbed the lead when a flick on found Darr and he lobbed the keeper brilliantly giving the hosts the lead.  Newham could of been at least a couple more goals ahead although Greenhouse did manufacture a couple of chances themselves but Newham were much the better side in the opening half.  However the second half was all Greenhouse as they had chance after chance to level and even had two goals disallowed, one for a push and another for offside, kinda summing up their luck today and all season.  Newham held on for the three points but will count their lucky stars they did, Greenhouse were very unfortunate to come away with nothing.