Tower Hamlets 1 Sawbridgeworth Town 2

Essex Senior League, Monday 12th October 2015

So Monday evening saw me over at Mile End for an ESL clash between Tower Hamlets and Sawbridgeworth Town. The two sides had contested a keenly fought Gordon Brasted clash only a week or so ago and the visitors ran out narrow winners so another tight affair was expected.

The Robins were unbeaten in the league and sat 2nd as a result whilst Hamlets have been struggling to apply the finishing touch in a few of their games hence they had been on the end of some defeats and sat towards the lower reaches of the table. The first chance indeed went to the visitors on 2 minutes when Jason Todd was slipped into the box and he saw his effort tipped over by Hamlets keeper Andrei Stinca.

The visitors continued to attack and on 7 minutes saw Charlie Cole strike wide from distance in what was a warning of what was to come two minutes later when the visitors hit the front when Charlie Cole ran at the Hamlets back line twisting and turning before firing a bullet shot into the bottom corner with his left foot past the despairing dive of Andrei Stinca for a decent goal. Hamlets 0 Sawbo1.

The hosts tried to respond and on 17 minutes Samuel Olanipekun tried his luck from long range but it was well wide and three minutes later in another Hamlets attack the ball broke to Anthony Ikenwe on the edge of the box but he could only hit his effort just over the bar.

On 26 minutes the visitors won a free kick over on the right hand side and from this the ball was cleared to the edge of the box were Sawbo centre half Harold Craston could only volley his effort well over the bar and then just before the half hour mark Hamlets went down the other end and Randall Williams cross sees Harry McLean head straight at keeper Scott Byrne.

The next chance fell to the visitors just past the half hour mark when a ball was laid back to Terry Samuels whose whipped first time effort went just wide with keeper Andrei Stinca struggling to get to the shot. On 35 minutes a poor ball from the visitors across the pitch was intercepted by Harry McLean who could only slice his effort well wide from distance but moments later the hosts levelled up the match when Samuel Olanipekun got the ball just outside the area and struck home past Scott Byrne into the bottom corner for another decent strike. Hamlets 1 Sawbo 1.

However the hosts were not level for very long as five minutes before half time a deep cross towards the back post saw keeper Andrei Stinca come to claim the cross but totally misjudge the flight of the ball and he was left in no mans land as it sailed over him and left Charlie Cole at the back post to beat his man to the ball and head home for the visitors. Hamlets 1 Sawbo 2.

Very frustrating it must have been for the hosts after they had got back into the game only to concede again. But it was Charlie Cole’s brace that had the Robins in front at the break.

Half Time Tower Hamlets 1 Sawbridgeworth Town 2

Hamlets had the first sight of goal in the second half six minutes into it when a corner came out to substitute Rory Harper whose effort was blasted way over the bar and then four minutes later came the worst attempt at goal I’ve seen for some time when after Hamlets won a free kick in a great position on the right side of the area Samuel Olanipekun hit a woeful effort miles off target, thumping the ball hard and way too high across goal and high and wide and off the the fence surrounding the running track at the Mile End Stadium.

A minute later the visitors nearly made the hosts pay for these misses as a after they won a free kick Charlie Cole crossed for Terry Samuels whose glancing header came off the foot o f the post and then moments later another free kick into the Hamlets box sees Samuels again glance his header just wide.

Then came a good period of pressure from the hosts as they looked to get back into this contest and on 63 minutes Samuel Olanipekun turned his marker on the edge of the area before seeing his effort go well wide. The hosts were playing some good stuff but sadly no end product which had been the story of their season so far.

On 69 minutes more Hamlets pressure saw the ball scrambled clear by the Sawbo defence to Anthony Ikenwe whose effort was well blocked as they continued to put more and more pressure on the back line of Sawbo. The visitors were still dangerous up front though and on 76 minutes Hamlets gave the ball away to Cole whose cross saw keeper Andrei Stinca and Sawbo’s Dan Norton go for the cross but the keeper punched clear and won a free kick anyway.

With nine minutes left Charlie Cole shifted the ball onto his left foot before striking an effort toward’s the bottom corner but Hamlets keeper Andrei Stinca turned the ball round the post brilliantly to keep his side in the contest and gave his side hope they could maybe nick a draw at the end.

With three minutes to go a long throw into Sawbo’s box saw a very weak header from Samuel Olanipekun go straight at keeper Scott Byrne in another wasteful moment in front of goal and then deep into stoppage time Hamlets substitute Nana Tandor lashed an effort wide from way out in what was the final chance of the match.

Sawbo then battle gamely to the three points whilst the hosts Hamlets will rue more misery in front of goal as they had a lot of the possession and played some good football at times but as in their other games they had no end product. A good battle though at Mile End and well done to both sides.

Full Time Tower Hamlets 1 Sawbridgeworth Town 2

Basildon United 4 Burnham Ramblers 0

Essex Senior League, Saturday 10th October 2015

Today saw my first ESL match in a month and I was at a local derby between Basildon United and Burnham Ramblers.

The hosts had the first attempt on goal after only two minutes as a cross saw a half headed clearence to the edge of the box and Pete Warner could only scuff an effort wide then on ten minutes the visitors had a great chance to take the lead when a ball into the box by Joe Skeels saw Charlie Kirby’s header tipped over brilliantly by keeper Grant Heywood.

A minute later Lindisipho Mytanda broke out for the hosts and he released Farhad Nyanja whose touch allowed keeper Matt Belcher to smother away the effort and then moments later Ben Sartain’s strike from inside the box saw keeper Belcher right behind it.  However the hosts were to lead on 16 minutes when Brad Warner whipped in a free kick and saw Farhad Nyanja head home from close range. Basildon 1 Burnham 0.

On 24 minutes Nyanja got into the box but saw his cross go straight at keeper Belcher as the host begin to dominate their opponents and on 28 minutes a great ball down the line by Basildon full back George Light saw Mytanda charge down the right and into the box but chose to strike across goal and wide rather than find Nyanja in the middle.  Just past the half hour mark it was two for the hosts though as a poor miskicked clearence allowed Brad Warner to cross to the back post where Callum Leahy powered home a close range header.  Basildon 2 Burnham 0.

Moments later it was three for the ever increasing dominant hosts as a cross from Mytanda saw Brad Warner get ahead of keeper Belcher to touch home past him and put the hosts into a very commanding three goal lead.  Basildon 3 Burnham 0.

The only thing that could cause the hosts problems was slacking after having a big lead and eight minutes before half time they nearly gave their opponents hope when a poor back pass saw keeper Heywood clear to an opponent but the eventual effort was well wide.  Six minutes before half time Mytanda forced a great one handed save from Ramblers keeper Belcher before the visitors almost scored from nowhere when Kirby’s long range effort dipped over Heywood and off the cross bar.  However the hosts still had a very commanding lead at the half time break.

Half Time Basildon United 3 Burnham Ramblers 0

Eight minutes into the second half the hosts buried any chance of a Ramblers thought of a comeback when after Light glanced his cross off the bar the ball eventually found it’s way to Brad Warner who took a touch and blasted home emphatically.  Basildon 4 Burnham 0.

This really ended the game as a contest as both sides tempo dropped and the game suffered slightly as a result.  On 65 minutes the linesman on the far side called the referee over after a Ramblers player appeared to call him something so the referee had a word and that was all. The visitors looked frustrated with how the game had gone and moments later saw a free kick go over the bar as Basildon continued to look very comfortable.

With just over twenty minutes to go Basildon broke into the box through Brad Warner whose effort was blocked then Sartain laid the ball off to Pete Warner whose effort was also blocked for a corner.  The game was now just drifting along and on 73 minutes Kirby whipped an effort well wide for Ramblers failing to test the hosts keeper once again.

With ten minutes to go Ramblers keeper Belcher produced an outstanding one handed save to thwart Sartain a goal after the hosts attacker had cut inside onto his right foot and bend one toward’s the top corner but saw Belcher tip over spectacularly and with three minutes to go a Basildon free kick from substitute Falaise saw Belcher tip over once again.  The game had been going through the motions for a while and the referee blew for full time and the Bees had their victory and a comfortable one at that.

Full Time Basildon United 4 Burnham Ramblers 0 

Berkhamsted 2 Northampton ON Chenecks 1

FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round, Saturday 3rd October 2015

So I was back at Broadwater, Berkhamsted FC, for their latest FA Vase encounter and my current game in my latest trail as the hosts took on Northampton ON Chenecks in a 2nd Qualifying Round tie.

The hosts are having a good season in the Spartan South Midlands Premier and sit sixth after eight games with five wins in those matches whilst the visitors from Northampton sat 4th in the United Counties Divsion One with five wins from eight games, although they are a Step Lower in the pyramid but would no doubt prove a tough test for the hosts.

However the hosts should of been a goal up on 3 minutes when a loose ball dropped for O’Donovan inside the visitors box but his effort was straight at keeper Lausinieks and moments later the visitors went close when a free kick into the hosts box saw centre half Farrelly’s looping header almost go in his own goal but it sailed just over.

A minute after that the hosts really should of gone ahead as Jackson’s free kick was headed over by O’Donovan who was totally unmarked at the back post but on 8 minutes the visitors returned in kind when a great effort from Butcher who after a good run down the right cut inside and unleashed an effort at goal which Berko keeper Tasker tipped away well and then the resulting corner caused problems but was eventually cleared.

Then on 11 minutes came a crazy decision from the referee as hosts player Eboji got past his defender who fouled him on the way past but advantage was played so Eboji charged into the area and was brought down for what looked like a blatent penalty but the referee brought play back for the original offence, totally baffling.  He later said that he thought the player had won the ball although I find this hard to see myself, oh well it’s a game of opinions as they say!!!!

Three minutes later Foster broke into the box for the visitors but keeper Tasker came out well to save.  It had been a lively opening quarter to say the least but no goals thus far.  That was until the visitors won a free kick just outside the box midway through the half and saw the free kick whipped over the wall and into the net by Foster to give the United Counties League vistitors the lead.  Berkhamsted 0 Northampton ON Chenecks 1.

Just before the half hour mark the hosts got in down the right through O’Donovan but his ball across goal was flicked away from danger.  The hosts though were cutting frustrated figures as they could not seem to thread any sort of play together as their performance was dropping for their normal high standards.  On 41 minutes good play between O’Donovan and Jowle saw the latter’s cross pin ball around the visitors box before being cleared and then right on half time Jackson whipped another ball into the box for the hosts but they couldn’t convert a header at the back post meaning they went in a goal down at the break.

Half Time Berkhamsted 0 Northampton ON Chenecks 1

The hosts knew they had to come out with a much higher tempo than they finished the first half with and four minutes into the half a corner from the hosts saw it poorly cleared to Jowle who jinked past one before seeing his effort blocked but on 53 minutes they levelled the tie up when a cross saw O’Donovan rise to head beyond keeper Lausinieks and give the hosts a much needed boost.  Berkhamsted 1 Northampton ON Chenecks 1.

The hosts were well on the front foot now and just past the hour mark they should of lead when a Jackson free kick to the back post saw Eboji get his close range header all wrong and saw his effort bounce across goal and away to safety.  But, only a minute later the hosts did lead when substitute Mannion burst into the box and squared for Jackson to tap home to see the home side turn this tie around.  Berkhamsted 2 Northampton ON Chenecks 1.

The visitors wern’t about to lie down though and on 68 minutes were screaming for a penalty after the hosts appeared to handle inside the box but nothing was forthcoming and then a minute later the hosts nearly increased their lead as Edwards broke into the box and saw his effort well saved by Lausinieks before the follow up effort from Chamberlain was also beaten away by the keeper.

With twenty minutes to go the visitors went close as a deep free kick found Watkins totally unmarked inside the area who headed over from close range in what was a let off for the hosts and on 77 minutes with the hosts looking more and more nervy the visitors almost caused panic inside the box as a header across goal invaded two players coming in at the back post.  The visitors were certaining asking questions of their opponents.

With ten minutes to go a great turn of speed from hosts substitute Chamberlain saw him ghost past a defender before forcing a great save from keeper Lausinieks and then two minutes later a cross into the visitors box saw Canham all alone as the Chenecks boys appealled for offside but the centre halfs effort was saved by the ever impressive Lausinieks in the visiting goal.

Berko almost paid for failing to seal the tie when on 90 minutes the visitors went close as Spalding broke into the box and laid the ball across to the back post but Foster could not convert and then three minutes into stoppage time visiting substitute Dore struck an effort from long range which Tasker had to tip round the post.

Deep deep deep into stoppage time the visitors hurtled a long throw into the hosts box but saw the ball go behind off a crowd of players in the six yard box and the eventual decision was a goal kick given as the hosts survived and held on to take their place in the First Round Proper draw on Monday lunchtime.  It was a tough battle so well played both sides.

Full Time Berkhamsted 2 Northampton ON Chenecks 1

Berkhamsted 1.Tasker 2.Edwards 3.Weeks 4.Baldry 5.Canham 6.Farrelly 7.Jowle 8.Hawes 9.O’Donovan 10.Eboji 11.Jackson
Subs 12.Mead 14.Carbery 15.Chamberlain 16.Mannion 17.Caines

Northampton On Chenecks 1.Lausinieks 2.Joe Lewington 3.Clarke 4.Underwood 5.Watkins 6.Caton 7.Ben Lewington 8.Butcher 9.Foster 10.Hancock 11.Ogden
Subs 12.Dore 14.Spalding 15.Hindle 16.Budd 17.Tolworthy

Egersund 1 Vindbjart 2

Norwegian 2nd Division (Oddsligaen) Group 3, Saturday 26th September 2015

So my last full day in Norway for this time round I thought I’d jump on the train from Stavanger to Egersund to see Egersunds IK take on Vindbjart FK at Egersund’s Idrettsparken ground for a 2nd Division (Oddsligaen) Group 3 league match.

The train journey takes just over an hour and cost around £30 return, which does seem rather expensive for an hour’s train journey although this is Norway so probably normal fare for them.  I was greeted with some lovely views as I walked towards the town of Egersund after getting off the train.

Unfortunately the ground was almost at the top of that hill you see in the distance in the above photo so after a lengthy battle to walk up it (took me a good 20 minutes!!!) I arrived at the lovely Idrettsparken.

As you can see it has a lovely large seated stand which after a walk like I had just indured it was nice to be able to sit down.  After obtaining a match ticket for around £10 along with a free programme (which for third tier football is great value indeed) I went via the tea/food bar and took my seat just to the right of the half way line.

As the kick off time approached the stand began to fill up with some very loud but friendly home supporters, one of which had a very large drum, as they created a wonderful atmosphere inside the Idrettsparken.  There were even a few Vindbjart supporters present too who camped out at the other end of the stand waving their big blue flags.   Then it was time for the teams to take to the field to a noisy bouncy crowd.

I was surprised at how many people had turned up to watch this game as most games at this level I’d been too got barely 100 people turn up to watch but there was over 800 present for this one which was a brilliant effort from all concerned.  The hosts were league leaders though and a win today would take them one step closer to promotion to the First Division, known as the OBOS-Ligaen whilst the visitors were in mid table. The hosts certainly fed off the positive vibes from the crowd early on as they started much the better side and on 4 minutes a long throw into the visitors box saw Kenneth Grande volley at goal but it was a weak effort and easy for keeper Halvor Homme.  Then on 7 minutes a poor pass out of the visitors defence saw Cato Hansen steal the ball and drive into the area before hitting an effort across Halvor Homme and hitting the post before the ball  bounced into the keepers hands.

The visitors then broke down the other end and saw an effort blocked before the crazy period of play came to an end when the hosts won a penalty after a foul inside the box.  Kenneth Grande duly stepped up and converted the penalty kick and gave the hosts an ideal start.  Egersund 1 Vindbjart 0.

The hosts almost doubled their lead on 10 minutes with a couple more efforts at goal as the visitors were all over the place at the back and on 18 minutes another corner from the hosts was headed at goal by Kim Robert Nyborg but keeper Halvor Homme was well positioned to claim the effort.

Then came a relative period of calm as both sides competed well but just before the half hour mark the hosts threatened again when a long throw was half cleared out to Dennis Rasmussen Nielsen whose effort flew just wide of the far post and then a minute later another effort from the hosts, this time from Lars Jorgen Mork, was saved well by Halvor Homme.

Ten minutes before half time the visitors were up in arms when their full back Alexander Jones was on the receiving end of a pretty poor tackle from Kenneth Grande which left the visiting player in a heap on the floor however the host player was only booked when other referee’s may have produced another colour of card.  The visitors frustration’s were almost compounded three minutes later when a defensive slip allowed Cato Hensen in on the right hand side off the box but he tried to go for goal and saw keeper Halvor Homme save fairly easily.

So the hosts had the lead at the break but probably felt they could of been further in front whilst although competitive at parts the visitors had hardly threatened the hosts goal.

Half Time Egersund 1 Vindbjart 0

As the second half got underway the visitors had their best opening on 48 minutes as a cross found Oyvind Gausdal all alone at the back post but he slipped at the vital moment and the ball hit him on the top of the head and flew away from goal.  Chances for either side though were pretty limited for the first part of the second half as the tempo of the game slowed.  On the hour mark the hosts went close when keeper Halvor Homme blocked a through ball out to Kenneth Grande whose long range effort went miles over but the next few minutes would change the game somewhat.

On 64 minutes Kenneth Grande found himself clean through for hosts and he slotted past the onrushing Halvor Homme but the linesman had given offside although it looked a very tight call in all fairness and drew a rather angry reaction from the hosts bench.  Then two minutes later while awaiting a hosts free kick from the left Dennis Rasmussen Nielsen and Tony Hieu Vo came together in the area and the referee, who had spoke to the pair only moments befpre, sent off hosts player Nielsen although it seemed a very harsh decision to me but meant the hosts would have to play the remainder of the game with one less player.
This seemed to fill the visitors with more belief and on 69 host keeper Igor Spiridonov had to punch away a dangerous cross and heading into the final twenty you felt it would be an interesting last quarter of the contest.  On 72 minutes the visitors went close again as first Oyvind Gausdal’s effort was cleared off the line and then Tony Hieu Vo forced a save from keeper Igor Spiridonov and then five minutes later Vindbjart continued to threaten as Victor Vindfjell cut inside and drilled an effort at goal which keeper Igor Spiridonov turned away for a corner.

You felt it was a matter of time before the visitors would break through and on 79 minutes a mad scramble in the hosts six yard box saw an eventual free kick awarded to the hosts as they survived again and you wondered if it was going to be their day.  However with five minutes of the ninety left Tony Hieu Vo sneaked into the hosts box unchallenged but saw his effort blocked for a corner which was played out to Thomas Zernichow who blasted an effort through a crowd of players and into the net for the deserved leveller.  Egersund 1 Vindbjart 1.

You felt their would only be one winner now as the visitors poured forward in search of the winner and on 87 minutes a dangerous ball into the hosts box saw Oyvind Gausdal appear to be held back trying to connect with the cross although nothing was given and then a minute left of the ninety saw a terrible miss from Tony Hieu Vo, volleying wide from close range after keeper Igor Spiridonov had flapped at a cross.  But a minute into stoppage time came the winner from the visitors as a cross to the far post saw Oyvind Gausdal rise to head home from close range and send him, his bench and the visiting supporters at that end of the stadium wild.  Egersund 1 Vindbjart 2.

Despite the hosts causing some danger in the visitors box deep into stoppage time the visitors kept them at bay to inflict only the league leaders third league defeat of the season and see their lead at the top cut to one point with four games to go.  It proves to be a tense finish to the end of the season for sure.

Full Time Egersund 1 Vindbjart 2