Ilford 2 Basildon United 3

Essex Senior League, Saturday 16th April 2016

A late Callum Leahy strike gave Basildon United what could be a huge three points in their quest for the title as they defeated a spirited Ilford at Cricklefields.

The first sight of goal came on 6 minutes when Shomari Barnwell found himself with the ball in front of goal on the edge of the area for the visitors but saw keeper Chris Clark come out to save. However two minutes later the visitors did take the lead when a ball down the right released Brad Warner and he squared the ball across goal for Sipho Mtyanda to tap home at the far post.

The Foxes tried to respond three minutes later when Dan Jones saw an effort from the edge of the area go straight at Bobby Mason but on 21 minutes they did find a leveller when a free kick was swung into the Basildon penalty area, was not dealt with by the visiting defence, and saw Glen Warwick lash the loose ball home.

Ilford then almost took the lead on 25 minutes when after the visitors failed to clear their lines again,centre half Isaac Nkosi could only fire wide when in a decent position. Then it was the visitors turn to hold their heads in their hands when they so nearly went back in front as a mishit shot fell to Leahy inside the area but his effort at goal was brilliantly tipped round the post by Clark.

The remainder of the half passed without much in the way of goalmouth action and so the sides went in all square at the break in a half that was pretty even steven.

Half Time Ilford 1 Basildon United 1

The visitors went straight on the offensive after the break and seconds into it saw Warner’s deflected effort fly just wide of the near post before Robert Clark struck an effort from range six minutes into the half but Clark was equal to in the Ilford goal, and then moments later Barnwell scuffed a close range effort straight at Clarke as the visitors looked threatening.

Warwick then saw a long-range free kick bounce just in front of Bees keeper Mason, who saved fairly comfortably on 56 minutes, but on 64 minutes the visitors had a huge let off when a poor ball backfrom a defender saw Carl Mullings latch onto the ball and bare down on goal but he lifted his effort way over and Basildon breathed a huge sigh of relief.

However just two minutes after this miss the hosts did take the lead, as a ball into the box fell to Mullings whose mis-hit effort turned out to be a great pass to the back post where Ashley Skeggswas waiting and he duly diverted the effort into the far corner from inside the six yard box and gave the visitors work to do if they were to get anything from this match.

The Bees looked to respond and on 69 minutes a ball bounced for Clark who had a sight at goal but struck his effort well wide of the Ilford goal before the hosts threatened a third on 73 minutes when good football by the Foxes saw a ball into Mullings, see him turn, but fire well over the bar. Back up the other end a minute later and Warner saw himself in behind the defence but Clark came out to block his effort.

Ilford threatened again just inside the last fifteen minutes when Basildon couldn’t deal with a corner to the back post but Skeggs eventually lifted the effort over the bar. You felt that the hosts needed a third to give themselves a chance of winning this game as the Bees were always bound to get another chance at some point and sure enough with ten minutes to go the Bees levelled the match up once again, as after a shot had been blocked, the ball ricocheted up into the path of Mtyanda who duly volleyed home from inside the box.

The visitors now sensed they could go on and score a crucial winning goal and with five minutes of the ninety left flashed a shot across goal, this after keeper Clark had produced a poor kick out after a less than helpful backpass across his own area. Ilford survived that but in the 89th minute they were powerless to prevent the Bees from scoring the winner, in what could be a massive goal in the title race, as Leahy got through down the right before lifting the ball over an advanced Clark and into the net sparking jubilant scenes with the players and the away supporters gathered in that corner of the ground.

The result means that Ilford haven’t as yet confirmed fifth place just yet although its near enough settled, whilst for Basildon they have now increased their lead at the top to five points and have given themselves a great chance of winning the title now.

Full Time Ilford 2 Basildon United 3

Clapton 3 Bowers & Pitsea 3

Essex Senior League, Tuesday 12th April 2016

Clapton and Bowers shared a six goal thriller at the Old Spotted Dog and saw a rather dramatic finale to the contest too, meaning each side picked up a point.

The hosts were attempting to leapfrog Sawbridgeworth Town into sixth spot with victory whilst the visitors knew a win would see them just five points behind the leaders whilst also leapfrogged Barking into third.

Many had said prior to this game it would be a good match up would of been disappointed as their were barely any chances to speak of in the first half hour of what had been a fairly scrappy contest. The only two efforts at goal did come from the visitors, firstly just past the quarter hour mark when Chid Onokwai fired over from range and then secondly on 18 minutes when Luke Wilson headed over from corner from the right.

However the game was to change just past the half hour mark when the Tons grabbed the lead with their first effort at goal, when Tony Cookey broke clear down the right hand side before cutting inside his marker and drilling home a right footed effort into the bottom corner. If Bowers didn’t know they were already in a tough contest, they certainly did now.

However Bowers, as expected, fought their way back, and four minutes before the break saw the pacey Onokwai burst through and almost see his effort creep in at the near post and from the resulting corner came the leveller when the ball dropped to Lewis Manor and he thumped an effort off the underside of the bar and in the ensuing melee managed to poke the ball just over the line.

Just before the half time whistle tempers were frayed after a poor tackle from the visitors, resulting in some handbags between both sets of players, resulting in a yellow for the Bowers man, and calm restored. In was certainly a battle out their and the half ended all square.

Half Time Clapton 1 Bowers & Pitsea 1

The second half started off as it meant to go on, with both teams looking to attack, and two minutes into the half a Clapton corner caused some concern inside the Bowers penalty area but keeper Martin Guest managed to dive on the ball to snuff out any danger and then moments later Nathan Cook fired just over for the Tons as they started the half well.

However it was the visitors who went close to taking the lead eight minutes into the second half when Wilson saw his glancing header across goal come off the inside of the post and then five minutes later it was the hosts turn to hold their heads in their hands when James Briggs, who had only just come on as a second half substitute, struck a free kick against the post with his first touch in the game. The hosts then saw a corner headed at goal by Paul Oshin which so nearly crept in as Bowers survived again.

Back came Bowers though and on 66 minutes a visiting corner was flicked across goal by Onokwai, just invading Ross Adams at the far post, who was inches from connecting and surely scoring, but then came the third goal in the contest, and it went to the hosts, as after Wilson was adjudged to have brought down substitute Roddy Lemba for a Tons penalty, Cookeystepped up to convert the spot kick for his second of the game and see the hosts retake the lead.

Clapton then went for the kill and so nearly scored on 73 minutes when after Cook had forced Guest into a decent save down to his right, the resulting corner caused absolute chaos in the visitors area before finally seeing Cook fire an effort wide, as the visitors breathed a huge sigh of relief. Bowers though kept fighting and on 78 minutes a Jamie Stevens effort bobbled up and almost caught Pape Diagne out in the Tons goal, who just managed to tip the shot wide.

And then with just under ten minutes remaining the visitors were awarded a penalty of their own after another foul inside the box. Stevens stepped up to take the spot kick and his poor effort somehow squeezed through the grasp of Diagne and trickled over the line for the equaliser, setting up a grandstand last ten minutes or so.

And sure enough the game ended in dramatic style. The visitors thought they had won the match at the death when five minutes into stoppage time a ball flicked across goal was headed home at the back post, cuing mass celebrations from the players and coaching staff of the visiting side. But, just as the celebrations had died down, the hosts went on one last attack and put the ball into the dangerzone, Bowers failed to clear, and saw the hosts poke over the line after a scramble inside the box. Cue mass celebrations from the hosts, who had snatched a point in the most dramatic of circumstances. It sure was an incredible ending to this game.

It means that the Tons stay in seventh, just a point behind sixth, whilst Bowers trail leaders FCRomania by seven now, still with four games in hand. It’s yet another twist in the title race between the now top three and their will surely be many more before the season ends at the end of the month.

Full Time Clapton 3 Bowers & Pitsea 3

Greenhouse Sports 1 Ilford 3

Essex Senior League, Monday 11th April 2016

Two first half goals from Joe Hall helped Ilford to a battling win over Greenhouse Sports at Coles Park on Monday night, virtually guaranteeing a fifth placed finish as a result.

The hosts knew that a win would guarantee that they would finish outside the bottom three in the ESL next season but in the opening exchanges they were totally overrun by their opponents and they should of fallen behind on only 5 minutes when Joe Hall found himself clean through on goal for the visitors, but saw his effort brilliantly saved by Bruno Carvalho.

The visitors went close again on 10 minutes when a cross from Carl Mullings was miscontrolled by a defender trying to cut the cross out, but Hall could only put his effort over the bar. However the visitors were to finally turn their dominance into a goal when they took the lead a minute later when Hall tapped home a loose ball at the far post after Carvalho had saved Mullings sliding effort but could only parry to the far post where the Ilford forward was waiting.

Ilford looking dangerous every time they came forward and moments later more indecision in the hosts defence saw the ball fall to Luke Thomas who could only blast over and then on 17 minutes Hall got in down the right hand side for the umpteenth time of the contest but his cross was horribly miskicked well over the crossbar.

Moments later a very fragile looking hosts defence yet again failed to deal with a ball into the box but again the visitors passed up the opportunity as Mullings dragged the loose ball wide of the far post. However the Foxes were to double their lead on 19 minutes when after Mullings was brought down by Garrett Kelly inside the box, Hall converted the penalty for his and Ilford’s second, and increase their firm grip on proceedings.

If the Foxes had of been five goals up in the first twenty minutes the hosts could not of complained as they had been totally outplayed but they did get their first shot at goal in anger just before the half hour mark when Lefter Antzaris fired a free kick well over the crossbar and then with seven minutes of the half to go Abduljalil Serrar drilled an effort straight at Ilford’skeeper Chris Clark as the hosts began to creep back into the contest. However it was a contest that Ilford still had firmly in control as they went in for the half time break.

Half Time Greenhouse Sports 0 Ilford 2

The Foxes went straight onto the front foot at the start of the second period but saw a Thomas effort go straight at the keeper before the hosts had a shot a goal when Serrar fired a free kick straight at Clark. Six minutes into the half Antzaris curled a free kick just over for hosts as they began to try and crank up the pressure on the visitors but the Foxes still looked dangerous up front and on 53 minutes saw Mullings get onto a bouncing ball but hit his effort straight at the keeper when he really should have scored.

Rafael Simoni then struck an effort just wide for Sports but Ilford went even closer to a third moments later when Mullings struck a loose ball inside the area against the hosts bar. Just before the hour mark the hosts were screaming for a penalty when Serrar went down under a challenge but this was not given by the officials and then moments later Simoni flashed a great ball across Ilford’s area as they looked for a route back into game.

The hosts were doing most of the attacking and on 66 minutes Edurahim Oyemakinde ran down the left hand side before cutting in but drilling an effort straight at Clark but Ilford were always capable of hurting the hosts on the counter and on 71 minutes great play from Thomas almost saw his deflected effort creep in at the far post but was just tipped wide and then three minutes later Mullings saw his overhead kick go just wide.

Greenhouse thought kept applying the pressure on the Foxes and on 79 minutes broke the Ilford resistance down amid controversial circumstances. The hosts won a throw on the near side and they took it, but saw the linesman flag for a foul throw. However the referee chose to ignore his linesman and allowed the hosts to play on and saw the ball played across to Serrarwho curled a lovely effort past Clark, cuing furious protests from the visitors, who surrounded the referee for a couple of minutes.

The game certainly now was very much alive and moments later Greenhouse wanted a penalty after they thought a foul had been committed inside the area and then came a golden chance for Sports when a cross into the six yard box saw a point blank header go straight at Clark. Had it gone either side of the keeper it would have been 2-2, it was a great chance and should of be taken.

Ilford were now really having to dig deep but almost sealed the points a minute from time when Mullings broke down the right hand side, but his weak effort was easy for the keeper. Then a minute into stoppage time Simoni poked an effort just wide for the hosts as Ilford were now clinging on to their fragile looking lead but their nerves were finally calmed four minutes into stoppage time when they sealed the points as Mullings pounced on a defensive slip to run in and poke home.

Greenhouse had given everything in the second half after they had been outplayed for the majority of the first period, whilst for Ilford they really had to dig deep and be resolute to take that win after looking like they would cruise to victory in the first period. A good enjoyable game and a good honest battle under the lights was had.

Full Time Greenhouse Sports 1 Ilford 3

Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Portsmouth 4

Skybet Football League Two, Saturday 9th April 2016

So my first match in nearly two weeks saw me over at an important Skybet League Two clash at Victoria Road as Dagenham & Redbridge hosted the might of Portsmouth.  I was attending this match with my fellow co-host of the Grassroots Football Show on East London Radio Mr Adam Richardson, who many of you will know by now his affection for Pompey as his family live in that area.

We nearly didn't make it into the ground though as Adam found out that due to a technical glitch on the ticket office system we were left with no tickets, despite booking them in advance.  However we managed to pay cash on the turnstile and take our seats in the main stand, panic over!!!

The teams came out to a decent reception from both sets of supporters, both knowing the importance of this game for each side.  For Daggers it was must win if they harboured any hopes of retaining their football league status next season, whilst for Pompey it was a must three points if they wanted to make a late charge for the automatic positions, as well as cement their play off place further still.

The first half hour yielded very little in goalmouth action, with the only shot in anger from the visitors which flew well over Daggers goal in any case.  As the game went past the half hour mark though the hosts began to get a foothold in the game and created a couple of decent chances, one a header that was brilliantly tipped wide by Pompey keeper Jones, but he was helpless to prevent the hosts taking a 34th minute lead thanks to a super overhead kick from Hemmings, which saw the Daggers lead 1-0 at the break.  

Pompey's away support of almost 1,700 in a crowd of just over 3,000 was immense, and they demanded a response from their side in the second half, after their first half showing had been very below par.  However they did respond and were a team transformed in the second half and after giving the hosts backline some early second half pressure, deservedly levelled just before the hour mark when Doyle volleyed home a cross from the left, sending the mass of visiting fans crazy and saw the game delayed after a flare was thrown from the away end, seeing a Daggers steward eventually quash it with a massive pile of sawdust!!!

Portsmouth were now the better side and had their tails up after that leveller and sure enough nine minutes after equalising they got their noses in front when centre half Burgess rose to head a superb effort past Cousins and cue more flares and pandemonium in the visiting section.  These supporters really do love their football club and have stuck by the side through the most awful of years, so it's no surprise they celebrate like they do.

Daggers tried to find a way back into the contest as they could see their fragile hold on league football being weakened further still but were ultimately now second best against a now dominant visiting side and with five minutes left they netted a clinching third, another header from a set play, this time from a diving header from Evans before they added gloss to the scoreline three minutes later when Bennett waltzed through a tired looking defence to blast home a fourth.

Dagenham looked totally shot and this cued a mass exodus of home support, leaving the visiting fans, of which their were more in the home end around us, to celebrate a fine comeback victory in what was certainly a game Daggers fell away in badly and it looks likely that they will be playing National League football next season, now eleven points from safety with just six games to go.

As for Pompey, they now sit in sixth spot, five points off automatic promotion with a game in hand, so all to play for as they say.   They should at least grab a play off spot now but will no doubt fancy promotion without all that stress, although after what they have been through over the last few years they won't care how it comes!!!

Here was the view of Dagenham & Redbridge manager John Still after his sides defeat:-
"We played very well first half and we started the second half alright. We made three massive errors.

"I don't think they won it. I actually think we lost it.

"Everything about what we were doing was fine. You've got to play with your head."

And now the view of Portsmouth manager Paul Cook:-
"I think the most important thing to speak about is the end result. It was a great performance today by the lads in general.

"We've got to keep going, we've got to keep believing in what we're doing. It's important we believe in the run we're putting together now.

"I don't think this team's character will ever be in question; the consistency, yeah.

"We're on 69 points. There's a lot of points for us to play for and, as I say, it's a benchmark for where we want to go in the future."

Morpeth Town 2 Bowers & Pitsea 1 (aggregate score 4-3)

FA Vase Semi-Final 2nd Leg, Saturday 19th March 2016

I was over at Craik Park in Morpeth to see this epic Semi-Final decided by a stoppage timewinner for Morpeth Town, taking them to a Wembley showdown with Hereford in May.

It certainly sent most of the bumper crowd of 1,256 wild after spending much of the afternoon biting their finger nails, especially when Bowers had their best spells either side of half time and during the second half.

The afternoon had started well for the home side as they made their intentions clear from off, looking to once again stamp their authority on this tie. In the very first minute the hosts got into a decent shooting position but Luke Carr hit his effort straight at Martin Guest. However two minutes later ‘Peth’ were to take the lead when a corner played to the edge of the area foundSean Taylor who whipped a wonderful first time effort past Guest and gave his side the ideal start.

Bowers were struggling to contain their opponents and on 12 minutes almost saw the hosts make it two when a cross swung in was headed just over by Michael Chilton. Moments later a ball over the top of the visiting defence found Taylor but he could only hit his effort straight at Guest. The hosts continued to make all the running and midway through the half more good play from Morpeth saw a cross headed wide by Taylor.

However as the game went past the half hour mark Bowers began to settle into the contest more and this saw the tempo drop slightly although the hosts still threatened on 34 minutes when Chilton volleyed wide of the mark and seven minutes before the half time break the hosts sprung forward again and saw Ben Sayer’s eventual effort go over the bar.

It was still only 1-0 though and Bowers knew one chance and they could be level and sure enough with six minutes of the half remaining they did just that when after a loose ball dropped inside the six yard box right in front of Lewis Manor, the striker made no mistake in firing past Karl Dryden and bring the Essex side level in this tie once again.

‘Peth’ did have one more chance in the first period with three minutes of the half remaining when a free kick swung in saw Chris Swailes head his looping effort onto the roof of the net. But as the half came to an end the tie was still in the balance as both teams went in all square.

Half Time Morpeth Town 1 Bowers & Pitsea 1 (aggregate score 3-3)

Just like the First Leg, Bowers came out and started the second half well, knowing a similar performance would give them a great chance at reaching Wembley, and on 52 minutes James Stevens stung the palms of Dryden from range as the ESL outfit looked to make it a now rather uncomfortable afternoon for the hosts and their fans.

Bowers continued their pressure on the ‘Peth’ side although on 66 minutes a decent cross from hosts winger Taylor just invaded Chilton, giving Bowers a reminder that they were still very much a threat, as this tie was very much in the balance still. On 69 minutes the visitors attacked again and saw a Stevens corner almost headed home by Manor, but he could only get a slight touch on the ball and it drifted wide.

Three minutes later the away side saw a long throw into the ‘Peth’ area flicked on by Luke Wilson towards goal but keeper Dryden managed to catch the ball ahead of Manor, who surely would of nodded home had he not done that. Jordan Fry then fired over for the hosts soon after as the home side tried to re gain this tie.

The hosts started to crank up the gears again as we entered the final fifteen crucial minutes of this tie and on 76 minutes a good effort from substitute Dale Pearson saw Guest make a routinecatch above his head and then moments later Carr fired well wide from a decent position as ‘Peth’ looked to get their noses in front once again.

Bowers assignment was made tougher with seven minutes of the ninety left when Ross Adams grappled with Keith Graydon and received a second yellow and was sent off, meaning the visitors would have to play the remainder of this tie a man down. Morpeth looked to try and make this numerical advantage count and on 86 minutes saw a great chance for them Taylor found himself all alone in the box, but he could only fire straight at Guest.

Two minutes later the hosts went so close again as a loose ball fell to them inside the six yard box but the effort was somehow fired over the bar. And then came a moment that Bowers substitute Tom Hine may look back on with hindsight. The Bowers winger found himself in on goal and saw keeper Dryden come out and clip his heal as he went around him, but Hine stayed on his feet before eventually firing a shot against the outside of the post from an acute angle.

It was a massive let off for the hosts and the tension inside the ground was palpable but this was somewhat lifted when in the 93rd minute, just four minutes after that huge let off, ‘Peth’ grabbed the winner when Carr converted a Graydon cross to send the masses of home fans wild with delight and bring total devastation to Bowers and their followers.

Football is a game of margins as we know and that was in total evidence today. Congratulations to Morpeth Town on reaching Wembley but commiserations to the Bowers & Pitsea boys, they gave it absolutely everything out there but fell just short in the end. A great cup tie and a wonderful advert for this level of football, good luck to Morpeth Town in the final against Hereford.

Full Time Morpeth Town 2 Bowers & Pitsea 1 (aggregate score 4-3)