Athletic Newham 1 Woodford Town 3

Essex Senior League, Wednesday January 2nd

Wednesday evening was spent over at The Terrence McMillan Stadium and saw a second half brace from Luke Parrott and a late third from Ayub Kadiri help Woodford Town to a third straight win in the Essex Senior League as they saw off an off colour Athletic Newham.

The hosts had come into this one off the back of a 2-2 draw at promotion rivals Saffron Walden Town although they did lead 0-2 so would have been disappointed to have thrown it away as they did, whereas Woodford had netted back to back wins and were looking to heap some more misery on their opponents in this one.

Newham knew if they could net a victory in this one they would go just five points behind second placed Stansted with two games in hand, meaning second place would still be in their hands just about, Woodford meanwhile knew three points would haul them closer to the top ten, they started the evening nine points off tenth placed FC Clacton with three games in hand.

The first period was best left alone as neither keeper was really tested, both sides had half chances but nothing real clear cut, and us neutrals were hoping for a big improvement after the break, and seven minutes into the second period we had a break through, and it went to the visitors, as the pacey full back Shaye La-Rose burst down the left, sent a ball across goal and it looked as if the defender would deal with it.

However, he did not, and the ball fell to the lurking Parrott who had the simple chance of firing into an empty net as hosts keeper Wilkinson Boateng was out of commission too having tried to stop the ball across goal, and send the rather noisy Woodford Towners into raptures (ok maybe not raptures but you know what I mean!!!)

Those Towners were to be even happier twelve minutes later as just before the midway point of the half more calamitous defending from the hosts allowed Parrott to lob a stranded Boateng and had the visitors a two goal cushion and see them well on their way to a third straight win.

The game looked to be as good as done as it drifted towards it's conclusion with the visitors happy to keep their opponents at arms length with a two goal lead, but with two minutes of the ninety remaining they found a goal from nowhere as a awful sliced clearance from visiting keeper Eddie Allen went straight to Tony Cookey and his ball into the box found Richard Kone who managed to fire an effort through bodies on route to goal and find the bottom corner.

So could the hosts grab an unlikely point? Well no, because two minutes later as the clock struck ninety minutes the superb La-Rose blasted down the left once again, leaving the hosts for dust, and he crossed into the six yard box where Kadiri was on hand to convert into the hosts net and seal the points for the visiting side and cap a very good performance.

It was a big blow to Newham's promotion hopes as they now do not have second place in their hands anymore, they must take all three points against Sawbridgeworth Town at the weekend and get back on track, whereas Woodford have a very quick turnaround as they host Takeley on Friday night under the lights at Ashton's, they will go into that full of confidence after another impressive win here.

Full time Athletic Newham 1 Woodford Town 3

Southend Manor 2 White Ensign 1

Essex Senior League, Tuesday February 1st

Tuesday saw me over at Southchurch Park as a late thunderbolt from substitute Meschack Kisoka handed Southend Manor a deserved win over an off colour White Ensign and pick up a huge three points in their battle for survival down at the foot of the Essex Senior League.

Manor have been trying to rescue what had been a poor season so far, James Wakeling and his new management team had played four games since they had come into the club and after narrow losses to Walthamstow and Woodford, they had picked up a massive win at St Margaretsbury before being heavily beaten at West Essex at the weekend, the first real disappointing performance under the new regime.

And they were up against local rivals White Ensign who were on a eight match unbeaten run in the division, winning five of those games scoring a number of goals too, and they were coming into this game off the back of a very hard fought home win against Hoddesdon Town, so on paper at least this looked like a difficult game for the hosts however this was a local derby so form normally goes out the window.

This was the third attempt at trying to play this fixture too in recent weeks, the original contest was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, and then the rearranged fixture two weeks ago was postponed after less than three minutes due to fog, so everyone was hoping this game would actually be completed, Manor knew a win would take them out of the bottom two and a point above Sawbridgeworth Town with a game in hand, Ensign knew a win would take them into the top five.

Prior to the game I took a wonder around the pitch, taking in the new additions to the ground, a perimeter fence three quarters of the way around the pitch, and a new covered terrace plus new dugouts, it looks really good now, and when the fence is completed plus other small additions, it will look like a proper little ground, so real good to see that the club are finally doing the needed improvements to stay in the division.

They obviously needed to pick up points too to stay in the division and they certainly began this game well and took the lead just before the midway point of the first half when lovely play down the left from Andre Embalo, who impressed in the opening forty five minutes, saw him cross into the six yard box where Isaac Acquah was waiting to convert first time and hand the hosts the lead.

It was a lead that wasn't to last too long though as barely a minute later Ensign had levelled after the hosts had switched off, a long ball saw Christian North, the hosts keeper, try and get to the ball but Ensign attacker Jason Reynolds-Blanche got to the ball before him and lofted an effort beyond him and into the empty net, it was a poor goal to give away and it handed Ensign a route back into the contest.

Manor had been the better side in the opening forty five minutes but had failed to stamp home their pressure with goals, and this continued into the second period too and saw goal scorer Acquah miss a golden chance when he sent a effort straight at the keeper, but the second period also got more and more tetchy too, typical for a local derby you would say, and this almost came to a head when Manor's star man Embalo got into an altercation with an opponent, and after both were booked, he was taken off for his own good as he needed calming down somewhat.

Manor though continued to search for the winner they deserved as Ensign continued to struggle to really get anything going, but it looked like it would be one of those nights after a stinging long range effort struck the post (it may have been tipped onto the post) but, with 84 minutes on the clock came the winning moment, and it was a goal worthy of winning any game too.

Ben Allen, who had also had a decent game, did superbly down the right and managed to get past his man and send a ball across the area into the path of substitute Kisoka who sent a first time rocket at goal which although the keeper got a hand too, could not prevent it from whistling into the top corner, and it cued mass celebrations with his mates on the side-line, it was a wonderful strike and it handed Manor a massive three points and a good bounce back from Saturday. 

It sees them climb out of the bottom two as said earlier, it had been a marvellous performance from the hosts here against a side who had been going very well under new management too, however Ensign were not at the races in this one and there unbeaten run comes to an end here, although still sitting in eighth spot and just two points off fifth spot, so still a very decent position in their first season at this level.

Manor next welcome Ilford to Southchurch Park at the weekend hoping for more joy against one of their ex management in Adam Peek, so no doubt he will want to stick a spanner in the hosts works, whereas Ensign will look to start another unbeaten run perhaps as they travel to Cockfosters in North London.

Full time Southend Manor 2 White Ensign 1

Sporting Bengal United 0 Athletic Newham 2

Essex Senior League, Wednesday January 26th

I was over at Mile End for the third time in recent weeks on Wednesday evening and saw late first half strikes from Benjamin Bodipo & Rasheed Salau help Athletic Newham to victory over struggling Sporting Bengal United.

The hosts have only tasted victory once all season, that was way back on September 4th, and have only gained one point since that win in their sixteen league games since then, with that last point coming on October 23rd, so a run of fifteen losses in sixteen, and on a run of nine successive defeats since that draw.

It's not all doom and gloom though, as their last two games have seen them only lose by a goal and have netted five in those two games, although they still lost those games, so defending is still an issue, or lack of concentration at key moments, but no doubt Steve Clark will be encouraged by what he has seen recently, despite the results, and he would have drilled that into his side as they welcomed an Athletic Newham side stunned by a loss to Clapton at the weekend so could they provide the same shock as The Tons did at the weekend perhaps?

Athletic Newham in contrast were looking to put that very disappointing result behind them and get back to winning ways here, and most people were expecting this to happen, and they knew if they could pick up the points they would go above Saffron Walden Town, who they play at Catons Lane on Saturday, into fifth spot on goal difference and be in touching distance of the top four with games in hand in those above them.

Despite that loss against Clapton though the visitors had been unbeaten in the league since the end of October against leaders Walthamstow, so a run of six games, and they had also made history by reaching the Last 16 of the FA Vase too so no doubt the result against Clapton was just a flash in the pan, or so they hoped anyway. If they played well in this one at Mile End then no doubt they would come out on top you would have thought.

The first period played out how most expected, with the visitors creating all the openings, but found hosts keeper Kevin Rrushi hard to beat, Richard Kone, their star player who many higher league clubs are looking at, had a brilliant chance to put his side ahead but saw his point blank effort saved by Rrushi, whilst there were other close shaves at that end as the hosts just about held on to the 0-0 score line.

However, five minutes before half time Athletic Newham's frustrations were eased as they managed to find the net as Bodipo took aim from twenty yards out and saw keeper Rrushi dive over the ball and see it find the bottom corner, the keeper would have been disappointed with the effort but it was a decent strike and a deserved lead for the visitors.

And right on half time one became two as Newham doubled their lead as a cross to the far post saw Salau totally unmarked and he duly finished past Rrushi from close range and left the home defence looking at each other and wondering who was supposed to be picking him up etc etc, it was just the sort of confusion that has been there downfall all season, and they now had a mountain to climb in the second period.

To Sporting's credit they really battled hard in the second period and as a result a much more competitive half ensued, yes Athletic Newham should have added to their lead, they managed to head against the bar on one occasion, and Kone, who was not having his best game, sliced wide after bursting through and rounding Rrushi, but he had overrun the ball and couldn't hook it back from what was an impossible angle, meaning Sporting survived again.

The hosts though did at least end the game well, and did manage to test visiting keeper Wilkinson Boateng with a stinging shot which the big keeper managed to beat away, but they could not find the net and it meant the visitors would see out the game and grab a vital three points in their battle for promotion, making that game against Walden at the weekend very important, if it wasn't already.

For Sporting another loss but Clark can take positives from the second half spirit showed, but spirit and determination won't get them points, only wins will do now if they are to make a miracle escape, they take on St Margaretsbury at home on Saturday hoping the wins start there, although it's hard to see them grabbing enough of them to have any chance of not finishing bottom of the pile, but we will see as they say.

Full time Sporting Bengal United 0 Athletic Newham 2

 

 

Hornchurch 2 Horsham 0

Isthmian League Premier, Tuesday January 25th

I was over at Bridge Avenue on Tuesday evening to see hosts Hornchurch put in a dominant performance as goals from Tobi Joseph & Tom Wraight saw them to an eighth win in nine games after seeing off Horsham in Upminster.

The hosts sat in seventh and just four points off the play off places after a superb run of results, they had won seven on the bounce prior to Saturday's draw against league leaders Worthing so were full of confidence and looking to extend that unbeaten run in this one against a Horsham side who were ten points behind them and down in thirteenth spot.

Horsham themselves ended a winless run of five games with victory at tenth placed Cheshunt at the weekend, so they were coming into this one with some good vibes no doubt but this was going to be a very tough test against one of the most in form sides in the Isthmian Premier currently. 

The Urchins wasted little time in getting into their opponents and were soon causing problems for the visiting back line, full back Remi Sutton burst into the box in the left hand side but his well driven effort was smartly stopped by Horsham keeper Sam Howes, and then Charlie Ruff missed a brilliant opening when firing wide from twelve yards out.

Horsham, who spent a lot of time on the back foot, did create a couple of chances for themselves though, and they were HUGE chances as well, firstly Shamir Fenelon found himself with just the keeper to beat but could only send his effort straight at Joe Wright, and then the visitors somehow scooped another effort over the bar from point blank range, and they were to go into the half behind. 

This was because eleven minutes before the break, The Urchins managed to find the breakthrough when Wraight got in down the left after a lovely move from the hosts, and drove an effort across goal and wide of the far post, or so everyone thought, as somehow Ruff kept the ball in and in doing so squared back to the awaiting Joseph who converted a first time close range effort into the roof of the net.

It was a deserved lead for Hornchurch, but they were given a couple of warnings as mentioned previously that Horsham were still well in this contest, and they should really have been out of this contest after the break as Hornchurch missed plenty of opportunities to extend their lead as they dominated the second period, striking the bar on one occasion.

Horsham somehow survived all of these scares and knew they just one moment down the the other end would bring them level, they had one decent chance which went over the bar from inside the box, but that was really all they could muster in the second half, and finally with two minutes of the ninety to go, The Urchins did seal the game when Joseph broke the offside trap, squared a ball across the area and found Wraight who drilled an effort into the far corner.

So, another win for Hornchurch as their charge for the play off places continues here with an eighth win in nine, whilst Horsham will rue those two missed chances in the first period although they can count themselves lucky this score line wasn't more in favour of the hosts than it was.

Hornchurch are back at Bridge Avenue at the weekend when they welcome third placed Lewes to Upminster in what promises to be a cracker, whilst Horsham welcome Essex side Bowers & Pitsea to West Sussex and with the Len Salmon Side battling for points to stay in the division next season, that will be another tough game for sure.

Full time Hornchurch 2 Horsham 0

Barkingside 2 Park View 0

Thurlow Nunn South Division, Monday January 24th

Cricklefield was my venue for Monday evening and it saw an own goal from Maxwell Ntim and a James Peagram header enough to seal Barkingside all three points against Park View in a Thurlow Nunn South contest in Seven Kings.

Side had been unbeaten in four games since since getting heavily beaten at Frenford in November, however that run came to an abrupt end at the weekend when they were beaten 0-4 at home by Harwich & Parkeston, so the hosts really wanted to bounce back in this one and get their outside chances of a play off place back on track, they began the evening twelve points off fifth placed Benfleet who occupy the final place in those positions.

Benfleet did have two games in hand though, and Side had more chance of catching fourth placed Wivenhoe Town who were fifteen points ahead of them but Side had five games in hand, however as said it was an outside chance, so three points here was a must.

Park View themselves came into this one sat in 14th position, seven points and two places below their opponents, and not in the best of form, there last win came back on 27th October, a 5-0 home win over Newbury Forest, with their last point coming at Hackney Wick on 27th November, so a run of six defeats in seven since that win in October, so there were not many who felt they could win this one based on form.

Four of those defeats had been just by the odd goal though, so they were well in a lot of those games, with Saturday's loss a 3-4 score line at home to high flying Burnham Ramblers, so Barkingside might not find this contest as easy as the form suggests.

But it didn't take Side too long to find the net, and it wasn't even one of their players that did this, as a free kick sent into the box saw Ntim attempt to head the ball away, but instead of doing this glanced the ball on towards his goal, and see the ball go over a stumbling Ibrahim Nuhu, his own keeper, and into his own net for a rather bizarre own goal, which kind of set the tone for the evening.

Peagram, who has spent the best part of an hour in goal for Side at the weekend after keeper Duncan Smith had been sent off, was back to his more usual position of centre forward, and after he had missed a good chance to double their lead, he did manage to do this in the 27th minute when a cross from the left found him in the box, and he sent a deft header back across keeper Nuhu and into the far corner.

It ball seemed to take forever to find the far corner though and it all happened in slow motion, with keeper Nuhu unable to get across to stop it, and Barkingside now had a commanding lead and grip on proceedings heading into the final quarter of the first period.

Smith, who was back in the Side goal for this one, did make a decent stop as Park View finally got some sort of attacking play into their game as the half drew towards it conclusion, and they had a spell early in a second period that just became worse and worse to watch as both sides seemed to be going through the motions and had accepted the 2-0 score line.

And that is how it was to end too, with Side netting a good three points and bouncing back from Saturday's debacle, whilst Park View's miserable run continues, meaning it leaves the hosts now just nine points off the top five in eleventh, and the visitors still in fourteenth with not much more to play for now other than pride.

Side next travel to Coggeshall United at the weekend who are in a similar position to themselves, so should be a tight competitive encounter that, whilst Park View travel to the Royal Oak and Harwich & Parkeston who of course thrashed Side in their previous game, so that is sure to be a tough game and one Park View despite Harwich's lowly position as they proved at Cricklefield at the weekend.

Full time Barkingside 2 Park View 0

Clapton 1 Cockfosters 2

Essex Senior League, Wednesday January 19th

Wednesday night saw me over at The Terrance McMillan Stadium in Newham for an Essex Senior League contest, and a first half brace from Cockfosters player boss Ryan Wade helped the visitors to all three points over Clapton.

The hosts came into this contest sitting down in 18th spot (fourth bottom) seven points ahead of second bottom Southend Manor and a massive fourteen points above bottom side Sporting Bengal United, in what had been a struggle so far this season with only five wins and sixteen losses in their twenty four games so far. 

Their last win had come against Sporting Bengal United back on 18th December, but since that win they had lost two in a row in all competitions, so they wanted to try and pick up their first points of the new year against a Cockfosters side who had beaten them in the very same ground only a week earlier in the Errington Challenge Cup so also wanted to avoid a similar result in this league game.

Fosters were having a better season although theirs had started so well back in August but mixed results had seem them fall way behind the top spots as they started the game in tenth, some ten points off the top three, and they were on a two match winning run in all competitions after that win here last week and also against Takeley at Chalk Lane at the weekend.

Advantage Fosters then? Well initially it looked this way as the visitors dominated the opening half hour and looked like they were going to record a comfortable win, taking the lead after twelve minutes when a cross from the left by Jamal Brimah found the head of his manager Wade and the latter nodded past hosts keeper Brandon Bullman, and then doubling it on 24 minutes when a lovely ball through by George Beattie to Wade saw the player boss fire across Bullman and into the bottom corner, it was all to easy at this point for the visitors.

Clapton though to their credit managed to work their way back into the contest, although some of it was helped by the fact Fosters took their foot of the gas and started to lose concentration, and a minute before the break won a penalty kick which Raphael Duyile converted to reduce the arrears, although that was not the end of the drama for the first half as Carl Mullings thought he had restored Fosters two goal cushion, only to see the linsman's flag go up, much to the disbelief of Wade and his side. It did mean Fosters only took a 1-2 lead into the break.

Clapton were the side now on the front foot after the break though as Fosters struggled to get anything going, a far cry from that opening half hour dominance, and were thankful for keeper Loris Marcimain who made a superb save early in the second period, and then saved skipper Danny Haigh from embarrassment when the defender knocked the ball past his own keeper, seeing the number one scramble back to try and prevent it from going in, seeing the ball hit the post and then Marcimain stop it going over the line!!! 

The hosts though were wasteful in in the final third though and then got a slice of luck themselves midway through the half when Fosters should have had a spot kick when they had a man brought down inside the box, only for the officials to decide it was outside the box, and Beattie could only fire the resultant free kick over, meaning the game remained in the balance.

Clapton continued to try and find a leveller but could not, and they almost got picked off on the counter towards the end, with the best chance of sealing the deal falling to substitute Frederick Agyemang after he was played in by Joseph Entwhistle-Wilkinson, but the big striker could only poke wide of the near post, however it mattered not as Fosters clung onto the points and moved up to eighth spot in the division.

Clapton remain in 18th following this loss, and ultimately a slow start did for them in this one, you can't be giving teams two goal head starts if you want to win football matches sadly, but they could and should of got something out of this game in the end, but sadly for them it's another defeat for Michael Walthers side.

Full time Clapton 1 Cockfosters 2