Chelsea 5 Fulham 3 (agg 7-6)

FA Youth Cup Final 2nd Leg, Monday 5th May 2014

Stamford Bridge was my port of call last night as I went to watch the conclusion of the FA Youth Cup 2014. Fulham lead 3-2 from the first leg so it was nicely poised going into the game.  Tube engineering works meant I ended up going to the game in my friends car so made it a lot easier and also managed to gain a free corporate ticket for the match so that was a touch as well!!!!  Fantastic food before the game accompanied by a nice pint of Singha (bought two but only paid for one!!!) and then to our seats, and what a view it was!!!  Anyway to the game and Fulham grabbed an early lead when Moussa Dembele headed home but Chelsea levelled from the spot on 21 minutes from Charlie Colkett and then took the lead two minutes later when Jordan Houghton struck home.  It was 2-2 on 26 minutes when Patrick Roberts finished with aplomb and then eight minutes before the break Fulham re took the lead when Soloman Sambou struck a long range effort in.  It was a breathless first 45 and possibly one of the best half's of football ever seen!!!  Fulham had chances to settle the tie before Chelsea grabbed a third goal to make it 3-3 when sub Isak Ssewankambo struck home and then on 83 minutes they levelled the tie on aggregate when Dominic Solanke glanced a header past keeper Rodak.  Fulham almost scored themselves three minutes before the end before in a dramatic finish Solanke struck home two minutes into stoppage time to seal the cup for the Blues.  It was an incredible comeback in an incredible game, a fantastic source of entertainment and a great way to finish the bank holiday weekend!!!

East Thurrock United Res 1 Southend Manor Res 0

ESL Reserve Shield Final, Sunday 4th May 2014

Peter Dudley reporting from the Essex Senior League Reserve Shield Final at Takeley's Station Road.  East Thurrock United and Southend Manor were the two contesting finalists this afternoon.  Both teams had taken three points off each other in the league this season so a tight affair was predicted.

On 3 minutes Thurrock had the first sight of goal when a  free header at the back post was headed well wide of the Manor goal.  This was probably the best sight of goal any side had in the first half hour.  Manor were getting some good balls into the box but sadly no one could get on the end of them as Thurrock held firm.

A lot of the action was happening in the middle of the park where both teams battled to try and get a nudge on one another.  On 28 minutes Thurrock forward Ngandu shrugged off full back Lane to get in on goal but his effort was well saved by the legs of Warren.

On 36 minutes a long range effort went way over Manor's goal as neither keeper had much to do as both teams struggled to really get any noteworthy efforts on goal.  On 41 minutes a good chance for Thurrock as a free kick into the box was glanced just wide of the Manor goal with keeper Warren caught up in the mele of bodies trying to win the ball.

As the half time whistle sounded both teams left the field both probably feeling they could play better than they had been and the 0-0 scoreline suggested that the forward lines would have to be better n the second half.

Fifthteen seconds into the second half that all changed when Thurrock took the lead.  A ball forward found Ngandu who got past his marker but then went to shoot and lost his balance so you thought the chance had gone, but the defenders also missed clearing the ball allowing Jason Ngandu a second bite of the cherry and he made no mistake by sliding the ball under keeper Warren for a 1-0 lead.

Manor struggled to get any kind of foot on the ball for the next few minutes as an understandly boyed up Thurrock team were galvanised by the goal.  Manor did have a brief shout for a penalty on 56 minutes when Dube went down in the box but the officials saw no foul play and played on.

There was almnost a comical moment in the Manor box on 64 minutes when both Stephenson and McCarthy miskicked their clearences but luckerly for them keeper Warren was on hand to gather the loose ball.

Six minutes later Nick Henesy, Manor's midfield captain, flicked a corner on at the near post but sadly for Manor it drifted harmlessly wide of Thurrock's goal.  Then a minute later it should of been 2-0.  Nagndu ran onto a threw ball and Warren half came out and Ngandu poked the ball past him towards the goal and it looked for all money it was going to go in but somehow centre back McCarthy got back to just about clear the ball off the goal line to deny Thurrock's second goal.  It was a wonderful piece of defending.

Two minutes later and Rhys Fatt had Manor's first effort on target when he cut inside and let fly with a shot but it was weak and easily saved by Holiday.   Then play switched down the other end and Warren had to get down smartly to save an effort across goal.

On 78 minutes Rhys Fatt got onto a ball over the top but as he tried to head the ball over the advancing keeper Hoilday a nudge from the defender meant he didn't properly connect with the ball and the chance went a begging.  Manor were now getting more balls into the box and a deflected shot on 80 minutes almost fell to Fatt but the keeper managed to come and smother the ball before Fatt could get a foot on it.  Thurrock then broke down the other end of the field and were shouting loudly for a foul on the edge of the box but this was waved away but the referee.

On 84 minutes a stinging shot from the angle was saved by Manor keeper Warren and then two minutes later produced his best save of the game by tipping over to deny goalscorer Ngandu after his overhead kick was heading for the roof of the net.  

On 87 minutes Fiander received the ball about 30 yards out but his longe range shot went  way over the Thurrock goal.  Manor were trying to get some sort of effort on goal but Thurrock's defence held firm once again as Manor failed to break them down.

Three minutes into the five additional minutes and Thurrock substitute Maskell, once of Manor's youth set up, hit a snap shot which was well saved by Warren.  But ultimately that one lapse of concentration at the start of the second half cost Manor as that proved to be the only goal of the game as the referee brought an end to proceedings.  Thurrock though were delighted to win the trophy as you can imagine and they probably deserved it on balance of play and chances.

Leigh Town 1 Thorpe Athletic 2

Southend Charity 'A' Final, Friday 2nd May 2014

Peter Dudley reporting from the Southend Charity 'A' Final at Burroughs Park, Great Wakering.  Leigh Town were taking on Thorpe Athletic, only 11 days after they met in a league game, where Thorpe won 2-0.  Both teams are near the top of the Southend Borough Combination Premier Division so a tight game was again expected.

It started very well for Thorpe as they took the lead on 4 minutes when Chris Baddeley received the ball outside the area and he struck a sweet curling effort into the top corner giving Leigh keeper Lee Hennessey no chance.

Leigh had a golden chance to level three minutes later when a breakdown in commication between defender and keeper allowed Leigh a shot at a virtual open goal but the ball was chipped wide of the target.

On 11 minutes Leigh keeper Hennssey again had to rescue his side by producing a great tackle on the edge of the box to twart a Thorpe attack.  Three minutes later Hennssey was called into action again as a lovely through ball from Baddeley to Dom Binns required another smart save from the keeper.

Leigh were certainly not being outplayed as such and on 18 minutes they got back on level terms.  A handball was given by the referee just outside the area.  However the linesman had his flag up and so the referee went over to speak with his assistant and subsquently gave the penalty instead.  Leigh's Adam Moore stepped up and confidently stroked the spot kick past Ryan Karrer for 1-1.

Leigh then enjoyed their best spell of the contest as the equaliser seemed to spur them on a bit more and it also seemed to un nerve Thorpe somewhat as there good start to the game had been scuppered.

Thorpe did settle down again and just past the half hour winger Sam Myall had a shot well saved at near post by Hennssey and then on 37 minutes another save from the Leigh stopper prevented another goal and from the corner the ball was headed wide of the target when it probably should of at least tested the keeeper.

The game was being played at a good tempo and Leigh were more than playing their part in proceedings even though they were not really causing Thorpe keeper Karrer many problems.  Two minutes before the half time whistle Thorpe striker Dom Binns had a good effort flash just wide of the post and that's how it stayed until the half.  

Leigh did in fact have the first real chance of the second half on 49 minutes when Adam Moore stole the ball from the defender and beared down on goal but he could not get the ball totally under control and before he could unleash a shot the defender recovered to clear the ball away from danger.

That was as close as Leigh got for most of the second half as Thorpe began to dominate possession and have more of the play in Leigh's half of the field.  On 58 minutes a defensive lapse allowed Dom Binns a sight of goal but his shot went miles wide of the target.

On 63 minutes a ball into the six yard box by Myall was poorly cleared straight to Baddeley who unfortunately for Thorpe blazed his effort way over into the car park behind.  Dom Binns then hit a direct free kick a foot wide of the post six minutes later as Thorpe began to turn the screw.

Leigh were trying their best to keep possession but the final third was letting them down somewhat and they would have been disappointed to have not really rested keeper Karrer at all.  On 77 minutes Leigh keeper Hennssey yet again produced another save although this was possibly his best of the night as a cross from the right was headed at point blank range from Dom Binns, but Hennssey somehow kept the ball out.

On 80 minutes Leigh broke down the right hand side and the ball into the penalty area was brillianly smashed home past Karrer but the linesman had his flag up and so the goal didn't stand, much to Leigh's dismay.  It was a close call but probably the right call.  It would have been unjust on Thorpe as they had all the chances in the half up till then.

On 83 minutes Hennssey made another brilliant reaction save to tip Dom Binns effort over the bar.  Binns must of been sick of the sight of Hennssey by this stage as he had made countless saves from him during the game.

It looked as though Thorpe were just not going to beat Hennssey whatever they tried but with five minutes to go they finally scored what proved to be the winner. A ball into the six yard area bounced around a bit before a shot towards goal took a couple of deflections before making its way towards the back post where Dan Miller popped up to tap the ball home to put Thorpe 2-1 up.

On 88 minutes the game should really have been done and dusted.  Leigh won a corner kick and keeper Hennssey came up for it.  The corner was eventually scrambled away up to Myall who ran almost up to the right hand side of the box, and as keeper Hennssey was almost back the ball was crossed over everyone to the back post where it was headed over the line, but sadly he was deemed offside, so the goal didn't stand.  Incredible.

Three minutes into stoppage time and Thorpe needlessly gave a free kick away just inside their own half.  Everyone was up for the free kick, including keeper Hennssey again.  The ball was pumped into the box and a mass scramble insued before the ball broke to Leigh but the effort was sliced well over the bar, much to Thorpe's relief, and to Leigh's dispair.

Soon after this the referee brought proceeding to a close and Thorpe had won the Charity 'A' Final.  A good match won by the better team in all honesty but credit Leigh for there part in a good enjoyable final.

East Thurrock United Res 2 AFC Hornchurch Res 0

ESL Reserve Shield Semi-Final, Thursday 1st May 2014

In the second ESL Reserve Shield semi final East Thurrock United took on AFC Hornchurch for a place in Sunday's final against Southend Manor.

The game began slowly and the first effort on goal was on 10 minutes when an inswinging corner almost found it's way in but the keeper got across to beat the ball away from goal.

On 12 minutes Thurrock got into the box on the right and the effort on goal was parried out by the keeper but it somehow invaded both Thurrock players coming in for the rebound.  The urchins were finding the home sides imswinging corners tricky to deal with and on 15 minutes were almost embarassed as the defender on the nearpost almost miskicked one of these set pieces into the net, but it came back of the post allowing the clearance to be made.

Hornchurch's only moment inside Thurrock's penalty area in the first half came on 20 minutes when they had a shout for handball but if truth be told it was kind of half hearted and neither referee or linesman was interested.

Hornchurch were finding it tough to get out of their own half for large parts of the first half and on 35 minutes came the closest to a goal, apart from the striking of the post earlier on.  Thurrock again got in down the right but again the keeper saved well.  A minute later only a last ditch block denying a shot on target as the ball was deflected over the bar and then from a cross the keeper almost spilled the ball over the line but managed to get back and smother the ball before it went further.

Thurrock continued to press although without much quality in their play if truth be told.  It was a game lacking quality somewhat so both teams would need to up the anti in the second period.

Hornchurch did try and get forward a bit more in the second half although the first attempt at goal they produced on 54 minutes was from a corner which was headed miles over, which kind of summed up their evening to that point.  On 57 minutes they had another chance when the ball was flashed across the six yard box but it flew harmlessly away from danger.

On the hour Thurrock nearly took the lead when first of all an attempt on goal was deflected just over and from the resulting corner there was a goalmouth scramble but Hornchurch managed to keep Thurrock at bay once again.  

On 62 minutes the ball was finally in the net, but alas Thurrock's forward Ngandu was rigthly flagged for offside so it didn't count.   The game had become very scrappy with poor passing and wasting of possesion not helping the contest as a specticle.

On 72 minutes Thurrocks Maskell had a sight of goal but as he went to take another touch he slipped over so the chance was gone.  It really looked as though this game was heading for a 0-0 draw and extra time,such was the poor quality from both teams.  But then suddenly a moment of real quality brought the first goal of the contest.  On 79 minutes Thurrock sub Ashley Webb let fly with a thunderbolt of a shot from about 25 yards out which went in off the underside of the bar, a great strike, and totally out of character for this game.

Three minutes later and the tie was almost over. Jason Ngandu got through and was brought down by the Hornchurch keeper for a penalty, which resulted in a booking for the stopper. Jason Ngandu picked himself up and converted the penalty for a 2-0 lead for the home side.

It should of been 3-0 on 86 minutes when Maskell found himself all alone in the box but his header was straight at the keeper.  Thurrock then almost gifted Hornchurch a lifeline on 88 minutes when the keeper came and headed away but straight towards an opposing player but luckerly his returning lob went miles over the bar.

The game then drifted along towards its conclustion and started to get a bit silly in stoppage time but after some handbags the referee booked three players, which seemed to take an eternity.  Finally after about seven minutes of stoppage time the referee blew the whistle for the end of the game.  So it will be East Thurrock that contest the Reserve Shield Final against Southend Manor on Sunday at Takeley FC.