Long Melford 1 FC Romania 2

Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round, Saturday 19th August 2017

The Emirates FA Cup returned this weekend and my latest game in my journey took me to Stoneylands for the very first time to see Long Melford host FC Romania in a Preliminary Round tie.

The hosts knocked out Hackney Wick away in the last round whilst the visitors needed a replay to finally dispatch Waltham Forest in their Extra Preliminary Round contest. After chatting with home and away officials and having a nice cup of coffee made by the home sides chairman (which was a nice touch) it was almost time for action.

The pitch was a like a carpet it has to be said, one of the best I’ve seen at this level, and it certainly suited good passing football. The opening ten minutes saw Melford create two openings, both headers, with one straight at keeper Razvan Negrila and the other one headed wide, whilst the visitors saw an effort saved well by Darren Moyes.

The hosts were then gifted a chance when a poor backpass allowed them in on goal but the effort was saved well by Negrila who had come to close the shot down.

The visitors then saw a couple of efforts blocked inside the hosts box whilst Melford saw an effort of their own well saved by Negrila in what was a fairly decent game even if their had been no goals thus far.

That was until the 26th minute when the visitors got their noses in front as hesitation in the box from the defence allowed Sergiu Pitaru to pounce and slot home, this moments after hesitant Melford defending saw the visitors drive wide of the far post, but the hosts hadn’t learned their lesson and found themselves behind.

Melford saw an effort blocked as they tried to respond to going behind before home keeper Moyes had to tip over a decent strike to prevent his side going further behind.

But with eight minutes to go before the break the Romanians did double their advantage when a great team move saw Toby Cleaver played in down the right and he duly slotted across keeper Moyes and into the far corner. It was a great goal and drew applause from all inside the ground.

The hosts came close to immediately reducing the deficit but saw the ball hacked away from goal after keeper Negrila had seen the ball lobbed over him by pacey winger Hassan Ally.

Pitaru almost grabbed his second minutes before the break but saw his close range effort go straight at Moyes, whilst Melford saw a weak header go straight at Negrila and it meant the visitors went into the half time interval with a useful two goal cushion.

Melford knew they had to get the next goal if they were to have any realistic chance of pulling this tie back but the early exchanges of the second period saw two visiting efforts go close, one a long range effort well saved by Moyes and then another shot whistled over from an angle.

And by the time the game had reached the hour mark the visitors should of been out of sight but could not take advantage of some decent openings that came their way.

Melford were trying hard though and as the game entered it’s final twenty minutes or so started to apply pressure on the visitors goal, sending a header wide and then seeing a looping header go over, but it was clear that the home side were not out of this tie yet.

And from their next attack Luke Payne thought he had headed Melford right back into the tie after heading in off the post, however the linesman’s flag had gone up so the goal did not count. The hosts were rather upset by this decision as they claimed the ball had gone backwards when crossed, however it didn’t stand but it was a warning for the visitors.

And as the contest entered it’s final ten minutes Melford glanced a header onto the post as they continued to threaten. The visitors needed to raise their game here as a goal back for the hosts would really see them come under serious pressure.

And sure enough the hosts found a goal with six minutes of normal time remaining when the ball fell to substitute Nathan Rowe and he slotted the ball into the corner of the net and it was now very much game on.

The visitors did catch the hosts on the break on one occasion as they pressed forward for an equaliser but saw George Taban’s effort chalked off for offside then moments later they visitors sent an effort wide of the far post as the game entered stoppage time.

The hosts huffed and puffed but just could not find a way through the hard working FCR backline and after several minutes of stoppage time referee Michael Jarvis brought an end to proceedings and the ESL visitors were in the next round.

The Romanians made harder work of this than they probably should of however you have to applaud how Long Melford pushed them hard and could of easily earned a replay in the end. However its FC Romania who now wait and see who they get in Mondays First Qualifying Round draw.

Southend Manor 0 Takeley 1

Essex Senior League, Wednesday 16th August 2017

A nice local game for me on Wednesday evening saw me over at Southchurch Park inSouthend on Sea as Southend Manor hosted Takeley in an Essex Senior League contest.

Both teams had begun the campaign unbeaten with the visitors having won all four of their games in all competitions. But those wins had all come at home and this was their first away trip of the new season so could Manor inflict defeat on them for the first time this season.

The opening ten minutes saw the visitors go close on three occasions and should really have taken an early lead but they were unable to convert their early dominance into goals.

The following ten minutes saw the hosts start to grow into the contest and did flash a decent cross from the right through the penalty area as they began to show signs of settling into the game.

However the following passage of play saw the game devoid of much goalmouth action as the game remained goalless but as the game approached half time the best chance of the half since the opening few minutes saw a Manor close range effort saved.

The visitors had started well but saw the hosts grow into the game as the first half went on, however it was a half that did end goalless. The question was could anyone take the early initiative in the second half.

Well both teams saw an opening each in the first ten minutes of the second period but it remains goaless at Southchurch Park. The following few minutes saw Manor go close on three occasions whilst Takeley struck the outside of the post from a cross.

Manor though continued to have the better of the half and passed up another decent chance to go in front an so the game entered it’s final quarter hour still goalless and you felt one goal would win it.

With six minutes remaining Takeley went close in what was a rare opportunity for them in the second half as Manor should have been in front but were unable to convert the openings that had come their way.

And the hosts were to rue those missed opportunities when as the clock ticked into stoppage time a cross from the left saw Stuart Zanone poke home from close range at the near post and give Takeley the lead. It was very harsh on the home side but if you don’t take your chances you get punished eventually.

Manor tried as hard as they could to find a leveller in stoppage time but as in keeping with the game failed to find a way through and Takeley held on for the three points and keep their 100% record in tact.

The visitors really had to grind this one out against a Manor side who on another day could of been two or three goals up before Takeley’s late winner. That’s football though as you say and it was certainly a good battle between two decent sides. Both now turn their attentions to theFA Cup at the weekend.

Barkingside 1 Stansted 0

Essex Senior League, Saturday 5th August 2017

It was back to Essex Senior League action this weekend and I was over at Cricklefield forBarkingside against Stansted.

The hosts had only played one league game prior to this one, a 2-1 win at Great Wakering Rovers, whilst Stansted had lost their opening game at Wakering but had followed that up with victory at Burnham Ramblers.

Both sides exited the FA Cup at the first stage last weekend however so were looking to bounce back from that disappointment. The opening ten minutes saw the visitors with the best two openings however neither keeper had been tested so far.

However the following period of play saw little in the way of goalmouth action but as the game hit the half hour mark Side had a couple or chances in the previous few minutes however it remained goalless.

But then came a moment of controversy as with around seven minutes of the first half remaining the hosts burst clear and rounded the keeper but were then thwarted by a foul by the keeper outside the box. Red card everyone thought but no, just a yellow and the only thing that could of saved the stopper was a covering defender behind.

The home side felt hard done by and the resultant free kick was struck wide to add to the home sides frustration.

Their frustration in front of goal continued as they missed two great chances just before the break, with the second one from a yard out after the ball was squared across goal with the finish somehow hit into the keepers hands.

The Airportmen saw a scuffed effort saved by Hunt in the Side goal in the last action of the half but the hosts had created the better chances although it had not been the best game on what was a very bobbly pitch and the game remained goalless at the break.

The opening five minutes of the second half saw the visitors start on the front foot before the hosts were soon missing chances again, missing three decent openings in as many minutes.

Stansted then saw a terrific cross almost converted at the far post by Jack Sykes whilst Side saw a header from Eamon Payne fielded well by the visiting keeper and you wondered if either side would break the deadlock.

And twenty minutes into the second half we had our answer as the hosts found the breakthrough as a cross found substitute Michael Ogboin who sent a downward header beyond the keepers dive and into the net.

The next passage of play saw Side force a decent save from the visiting keeper as they looked to seal the win and they went close again when a dipping effort from outside the box sailed inches over.

However as the game went into the final ten minutes and beyond Stansted began to apply pressure onto the Barkingside back line and created two decent chances as well as see a free kick go over the bar.

The visitors continued to search for a late leveller however found the Side backline unbreachable and they held firm to record a battling win and make it two wins from two in the division. Not the best of games but the hosts won’t care a jot and although they lost Stansted can take some positives from this one too.

Hackney Wick 0 Long Melford 1

Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, Saturday 5th August 2017

So the Emirates FA Cup returned for another season and my latest journey began at The Old Spotted Dog Ground in Forest Gate, East London, as Hackney Wick hosted Long Melford.

Wick were entering the competition for the very first time and in only their third season as a club, whilst Melford have been around for 150 years and have plenty of history so the two clubs couldn’t be further apart in those stakes.

Both were looking to get into the next round though, as well as bag the £1,500 prize money for winning the tie, and a terrific crowd of 267 showed up to see who could do just that.

It was also ironic that the club Wick had taken over, London Bari, played their first FA Cup match against Long Melford, so that was certainly a very ironic fact to say the least.

The first ten minutes of the contest saw a chance for both sides, Melford seeing an effort saved by the keeper when well placed whilst Wick flashed a terrific ball across goal and just invading an incoming attacker.

But on the quarter hour mark the visitors edged in front when Josh Hodgson got to a ball in behind the defence first and prodded an effort beyond the keeper who almost got back to claw it out but ended up in the net with the ball and the visitors led.

Wick had a decent spell after going behind and saw an effort fly wide after the winger had cut inside his marker, but the visitors keeper had still not been tested once in the contest thus far.

The latter part of the half saw the visitors twice go close to doubling their lead but passed up both opportunities, but the Suffolk side went into the break a goal ahead and although the hosts had a lot of possession in the half, it was the visitors who looked more organised and had the better chances.

However Wick came out with renewed vigour in the second period and the opening exchanges saw the hosts putting pressure on the visitors however Melford were dealing with it well.

Wick continued to dominate possession as the half continued and the Melford keeper had to tip one effort over whilst another couple of efforts were blocked by a solid back line as the hosts continued to try and find a leveller in this

And as the game headed to its final fifteen minutes Wick missed a golden chance to equalise when after breaking through the visitors back line the hosts could only poke an effort agonisingly wide of the far post, and the moments later forced the Melford keeper into a smart save. You kind of felt it was gonna be one of those days for the ESL newboys.

And with Wick pushing hard for the leveller the visitors almost sealed it near the end when they got in on goal however the effort went inches wide but soon after the whistle blew and Long Melford had their hard earned win in the bag.

For Wick it was a frustrating afternoon and it’s a shame to exit the FA Cup at the first hurdle in their first appearance in the famous old competition, but they can now concentrate on the league and continue to improve throughout the season.

For Melford it’s another appearance in the Preliminary Round and they had to dig deep in this one to get the win, but they defended stoutly and battled hard for the victory. They now host wither FC Romania or Waltham Forest in the next round on Saturday August 19th.

Redbridge 2 Tower Hamlets 1

Essex Senior League, Saturday 29th July 2017

So the day finally arrived, the opening weekend of the Essex Senior League season, and I was over at Oakside to see Redbridge host Tower Hamlets.

The hosts have been tipped by many to be right up there this season after assembling a more than decent squad whilst Hamlets have also been adding to their squad from last season and with the addition of Ajay Ashanike as assistant boss, things were looking much more promising for the new campaign after a terrible season last year.

Despite this though many thought Redbridge would prove too strong for the Mile End club but the first quarter hour mark saw neither side test either keeper, although the hosts did have a couple of chances although these were off target as the game remained goalless.

The following period of play saw the hosts start to look dangerous, although from one of their attacks brought about the booking of Eljay Worrell after he slid into Hamlets keeper Kieran Bennett, which caused a less than welcoming reaction from the visitors.

The visitors though had barely threatened the hosts goal but in the 34th minute they pounced to take a shock lead when one of their new signings Wale Odedoyin got in down the left and squared the ball across goal for Hassan Mustafa to apply the finishing touch.

Redbridge tried to find a swift response but couldn’t and it nearly got alot worse for the hosts just before half time when Hamlets so nearly made it two as Alhousman Ndure’s glancing header was brilliantly saved onto the post by Lewis Greene, it really was a world class save, and it kept the scoreline at 0-1.

However the visitors still went into the break a goal ahead in a half were the hosts had had plenty of openings but just couldn’t find a way through what was a resolute Hamlets side.

Redbridge flew out of the blocks in the opening exchanges of the second period and saw three decent chances spurned whilst Hamlets almost pinched another on break as they looked to try and increase that cushion.

For a period of play thereafter the visitors probably had their best spell of the game and saw a decent effort saved by Greene down to his left and then saw Wale Odedoyin loop a header onto the roof of the hosts net.

The Motormen were now cutting a frustrated figure, this wasn’t how the season was supposed to start for them and they had been surprised at how tough Hamlets had been, but the final twenty minutes of the contest saw Redbridge gather momentum and they were soon putting the visitors under serious pressure.

The final ten minutes were crazy to say the least. Firstly Calvin Poku saw an effort hit the bar and go over when one on one with Bennett and then moments later Poku thumped another effort against the bar and you thought that it just wasn’t going to be the home sides day.

But their was to be late drama and with two minutes left it was third time lucky for Poku as he converted a ball across from Jacob Dingli, who had broke into the box down the left hand side, and the hosts were level.

However they weren’t done there as two minutes later Worrall headed home a cross from the right for the late winner and cued mass celebrations amongst the hosts. They knew they had been in a game but they had found a way to win and that could be important going forward.

For Hamlets it was heartbreaking after working so hard during the contest, however they can take an awful lot of positives from this performance. They looked a team out their and looked like they wanted to battle for each other, which can only be a good thing moving forwards.

Ilford 2 Welwyn Garden City 7

Pre Season Friendly, Wednesday 26th July 2017

So my eighth and final pre season match saw me over at Cricklefield in Seven Kings as Ilford hosted Welwyn Garden City. 

Hosts Ilford have had a unique pre season, having played half of it not knowing if they would be competing in the ESL after they were voted out originally over unpaid fees and fines, however their appeal was upheld and were duly reinstated into the league.

They were up against Welwyn Garden City in their final pre season outing before the league begins at the weekend and although they are also a step five side, they play in the Spartan South Midlands Premier, which is arguably a better standard than the ESL, so Ilford knew this would be a tough test.

Kick off was delayed by fifteen minutes or so after the late arrival of Welwyn Garden City’s kit, after the kit man had got stuck/lost on his way to the ground!!!

Once the game kicked off though the opening ten minutes certainly suggested this would be tough for Ilford as the visitors saw more of the ball and also saw an effort glance of the bar.

The following ten minutes saw the hosts grow into the contest and had a few forays into the visitors area however the game remained goal less but the following period of play saw Welwyn go close on a couple of occasions as they looked to hit the front in this match.

However five minutes before half time the hosts netted the opener as moments after James Peagram had forced a decent save from the visitors keeper, the resultant corner saw the hosts nod home at the near post.

The Foxes were finishing the half strongly and almost made it two however a minute before the break gave away a free kick right on the edge of the box, and from this the visitors levelled, drilling the free kick into the bottom corner.

It meant the half ended all square, a half that saw the visitors create the better openings but also a half played with a great tempo and very competitive too. The second half was expected to be similar however we were to be very wrong indeed.

Three minutes after the restart the visitors took the lead with a close range header and then barely a minute later made it three when a cross was headed home, and then moments after so nearly made it four as a shell shocked Ilford didn’t know where to look.

Welwyn continued to dominate and run their opponents ragged and just past the hour mark made it four as their Number Nine grabbed a sixteen minute treble by brilliantly rifling home after teeing the ball up for himself for a super strike.

And just a couple of minutes afterwards the rampant visitors made it five when a cross into the dangerzone was powerfully side footed home. The Foxes were being well and truly destroyed here.

With just over twenty minutes remaining a totally dominant visitors grabbed a sixth, this after missing two decent chances, by sending a looping header over a stranded keeper, and moments later this more than competitive friendly became less than friendly after a flare up in the middle of the park between both sets of players, as I said their was certainly nothing friendly about this.

A period of relative calm followed until Welwyn added a seventh with eight minutes remaining as a ball across goal was bundled in by a defender trying to clear the cross, summing up Ilfords evening.

The hosts did manage to grab a second goal with four minutes left, rounding the keeper before slotting across goal into the far corner, however the Foxes had been well and truly beaten in this one and leaves manager Allan Fenn with plenty to ponder ahead of their opening league game at Woodford Town 2017 on Saturday.