White Ensign 8 Old Southendian 0

Pre-Season Friendly, Tuesday 23rd July 2019


Player boss Brett Munyard netted four as his White Ensign team thumped local Essex Olympian Premier side Old Southendian at Eastwoodbury Lane on a sultry evening in South East Essex.


This was Ensign’s penultimate pre-season outing before they embark on another Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South campaign, whilst for visitors Old Southendian this was their first proper pre-season run out, jumping into help at the last minute after Ensign’s original opponents for this game Hoddesdon Town pulled out.


After a couple of early attacks from the visitors the hosts grabbed a fifth minute lead when Buffin swept home a loose ball inside the box, and then in the 11^th minute they doubled their lead after a brilliant long ball had invaded the defence, Barnby rounded the keeper to slot home.


An Ensign corner saw a header at goal nicely tipped over by the visiting keeper, before the hosts went close again as a ball found Munyard but his effort was well blocked, and then the visitors, who had had their moments, saw a flick towards goal blocked.


Ensign then saw a through ball put just wide on the stretch after the keeper had come and had been beaten to the ball, and then after half an hour we all found out that this game was going to be played in three, thirty minute periods, so after the first of three Ensign held a 2-0 lead.


Score after 30 minutes White Ensign 2 Old Southendian 0


Four minutes into the second thirty-minute period Ensign added a third when Barnby muscled past his marker before rounding the keeper and slotting him his second of the contest, and then it was almost four but Munyard saw his free-kick deflect onto the bar.


Ensign then smashed a ball across goal before another attack saw a flick on hit a host’s player and trickle wide, but they did find a fourth in the 51^st minute when they carved their opponents apart and saw Skinner square to Munyard who slotted home from close range.


It should have been five when an effort from inside the box was scuffed wide, and then after Skinner had burst forward towards the visitors box, his lay off found Munyard who cut inside and unleashed a powerful effort at goal which went just over, but as the second half hour ended Ensign had a four goal lead.


Score after 60 minutes White Ensign 4 Old Southendian 0


Five minutes after the second restart it was five for the hosts when Skinner once again laid in Munyard who fired home his second of the contest, before a rare chance for the visitors produced a brilliant save from the hosts keeper, and then the visitors fired into the side netting soon after as they looked for a consolation.


A long ball over the top saw the hosts in but a poor finish allowed the keeper to make the stop, but with nine minutes remaining Munyard completed his hat-trick to net Ensign’s sixth when slotting home a Hilliard through ball, and then Hilliard should of netted himself soon after but struck a point blank effort straight at the keeper.


The visitors almost netted themselves after a through ball almost found them, but the keeper came to thwart any attempt on goal, and then with four minutes left it was seven for the hosts when Munyard grabbed his fourth by slotting home another loose ball inside the visitor’s box.


The visitor’s keeper had to brilliantly tip over another Ensign effort soon after, but with two minutes left it was eight for the rampant hosts as a cross into the six-yard box went in off a defender for an own goal and cap a rather miserable evening for the Garon Park side.  A good workout for both nonetheless.


Full Time White Ensign 8 Old Southendian 0

Walthamstow 2 FC Romania 0

Pre-Season Friendly, Saturday 20th July 2019

Dwade James and Olly Fortune netted for Walthamstow as they defeated FC Romania at Wadham Lodge to win their latest pre-season outing in what was a good workout for both sides.

The hosts, who are many peoples tip for the Essex Senior League title this season, started straight onto the front foot and saw three openings pass them by in the first couple of minutes before the visitors, who play their football in the Isthmian South Central these days, loop a header over the bar.

James then had a chance when he got goal side of his marker but saw his effort across goal deflected wide for a corner, before the visitors turn and struck an effort at goal which James Bransgrove got down to save, as the game was now becoming a decent contest.

FCR then played a corner out to the edge of the box but the effort was curled away from goal and wide, but in the 26^th minute the hosts took the lead when a free-kick from Ryan Reed was whipped in towards goal and saw the ball bounce right in front of the keeper, bounce off his chest, and allow James to tap home the rebound.

FCR tried to respond by sending a wonderful diagonal ball to the right hand side before a ball across goal just invaded an incoming attacker, before the hosts so nearly made it two but saw the visitors keeper make a brilliant save from a free-kick before a ball back into the box found an unmarked Jack Grosvenor but he could only head wide.

Stow then carved the visitors open again but saw the keeper make another brilliant save to deny the hosts a second, and then late on in the half Gus Douglas fired an effort wide of the visitor’s goal as they ended the half strongly, a half they ended a goal to the good.

Half Time Walthamstow 1 FC Romania 0

FCR had the first effort in the second period when a corner was missed by a defender at the near post but hit an attacker behind him and went wide, before the visitors got themselves into a decent shooting position but saw the effort wayward and off target.

The visitors then volleyed wide another corner as they began the second period well, but Stow almost grabbed a second when Samrai Gebrai produced a brilliant run down the left before his cross was flicked just wide by James.

Stow threatened again after a James cut back saw an effort towards goal blocked by a defender, before an FCR free-kick at the hosts goal was routinely saved by Bransgrove, and then Stow had another decent chance but scuffed wide of the target.

Olly Fortune then thought he had doubled the hosts lead but the keeper was deemed to have been fouled in the build up so the goal was ruled out, but with fifteen minutes remaining Fortune did grab a second for his side when his manager Ryan Maxwell played him in and he struck a first time finish beyond the keeper.

FCR drilled a ball into the six-yard box but Bransgrove got down well to field the effort, and in the final chance of the game the visitors swung a decent ball into the box but the header was wide of the far post, and it meant the hosts took a decent victory here.

Full Time Walthamstow 2 FC Romania 0   

Hornchurch 0 Leyton Orient 1

Pre-Season Friendly, Wednesday 17th July 2019

Second half substitute Lee Angol curled home a 65^th minute winner as Leyton Orient got the better of Hornchurch at Bridge Avenue in both sides’ latest pre-season workouts in Upminster.

Both sides were playing their second games in their pre-season schedules and the visitors were obviously looking to build ahead of their first season back in the SkyBet Football League after winning promotion last season. 

Obviously, this game a day after the funeral of their much-loved manager Justin Edinburgh so emotions no doubt were high and everyone at the club will be looking to do him and his family proud this season.

For the Urchins it was preparation for another season in the Isthmian Premier Division and a decent crowd were in to see this one, and it was the hosts who had an early penalty shout turned down before a swift attack minutes later saw an effort struck just wide of the visitors far post.

Orient then saw Matt Harrold head over from close range before the Urchins fired another decent effort wide, and then after Harrold again had glanced a free-kick wide of the far post, the hosts fired across goal.

Hornchurch went close again as a one two ended with a powerful effort flying inches wide, and another hosts attack saw a left footed effort saved.  The home side were certainly looking impressive and were taking the game to their higher league opponents.

Moments later though it was the hosts keeper’s turn to be tested as he had to save a decent effort from the O’s, and then moments later the Urchins saw an effort blocked as the chance count continued to climb.

Orient then burst down the right but the cross was too high and overhit, before Harrold saw a point-blank header at the back post brilliantly saved by the home keeper, and then a great run down the right saw a cut back find Harrold whose goal bound effort was blocked.

The Urchins then curled wide before Orient fired a ball across goal to the far post were an effort was saved by the keeper, and then back up the other end a promising Hornchurch attack ended with a defensive block, before Orient then headed wide at the back post.  It meant despite all the chances created by both sides the half somehow ended goalless.

Half Time Hornchurch 0 Leyton Orient 0

The opening fifteen minutes of the second period saw little in the way of goalmouth action, and then Orient changed pretty much their entire XI for the final half hour as they looked to give all as many minutes as possible.

The hosts made some changes too, but five minutes after those wholesale changes from the O’s they took a 65^th minute lead when after the hosts had given the ball away, Angol composed himself before curling a lovely effort beyond the keeper into the top corner and saw the deadlock finally broken.

And Angol so nearly doubled the visitors lead when he absolutely walloped an effort against the woodwork, and with the O’s now going for a killer second, they curled a free-kick wide of the hosts goal.

Orient then sent a free-kick towards the back post and saw it headed wide, they really should have hit the target, whilst the Urchins made some more changes to try and finish the game strongly.  They had been much less of a threat in this half for sure as their professional opponent’s wholesale changes for the final half hour certainly made it more difficult for the home side.

And with no more goals in this one it meant the O’s ran out winners in this one in what was a very decent work out for both sides.

Full Time Hornchurch 0 Leyton Orient 1

Harold Wood Athletic 0 Redbridge 4

Pre-Season Friendly, Tuesday 16th July 2019

Maskell was amongst the scorers as Redbridge hit four in the final half hour of their pre-season friendly at The Recreation Ground against Harold Wood Athletic to record victory in their latest run out prior to the season which starts in just over two weeks’ time.

The ESL Premier Division visitors had the first chance when they saw an effort tipped wide of the near post, before the EOFL Premier Division hosts then slid an effort wide of the far post.

Wood then headed wide, before Redbridge almost capitalised on a poor headed back pass but could only loft the effort wide of the near post, and then a long throw into the visitors area saw the keeper misjudge the flight of the ball, but the hosts could not force home the loose ball and the keeper gathered.

A brilliant ball into the hosts box saw the visitors glance a header wide, before Redbridge should have had a penalty for a foul, however the referee deemed it not a foul so played on, and then another super ball into the box from the visitors saw a looped header go inches wide of the far post.

The Motormen then gave the ball away in midfield and saw the hosts break forward, but they ended with striking an effort straight at the keeper, before Wood then had another good chance but saw a weak effort again go straight at the keeper.  The half though did end goalless.

Half Time Harold Wood Athletic 0 Redbridge 0

Redbridge came so close to taking the lead when seeing an effort tipped onto the bar, before a flowing move down the right ended with a poke at goal being saved by the hosts keeper.

Redbridge then somehow failed to take the lead when an effort was cleated off the line before a scramble eventually saw the ball squirm wide of the post, however just before the hour mark The Motormen did break the deadlock when Maskell powered home a header from close range.

Redbridge almost immediately doubled their lead when a close-range effort went just off target, but they did add a second in the 66^th minute when a cross from the right was diverted into the corner by an unfortunate defender for an own goal and the visitors had breathing space.

Redbridge then burst through but scuffed an effort wide, before the hosts broke the offside trap but the Redbridge goalkeeper coach, who had just replaced the keeper who had picked up an injury, made a fine save at the feet of the attacker.

The visitors then got in again but slid the effort across goal and wide, before Wood forced another save from the keeper coach of Redbridge, and then the visitors somehow missed from six yards out, hitting the bar when it looked easier to score.

Wood then saw a near post flick saved, before Redbridge then forced a near post save and then sent another effort over the bar, but with four minutes left it was three for the visitors as a cross was glanced home by a young trialist.

And that trialist added another in the 90^th minute with a very well taken finish to make it four for the visitors, and then nearly completed his treble but saw a more than decent effort brilliantly saved by the hosts keeper.  Redbridge though had put in a more than decent second half showing to run out convincing winners.

Full Time Harold Wood Athletic 0 Redbridge 4

Shenfield 1 Southend Manor 4

Pre Season Friendly, Wednesday 10th July 2019

A Max Omango brace helped Southend Manor to victory over Shenfield on the 3G at St Martins School in Shenfield in the club’s latest pre-season outing ahead of the 2019/20 season.

Both sides were looking to shape their squads ahead of the campaign, the hosts newly promoted to the Essex Olympian Premier after winning Senior One last season whilst Essex Senior League Manor were looking to build a new side under the new regime which saw Jerry Omango take over as chairman a few weeks ago. 

And with Adam Peek continuing as manager alongside coaches Halil Hassan and Gary Pond, the squad are certainly in good hands.  Both sides saw long range efforts sail over early on before Manor then fired a dangerous effort across goal but in the seventh minute the visitors took the lead when a lovely move ended with chairman’s son Omango applying the finishing touch.

Shenfield then saw a deflected effort saved before more decent one touch play from Manor almost resulted in a second goal but the effort was sliced wide, and then the hosts managed to burst through a couple of challenges but saw a final effort drilled wide.

Manor then saw the keeper beat an effort away before a quick free-kick caught at the visitors but the effort was straight at the keeper, and then Manor came close to doubling their lead but the effort from the edge of the box went inches wide.

Manor were playing some nice stuff and saw another effort saved by the keeper before another effort across the Shenfield goal went wide of the far post, and then after the hosts had given the ball away cheaply, it took another decent stop from their keeper to keep Manor out.

Manor then forced another corner after a shot had been blocked, and from that corner they sent a header wide, and then the hosts so nearly pinched a leveller when a close-range effort was brilliantly saved.

Manor then burst in down the left but saw the keeper make a decent near post stop, and it meant the visitors went into the break a goal ahead.

Half Time Shenfield 0 Southend Manor 1

Both sides saw openings early on in the second period, although it was the hosts who had come out the better in this period, although Manor were next to go closest to adding another when after a blocked effort had come out to the edge of the box, a volley from the edge of the box went inches wide.

Manor though began to up the tempo again and fired another effort across goal before sending a dipping effort past the far post, but twelve minutes into the half Shenfield found a leveller when a cross found Jordan Elliott totally unmarked and he headed home from close range.

Manor though sent another chance wide when clean through, but with fifteen minutes remaining regained the lead in spectacular style after Grant Frances fired a dipping free-kick from at least thirty yards out in off the bar, and five minutes later added to their lead when a diagonal ball into the mixer saw Jordan Chambers rise to beat the keeper to the ball and head home.

Manor almost added a late fourth on a couple of occasions, but with pretty much the last kick off the contest did find a fourth when Omango twisted and turned before firing beyond the keeper to seal a pretty useful evening for the ESL side.

Full Time Shenfield 1 Southend Manor 4

Burnham Ramblers 1 St Margaretsbury 0

Pre-Season Friendly, Tuesday 9th July 2019

Hosts Burnham Ramblers netted four minutes before the break to settle this highly competitive and at times feisty pre-season friendly against St Margaretsbury at Leslie Field.

The home side, who will again play in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South in the forthcoming season, had the better of the early exchanges against their Essex Senior League Premier opponents, seeing a cross diverted wide by the visitors before a close-range header went straight at the visiting keeper.

The lower level hosts continued to have the upper hand in a decent first half performance and saw a looping header find the arms of the visitor’s keeper once again, before another header was sent wide of the post and then a free-kick was whistled over the top of the St Margs crossbar.

Despite this being a friendly though, the game was not short of physicality, and some crutching tackles were never far away, and then it almost boiled over at one point after two opposing players squared up, resulting in a booking for the host player.

Ramblers then almost broke the deadlock but fired straight at the keeper, before a second yellow of the game followed when one of the visiting forwards fouled once to often and was cautioned.  Ramblers then grabbed a deserved lead when a ball across was side footed home from close range meaning Ramblers held a well-deserved lead at the break.

Burnham Ramblers 1 St Margaretsbury 0

St Margs, who had showed pretty much zero in the way of attacking play in the opening forty five minutes, almost fell further behind early on in the second period when a decent chance was saved by their keepers foot, but soon after they did go close themselves but a decent ball into the six yard box was well cleared, and then they came even closer when striking the post as they searched for the leveller.

The visitors were looking much more threatening this half though and sent a cross just over the head of an attacker, before another effort was well saved by the Ramblers keeper.  The hosts responded by sending a decent chance well wide, this after a poor defensive clearance from the visitors.

St Margs then had another couple of decent openings before the home side saw a free-kick parried away before the rebound was sent wide under pressure, and then the hosts thought they had doubled their lead when side footing home from a square ball, however the flag had gone up for offside.

St Margs came again though and after forcing a decent stop from the Ramblers keeper, the resultant corner was eventually cleared after a scramble, and then a brilliant curling effort struck the post before the ball was recycled into the hosts box but on the stretch the visitors could only send the ball miles over. 

It all meant the hosts took their first win of the pre-season campaign with more positive signs to take forwards, whilst it was also a good workout for the visitors as they look to build a squad for the coming season.

Full Time Burnham Ramblers 1 St Margaretsbury 0