West Essex 1 Whitton United 2

Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, Sunday 11th August 2019


Jamie Cole netted a 79^th minute winner as ten-man Whitton United set up an Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round home tie with Hertford Town in two weeks’ time after defeating West Essex at Oakside in a feisty Extra Preliminary Round encounter.


The Thurlow Nunn Premier visitors had the first chance when Harry Wales headed wide, and then another United chance saw the ball break to Kevin Inglis, but his effort was sent wide of the near post.


On 18 minutes though the visitors did find the net when a long-range effort from Liam Wales caught out keeper Jack Coker and nestled in the bottom corner of the net to give the visitors from Suffolk the early advantage.


The Essex Senior League hosts should of levelled though when after Joe Lefley had broken the offside trap, his finish was saved by keeper Lewis Higgins, before a follow up effort from Michael Mignot was well saved again, and then from another cross moments later Mignot sent his effort over the bar.


Just before the half hour mark came a big moment of controversy as Mignot was fouled on the edge of the box by defender Harry Wales, and the visiting player was shown a straight red, much to everyone’s amazement.  It didn’t look like a red card in all honesty but it meant the visitors would have to play the remaining hour or so with ten men.


Brad Russell then curled the resulting free-kick over the bar, but then more controversial moments followed at the end of the half when hosts attacker Mignot was fouled and it an attempt to get the ball off the defender who was holding onto it threw him to the ground.  We all assumed a red would follow for the West player but no, only a yellow, and to be honest he could count himself lucky.   


The game was getting rather spicy now and the half time whistle couldn’t come soon enough so both teams could calm down and go again.


Half Time West Essex 0 Whitton United 1


West knew they needed an early goal in the second period to really rattle their ten-man opponents, but the visitors almost saw an Inglis corner sneak in at the far post, before West attacked down the other end and see a cross almost find Mignot, but a decent tackle prevented him from shooting.


Nine minutes into the half though West were on level terms as Tom MacLeod powered home a brilliant header in off the bar and you thought the hosts may go onto win it with the extra man advantage.


Mignot then found himself in for the hosts but keeper Higgins managed to save as the attacker tried to take the ball around him, whilst down the other end Jack Baker sent a free-kick high over the bar from what was a decent position.


Hakim Medfai then created an opening all by himself for the hosts, but the final effort was way over the bar, and then Inglis tried a dinked effort down the other end for the visitors but it went straight into the arms of Coker.


The visitors were beginning to look threatening, despite having the numerical disadvantage, and saw an effort from Zehnn Young blocked, this after good work from Jacob Lay, who had been having a superb game for the visitors, and then they struck another effort wide soon after as you felt the momentum shifting towards the Suffolk side.


And with 79 minutes on the clock the visitors got themselves back in front when after Mignot had seen an effort saved by Higgins down one end, Whitton broke and after Cole and Coker had collided,
Cole got back up to lob the stranded keeper and send the visitors wild.


The game, which had been rather competitive you could say throughout, threatened to boil over in the closing stages, and at times became rather silly it has to be said.  West came close to levelling late on when they saw the visitors scramble a goal bound effort away, before another effort was blocked and then a cross into the danger zone by substitute Izzy Ogedi-Uzokwe was pounced on by keeper Higgins.


And after several tense minutes of stoppage time for the visitors the whistle went and the Suffolk side had prevailed after playing over an hour with a man light, terrific from them, whilst for West Essex disappointment at not playing to the levels they expect.  They had chances yes but two silly goals given away cost them at the end of the day.


Whitton United now take on Hertford Town from the Isthmian League South Central in two weeks’ time in Suffolk, good luck to them in that one.


Full Time West Essex 1 Whitton United 2

Ipswich Town 1 Sunderland 1

SkyBet League One, Saturday 10th August 2019


Lynden Gooch struck twenty minutes into the second half to make sure Sunderland took a point against Ipswich Town at Portman Road in front of a decent crowd of over 24,000 in their SkyBet League One encounter.


This was the 11^th anniversary of my beloved father’s passing, and with his Sunderland connections this was always going to be an emotional day for me, oh and a tense one too as always is the case with watching the Black Cats!!!


I was also spending it with one of my best mates too, who was an Ipswich fan, and also his sister’s boyfriend, who was also an Ipswich fan.  And we also had tickets in the Bobby Robson upper, so in the heart of the Ipswich fans too, so this was going to be an interesting day.  It was nice to spend it with such good company though.


Anyway, to the game and Ipswich had won their first game of the season last weekend at Burton Albion, whilst Sunderland had only managed to draw at home to Oxford United, a result which led to some fans calling for manager Jack Ross’s head.  Both these sides will be under pressure this season for sure to gain promotion back to the Championship you feel, although I reckon Sunderland will be under the most pressure after failure to gain it last season.


Roared on by a vocal home crowd it has to be said, the hosts got off to a dream start on the quarter hour mark when Danny Rowe’s touch found Luke Garbutt  who managed to finish from an acute angle into the far corner and send the home fans into raptures (yes I did stand up and applaud the goal, to be fair it was a good finish).


If the atmosphere wasn’t already good, it had gone up several notches now, and Ipswich were playing with confidence and almost doubled their lead when Garbutt saw his effort saved by Jon McLaughlin eight minutes before the break, although a blow for the hosts then came when Garbutt had to come off injured shortly after.


Ipswich had further chances to extend their lead before the break, firstly when Cole Skuse saw an effort cleared off the line, and then secondly when James Norwood hooked a volley wide of the Sunderland goal.  But the hosts had dominated the first period and deservedly went into the break ahead.


Half Time Ipswich Town 1 Sunderland 0


After some frank discussion’s in the away dressing room at half time Sunderland did improve in the second period, having a lot more of the ball, however for the opening fifteen minutes of the half they weren’t really creating anything as Ipswich looked fairly comfortable with the 1-0 lead, and I turned to my mates and said ‘next goal’s crucial’ although the visitors just did not look like scoring.


That was until the 64^th minute when they were gifted an equaliser by the hosts, as a ball behind Luke Chambers, the Ipswich centre half who had been having a good game up till this point, and Sunderland attacker Marc McNulty, saw the defender attempt to let the ball run out for a goal-kick.


But McNulty managed to get around the defender a nick the ball off him and suddenly he was into the penalty area with the keeper to beat, albeit from an acute angle.  But intelligently he rolled the ball across the box into the path of the incoming Gooch who duly side footed home and send the almost 2,000 away fans (and me inside at least!!) wild with delight.


It was such a poor goal to give away from the hosts, sadly their downfall in last season’s relegation from the Championship, and from being in control of this contest they now had a Sunderland side with their tails well and truly up, and for the next five or ten minutes you felt the Black Cats could maybe go on and grab an unexpected lead.


This didn’t materialise though and Ipswich soon began to grab back the initiative and try and force a winner, but the Sunderland defence held firm to keep the men in blue out.  The closest the hosts came to finding a winner was in stoppage time when substitute Alan Judge saw a shot saved by McLaughlin. It meant the game ended a draw, meaning both sides remain unbeaten after their two league games so far.  

Ipswich will be annoyed at not winning that game after conceding such a poor goal, whilst the Black Cats should be delighted that they managed to take a point from this.  Draws though are what cost them promotion last season so having drawn their first two it seems this ‘draw specialists’ tag hasn’t gone away just yet.  


I feel Ipswich will be a force in this league this season, and Sunderland hopefully will follow suit. The return game is on February 8^th, my dad’s birthday, so me and the step mum will be travelling up to the north east for that one, and if both sides have the season’s they should, then that could be a pretty big game!!!


Full Time Ipswich Town 1 Sunderland 1

Barkingside 4 Newbury Forest 0

Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South, Monday 5th August 2019

Barkingside got their Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior League campaign off to a great start after a Joe Oates brace helped them to victory over Newbury Forest at Cricklefield’s.

The hosts, who suffered relegation from the Essex Senior League Premier last season, were taking on a side who they had beaten 4-1 in pre-season, so they knew they could beat their opponents, but Forest and Side knew this would be a different contest seeing as it was their first league games, or so you thought anyway.

The hosts created the first opening, a half chance which Oates almost found himself in but was thwarted, before an Archie Hammond effort was blocked and then a Francesco Balestrini curled effort at goal was claimed by visiting keeper Jordan Stansbury.

There was almost an embarrassing moment for Side keeper Charlie Howson who saw a clearance blasted against Forest forward Okugbeni before flying back past the keeper and going just wide, whilst down the other end Dan Jones got into a good shooting position but dragged his effort well wide.

Stansbury then somehow kept out a Oates effort before Oates again saw an effort go straight at Stansbury as the hosts were threatening to grab a lead late on in the half, and then Side forward Olajide Yusuff burst down the right but after cutting it back into the area saw an effort blocked.

Yusuff then got in down the right again but could only drill an effort into the side netting, and it meant the half ended goalless and although Side had created the better openings, the game was hardly a classic.

Half Time Barkingside 0 Newbury Forest 0

The visitors attacked almost immediately from the restart but it ended with a Kieran Huddart volley going so wide it ended up off for a throw on, and then six minutes into the half the hosts showed how to finish when they took the lead as Oates pounced to finish via Stansbury’s hand, and the hosts had the lead.

Forest then attacked down the right through Lubona Wyatt but saw his cross well cleared, before Tyrell Holder then curled an effort at the hosts goal but Howson claimed fairly comfortably, and then came a crucial second for the hosts as Oates saw an effort parried out by Stansbury but saw Jones quickest to react to fire the loose ball home with 63 minutes on the clock.

Forest tried to respond to this latest setback but saw an effort blocked before another chance was ballooned over, and then the hosts added a third and clinching goal when Oates grabbed his second of the game by beating a defender before slotting under Stansbury.

Side were now enjoying themselves and sent an effort just wide of the far post, and then things got worse for the visitors when they gifted Side a fourth as keeper Stansbury gave the ball straight to substitute Muyiwa Osenie who slotted into the open goal with fifteen minutes left.

The visitors tried their best to at least get on the scoresheet late on, seeing a Matt Connelly effort well saved by Howson, before Anthony McDonald fired an effort over the hosts bar.  It proved to be the final act and meant Side ran out fairly convincing winners in the end, whilst for the visitors it was back to the drawing board.

Full Time Barkingside 4 Newbury Forest 0

Liverpool 1 Manchester City 1 (City won 5-4 on pens)

FA Community Shield, Sunday 4th August 2019 (at Wembley Stadium)


Manchester City survived a second half onslaught from Liverpool to eventually triumph on penalties and retain the FA Community Shield for 2019 at Wembley Stadium.


Liverpool’s pre-season results wise hadn’t been brilliant but the current champions of Europe were more than confident of turning over the treble winners from last season in Manchester City, whose own pre-season saw them unbeaten in four games, with the only one drawn against Wolves.


But those results meant nothing as these two went into battle and if last seasons Premier League results were to go by then not a lot would separate these two.


Over 77,000 were inside Wembley to see who could lift the Community Shield and City were the ones to create an early chance as a mistake allowed Leroy Sane to be laid in by ex-Liverpool Raheem Sterling, but the former could only hit his shot into the side netting.


Liverpool then went up the other end and saw decent play by Firmino set himself up for a shot a goal but this went straight at Claudio Bravo in the City net, and then a good chance for Mo Salah came along but a poor finish from the Egyptian saw the effort wide of the City net.


Sterling, who by the way was getting booed pretty loudly by the Liverpool fans, popped up to give City the lead in the 11^th minute when a ball played into the six yard box saw him touch an effort towards goal and saw Alisson make a bit of a mess of saving it as the ball squirmed underneath him and over the line.


In the build up to that goal Sane was injured and was substituted in the aftermath of the goal which is a blow to City, and they will hope it’s not to serious.  He was replaced by Gabriel Jesus and he almost made an immediate impact when a Kevin de Bruyne cross almost found him, but it just eluded the striker as City looked for a quick second.


Liverpool though were looking for a quick equaliser, and Salah burst into the City box but saw his finish go into the side netting, before a terrific chance for City saw the ball break to Sterling but his effort was beaten away by Alisson, whilst up the other end Salah again saw the ball fall to him inside the box, but again his finish was wayward and over the bar.


A foul on David Silva in the middle of the park saw Pep Guardiola react angrily to the challenge, and resulted in him being shown a yellow card by Martin Atkinson, leaving the City boss fuming about the whole situation.  This game meant so much to these two you could tell despite it technically being a friendly, albeit a friendly with a trophy at the end of it.


Liverpool then sent a looping header at Bravo, whilst down the other end Alisson managed to scramble a cross away whilst coming under immense pressure from City, but soon after the half time whistle sounded and City held a slender advantage.


Half Time Liverpool 0 Manchester City 1


City almost capitalised on a Liverpool error early in the second period as Sterling pinched the ball off a defender and fed David Silva, but the skipper, who is starting his final season at City, could only strike an effort over the bar, whilst down the other end a Divock Origi effort deflected into the arms of Bravo.


And then came a big moment when Sterling had a great chance to double City’s lead, but saw his effort strike the inside of the post and come out, much to Liverpool’s relief, and then minutes later it was the Red’s turn to have their heads in their hands when Virgil Van Dijk saw an effort from ten yards hit the underside of the bar and stay out, it was so close to a leveller!!!


And moments later Salah cut inside and struck a left-footed effort against the near post as Liverpool were now putting City under the cosh somewhat, but then came what would have been a moment of controversy as Origi looked to have been fouled, but Atkinson waved play on, and Sterling was put in the clear but totally fluffed his lines and allowed Alisson to gather the effort.  Had that gone in Liverpool would have been furious.


Salah, who had been a contest threat to the City defence, again cut inside onto his left-foot, but his powerful effort was well saved by Bravo at the near post, whilst down the other end de Bruyne got a shot away but Alisson was equal to it and got down to save the effort.


But with thirteen minutes remaining Liverpool got what was a well-deserved equaliser it has to be said, when substitute Joel Matip powered home a close-range header which even Bravo could not keep out, and it set up a magnificent last ten minutes or so at Wembley.


Liverpool looked the more likely to find a winner if there was to be one, and Bravo had to come to City’s rescue again when beating away a Keita effort, before Salah again cut inside and saw an effort deflected onto the roof of City’s net.


Salah then shot straight at Bravo, before City almost gifted Liverpool a second when presenting the ball to Salah inside the box, but Bravo again saved to thwart the Red’s attacker, whilst down the other end Liverpool managed to crowd out Sterling, whose attempted effort was blocked.


And then came the moment that Liverpool thought they had won it deep into stoppage time, as Salah saw an effort blocked but then with Bravo on the floor headed the ball back over the keeper and it looked destined for the net until Kyle Walker somehow got back to clear the ball off the goal line just as it was about to go in, it was an unbelievable bit of defending and City had survived again.


And with the final kick of the game Bravo made yet another save, this time at his near post, to deny another substitute Shaqiri, and it all meant the FA Community Shield would be decided by penalties.


And the shootout saw City successful with all five of their spot-kick’s whilst Liverpool missed one of their’s meaning the treble winners from last season retained the FA Community Shield for another season. 


Tough on Liverpool who deserved to win the game but they will take many positives into their opening league game against Norwich City at Anfield on Friday night.  City travel to West Ham and the Olympic Stadium for their opening game on Saturday lunchtime in the capital.


Full Time Liverpool 1 Manchester City 1 (Manchester City won 5-4 on penalties)

Takeley 3 Cockfosters 0

Essex Senior League Premier Division, Saturday 3rd August 2019


Takeley got their season underway with victory over Cockfosters after goals from Bryn Thorpe, skipper Jason Todd and a penalty from centre half Nicky Barrett meant they started the new Essex Senior League season positively.


Takeley had ended last season in fifth position after their title/promotion challenge fell away in the final weeks of the season, whilst Cockfosters were starting their first season in the division after moving over from the Spartan South Midlands, and only survived relegation in the final day last season in that division.


An early attack from the hosts down the right was cleared out to as far as Reece Barrett whose effort flew just over, and then the hosts attacked down the right again but ended with a Dylan Florence effort flying across goal and wide of the far post.


Thorpe then headed wide from eight yards out after the visitors had left him totally unmarked, before George Beattie tried to catch out home keeper Matt Gill by curling a free-kick into the near post, but the effort was off target and into the side netting.


Florence then got into a good shooting position for the hosts but struck wide, and then Cockfosters should really have taken the lead when Beattie found himself in on goal, but he showed no conviction and allowed Gill to come and make a decent stop.


It proved to be crucial as barely a minute later just beyond the half hour mark Takeley went in front themselves as a long ball was misjudged by keeper Josh Bradley and allowed Thorpe to nip in behind to slot into the empty net and the hosts now had the edge.


They almost netted a second when Nicky Barrett saw a free-kick go just off target, before the visitors then fired a ball across the area but saw it hacked clear by the hosts, and then the hosts were then thwarted by a last-ditch tackle down the other end.


Cockfosters had the final effort of the half but this was straight at Gill, and it meant the home side went into the break a goal to the good.


Half Time Takeley 1 Cockfosters 0


The hosts burst into the right hand side of the visitors box early in the half but saw an eventual effort blocked, before Gill made a brilliant double save to keep Takeley ahead, and then the visitors struck the post soon after although it was flagged offside anyway, but Cockfosters were the better team in the opening exchanges of the second period.


Takeley though could always create chances and a superb ball from Mike Castle found Thorpe whose volley across goal was turned away for a corner, and from this corner Takeley found that all important second goal as Nicky Barrett’s set play was glanced home at the near post by skipper Todd.


The hosts had now hit a purple patch in the game and were soon three goals to the good when after second half substitute Mitchell Das had been fouled for a penalty, Nicky Barrett converted with ease and the home side were now looking likely to run away with it.


Das almost added a fourth when his shot across goal was brilliantly saved by Bradley, whilst down the other end a visitor’s substitute Mark Summers volleyed over from ten yards or so.


Das almost added a fourth, again, but saw keeper Bradley come and dive at his feet to stop any effort to be struck at goal, however the hosts didn’t really care as they had already got this game won.


The game was much closer than the score line suggested as the visitors did create some good openings, but they were wasteful when they came whilst the hosts took theirs when it mattered and run out winners on the opening day of the season.


Full Time Takeley 3 Cockfosters 0

Hullbridge Sports 5 Enfield 1

Pre-Season Friendly, Tuesday 30th July 2019


Hullbridge Sports carried on their build up to a first ever season in the Isthmian League by hitting five against old Essex Senior League foes Enfield in a pre-season game at Lower Road.



The hosts, who won the ESL Premier last season, began their first ever season at Step Four on August 17^th whilst Enfield begin their latest Senior League campaign at Hadley this weekend so it’s getting towards the end of both sides pre-season workouts as they both look to shape a squad ready for the 2019/20 season.



It didn’t take long for the hosts to go in front either as they burst down the right and sent in a cross which went in off a defender inside the opening minute, and it was nearly two moments later when Adebayo Sotoyinbo sent a powerful effort at goal which the keeper managed to beat away.



But in the 11^th minute it was two for the hosts when new signing Jamie Salmon curled home a beauty of a strike from the edge of the box into the top corner as the Isthmian North side stamped their authority on proceedings early.



The visitors tried to respond by stealing in at the back post, however the volley was sent back across goal and away from danger, before a visitor’s corner to the back post was headed towards the near post but beaten away by home keeper Lewis Greene.



Midway through the first half though Hullbridge added a third as after the keeper had dropped a cross, Joe Wright was on hand to fire home the loose ball and the home side were threatening to run away with this contest.



The visitors almost netted another own goal as a Courtney Homans cross was sliced just over the bar, and from the resulting corner Salmon could only head wide of the target before another home attack saw a cross flicked across goal before eventually finding it’s way to Salmon, but his chip towards the goal was easily saved.



Sotoyinbo then stole possession for the hosts and laid in Yemi Adelani whose dinked effort was tipped over, and then Wright managed to charge down a visiting defensive clearance before firing at goal but this was also beaten away.



Enfield though managed to pull one back with two minutes of the first half remaining, and it was a very familiar face for Hullbridge folk as ex-midfielder Joe Pattison managed to fire into the bottom corner after a loose ball had fallen to him inside the box to reduce the arrears to two.



The three-goal lead was almost restored immediately though but Wright could only send his header at the keeper, and it meant the hosts went into the break with a two-goal cushion.



Half Time Hullbridge Sports 3 Enfield 1



There was an early chance for the hosts in the second period but centre half Jamal Allen saw his effort blocked, but six minutes into the second period Bridge made it four when Soytoyinbo struck home brilliant across the keeper into the far corner.



Another chance for the home side saw Sotoyinbo burst down the left before playing a ball across to Dan Okah whose effort was straight at the keeper, before Enfield then got themselves into a good shooting position but sent an effort way over the bar.



Another hosts effort was then beaten away by the keeper, before a chance for the visitors saw a decent effort struck wildly off target but take a nick off a defender in the process, before a low dangerous cross from the visitors was well fielded by Greene.



The hosts then fired wide from long range before the visitors keeper almost gifted Hullbridge a fifth after his clearance went straight to Hornsley, but his effort was way off target, before good play from Enfield saw an effort almost squeeze through Green’s grasp but the keeper managed to stop the ball going in by diving on top of it.



Then a terrible Crossfield ball by the visitors allowed Hornsley to intercept and run through at goal, and although he was held up briefly he managed to get a shot away which hit the post before the follow up from Nathan Scarborough was saved, but with four minutes left it was five for the hosts when after Perry Dunn had played a wonderful pass out to Scarborough, his ball across to Hornsley saw the striker control and then fire home left-footed.



Pattison then fired wide for the visitors before Hornsley almost flicked home another for the home side, and although Enfield curled a free-kick wide late on they were well beaten here by a very strong and clinical Hullbridge outfit.



Full Time Hullbridge Sports 5 Enfield 1

Southend United 2 Millwall 1

Pre-Season Friendly, Wednesday 24th July 2019


Substitute Theo Robinson struck twice in three minutes as Southend United came from behind to defeat Millwall at Roots Hall on a warm sunny evening on the Essex coast.



Both sides were nearing the end of their pre-season campaign as they build up to their respective seasons in the SkyBet Football League, the hosts looking for a much better campaign in League One under boss Kevin Bond whilst Milwall, managed by ex-shrimper Neil Harris, were looking for a solid season in the Championship.



A decent crowd of 2,070, including 509 from South London, were inside Roots Hall to see their relative sides, but chances in the opening fifteen minutes were rare, with a blocked Skalak shot from eighteen yards and a McLaughlin shot straight at Sanford the only efforts at goal.



Yearwood then struck one over the visitor’s bar, before Humphrys saw a free kick go way over the Millwall goal, and then a Goodship header back across goal saw Humphrys attempt a bicycle kick but he missed it and the chance went.



Millwall then saw Jed Wallace fire a free kick over the hosts bar, before Mantom played a decent ball across the face of goal looking for Yearwood but a Millwall defender managed to cut it out, but the hosts were doing well and creating chances.  But the half did end goalless with the hosts more than holding their own against higher league opposition.



Half Time Southend United 0 Millwall 0



Two minutes after the restart Millwall got their noses in front in very fortuitous circumstances as an attempted clearance from Lennon hit fellow defender Ralph and looped over Oxley and in off the crossbar for a comical own goal, and the South Londoners had the lead.



It took a while for the hosts to settle after this as Millwall had the better of the play in the opening exchanges of the half, but just beyond the hour mark Milligan struck a brilliant first time effort from range which flew inches over the visitors goal, and this seemed to wake the Blues up somewhat.



Another Blues chance saw Hyam chest the ball down and then volley over from fifteen yards, and then with twenty minutes remaining Robinson came on for Humphrys, which turned out to be a masterstroke from manager Bond.



As only five minutes after coming on, Robinson levelled the match up as he received the ball before turning towards goal and rifling a brilliant effort into the roof of the net, and then after Goodship had seen a decent effort saved by visitors keeper Sandford, the resulting corner saw Robinson head home at the near post for two goals in three minutes, and the hosts now had the lead.



Millwall put some pressure on the Blues goal late on, but the hosts just about held out to record a very impressive victory over the Championship side, with Robinson taking the plaudits in this one for the final twenty minutes at least.



Full Time Southend United 2 Millwall 1