Southend Manor 3 Ilford 2

Essex Senior League, Tuesday 6th October 2020 

Tuesday night saw me back over at Southchurch Park as goals from Liam Jarrett, Matthew Keiller and Ben Allen saw Southend Manor twice came from behind to defeat Ilford in their Essex Senior League contest.

Manor came into this one looking to bounce back from their disappointing loss on Friday night at West Essex and also repeat last Tuesday nights success at Southchurch Park against Sporting Bengal United, whilst The Foxes also suffered a big reverse last time out so were looking to bounce back with the points here. 

The game actually kicked off at 19:43, two whole minutes early, which is a rarity in the Essex Senior League!!! And early on it was the visitors who were applying the pressure, and on 12 minutes edged in front after a superb ball from ex-Manor attacker Mo Kargbo found Dion Lewis-Kirwan who curled a first time effort in off the far post for a well taken goal.

As the half went on though Manor began to grow into the contest and did strike the post, and with ten minutes of the half remaining found a leveller in spectacular style when Jarrett curled a beauty from range into the top corner to restore parity. 

Visiting keeper Josh Blackburn the made a brilliant stop to deny Joe Elliott, before Ilford almost went into the break ahead when a free-kick into the Manor area saw Jarrett almost head into his own net, but keeper Clinton Makayabo made a superb stop to keep the ball out, and the teams headed into the changing rooms level.

Half Time Southend Manor 1 Ilford 1

With the teams half time talks still ringing in their ears, Ilford restored their lead as barely a minute after the restart Yemi Adelani burst clear of the defence to slot beyond Makayabo, and The Foxes had edged ahead in this contest by catching Manor cold at the start of the half.

But this Manor side have bounced back from going behind twice before this season, so they knew this one was not over, and Ilford failed to push on and take control of this contest and just like the first half after a good initial start to the half for the visitors, Manor gradually grew into the half as it went on.

In fact most of the play was in the Ilford half and saw Manor put a lot of pressure on their opponents, but the defence and keeper Blackburn just about held firm, with the best chance falling to Allen who could only blast over from twelve yards or so.   Ilford did have their moments in the second period but the hosts defence and keeper Makayabo were equal to anything that came their way.

Then with sixteen minutes remaining Manor were awarded a penalty after a foul inside the box, but substitute Keiller could only send the spot kick wide, and the visitors breathed a sigh of relief.  You felt it might not be Manor’s night after that.

But this young side kept believing and Keiller made up for that penalty miss with eight minutes of normal time to go when the ball sat up nicely for him around thirty yards out and he smacked a beauty over Blackburn into the net for a superb leveller, the second one Manor had produced in this game, and it was all square again.

Two minutes after that Manor were awarded another penalty after another foul inside the box, and this time Allen was given the duty of taking the spot kick, and he slotted into the corner and the hosts had turned this one around brilliantly. 

Ilford could not respond and fell to a third loss of the season which leaves them down in 14^th, whilst for Manor it’s another superb win and it sends them up to fifth after their fourth win of the season.  Brilliant entertainment indeed.

Full Time Southend Manor 3 Ilford 2

 

Hashtag United 4 St Margaretsbury 1

Essex Senior League, Monday 5th October 2020 

Monday night saw me make the short trip to The Len Salmon Stadium as Hashtag United were back in Essex Senior League action after their FA Cup exploits as they hosted St Margaretsbury on the 3G at Bowers & Pitsea.

The Tags FA Cup exploits of course have grabbed the headlines recently, but their league campaign is probably more important in their progress as a club as they look to gain promotion to Step Four and the Isthmian League for next season, and they knew a win would take them back level with leaders Cockfosters, and a win by six goals would see them go top on goal difference, although just a win would do no doubt.

They welcomed a St Margaretsbury side to The Len Salmon who had had a mixed start to the campaign, with only one win in six and three draws too, that win coming last time out at home to Woodford Town, whilst previous to that they fought back from 0-3 down at home to Clapton to earn a point, but they knew Hashtag were a much much tougher proposition in this one and it would be a difficult contest.

But with the hosts having only 48 hours or so to recover from that tough FA Cup tie at the weekend against Braintree Town, some were saying that they could suffer a hangover from that, and maybe the visitors, who hadn’t played for almost a week might have the edge perhaps?

Well, the opening forty five minutes didn’t suggest this, as the hosts blew their opponents away, it all started in the 14^th minute when George Smith was adjudged to have been onside and he drove into the box before seeing his effort at goal deflect over keeper Graham Loki and drop into the net, and then seven minutes later and after the visitors had failed to clear a corner, Harry Honesty drove a left footed effort into the bottom corner from inside the box.

The Tags were in complete control and after a ball down the right saw Jesse Waller Lassen adjudged to be onside, a second tight call that had the visitors upset as they believed he was offside, just like Smith for the first goal, but no flag came and he squared a ball across to Smith and although his first effort was well saved by Loki, the ball came back to Smith and he swept home the rebound eleven minutes before the break and you felt the hosts could run away with this one.

St Mags had showed some fleeting moments in attack in the first period but they were largely on the defensive and were probably happy to just be three goals behind at the break, so as they went into the break they knew they needed to try and some how get a foothold in this contest to prevent the hosts from netting a big win.  Hangover, what hangover said the hosts???  It had been a super first half performance from The Tags that was for sure.

Half Time Hashtag United 3 St Margaretsbury 0

The visitors obviously had a frank discussion at the half and they certainly began the period the better, and eight minutes into it pulled a goal back when Kyle Roberts took advantage of some sloppy defending to cut into the box and fire and effort beyond Page, it was the perfect start to the half for the visitors and they could dream of a possible comeback, unthinkable at half time.

The hosts were certainly much more off the pace in the second period, maybe the endeavours of the weekend was finally catching up with them, but fair play to St Mags for continuing to play some good football and make this period of play a far more competitive and tight contest.

But for all the possession the visitors had, they didn’t really trouble Page in the Hashtag goal too much, and the hosts were never really in trouble despite suffering a rather sloppy half and getting nowhere near the levels set in the first forty five minutes of the contest.

The Tags still had a couple of good chances to make it four, Waller Lassen struck a free kick just wide, and then Toby Aromolaran, who was The Tags stand out player in this one after a superb performance, especially first half when he was at times unplayable, struck the foot of the post from inside the box.

With five minutes left though, Aromolaran was to turn provider for Hashtag’s fourth and final goal, when he capitalised on a mistake in the St Mags backline to square into the area and see Albie Keith fire home with keeper Loki stranded in no mans land, and Hashtag had their three goal cushion back.

Three points for Hashtag United then, with the damage being done in the first period, and the points take them level with Cockfosters at the top although the North London side have a better goal difference so still occupy top spot, whilst the visitors although showed much encouragement in the second period, they were blown away in the opening half and ultimately this is where they lost the contest.  They remain in 12^th with six points from their six matches so far.

Full Time Hashtag United 4 St Margaretsbury 1

 

Essex Senior League/Eastern Senior South Round Up (2nd/3rd October 2020)

 

(Josh Moreman completes his hat-trick for Peterborough Sports against Stansted, ending the visitors brave fight in their FA Cup clash at the weekend. Photo: James Richardson (@PhotoJamesR))

On a weekend where three of the five ESL games were wiped out due to the weather leaving just two match up’s at Mayesbrook Park and Crofters, along with the three Second Qualifying Round ties in the FA Cup, that left just five matches overall so have decided this week to also do a round up for the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South as well as six games took place on Saturday in that division!!!  Here we go…..

 

Friday October 2

Essex Senior League

West Essex 6 Southend Manor 0 (West got back to winning ways after two straight defeats to climb up to third in the standings after netting six against Southend Manor at Mayesbrook Park.  George Fairhead gave the home side a 20^th minute lead and then in first half stoppage time Cameron Gray nodded home from close range to double The Stags lead.  Manor were on top for the opening exchanges of the second period and then saw the hosts reduced to ten men when Isaac Marfo-Jacobs was shown a second yellow and sliding into the keeper, but this seemed to galvanize the hosts who made it three when Michael Mignot side footed into the far corner and then it was four after Brad Russell struck home a free kick.  Mignot then converted a superb pass from Fairhead to net his second of the game and 100^th for the club, before Hakim Medfai made it four goals in seventeen minutes to seal a big win.  Defeat for Manor, there third big loss of the season, sees them slip to ninth)

 

Saturday October 3

Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round

Hashtag United 1 Braintree Town 1 (Braintree Town won 7-6 on penalties) (Hashtag United came oh so close to continuing there amazing run in their maiden FA Cup voyage after they eventually fell to Vanarama South side Braintree Town on penalties at The Len Salmon.  It looked as if Toby Aromolaren had sent Hashtag into the hat for the next round when netting in the 90^th minute, however straight from the kick off Oluwatimilhin levelled for the visitors to take the tie to penalties and in Hashtag’s case the third straight FA Cup tie that had done so. The shoot out went to sudden death and it came down to Tom Anderson needing to score to make it 7-7 and keep the shoot out going, but sadly for the hosts he missed and their FA Cup adventure was at an end.  A great effort by all at the club though and they can now put all their efforts on gaining promotion to the Isthmian League now)

 

Peterborough Sports 4 Stansted 2 (The Airportmen put up a brave fight against Southern League Premier side Peterborough Sports at The Bee Arena but sadly their FA Cup exploits are over after defeat here.  It looked like it would be a long afternoon for Stansted when Josh Moreman and Maniche Sani had given the hosts a two goal lead inside fifteen minutes, but the visitors fought back brilliantly to level before the half hour mark, with the equaliser an absolute belter of a free-kick from Connor Hammond.  However, Josh Moreman added two more in the second period to complete his hat-trick and send the hosts into the next round of the competition and finally end the visitor’s resistance.  A valiant effort though from Stansted against opposition two steps above away from home)  

 

Walthamstow 0 Hornchurch 2 (Two early goals saw the visitors end Stow’s run in the FA Cup for this season after they were enough for victory at Wadham Lodge.  Lewis Spence and Ellis Brown had given the visitors a two goal cushion in thirteen minutes and then Vinny Murphy was shown a straight red for the home side after deliberate handball ten yards outside the box, which by all accounts seemed very harsh.  It left the hosts too much to do ultimately and they go out of the competition and will now turn their efforts to another successful ESL campaign they hope)

 

Essex Senior League

Sawbridgeworth Town 2 Saffron Walden Town 2 (The Robins fought back from two goals down at the break to grab a superb point at home to Saffron Walden Town at crofters.  A Gavin Cockman penalty plus a Alfie Hilton strike had The Bloods two goals up at the break, but Sawbo saw goals from Jake Skeet and Cav Clarke restore parity and see the game end all square.  The point takes the hosts into tenth whilst Walden climb up to fifth despite this disappointing outcome)

 

Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South

Burnham Ramblers 1 Athletic Newham 1 (The points were shared at Leslie Field as Burnham Ramblers held Athletic Newham to a draw to earn a decent point against one of the title favourites.  Ramblers are up to eighth as a result whilst the visitors are in sixth, four points off top spot)

 

Halstead Town 2 White Ensign 3 (Ensign survived a late fightback from hosts Halstead Town to take a superb three points at Rosemary Lane.  Brad Gates had given the visitors an early lead before Dom Locke then doubled that lead early in the second half, and when Harry Skinner made it 0-3 just before the hour, it looked likely that Ensign would cruise to victory.  But Ricky Gardiner pulled one back eighteen minutes from time and then four minutes later Joel Older slammed home a penalty and it was very much game on.  Ensign did manage to hold on though and take the points, taking them into fourth and three points behind the leaders, whilst Halstead slip to 11^th)

 

Harwich & Parkeston 0 Newbury Forest 1 (Newbury Forest have now won four of their five league games this season and are still unbeaten after they netted a 1-0 win at The Royal Oak against Harwich & Parkeston.  Forest are in third and just two points off top spot, whilst Harwich slip to 13^th and are still without a win this season)

 

Holland 2 Wormley Rovers 3 (Wormley Rovers are up to seventh after they took all three points at Dulwich Road against nine-man Holland.  Rovers led 2-0 before the hosts fought back with goals from Steven Downes and Antony Jeffrey-Lumley, but a crazy end to the game saw a long range effort from Kane Lowe find the Holland net, and then the hosts saw two quick fire second yellows result in two red cards for the home side as they finished the game with nine men and zero points, leaving the hosts down in tenth)

 

Little Oakley 3 Hackney Wick 1 (Little Oakley are back top of the table after they got back to winning ways as goals from Nicholas Farthing, Greg Rodger and Daniel Rowe saw then to victory over Hackney Wick at The Memorial Club.  Oakley now lead by two at the top now, whilst Wick remain second bottom having only picked up two points from their six matches so far)

 

Wivenhoe Town 1 Frenford 1 (The points were shared at the MEC Stadium as a tightly contested game ended all square.  Sam cross had given the visitors a 15^th minute lead but George Hart levelled early in the second period to see this one end level, meaning The Dragons climb to 12^th whilst Frenford slip to second and two points behind leaders Little Oakley)

 

That concludes the action from the weekend, finally below are the latest tables for both divisions: -

Essex Senior League

 

Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South

Chadwell Heath Spartans 7 North East Lions 1

Essex Alliance Football League Division One, Saturday 3rd October 2020 

Saturday afternoon saw me over at my first Essex Alliance Football League contest of the season and a first visit to Mayfield Leisure Centre to see Chadwell Heath Spartans Vs North East Lions in a Division One match up.

Spartans have been a side I have been looking to watch for some time now, and finally I got my chance here and knowing some of the personal at the club it was good to get over there and say hello to both chairman/photographer/social media man Neil Hunwicks, who was former photographer/media man at Hullbridge Sports, and player boss Aaron Hunwicks, Neil’s son and former Hullbridge Sports player.  Aaron was part of Hullbridge Sports most successful management team in FA comps along with Rob Hodgson, who was also a member of the Spartans squad too.

It was a very nice welcome from them all and a pleasure to come and cover them finally, and Neil introduced me to the squad whilst they were having their pre match discussion with their manager, and was nice of them all to thank me and clap me prior to doing there warm up, it is very much appreciated and makes me realise that what I do is worthwhile.

This was Spartans third league outing of the season and they had a win and a draw so far, and were going for back to back home wins after last weekend’s 4-2 success at Mayfield against London Park City, and they welcomed North East Lions to Mayfield this weekend with the visitors having lost their opening three games before they finally grabbed a 2-0 win at home to Francis Luke last weekend, so perhaps that could give them confidence coming into this contest.

After some initial pressure from the home side early on, the visitors began to find their way into the contest, and the hosts were glad that right back and club secretary and media wizard Ray Hunwicks was on hand to clear a visiting effort off the line, however, in the 21^st minute Spartans gave away a spot kick which the tall number nine duly converted for Lions and they had the lead.

Spartans though were level just before the half hour mark when the ball dropped to the feet of Ricky Reid and he smashed home a left footed effort from close range to bring his side back to parity.  Reid had been out of football for some time due to injuries, but he has now got himself back to fitness and is a huge goal threat for the Spartans side.

It did mean the half ended all square and the visitors were definitely the happier of the two sides coming off the pitch for a short break, whilst the hosts looked frustrated after a below par first half performance from them, and Aaron Hunwicks made that clear at the break that it wasn’t good enough and demanded more from his troops.

Half Time Chadwell Heath Spartans 1 North East Lions 1

So would the Spartans boys take Aaron’s words on board, well they certainly started the half well and were in front barely a minute after the restart when Reid lofted a lovely effort over the keeper and into the net, he certainly knows where the goal is that’s for sure!!!

And nine minutes into the second period Spartans had a third and it was the old Hullbridge Sports management team of Aaron Hunwicks and Hodgson, with the former’s free-kick finding the latter who produced a wonderful flick beyond the keeper into the far corner.

Spartans were definitely playing with more tempo and quality now and just before the hour mark it was three second half goals in twelve minutes for the hosts when Caleb Roberts, who had been out with a long term injury but is now back playing, let fly from miles out and saw the ball rocket past the keeper and into the net and the hosts were now cruising.

Fair play to the Lions though for sticking at it and they could of easily found the net again but forced a decent save from Spartans young keeper Oliver Grocock, who is dual signed from Barking’s EJA U18 side, and also saw another effort thumped inches wide of the upright and also send a couple of headers over the bar too.

Spartans though had more chances themselves, and the final five minutes of the contest saw Lions capitulate as Spartans netted three more times in a ruthless few minutes of football.

With five minutes left substitute Tom Callaghan, who is dual signed from Chelmsford U18s, drove into the box and fired a brilliant effort across goal and into the far corner for number five, before another substitute Miguel Martins let fly from miles out to find the net to make it six.  Martins was coming back from an illness so his goal was greeted with glee by all of his team mates and you could see how much it meant to them all that he had belted one in from range, lovely moment that was.

And the mad end to the game was completed when another substitute, assistant manager Niru Hunwicks no less, got on the end of a Hodgson header into the box to volley home from close range to make it seven, and it capped a superb second half showing from Spartans and another three points on the board too.

Those points mean Spartans are into third spot now and five points behind the top two with a game in hand, whilst for Lions it’s a fourth defeat in five as they slip to third bottom having played more games than the sides below them.

Lastly thank you to the hosts for being so accommodating, they have a pretty good side mixed with youth and experience, so no doubt they will have another good season and who knows maybe Senior Division football next season? They are certainly a club heading in the right direction that’s for sure.

Full Time Chadwell Heath Spartans 7 North East Lions 1

 

West Essex 6 Southend Manor 0

Essex Senior League, Friday 2nd October 2020 

Friday evening saw me over at a very soggy Mayesbrook Park as West Essex hosted Southend Manor in the Essex Senior League, and it was a night that hosts star man Michael Mignot joined the 100 goals club for the Stags as West got back to winning ways.

The hosts came into this contest having lost back to back games after a three-game unbeaten start, whilst Manor were on a run of three wins in four games, so an intriguing contest awaited us.  This was also my first visit to Mayesbrook Park since they had improved the perimeter of the pitch and installed a 3G surface.  They had certainly done a decent job.

I was originally supposed to be over at Cricklefield to watch Barkingside’s home game against May & Baker but the awful weather had put paid to that, so it was just as well Mayesbrook Park was now a 3G surface as had it been grass this game would not have taken place either, although the surface was very wet and slippery still, so would prove a challenge for both sets of players.

The hosts had the first real moment of the game early on when Isaac Marfo-Jacobs thumped an effort against the visitors post, but in the 20^th minute they did find the net when a Mignot cross fell to George Fairhead who curled a lovely effort into the far corner from twenty yards, and West had the advantage in this one.

Manor though should have levelled when West keeper Jack Coker gave the ball straight to the visitors, but they could only chip over the bar, and then late on in the half a brilliant run and shot from distance saw Coker tip brilliantly onto the post to preserve the home sides lead.

West so nearly doubled their lead soon after when Brad Russell was played in and after rounding the keeper looked certain to slot home but a brilliant goal line clearance prevented him from doing so, but, in first half stoppage time The Stags did go two goals clear when a corner found Emmanuel Oluwole who nodded back into the six yard box for Cameron Gray to nod home from close range.

It had been a closely fought battle in the opening half, but it was the hosts who had a two-goal advantage to take into the break.

Half Time West Essex 2 Southend Manor 0

Manor knew they were not out of this contest and knew a goal back would make things very interesting, and they so nearly got this barely a minute into the half when hitting the bar with a long range effort, and they had a few other openings in the opening fifteen minutes of the second period and could quite easily have been level in the contest.

And midway through it looked like Manor might have a chance to heap more pressure onto the hosts backline after striker Marfo-Jacobs was given a second yellow after clashing with the keeper, however all it seemed to do was galvanise the home side.

In the 73^rd minute the ten men added a third when Mignot raced clear down the left and side footed across goal and into the far corner, and then after winning a free-kick just outside the box, Russell added his second by thumping a lovely set-piece into the corner of the net for the hosts fourth of the night.

Manor, who were desperate for a goal and were pressing forward in search of this, were caught out again with six minutes left and saw a lovely counter attack from the hosts end with Mignot slotting home after a lovely pass from Fairhead.  It meant a five goal lead for West but it was also Mignot's 100th goal for the club, a magnificent achievement indeed, so well done to him!!!

The Stags had one more goal in them and it was a nice moment for Reece Clarke, who had come on to make his debut for the hosts with ten minutes to go after having to wait seven long months for it due to the pandemic, as he sent Hakim Medfai clear to slot in off the post via the keepers hand in the 90^th minute and hand West a six goal win and the three points.

West Essex are up to third on goal difference after this victory, whilst for Manor it is a painful defeat after playing pretty well for two thirds of the contest.  They stay in eighth for now but their three losses this season have yielded sixteen goals, which will be a worry for Garry Pond no doubt.

Full Time West Essex 6 Southend Manor 0

 

Essex Senior League Round Up (29th/30th September 2020)

(Action from Redbridge 4-0 Enfield at Oakside, thanks to Redbridge for the photo)

Tuesday September 29

Cockfosters 3 West Essex 1 (Fosters are now the only side with a 100% record after they made it five wins from five to move three clear at the top after victory over West Essex at Chalk Lane.  Carl Mullings, fresh from his brace at the weekend, netted the opener on 18 minutes to give the hosts the lead, but Michael Mignot levelled a minute before half time to send the sides in all square at the break.  Ryan Wade then slotted home five minutes into the second period after a mistake at the back, and then the hosts sealed the points midway through the second period when another error allowed Wade to latch onto the ball and slot home for his brace.  Defeat for West, their second on the spin, sees them drop to ninth) 

 

Redbridge 4 Enfield 0 (It’s two wins from two for new boss George Christou as his side thumped Enfield at Oakside.  Craig Hall gave the hosts a fourth minute lead before Aboishchur Farah doubled that lead in the 17^th minute, Hall then added his second and The Motormen’s third early on in the second period before he completed his hat-trick with twenty minutes remaining and cap another decent win for the hosts.  Redbridge are up to eighth now whilst Enfield remain second bottom without a win in five games and four defeats)

 

Saffron Walden Town 6 Clapton 1 (Walden netted their second win of the season after thumping six past Clapton at Catons Lane.  Gavin Cockman netted the opener for the hosts midway through the first period before Steve Carvell doubled the hosts advantage five minutes later.  The Tons gave themselves brief hope of a comeback when netting early in the second period but an own goal midway through the second half restored The Bloods two goal cushion.  Craig Calver then netted with thirteen minutes left before he netted again four minutes later to make it five, and then Alfie Hilton netted Walden’s sixth in the 90^th minute to complete another big home win, meaning they rise to seventh whilst Clapton, who have shipped twenty goals in their five games so far, remain third bottom without a win)

 

Southend Manor 2 Sporting Bengal United 0 (Manor made it three wins from their last four games as they put in a decent showing to see off an off-colour Sporting Bengal at Southchurch Park.  Manor took the lead six minutes before the break when a shot from Billy Harrison took an awful bounce in front of the keeper to end up in the top corner, and they doubled their lead midway through the second period when Ben Allen’s ball across the area found Jordan Thomas at the far post who converted, and help send the hosts on their way to the points. Victory for Manor sees them up to sixth, whilst defeat for Sporting leaves them down in 15^th)

 

St Margaretsbury 2 Woodford Town 1 (Two first half goals from Kyle Robers helped see St Mags to their first win of the season.  Roberts opened the scoring from the spot before a great finish from the front man saw the hosts go into the break 2-0 up.  Woodford did pull one back in the second period, but they were unable to avoid a fifth defeat in five, leaving them bottom and still without a point, whilst the hosts first win sees them up to 12^th)

 

Stansted 1 Hadley 3 (Hadley are up to fourth and only a point and a place behind Stansted with a game in hand after they handed The Airportmen their first home defeat of the season.  Alfano flicked home an Edwards free kick in the 34^th minute to give Hadley the lead, and six minutes later doubled that advantage when Bartram fired home after Alfano’s effort had been blocked.  Stansted pulled one back just past the hour mark after Hammond headed home a Joe Thomas free kick, but Hadley sealed the points in stoppage time when Ofori slotted past Monk)

 

Takeley 7 Sawbridgeworth Town 2 (Takeley grabbed their first win of the season in style after thumping local rivals Sawbridgeworth Town at Station Road thanks to a brace from Elliot Long, and goals from Glenn O’Hanlon, George Wappet, Mike La Ronde, Matt Hurley and Jason Todd.  Victory for the hosts sees them up to 13^th whilst Sawbridgeworth, who have now lost back to back games conceding eleven in the process, slip to tenth)

 

Walthamstow 2 Hashtag United 1 (Stow came from behind to hand Hashtag United their first defeat of the season and end their 100% start with victory at Wadham Lodge.  Stow had the chance to take a 23^rd minute lead but saw Jon Clements spot kick saved by Ashlee Jones, and three minutes later the visitors went in front through Jesse Waller Lassen.  Eight minutes after the break though Vinny Murphy headed home a corner to bring Stow level, and then the hosts won it when Michael Toner sent a free kick in off the post and pick up a huge win.  It means the home side go up to fifth, three points behind second placed Tags who now trail leaders Cockfosters by three points)

 

Wednesday September 30

Ilford 2 Hoddesdon Town 5 (Hoddy are up to fifth after they netted five at Cricklefield against Ilford.  The hosts took the lead when Yemi Adelani netted from the spot but the visitors levelled after a loose ball was dipped over Blackburn by Blue Gallagher, and the visitors then led after the ball was forced home at the back post by Kardan Campbell, and then two more quick goals, one from Cyrus Babaie and an own goal, put the visitors in total control, a result of some very ordinary defending from the hosts.  Ilford did pull one back to give them a sniff of a comeback when Freddie Agyemang finished off a good move, but the visitors sealed the points after Liam Mulligan produced a super finish from outside the box)

 

 

 

 

Benfleet 8 Brimsdown 4

Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South, Wednesday 30th September 2020 

So, my fourth game in five days saw me back over at Park Lane to see Benfleet Vs Brimsdown in what turned out to be an extraordinary Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South contest in what was a very soggy evening on the Island of Canvey.

Of the four league games Benfleet have played this season, they have won two and drawn two, and their sole FA Cup tie against Thurlow Nunn Premier Division side Brantham Athletic ended in a draw too before they lost on penalties, so not a bad start for the South Essex outfit, and they sit sixth in the division as a result with a chance to go third with a win here.

Opponents and visitors Brimsdown, who are ground sharing at Tilbury’s Chadfield’s this season, started the season with a good win over Harwich & Parkeston but since then it’s gone a bit sour for them having lost three games straight conceding fifteen goals in the process, with their lowest point losing 8-0 at home to Little Oakley.

This was on paper looking quite a challenge for the visitors although Benfleet had only netted six goals in their four league games so far so they weren’t exactly banging them in for fun lets say, but they have a very solid defence who had only conceded an average a goal a game so far, so they are solid if not spectacular.

Still, as I said before, the home side would have started this one favourites for sure, but nobody could have predicted what was to play out.  It all started after just two minutes when Brimsdown took a shock lead when they ran down the left wing before ghosting into the area along the byline and firing inside the near post, it took everyone by surprise.

That lead only lasted six minutes though as Benfleet were awarded an eighth minute penalty after a cutback struck the hand of a sliding defender, and Harry Doyle stepped up to slam home the spot kick, and then four minutes after that Benfleet were in front after a deep cross to the back post found Rob Lacy totally unmarked and he sent a header back across goal and into the far corner.

However, Brimsdown levelled after just twenty minutes when a free kick pumped from way inside their own half into the hosts half from the right hand side took a huge skip off the wet surface, totally catching out the keeper who was out of goal, and end up in the net, and it was 2-2 and we hadn’t even had half of the first period!!!

Fourteen minutes then elapsed (I know scandalous!!!) before we had our next goal, and it saw the hosts retake the lead after they were awarded another penalty, this time for a foul on Doyle, and Jamie Brown stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way, but Brimsdown managed to level once again four minutes before the break when their nine picked up the ball and was allowed to run and run until he got to the edge of the box and fired a lovely effort into the corner of the net.

A crazy half of football that was with pretty much zero defending going on, and it saw the sides go into the break all square and gave everyone time to take their breath!!!

Half Time Benfleet 3 Brimsdown 3

So, what on earth were we going to get in this half?  Sometimes these games see defences tighten up second half and you rarely get the same kind of open scoring like you did first half, well that wasn’t the case here, as your about to find out!!!

Benfleet only needed five second half minutes to retake the lead when after seeing a cut back blocked by the keeper, the ball was retuned across goal for skipper Aaron Russell to apply a powerful low finish, and five minutes later it was 5-3 to the hosts and their biggest lead of the contest thus far as a lovely ball released Brown who in turn laid in substitute Ben Foord who applied a lovely finish to end a decent move.

And just before the hour it was three second half goals in fourteen minutes and a second for Foord as he cut inside and hit a shot at goal which the keeper made a total mess of and allowed the ball to slip through he grasp and see it trickle over the line despite his best attempts to recover.  The hosts now lead 6-3 and looked likely to score everytime they came forward.

It was fair to say the hosts defending, which had been pretty solid so far this season, wasn’t the best in this one, and five minutes after going 6-3 up, it was 6-4 as the visitors nine grabbed his second of the game, prodding home after a terrible defensive header from a free-kick had gone straight to him, and you wondered what was going to happen next!!!

Well, with just under twenty minutes to go Benfleet added a seventh (I was struggling to keep track of the score by this stage!!!) after Lacy was played in before rounding the keeper and slotting home, and then with eleven minutes remaining Brimsdown’s woes continued when their nineteen was sin binned after saying too much to the referee, so they would play pretty much the remainder of the contest a man light, just what they needed!!!

The final act of this crazy crazy contest came a minute from time when Benfleet added an eighth after a cross was volleyed home from closer range by skipper Russell, meaning he joined Lacy and Foord in netting braces in this contest.  And soon after the referee brought the contest to a close and we all needed a lie down after that!!!

It all means that Benfleet climb up to third and are just a point behind Frenford and Little Oakley who occupy the top two, whilst Brimsdown remain third bottom and already have a minus fifteen goal difference after just five games.  They are conceding an average of five goals a game so far, so it’s obvious where the work needs to be done there.

This was probably one of the most extraordinary games of football I have ever seen in my thirty years of watching, but it was thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable, so thank you to both sides for that!!!

Full Time Benfleet 8 Brimsdown 4