White Ensign 1 Witham Town 4 - Rowan Dorling & Jeffrey Cobblah amongst scorers for visitors who net victory at a blustery Len Forge

Pre Season Friendly, Saturday 15th July

My fifth PSF in seven days (yes I know, I can't believe that either, and I had not done any before last weekend!!!) saw me over at The Len Forge Centre as Essex Senior League side White Ensign were hosting Isthmian North side Witham Town as both sides continue to prepare for the new season.

Ensign were embarking on another season at Step Five and the ESL, they had finished 13th in their last campaign and were hoping to maybe better that this season, they had held onto some of last season's squad and add some more quality too so no doubt manager Aaron Bloxham and Co would hope these additions would help them to push on for a top ten finish perhaps this term.

Witham Town endured another tough season in the 2022/23 campaign, but they did manage to finish fifth bottom, seven points clear of Coggeshall Town who were in the final relegation play off spot (Coggeshall eventually fell into the ESL themselves) thus earning another season at Step Four and the Isthmian North.

Gary Kimble has also returned as manager for Town too, his last spell was a very successful won when they won promotion to the Isthmian Premier, so the club are hoping he can work his magic again and at least see the club to a much better season this time around, although it will be tough for sure.

It was nice to see Town super fan James Beardwell prior to the game, and after grabbing a selfie with him and an interview on his vlog (yes I am finally famous!!!) attention turned to the game itself which would be played in sunny but very blustery conditions (as I write this the wind is still battering against my kitchen window in my flat near the seafront!!!).

This would make it tougher for the players out there although at least it wasn't driving rain as well, that would have been worse, at least the sun was shining, and after only two minutes Town had the lead when a corner in from the left saw Rowan Dorling, son of ESL chair Lee no less (Lee was in attendance too) get across his marker to send a powerful header at the Ensign goal and although a defender tried to clear it off the line he could only help it on it's way into the net.

Not the start the hosts were looking for but they did recover and actually probably had the edge for the rest of the half, even though they were playing into the wind in the opening forty five minutes, and despite this their only real chance saw Hunter's shot cleared off the line by a defender's head, meaning the half ended with Witham holding a slender lead.

It had been a scrappy first forty five minutes, not helped by the wind of course, but the visitors stamped their authority on the contest early in the second period when netting twice in the opening ten minutes of the half, firstly winning a penalty two minutes after the break which saw the returning Jeffrey Cobblah step up and find the target from twelve yards, and then adding a third in the 53rd minute when their nine sent a lovely chip over the keeper and into the net.

Ensign managed to refocus after this awful start to the second period and twenty minutes into the half when an error at the back from the visitors resulted in Adebayo receiving the ball just outside the box, and he fired a powerful effort beyond the keeper and into the bottom corner of the net, thus reducing the arrears in the process.

The visitors, who apart from that moment looked fairly untroubled at the back in the majority, had the final say in this contest when they added a fourth goal with five minutes remaining after the fourteen broke the Ensign offside trap to stroll clear, round the keeper, and slot home, although the hosts were not to happy with the assistant as they were adamant he had strayed offside. The assistant though disagreed and the goal stood, and it meant Town had netted four in this contest and ran out winners in this latest PSF.

Full time White Ensign 1 Witham Town 4

Tilbury 5 Stansted 2 - Essex Senior League hosts net five against ten man Spartan South Midlands Stansted on damp evening at Chadfields

Pre Season Friendly, Friday 14th July

After uhming and rring over whether to go to a game on a wet Friday evening, I decided yes, so took myself off to Chadfields for a contest between a side who had just gone down into the Essex Senior League, and a side who were founder members of that division but had been moved into a different division for the coming season at most peoples surprise.

Tilbury had of course suffered relegation from the Isthmian North last season so were embarking on their first season at Step Five for a few years, whereas Stansted, who as said above, were founder members of the ESL several decades ago, were suddenly moved over to the SSMFL for the coming season, something they appealed but lost, but after the initial shock got their heads around it and now look forward to a season in a different division against some new sides.

Had a nice chat with Tilbury boss Marc Harrison before the game, and he bought me some food from the Eat Street kiosk at the ground, a very nice gesture indeed, and I also spoke with Paul Pittuck and Jon Watters from Stansted, it's always nice to chat with these guys as they always make you feel welcome and are true gents as well as brilliant managers and coaches. (I did speak with other people associated with both clubs as well apart from these who also made me feel very welcome, this is why I love non league football, people genuinely do care about how you are doing).

I also bumped into Mark Healy, ex Ensign and Regent, and had a nice chat with him after the game, always good to catch up with these guys, and they always ask how you are and stuff which always makes you feel good, so thank you. 

Talking of Tilbury boss Harrison, he is in fact assembling a very decent squad for their ESL campaign which has led to many labelling them with being one of the favourites for the title this season, Pittuck told me they had managed to retain most of their squad from last season and just had a couple more to add before pre season was done, so both squads seemed in decent shape half way through their pre season campaigns.

It was the hosts though who drew first blood on the quarter hour mark when a beautiful pass in behind the Stansted defence from Elliot Howson found striker Izaih Antoine who swept home a lovely finish beyond the keeper, and on the half hour mark it was two for the hosts when Harry Hope swung in a free kick from the left and saw Donovan touch home from close range. It's fair to say the visitors defence was static at best.

Stansted though responded with a goal of their own straight from the restart when Cav Clarke thumped home and it meant the hosts would go into half time with a 2-1 lead, the contest had certainly been very competitive and almost felt like a league or cup game, the referee had handed out a booking a piece for both sides after some tasty challenges you could say.

And two minutes after the break Stansted found themselves down to ten men after a poor challenge on Antoine resulted in a straight red for the visitors, there was nothing friendly about that as both teams came together, although to be fair to the hosts as along with the visitors asked if Stansted could bring a substitute on to replace the sent off player so it was eleven v eleven, but the officials disagreed so the visitors would have to play the entire second half with ten men.

Twenty minutes into the half Tilbury made it three and it was a sublime goal too, as Jordan Peart waltzed his way through the Stansted back line before sending a beautiful finish beyond the keeper, and after having more chances to add further goals did finally grab a fourth goal with five minutes to go when after the visitors lost the ball in midfield, a clinical hosts saw a brilliant ball from Tom Salter find Ashman who strode into the box before firing home.

Stansted did manage to pull a goal back two minutes later when Finley Gregory got onto a loose ball to rifle home, but the last laugh went to the hosts when Salter curled home a lovely effort with the last kick of the contest and cap a fine evening for the home side.

Full time Tilbury 5 Stansted 2

Hutton 2 Buckhurst Hill 2 - Essex Senior visitors twice come from behind to earn draw against Thurlow Nunn South new boys Hutton at New Lodge

Pre Season Friendly, Wednesday 12th July

I was over at New Lodge for the second successive evening as tenants Hutton were in action against Buckhurst Hill, the hosts are preparing for their first ever season in Senior Football after winning the Essex Olympian Premier title last campaign.

They will be competing in the Thurlow Nunn South Division this season which is Step Six in the non league pyramid and were taking on a Buckhurst Hill side who will be embarking on their second season in the Essex Senior League, step five, so a level above tonight's opponents.  

The visitors season didn't end well last season after a poor run of form saw them finish the season down in 17th, not the season they were hoping for after such a wonderful few years where they won the majority of games they played in after winning three promotions to make it to where they are today with a very good and settled side.

Last season saw some of that side depart for pastures new, and with more leaving in the summer it's a new era for the club in terms of personnel, and this was sure to prove a tough test against a Hutton side who won the Olympian Premier by ten points last term, losing only two league games all season in the process, and it was the hosts who got off to a flyer in this contest.

There were only two minutes on the clock when their number twenty, who was being called Casey by his teammates, produced a lovely finish over the keeper into the far corner, however the visitors responded with a goal of their own ten minutes later although the keeper should have done better with the effort, parrying what looked like a simple save above his head up in the air and into the net after the number ten had struck an effort from outside the box.

Miscommunication at the back almost allowed the hosts to retake the lead, as two Hill defenders got in each others way in trying to clear, and it ended with a thumping effort from the hosts cannoning off the bar, but eleven minutes before the break Hutton did retake the lead when after Hill had lost the ball in midfield, a clinical home side played a pass to the twenty one who produced a lovely finish into the far corner and punish the visitors to the max.

Hill tried to respond after the break and saw one effort tipped brilliantly onto the crossbar, and then saw their own stopper tip a free kick from the Hutton twenty one onto their crossbar, however with just over twenty minutes to go the visitors did have a leveller when their number ten turned provider this time, sending in a decent corner which the seventeen managed to convert first time from inside the box.

Both sides had the chance to win it, the hosts somehow firing over from point blank range after a brilliant ball in from the left, and then Hill saw an effort put just wide after a lovely ball into the box.  It all meant the game would finish all square, a decent well contested game it was too.

Hutton 2 Buckhurst Hill 2

Billericay Town 1 Aveley 3 - National League South new boys Aveley net win over Isthmian Premier hosts at New Lodge

Pre Season Friendly, Tuesday 11th July

My second game of 2023/24 saw me over at New Lodge for a pre season fixture between too local Essex sides, Billericay Town, who were embarking on a second season in the Isthmian Premier Division, and Aveley, who were about to begin one of their biggest season's in their history at the highest level they have encountered as a club.

The visitors won promotion to Step Two in the non league pyramid last season which for a club of their size is a remarkable achievement, and they are now a level above their opponents too now so were the higher level club visiting New Lodge, something that was unthinkable only two seasons ago when Billericay were two levels above tonight's opponents.

Town obviously suffered relegation from the National South the same season (2021/22) when Aveley were champions of the Isthmian North Division, so they did participate in the same division last season, Town had an average season at best, whereas as said above Aveley won promotion via the playoffs after a stunning win at Hornchurch.

Billericay will be looking for a much better campaign this time round and new manager Gary McCann is assembling a decent squad to hopefully in their eyes have a crack at promotion or at least the play offs, whereas Aveley will be no doubt amongst the favourites to be relegated from their division in the coming season so manager Danny Scopes will be hoping his side can prove them wrong and surprise a few this season.

In fact the visitors fielded an entire squad of trialists as they look to shape a squad to compete and mix it with the National League side boys, and after twelve minutes their skipper for the night, number six, nodded home the opener when his defensive partner, the number five, had nodded a ball back into the danger zone following a cross from the right.

And nine minutes before the break Aveley doubled their lead when the nine (who I found out was Matt Rush) crossed from the left and although the ten miskicked his effort at goal, it fell into the path of the seven who applied the finish across goal and into the far corner and confirm the visitors superiority in the opening forty five minutes.

The hosts had been poor in the first period but after both sides made wholesale changes at half time and during the second period, Billericay improved their performance and just before the hour mark pulled a goal back when a ball fed to Bradley Stevenson saw him apply a neat finish into the net from inside the box, and then in the 73rd minute they nearly levelled when striking the post in a goal mouth scramble.

A minute after that though Aveley went down the other end and won themselves a penalty after the nineteen was adjudged to have been felled inside the box, and the nineteen picked himself up to dispatch the spot kick and restore the visitors two goal cushion, and Aveley duly saw out the remainder of the contest to pick up the win in their latest run out before the season begins.

Full time Billericay Town 1 Aveley 3

 

Rayleigh Town 6 Barkingside 3 - Hosts make it two wins from two in pre season after netting six against Side at London Road

Pre Season Friendly, Saturday 8th July

So, my 2023/24 season got underway at Rayleigh Sports & Social Club as Essex Olympian Premier Division hosts Rayleigh Town were taking on Thurlow Nunn First Division South side Barkingside, this was the hosts second pre season encounter, their first one last weekend saw them defeat another Thurlow Nunn South side in the shape of Cannons Wood, so were looking to carry on their good start to their preparation ahead of the season.

Side were getting there pre season campaign underway so this was the first chance for new boss James Wakeling to see what he had to work with, and after three minutes he saw his young keeper make an error to gift the hosts an early lead, striker Luca Frankis robbing the ball off the stopper before putting the ball into the net, and after the first half drinks break (conditions were sweaty to say the least!!!) Town doubled their lead just before the half hour mark when more hesitant defending saw the hosts win the ball in a dangerous area before a more then decent finish from the number ten saw the home side in control.

No doubt new Town boss Rob Hodgson would have been encouraged by another decent showing, although he would not have been happy with how his side allowed the visitors straight back into the contest just past the half hour mark when a good ball across goal saw the dangerous and impressive number seventeen (now known as Kevin Seventeen!!!) to arrive at the back post to thump home and reduce the deficit.

Four minutes later though Town restored their two goal cushion as a lovely move ended with a lovely ball in from the right converted first time by the Rayleigh number twelve, but Side reduced the arrears once again two minutes before the break when a tackle clearance from a visiting defender resulted in Kevin Seventeen running onto the ball, rounding the keeper, and slotting home, meaning the half ended with the hosts having a 3-2 lead, it had been a very entertaining half of football.

Rayleigh had chances to add more goals in the opening exchanges of the second period but found the Side young keeper in fine form, but just past the hour mark the hosts did add a fourth goal when the visitors failed to clear a corner and saw the hosts eighteen swivel and thump home a powerful effort from close range.

Barkingside though kept plugging away and with just over fifteen minutes remaining netted a third to reduce the arrears to a single goal once again when Lee Harris swept home a decent effort from just inside the box after a teammate had been challenged and the ball had fallen into his path, setting up a grandstand finish.

However, the hosts had been the better side in the majority, and they were to add two more goals to their tally, both coming from Gianni Frankis, the first came with six minutes left when a ball forward caught the visiting defence out, and the home striker ran in on goal before slotting home, and the second came with just two minutes left after he managed to scoop a left footed effort into the far corner and cap a fine performance from Hodgson's side.

Not a bad game to get my season started then, a nine goal thriller, marvellous.....

Full time Rayleigh Town 6 Barkingside 3