Viking 4 Sandefjord 3 - Lars-Jorgen Salvesen brace helps league leaders win seven goal thriller in Stavanger

Norwegian Eliteserien, Sunday 24th September

I was over in Norway for the final Sunday of September as I am visiting family and my brother got me and himself a ticket for the local Eliteserien sides latest game in pursuit of what would be an incredible feat this campaign. (It was a late birthday pressie from him so thank you very much!!!)

Viking, who are Stavanger's biggest football team and highest one in terms on level, are currently in a title race to win the top division in Norway, they had not won the division since 1991 and had been no where near it if truth be told for some time thereafter, they had won the Cup a few years ago but had also suffered relegation the season before that before bouncing straight back, but it had been a turbulent few years for the hosts to be frank.

So to see them top of the division and two clear of Bodo/Glimt with nine games to go was a surprise, but they had been on an amazing run prior to the international break which saw them make up a eight point deficit on Glimt whose own form had dipped somewhat over the same period, and that also included a huge 3-2 for Viking over Glimt too, a statement win you could say.

Their opponents today were Sandefjord, who produced a miracle to stay up last season on the final day before winning a two legged play off against Kongsvinger to keep their place in this seasons Eliteserien, but they are once again having a tough campaign and sat one place and one point above that relegation play off spot, and only four above the bottom two and automatic relegation, although they had won at home last weekend against Stromsgodset, a huge win for the strugglers and no doubt giving them a confidence boost ahead of this one today.

However, Sandefjord would have their work cut out getting something in the league leaders own back yard, they had only managed one win away all season and had lost eight of their eleven away from their Jotun Arena home, the second worst away record in the division, so chances of getting anything as said, on paper at least, seemed small.

Football as we know though isn't played on paper, however, after seventeen minutes of this contest it looked like it would be a long night for the visitors as they found themselves two goals down and having a mountain to climb, the hosts took the lead after twelve minutes when Yann-Erik de Lanlay was slipped in to apply a lovely finish into the far corner, and then the visitors gifted the hosts a second five minutes later when losing the ball in their own third and ended with a square ball across goal for Lars-Jorgen Salvesen to apply the finishing touch and hand the hosts a perfect start.

But, to their credit, Sandefjord did not throw in the towel, they have their own agenda in fighting for survival and after the hosts saw a third goal ruled out for offisde, they got one back when a ball forward saw Franklin Nyenetue slip his marker and round the keeper before eventually sending the ball into the open goal, and then three minutes before half time and from a Viking corner, the visitors countered in devastating fashion and saw Danilo Al-Saed played in on goal to slot beyond the keeper and level the match up at 2-2, an amazing recovery considering the start they had to the contest, the hosts were in shellshock and went into the break level after having such a good start. Football eh.

It had been a very entertaining contest and I was certainly enjoying it, and there was more to come as well, which way would this contest go, well, eight minutes into the second period that all important next goal went to the home side as a cross in from the left found Salvesen at the back post to nod home for his second goal and see Viking retake the lead, could they now hold onto it?

The majority of the 13,022 in the stadium certainly hoped so, and with the players driven on by a decent atmosphere they added a fourth goal with five minutes to go to seal the contest, well that's what we all thought, when substitute and one of the fans favourites Samuel Adegbenro fired home from inside the box after a rather messy passage of play if you were a visiting defender, it was another poor goal to give away and you cannot do that against one of the best in the division.

So, 4-2 up with minutes to go, surely that was that, well no because their was still time for the visitors to set up a nervy last few moments for the hosts after a scramble inside the box hit the arm of a defender, according to VAR, and the referee pointed to the spot after a look at the monitor on the side of the pitch, and Alexander Ruud Tevter walloped the spot kick in off the bar, and they had four minutes of stoppage time to salvage an unlikely point.

After a few tense minutes though, Viking held on for what could be an important three points come the end of the season, they remain two clear of second placed Bodo/Glimt (who also won today) with eight rounds remaining, and with their next two games being against Molde & Tromso, two sides who are well in with a shout of the top places as well, it's going to be a pivotal couple of rounds for sure.

For Sandefjord, it was a great effort but giving away two poor goals in this one will not win you football matches that's for sure, and they stay fourth bottom but only out side the relegation play off place on goal difference now (this after Haugesund drew today) and with a huge home game next weekend against Valerenga to come (one place above Sandefjord and only on goal difference) they must turn their attentions to that one now and forget about this loss today.

A brilliant game though this, very enjoyable and one that will live long in the memory, seven goal thrillers do not come along very often so I was privileged to be at one today, superb entertainment!!!

Full time Viking 4 Sandefjord 3

  

My review of the Isuzu FA Vase Second Qualifying Round involving Essex Senior/Thurlow Nunn South sides (Saturday 23rd September)

(Ade Funbi celebrating his second goal of a brace on his return to Leslie Field as his current side Halstead Town netted four against Burnham Ramblers, pic courtesy of Halstead Town's twitter feed (@HalsteadTownFC))

The FA Vase Second Qualifying Round continued on Saturday, and there were a number of sides involved from the Essex Senior League and Thurlow Nunn First Division South, so lets see how they got on.....

Barkingside 4 Hadleigh United 2

Side put in a superb performance to knock out Thurlow Nunn Premier outfit Hadleigh United at Cricklefield. The visitors did grab a sixth minute lead after a perfectly flighted Liam Wales corner found Tom Warren who headed home, but Side were level nine minutes into the second period when Devlin found the net, and the hosts took the lead in the 72nd minute before winning a penalty with ten minutes to go after a late tackle in the box, and although keeper Fin saved the initial kick, Side buried the rebound to open up a two goal cushion. Hadleigh pulled one back to make the final stages a nervy affair as after the keeper failed to hold a Wales free kick, George Bugg knocked in the rebound, however Side sealed the deal and their passage into the First Round Proper by netting a fourth goal six minutes into stoppage time.

Brantham Athletic 1 Frenford 2

Frenford saw a brace from Sam Ince help the to a decent win away at Thurlow Nunn Premier side Brantham to progress into the next round Ince gave Frenford the lead two minutes into first half stoppage time before he doubled his sides lead just before the hour mark, and although the hosts saw Louie Bloom pull one back two minutes into added on time at the end of the game, they could not pull of an unlikely comeback and saw the ESL visitors progress.

 

Burnham Ramblers 0 Halstead Town 4

Ade Funbi netted a brace on his return to his former club as Halstead netted four at Leslie field. His first goal came a minute before the break when a free kick on the right hand side was whipped in and missed every player and fell to Ade who smashed it in for the first goal of the game, and then it was two for the visitors midway through the second half when Kane Gilbert produced a wonderful strike from at least twenty five yards out and saw the ball end up in the top corner. And it was game set and match with thirteen minutes to go when the visitors netted a third after a corner was whipped into the box by Joe Maybanks and headed into the goal by Robbiee Bennett. The Humbugs did add a fourth goal in stoppage time too, and Ade's second goal in his return to Leslie Field, slotting the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net to cap a fine day at the office for the visitors who progress.

Cornard United 2 White Ensign 2 (White Ensign won 4-3 on penalties)

Ensign saw off Thurlow Nunn North side Cornard United on penalties after a late spot kick from Joe Gregory got the ten men to that stage, the visitors did take the lead five minutes before the break when Ezekiel Bademosi caught the hosts sleeping from a drop ball but Cornard levelled two minutes later when Louie Arnold slid the ball into Charlie Lindoe who finishes well. The hosts then grabbed the lead early in the second period when Lindoe laid a ball back to Sam Cheetham who hit a thunderbolt into the top left corner, and when Ensign saw keeper Harry Fairs sent off for a headbutt on Brad James, things did not look good for the South Essex side.  They dug in though and with eight minutes left won a penalty after Harry Watson pulled an opponent down,  and Gregory kept his cool to take the tie to penalties, which Ensign prevailed in to progress through to the next round. 

 

Great Wakering Rovers 4 Buckhurst Hill 3

A remarkable game at Burroughs Park eventually saw the hosts net a late winner after the visitors had come from three goals down with ten men to seemingly force a shoot out. It looked like a long day would be in store for Buckhurst Hill when Louis Wynter was booked twice in the first seven minutes to be shown a red card and leave the visitors a man light so early in the contest, although they did hold out until ten minutes before the break when Ben Search’s ball to Harry Talbot saw the latter curl in from the edge of the box. Hill's discipline was not helping them and after star player Sully Zuhdu was sent to the sin bin eight minutes before the break, GWR capitalised on their two man advantage to double their lead three minutes before the break after a Callum Boylan effort was deflected into the path of Talbot who smashed home from close range for his second.  And when Talbot saw a shot deflect into the path of Demi to drill past the keeper for 3-0 nine minutes after the break, the visitors seemingly had no way back, but we were wrong, very wrong.  The ten men pulled one back when Owen Betts netted from close range, and then with ten minutes to go saw Protic grab a second for Buckhurst, after a break from a Rovers corner to suddenly put doubts into the hosts mind, and with five minutes of the ninety left it was 3-3 when Zuhdu smashed in to draw it level. Rovers though were to have the last laugh when they netted an 88th minute winner when Ball slipped past a Buckhurst defender into the path of Callum Boylan who placed a finish beyond the keeper and finally settle one hell of a contest.

 

Hoddesdon Town 0 Wormley Rovers 2

Early goals from Reece Mosanya and Mason Oaklee were enough for Wormley to progress into the next round. A long ball opened up the hosts to allow Mosanya to open the scoring before Oaklee finished well after great feet from Michaelides to double their advantage, and although the visitors saw Charlie Hill receive two yellows in the space of two minutes to see the visitors down to ten men, they managed to see the game out and progress into the First Round Proper.

Hullbridge Sports 2 Harlow Town 2 (Hullbridge Sports won 6-5 on penalties)

Sports survived a late comeback from Harlow Town to sneak through on penalties at Lower Road and take their place in Monday's draw. Hullbridge took an early lead when a free kick into the box saw Jay Leader win a header at the back post, and Solomon Ofori flicked the ball past the Harlow goalie, and when Ofori doubled their lead just past the half hour mark after a great team goal, they were in total control. Harlow though stayed in the game and after the hosts failed to take chances to end the tie, conceded a spot kick which Roman Percil converted, and six minutes into stoppage time James Folkes netted to take the tie to penalties. Momentum was with the visitors no? Well, no, because Sports held their nerve to win a sudden death shootout and breathe a sigh of relief in the process.

 

NW London 0 Burnham 7

Thurlow Nunn South NW London were humbled at home by Combined Counties Premier North side Burnham, the visitors saw a hat-trick from Leo, a brace from Samad plus solo strikes from Firas and Michal as the visitors breezed into the next round of the competition.

Saffron Walden Town 2 Stanway Rovers 0

The Bloods saw two first half goals enough to see of fellow ESL side Stanway Rovers at Catons Lane, Tom Head gave them the lead before an own goal doubled their advantage before the break, and as said proved enough for the hosts to win through to the next round.

Stanway Pegasus 3 Takeley 1

Thurlow Nunn North side Stanway Pegasus stunned ten men Takeley to progress into the next round of the competition, the visitors did actually grab a fifth minute lead but it went downhill for the ESL outfit thereafter. Takeley's Luke Kalule was given a straight red after an elbow to the head of Callum Griff, and Max Booth then levelled before the same player netted again to give the underdogs the lead. Griff, who had been on the receiving end of that elbow, netted the clinching third himself to send the Step Six side into the First Round Proper of the FA Vase.

 

Tilbury 3 Baldock Town 0

ESL side Tilbury breezed into the next round of the competition after a three goal win over Baldock Town at Chadfields. The deadlock was broken on the half hour mark when Tom Salter shifted past his man and whipped in a cross to the back post which managed to avoid all the bodies in the way and creep into the net, and in the 64th minute The Dockers doubled their advantage when Roman Campbell ran through on the left and although his first effort was saved he made no mistake on the rebound. And deep into added on time Tilbury added a third thanks to an Igli Metalia thirty five yard wonder strike, sealing his sides passage into the next round.

Congratulations to Barkingside, Frenford, Halstead Town, White Ensign, Great Wakering Rovers, Wormley Rovers, Hullbridge Sports, Saffron Walden Town & Tilbury for winning through to the next round, they will now go into the hat for the First Round Proper draw on Monday. I will have a blog on that draw plus Sunday's game between May & Baker and West Essex from Parkside, which one of them will progress into the draw as well? Stay tuned.....  

My review of the Isuzu FA Vase Second Qualifying Round involving Essex Senior/Thurlow Nunn South sides (Friday 22nd September)

(action from Cannons Wood 1 Potton United 2 courtesy of Richard Brock (@Beckton86) so go give him a follow)

The FA Vase Second Qualifying Round got underway on Friday, and there were four sides involved from the Essex Senior League and Thurlow Nunn First Division South, so lets see how they got on.....

Cannons Wood 1 Potton United 2

Parkside was the scene for a rather dramatic ending as Cannons Wood suffered stoppage time heart break to exit the FA Vase for this campaign. They were up against a side a level above them but were given a great opportunity when Ansah was sent off for visitors for a second yellow on the half hour mark, meaning the visitors would have to play at least two thirds of the contest a man light. However, in the 75th minute Potton took the lead after James Smith tapped home, but when the hosts levelled in the 90th minute you thought penalties would be needed to decided this one. Oh no, as in the 99th minute Victor Osobu's spot kick won it for the visitors to send them through to the next round. 

Coggeshall Town 1 Ilford 0

The Seedgrowers put their difficult start to their league campaign to one side as they continued their 100% record in the Vase this season, as after knocking out St Margaretsbury at home in the previous round, a penalty mid way through the first period following a high foot in the box proved enough for them to see off Ilford and claim a rare clean sheet to progress through to the First Round Proper of the competition.

Woodford Town 6 Enfield Borough 0

This was always going to prove a tough test for Thurlow Nunn South side Enfield Borough, up against one of the front runners in the Essex Senior League this season, and it proved to be the case as the hosts netted six to record their biggest win in the competition. Nathan Sollosi handed the hosts a 20th minute lead after he was released in behind on the right hand side before finding the bottom corner exquisitely, and he made it two ten minutes later as after Alexandru Bolovan had breezed past the Enfield Borough midfield,  he played a perfect pass to Sollosi, who dinked it over the keeper.  Kahlil Kirwan-Meade then added a third eleven minutes into the second period before a fantastic ball over the top to substitute Oscar Onuorah saw him pass it around the onrushing goalkeeper and into the corner with fifteen minutes to go.  And there were still time for two more goals to come, both in stoppage time,  firstly adding a fifth when the hosts broke in behind before the ball was squared to Onuorah, who smashed home from seven yards,  making it a brace off the bench, and then a sixth goal capped a fine evening for the ESL league leaders in the 94th minute to see them cruise into the next round.

Here are the fixtures for Saturday/Sunday in the FA Vase Second Qualifying Round involving teams from the ESL/TLND1 South.....

Saturday

Barkingside Vs Hadleigh United

Brantham Athletic Vs Frenford 

Burnham Ramblers Vs Halstead Town 

Cornard United Vs White Ensign 

Great Wakering Rovers Vs Buckhurst Hill 

Hoddesdon Town Vs Wormley Rovers

Hullbridge Sports Vs Harlow Town 

NW London Vs Burnham

Saffron Walden Town Vs Stanway Rovers

Stanway Pegasus Vs Takeley 

Tilbury Vs Baldock Town 

Sunday

May & Baker Vs West Essex 

Good luck to all taking part this weekend, I will have a blog on Saturday's action and then one on the Sunday game plus the draw for the First Round Proper, so stay tuned..... 

Hullbridge Sports 2 West Essex 2 - MOTM Jason Banton's 72nd minute spot kick sees points shared at Lower Road in a belter of an Essex Senior League contest

Essex Senior League, Saturday 16th September

My last Saturday game in September (I am off to Norway on Wednesday until early October) saw me at a very familiar ground in the shape of Lower Road, Hullbridge, as Sports were hosting West Essex in the Essex Senior League.

And just like last weekend I was joining ESL President Robert Errington and my good friend and buddy Scott W, and we were all looking forward to what would be an intriguing contest between two sides who have had very different starts to their seasons so far.

If you had have said that one of these sides sat third and just two points behind the joint leaders Woodford Town and Romford having picked up eighteen points from their opening nine games, and the other were down in fifteenth with just eight points from their opening seven games, you would have said Bridge were the former, and West the latter, that’s how it was supposed to go right?

Well no, it was in fact the visitors who were sitting in third after a very surprising (to most of us anyway!!!) start to their campaign and had only recently lost their unbeaten record in the division when they were beaten by league leaders Woodford Town in midweek, but prior to this they had won four out of five in all competitions, netting fourteen goals in the process, so were in cracking form you could say.

The Woodford loss had only been West’s second loss in competitions thus far, the other one came against Step Four opposition in the shape of Maldon & Tiptree in an FA Cup Replay after West had held them to a goalless draw in the original tie, so they had certainly started the season well with only two losses in thirteen competitive matches.

Hullbridge on the other hand have had slow start to life back at this level, the 2018/19 ESL champions have won only two of their opening seven league games so far, not the start they were looking for, the season had started with a victory at Stanway Rovers, but since then their only other win in the league came on Bank Holiday Monday when they defeated Athletic Newham.

They have picked up three wins in cup competitions though, two of those coming in the FA Cup beating Takeley before producing a memorable performance to knock Waltham Abbey out in the following round, and only good goalkeeping from the Kettering Town stopper prevented Bridge from continuing on, so they know they do have good performances in them, could they now translate that to the bread and butter of the league?

Many had seen this as a potential cracker as both sides liked to attack, and they were not to be disappointed as the game turned out to be one of the most entertaining contests I'd experienced so far this season, it began with the hosts having a good spell in the early exchanges before West probably should have had a penalty but after playing on and missing, the play was not brought back, much to the visitors dismay.

Hullbridge did get their noses in front after 19 minutes though after the dangerous Solomon Ofori fired an effort into the box and found Bobby Badham who applied a first time finish past Michael Corderoy although again the visitors felt hard done by as they were claming offside, but the flag stayed down and the hosts had the lead.

Both sides continued to pass up opportunities in what was a breathless end to end contest, but two minutes before the break West got themselves on level terms, which was probably deserved, after Zak Oliver, who had been a constant threat down the right for the visiting side, ended a lovely team move by firing across goal into the path of skipper David Bell who could not miss from a yard out at the back post.

It had been a brilliant first forty five minutes and the second half did not let up either but some comical defending handed West the lead early in the second period as a ball forward was not dealt with and allowed Ruden Bartlett-Antwi a chance to have an effort at goal, and although his prod towards goal was on target with keeper Rob Budd out of goal, the covering defender attempted to clear the ball away from goal but instead fell over in doing so and saw the ball find the net, oops you could say.

West had chances to seal it as well but could not, whilst Hullbridge saw Ofori, who was a menace all afternoon, see an effort from the angle superbly tipped onto the bar by Corderoy, but with just under twenty minutes to go the hosts were given a golden chance to level the contest once again when a lovely ball slipped into the box by Harry Brown found Ofori who was felled by Corderoy for a penalty, and Jason Banton, who had been superb all game, stepped up to convert the spot kick, setting up a grandstand finish to this one.

Both sides continued to attack and try and find a winner, but they could not do this, meaning this game ended all square, it had been a cracking watch it has to be said once again, so kudos to both sides for putting on such an entertaining contest. 

So, what does that mean for both sides in the division, well the hosts remain 15th in the table but do pick up another point and are now six points off the top five and twelve behind leaders Romford, whereas West stay in third and remain two points behind the leaders and only a point of second now, still early days though and many more twists and turns to come for sure. What a game this was though, marvellous!!!

Full time Hullbridge Sports 2 West Essex 2

   

Coggeshall Town 1 Athletic Newham 2 - Two Derek O'Halem headers see visitors to all the points at a sweltering West Street

Essex Senior League, Saturday 9th September

My latest game came from West Street, Coggeshall, as hosts Coggeshall Town welcomed Athletic Newham to North Essex for an Essex Senior League contest on what was a very hot day in September.

The hosts endured a difficult campaign last season at Step Four in the non-league pyramid after finishing fourth from bottom in the Isthmian League North, and then lost at home in their Inter Step play off to Winterton Rangers, meaning they suffered relegation down into the ESL for this campaign, and it hasn’t started well for them this season either.

After six league games they sit bottom of the pile having lost five of those, with their only point a 3-3 draw at Frenford, but they have won a competitive game this season which came over the bank holiday weekend after a 4-1 win over Thurlow Nunn South side St Margeretsbury at West Street in the FA Vase, however this has been a brief moment of joy for the club so far this season.

And they welcome a tricky Athletic Newham side who have arguably on his day the best player at this level of football in Richard Kone, however with Kone serving his last game of a ban the hosts would have been happy he was not in the side, although Newham still would pose a massive challenge for the hosts as they are still a team packed full of quality without him.

Newham have had a solid start to their campaign, they sat in seventh prior to kick off and locked on nine points along with three other sides in a tight early season table, league wins over Tilbury, Little Oakley & Frenford but losses too West Essex, Halstead Town & Hullbridge Sports mean consistency has been an issue for the Newham side, but they had an amazing FA Cup tie against Combined Counties side Tooting & Mitcham, drawing the first game 3-3 after being 3-0 down with fifteen minutes to go, then winning the replay 4-2 before they went out to Westfield 3-0 in the next round.

So, with the visitors you’re not sure what you are going to get, but they would enter this game as favourites that’s for sure, a win for them could take them level with the top four, whereas the hosts could climb of the bottom of the table with a positive outcome, although surely one thing that was guaranteed to today was goals, as in the seventeen games combined involving both sides this season, their had been 69 goals netted, which is an average of four a game, so surely a nil nil wasn’t in the equation (famous last words!!!).

The hosts did start quite positively in this one, but they fell behind on thirteen minutes when a corner from the right by Anderson Baro found Derek O'Halam totally unmarked in the six yard box to head home, it was a poor goal for Town to concede and they would now have to try and find a way back into the contest and their character would yet again be tested as after such a positive start they found themselves behind.

They continued to take the game to their opponents though and put them under a lot of pressure, Leandro Sain had two great chances for the hosts but lacked composure on both occasions, the second chance was a very good save from Wilkinson Boateng as he pinched the ball of the strikers foot when he tried to round him, it just wasn't happening for the hosts and they were nearly punished on a couple of occasions when Newham nearly doubled their lead, one particular chance from Andy Greenslade was guilt edged.

Coggeshall though kept plugging away and in first half stoppage time grabbed a deserved leveller when a lovely through ball from Reggie Gregory found Leon Boyeja who produced some nice footwork before firing past Boateng in the visitors goal and sent the hosts into the break all square, and both sides could have a breather after a half that was played with a terrific tempo despite the 90 degree heat in North Essex.

The hosts joy at grabbing a late leveller soon evaporated barely a minute into the second period though as they conceded again from a O'Halem header from a Baro corner from the same side as the first goal had come, it was literally a carbon copy of the first goal, which would have been immensely frustrating for the home side, two poor goals conceded and now 2-1 down with their half time team talk totally out of the window.

Thereafter that though Newham were largely playing on the counter when they could as the hosts piled on the pressure to the Newham backline, who at times looked very lackadaisical at the back and almost allowed the hosts to find a leveller on more than one occasion, Coggeshall passed up at least six clear cut chances to find the net but lacked that composure in front of goal once again and also found visiting keeper Boateng hard to pass as well. It was certainly a frustrating afternoon for the hosts that was for sure.

Newham as said did counter on their opponents at times and their best chance to seal the points came when Joel Appiah fired an effort across goal and wide, but ultimately those two corners from Baro that found the head of O'Halem were enough to win the game for the visitors who would be more than happy at getting out of West Street with all three points, taking them up a place to sixth.

For Coggeshall they did most things right today, apart from putting the ball in the net and conceding those two soft goals from identical corners, it's these moments that shape a game and this young Coggeshall side will learn on the job and I am absolutely sure if they continue to play like this they will pick up more than enough points to pull them away from the foot of the table, that first league win cannot be far away for sure.

Finally kudos to both sets of players for putting on a decent game for all of us to watch, it was 90 degrees out there today so to play a game at a decent tempo like they did is a testament to them as it was really really hot!!! Thank you also to Coggeshall for the welcome and the hospitality throughout the day, I wish you all the best going forward.

Full time Coggeshall Town 1 Athletic Newham 2

  

Uxbridge 0 Cray Valley (PM) 3 - Freddie Parker, Kyrell Lisbie & Matthew Vigor all on target for visitors who see off Uxbridge at Arbour Park to progress in the Emirates FA Cup

Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round, Sunday 3rd September

I made a first visit to Arbour Park, home of Slough Town, for an FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round tie between Isthmian South Central Uxbridge and Isthmian South East Cray Valley (PM) on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon in Berkshire.

Now Uxbridge as using Arbour Park, which by the way is a lovely venue (it reminds me very much of Melksham Town's new ground which is also very nice and similar in terms of the seated stands and bar area and balconies) as a temporary home whilst their Honeycroft ground is being renovated, and they should be back home around the end of this month or start of next, fingers crossed.

This meant that their first three competitive games of the season all came in the competition, thankfully they were drawn away from home in the first two rounds, defeating Tunbridge Wells before drawing with Corinthian Casuals and then beating them at Arbour Park in a replay, and they did not actually begin their league campaign until the bank holiday weekend, however they netted two wins from two over that weekend meaning they have won four of their first five competitive fixtures of the season, a decent start you could say.

Cray Valley (PM) have also began the season confidentially too, taking seven points from nine and netting sixteen goals in the process, seven of those goals came at Phoenix Sports on Bank Holiday Monday in a 7-2 win, so that took them into this contest in good spirits too, they had also netted a replay win over Lordswood in this competition after drawing the original tie, meaning they have won all but two of their five games thus far this season and are also unbeaten.

Two sides then who have started the season well, it all pointed to a decent cup tie in Slough, but with eight minutes on the clock the hosts gifted the visitors the lead and it kind of set the tone for the afternoon as well, Uxbridge defender Sean McGuiness lost the ball inside his own penalty area to the lively Kyrell Lisbie who duly squared the ball to Freddie Parker who had the simple task of side footing home with keeper Loris Marcimain committed to the cross, not the start the hosts were looking for and the perfect one for the visitors.

Lisbie in fact got himself on the scoresheet just before the half hour mark as well, a lovely ball into the box was flicked around the corner into the path of the winger who applied the finish to double Cray Valley's lead, and if truth be told the visitors should have been out of sight at the break after they missed several guilt edged openings, but at least they did have two goals to show for their efforts, Uxbridge could count themselves they were still in the contest, albeit only just.

The hosts needed the next goal that was for sure to have any chance of staying in the contest and the cup, and they did force a couple of decent stops from visiting keeper Sam Freeman, but Cray Valley had chances to kill the tie themselves, and with just over twenty minutes to go finally added a third goal to end the contest when Matthew Vigor was played in to curl beyond Marcimain.

Cray Valley then more than did enough to win the game, they were a constant threat to their opponents and a special mention must go to winger Michael Ademiluyi who had a superb game and on another day could have netted at least a couple of goals himself, you can see why they have netted so many goals so far this season, and they now go through to the next round of the competition.

Uxbridge had their chances, especially second half, but they were well beaten here if truth be told and were lucky they didn't lose by a lot more, sadly for them they exit the competition and lose their first game of the season, they now must concentrate on the league for now and continue their good form in that. 

Full time Uxbridge 0 Cray Valley (PM) 3

 

Canvey Island 5 Lowestoft Town 1 - Kouassi, Sach, Hubble, Salmon & Deslandes all net for hosts as they put five past Lowestoft at Park Lane to progress in the Emirates FA Cup

Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round, Saturday 2nd September

I was over at Park Lane for the second weekend running although this time it was to see landlords Canvey Island and not tenants Benfleet, and the hosts were welcoming Lowestoft Town to their gaff for an Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round contest as the competition was now at it's third stage of the early rounds.

Canvey were entering the cup at this stage as they are at Step Three, the Isthmian Premier, of the non league pyramid, and after a shaky start to their league campaign, losing three of their first four outings, they got their season back on track with a 3-1 win over Island rivals Concord Rangers on Bank Holiday Monday, giving themselves a huge boost heading into this contest.

They were up against Isthmian North side Lowestoft Town, who travelled from the most easterly point of the UK of course, the Suffolk side had began their season unbeaten having won two of their first three league outings and had also netted a thumping 4-0 win away at Corby Town in the previous round of the competition, so despite them being a level below their opponents today, they would have fancied giving them a decent game and pulling off a result.

And with this being the third time these sides had played each other in the FA Cup, with the visitors winning both contests, their was even more cause for optimism amongst the visiting players and fans, and the opening half hour suggested this was to be a very tight contest, but then Evans Kouassi produced a moment of brilliance to break the deadlock and hand Canvey the lead just past the half hour mark, cutting inside and somehow beating one man after another before sending an effort beyond Luke Holt in the Lowestoft goal.

It was still a tight contest though, but just before half time the visitors shot themselves in the foot and gifted the hosts a second goal, a ball played back towards their own goal was short and allowed Bradley Sach managed to nip in ahead of the intended recipient and run clear through on goal before slotting past Holt and into the net, it was such a poor time for the visitors to concede and they had been duly punished to the max as Canvey went into the break two goals to the good.

The next goal was crucial, and if the visitors could find one then the contest could swing their way, however, they didn't find the next goal, as Canvey swept forward and the ever impressive Kouassi produced more magic down the left before squaring across the box for Conor Hubble to apply a superb first time finish into the bottom corner, and that was pretty much the killer goal in the contest if truth be told, and left the visitors a mountain to climb now.

Lowestoft to their credit kept trying to play and attack as much as they could, but the hosts were keeping them at arms length and when they were getting chances down the other end were looking more than likely to add to their tally, and with sixteen minutes remaining they did just that when a free kick from Luke Deslandes was flicked on to the back post where Jamie Salmon was waiting and had the easiest task of converting from close range.

That prompted a chant from the visiting fans of 'we can't defend, we can't defend' which was slightly amusing, and rather ironic as Lowestoft had only conceded two goals all season till this point (four games) so this was certainly not usual for them, they were up against a much higher class side here today though, so this has to be factored in as well, but two minutes later those fans did have something to cheer when they did pull a goal back after Harvey Sayer's free kick took a slight nick off a defender, beating keeper Sam Jackson, and prompting a chant of 'we've scored a goal, we've scored a goal!!!' from those visiting fans, at least they had a sense of humour still!!!

Lowestoft did have a decent spell after this and had it gone 4-2 you never know, but if truth be told Canvey always looked like they could up it a gear or two if needed, and after they saw off a brief spell of pressure had the last laugh in this one by netting a fifth in stoppage time when Deslandes grabbed a goal of his own by thumping an unstoppable effort past Holt to cap a decent day for the home side.

So, that's two wins in a week for Canvey now, and they progress into the next round as a result of today's performance and victory, Lowestoft gave plenty in this one but found a clinical Canvey too hot to handle ultimately, they now will look to see if they can gain promotion back to Step Three for the remainder of the season, and a possible return to Park Lane next season against Canvey in the league perhaps. Who knows.....

Full time Canvey Island 5 Lowestoft Town 1