Leigh Ramblers 1 Springfield 4

Essex Olympian League Senior One, Saturday 19th April 2014

I made my first visit to Belfairs Park to see a promotion show down between Leigh Ramblers and Springfield.  The equation was a simple one, if Rams won and drew they would be promoted as Springfield would miss out, if Springfield won, they would be promoted and Rams would miss out.  So quite a lot was riding on this and both teams looked nervy in the first twenty or so and Leigh probably looked more nervy than their opponents.  From the 20th minute to 30th minute Springfield hit the post twice and missed two other chances as they ramped up the pressure but, on 30 minutes Ramblers took the lead with their first real chance.  After a defensive slip allowed Ramblers to cross into the area and the ball was volleyed first time into the corner for a 1-0 lead.  Springfield continued to create but fail to convert although Ramblers were playing better football by now and should of added to their tally when the ball was played over to the backpost the goalscorer looked for all money he would head into the gaping goal but he headed wide.  How costly that proved to be later on.  Springfield came out second half with, dare I say it, a spring in their step and levelled the match on 48 minutes when defensive error allowed Andy Elgar in to slide past the keeper for 1-1.  This seemed to rock the hosts but they hung on in the game for the next ten minutes or so but they were caught napping for the second Springfield goal which was a good shot across the keeper by Ross Lamb for 1-2.  It was quickly 1-3 and almost game over when a cross from the left was headed in from close range by Steve Wareham to send the boys from Chelmsford wild with delight.  Leigh Ram's heads totally went after this and Springfield got another goal from another defensive slip, allowing Matt Chorley in to finish past the keeper for 1-4.  Ramblers had ten or so minutes to get three goals to keep their promotion dream alive but despite afew half chances they could not convert these and Springfield easily ran out 4-1 winners and will be in the Olympian Premier Division next season.  Ram's miss out on promotion on the final day showing how cruel football can be sometimes but Springfield deserved their victory today.

Great Wakering Rovers 2 Takeley 2 (aet; Rovers won 4-3 on penalties)

Essex Senior League Cup Semi Final, Thursday 17th April 2014

In the second of the league cup semi finals, Burroughs Park hosted Great Wakering Rovers v Takeley.  Rovers were obvious favourites but did make a few changes to their starting line up, giving some fringe players a run out.  This possibly contributed to a lacklustre first 15 minutes as both teams struggled to find any rhythm.  However on 24 minutes a free kick in from the right was touched home by Rovers John Bradley to give the green n whites a 1-0 lead.  This lasted just three minutes as Takeley's Charlie Simpson cracked in a 25 yard cracker after the original free kick was charged down.  Rovers were finding there rhythm now and re took the lead on 34 minutes when another free kick, this time from the left, was headed home by Billy Johnson for 2-1.  Rovers finished the half well and could of been further in front but it remained 2-1 at the half.  The second half started pretty much how the first half ended, with Rovers passing  up more opportunities to score, and you always felt that Takeley would punish this misses.  They nearly did level the tie when a curling effort from outside the box struck the post but with thirteen minutes left they did level when a ball across goal was headed home at the far post for 2-2.  Both teams then tried to go for the third goal but was unsuccessful so we had ourselves another 30 minutes.  Extra time was very scrappy and the longer it went on, the more scrappy it became.  Rovers still managed to hit the woodwork twice, both Billy Johnson volleys, but the game ended up having to be decided by a penalty shoot out.  Both teams scored their first two before Rovers keeper Dale Brightly saved one.  Both teams then scored and then Rovers made it 4-3 leaving Takeley having to score their final spot kick to prolong the shoot out, but Brightly saved again and Rovers had progressed to the final against Sporting Bengal United.

Rayleigh Town 1 Kelvedon Hatch 2

Essex Olympian League Premier Division, Tuesday 15th April 2014

Rayleigh hosted Kelvedon Hatch in a mid table battle, although both teams have multiple games in hand on their above opponents so both teams were keen to pick up a win to try and move themselves up the table.  Hatch were the better team in the first part of the game and took the lead midway through the half when a poor clearance fell to Hatch and they buried the chance.  The second came soon after when a ball in was glanced past the home keeper who was wrong-footed.  Rayleigh, who had former Blues and Millwall striker Neil 'Chopper' Harris playing for them, finished the first half strong but could not find the final ball or finish.  The second half was scrappy to begin with but as the half wore on Rayleigh created the better opportunities but just could not finish, that was until twenty minutes from time when they finally took one, to make the last twenty plus minutes in fading light interesting.  But Kelvedon managed to hold on for a 2-1 victory.

Southend Manor 0 Barking 4

Essex Senior League, Saturday 12th April 2014

Manor came into this game off the back of two pretty good battling points at local rivals Basildon United and Hullbridge Sports so hopefully confidence would be higher than of previous weeks. Barking have been on a indifferent run themselves so Manor fancied their chances of maybe nicking this one. But from the off it was clear to see Barking's intentions as they immediately put Manor's back line under pressure and hit the post early on. However on 12 minutes the pressure told as a mix up at the back allowed James Barlow a simple tap in for the opening goal.  Manor were struggling to create anything up front as the two strikers, Bridgeman and Little were being isolated by constant long balls into the channels which wern't working. The only action in the Barking of note was when Little went into a challenge with a defender and ended up being pulled over, so much so that his shirt was ripped open. However the referee deemed Little had fouled and so gave a free kick to Barking. Little wasn't amused by this and also had to go off to change his runied shirt. The teams went into the changing rooms at the half with Barking 1-0 ahead and shading play with Manor huffing and puffing but not really affecting Barking at all up front. Manor would of had a pretty stern team talk no doubt but this would have been shattered on 47 minutes when Barking added a second, again a defensive error allowed the ball to be crossed into the area and James Barlow nodded home for his and Barking's second. This knocked the stuffing out of Manor briefly but they regrouped and at least spent more time in the Barking half and without really creating openings of note at least had a more intent on getting the ball into the area. Manor's frustrations were growing more and more with themselves and with the referee and Deshaun Stevens, a second half sub, showed to much dissent and was booked. Not long after this he was sent off for a second booking as the referee lost patience with him. Barking then added a third goal on 87 minutes when a cross from the left was nodded in by the giant forward Anthony DaSilva, before Ricky Hayes broke through Manor's defence in stoppage to slot past Priddle and put more gloss on the scoreline for the away side.