Boreham Wood 1 Tranmere Rovers 2

Vanarama National League Playoff Final, Saturday 12th May 2018 (at Wembley)

James Norwood headed home an 80^th minute winner as ten man Tranmere Rovers saw off Boreham Wood in the Vanarama National League Play-off final at Wembley and make a return to the SkyBet Football League after a three year absence.

The Birkenhead club finished runners up to champions Macclesfield Town in the National League and then saw off Ebbsfleet United in their semi final play off at Prenton Park 4-2 after extra time, this after coming from behind twice before eventually seeing the Kent side off with two goals in the extra half hour.

Wood themselves finished in fourth spot in the National League and saw off AFC Fylde in an eliminator match at Meadow Park and then travelled to take on Sutton United at Gander Green Lane in the semi final and edged out the hosts 3-2 to take their place in the final here.

And the matches between the two sides in the league campaign saw a draw at Prenton Park before Wood managed to beat Rovers in the return match at Meadow Park, however both games were tight so this final was a hard one to call.

Tranmere of course were in this very match a year ago when they played Forest Green Rovers at Wembley for a chance to get back into the Football League, however they were stunned by the Stroud side that day, so they sure didn’t want history to repeat itself.

And backed by over 10,000 fans from Birkenhead they certainly had the support advantage over Wood who were well outnumbered in those stakes in a crowd off 16,306 at the national stadium.

However after just 48 seconds of this contest Rovers were right on the back foot as a loose ball saw Liam Ridehalgh and Wood’s Ricky Shakes go into a challenge and see the Rovers man go over the top of the ball and produce a rash challenge, and referee Neil Hair had no hesitation in sending the Tranmere man off, and they had to play pretty much the entire game with a man less.

It was an astonishing start to proceedings however this just spurred the men in white on and in the sixth minute went in front when Norwood crossed from the left and saw Andy Cook get across his man to power a header into the near corner, and see Rovers players celebrate in front of some rather irate fans in the Wood section, who unfortunately threw several plastic bottles full of liquid in their direction, with one hitting the head of a Rovers player, all rather unsavoury and not what you want to see in football.

So the ten men had the lead, and to be honest didn’t really look like they were a man down, and it looked like they would go in with a half time lead, until Wood struck in the eighth minute of first half stoppage time, as after they had got down the left and terrific ball squared across the box found Bruno Andrade who side footed home the equaliser at a crucial time for Wood.

Half Time Boreham Wood 1 Tranmere Rovers 1

It really looked as though the odds were stacked against Rovers, not only did they have ten men they had also used all three off their substitutions up in the first half, so there were no fresh legs for them to throw on and you felt as the game went on Wood would surely see their man advantage count against tiring Rovers bodies.

But just like the first forty five minutes it was hard to tell who had the ten men as Tranmere battled gamely and kept the Wood attack at bay in the most part, and also had openings themselves as they looked for a potential winner.

And as the game went on you had this feeling that the ten men may pinch a winner, and sure enough with ten minutes of the contest remaining Connor Jennings, who had come on for Rovers as a first half substitute just ten days after being discharged from hospital following an illness, sent in a cross onto Norwood’s head and he guided his effort towards the corner and despite keeper Smith getting a hand to it, the ball still found the corner of the net and cued wild scenes behind that goal filled with Rovers fans.

Wood could not find a response to that and Tranmere Rovers took the win in what was an incredible effort from Micky Mellon’s men who finally return to the football league.  Despair for Wood though who had never been out of the non league pyramid in their 70 year history, however the result marked the end of a remarkable campaign for them, a highest ever league finish and best FA Cup run under the stewardship of boss Luke Garrard.

Full Time Boreham Wood 1 Tranmere Rovers 2

ACD United 2 Lionside 1

Essex Alliance Football League Division Two Cup Final, Tuesday 8th May 2018 (at Dagenham & Redbridge FC)

Connor Lambert netted a 95th minute winner to see ACD United to Division Two Cup glory after they came from behind to defeat a battling Lionside at Victoria Road in Dagenham.

ACD came into this one clear favourites, being the leaders of the Division, however Lionside had belied their third bottom position in the league to get through to the final, so both knew a tough battle lay ahead.

ACD created the first chance on three minutes but saw an effort saved by Adam Turner, before the rebound was fired over the bar, and in the 17th minute Lionside had their first attempt at goal although it was straight down the keepers throat.

Four minutes later ACD so nearly broke the deadlock but saw three quick efforts all blocked as Lionside just about held onto parity, and then just past the half hour mark ACD saw a flick towards goal from a corner headed off the line.

Eight minutes before the break and with ACD continuing to look the likelier to score, another goal-bound header was blocked before a follow up effort went straight at Turner in the Lionside net, and despite ACD having the majority of the chances, a very competitive encounter remained goal less at the break.

Half Time ACD United 0 Lionside 0

Lionside came out the better side in the early exchanges of the second period and saw an effort sliced wide, however ten minutes into the half they won a penalty and this was emphatically converted to give them a surprise lead in this contest.

ACD almost hit back three minutes later but saw an effort well saved before the follow up was blocked, and then just past the hour mark another ACD goal-bound header was cleared off the line as Lionside continued to defend heroically.

Midway through the half a second flash point occurred in front of the main stand, and after a few handbags resulted in a booking for Lionside, however you could not fault the commitment of both sides in this contest.

ACD were getting very frustrated as well but remained patient and with twelve minutes to go finally found a way through when a loose ball fell to Greg Knock who struck a terrific effort into the top corner and it set up a grandstand finish to this cup final.

With seven minutes remaining and ACD now pushing for a winner they saw a long ball over the top of the Lionside defence run onto and it looked like they were clear, however a defender managed to loop the ball into the air and Turner in goal managed to claim the ball, although took a clattering for his troubles, but was ok to continue.

ACD continued to knock on the door and saw two efforts into the side netting, however just as it looked like penalties, a poor kick out by Turner ended up at the feet of Lambert, who then ran through and saw his finish deflected beyond Turner by a desperate last ditch tackle from a defender and into the net.

Heartbreak for Lionside who had pushed their opponents all the way in this one, but it was ACD who took the honours at the very last knockings of the contest.


Full Time ACD United 2 Lionside 1

Sawbridgeworth Town 0 Great Wakering Rovers 1

ESL Errington Challenge Cup Final, Monday 7th May 2018 (at Capershotts, Waltham Abbey FC)

Errington Challenge Cup Final (at Capershotts, Waltham Abbey FC)

Sawbridgeworth Town 0 Great Wakering Rovers 1

Neil Richmond netted just before the hour mark to see Rovers complete an ESL double after they tasted Errington Challenge Cup glory by defeating Sawbridgeworth Town at a baking Capershotts on Bank Holiday Monday.

Rovers came into this one understandably favourites however they came up against a Sawbridgeworth side who had performed well in 2018 and had seen then go from bottom three material to top ten in the space of four months, finishing in eighth at the end of it all, so they were not going to be easy to beat here.

The opening quarter of an hour was fairly even, with the best chance falling to Rovers but saw James Mays in the Robins goal make a terrific double save, firstly from Aaron Russell and then from Richmond, but the game remained tight and goalless.

Rovers also saw an attempted cross land on top of the bar on the half hour mark however the game itself was lacking creativity in the final third and it looked like the heat was taking it’s toll on the players as the contest had really failed to find its spark.

However the final part of the half did see some rather hard challenges go in as the contest became a little feisty, and right on half time the Robins almost took the lead however Aaron Thomas could not get on the end of a cross and the chance went, and it meant the game remained goalless at the break.

Half Time Sawbridgeworth Town 0 Great Wakering Rovers 0

Rovers came out slightly better in the second period and saw a sight of goal go array as they looked to edge ahead in this rather tight affair in the heat of Waltham Abbey, but just before the hour mark Rovers found the breakthrough when Richmond found himself in behind the defence, and he slotted an effort across Mays and into the far corner for the strikers 31^st goal of the season.

Thereafter Rovers missed two really good chances to extend their lead, firstly when Richmond got in behind again but saw his effort saved by Mays, before the Rovers striker saw a downward header bounce over the crossbar.

After another drinks break, which was needed in near 30 degree heat, Rovers passed up another chance when Richmond latched onto a wonderful lofted pass from Stephen Butterworth to volley first time at goal but saw Mays beat away,  before Butterworth then saw an effort saved by Mays as Rovers looked for that killer second goal.

The Robins though had the ball in the net with six minutes to go when a header was palmed across goal to the back post where it was nodded in, however the flag had gone up for offside, but it was a warning to Rovers that this tie was far from over.

Substitute Chris Bryan then had the chance to seal it for Rovers in the final minute of normal time but again saw Mays thwart them, and then the fourth official announced their would be five additional minutes to come.

This briefly lifted The Robins who saw substitute Daryl Doolan fire a decent effort at Louis Hawes in the Rovers goal, but try as they might they just could not find a way through a resolute Wakering backline.

And it meant the Burroughs Park side held onto win this one and complete the ESL double, and win the first League Cup competition under the Errington family name, which was fitting for Rovers boss Ian O’Connell who has been a good friend of the family for some time, so it meant a lot to him.

Commiserations to Sawbridgeworth Town though who lost their second successive Challenge Cup final, but they can be proud of their season which has been another decent one for sure.

Full Time Sawbridgeworth Town 0 Great Wakering Rovers 1

Chelsea U18 3 Arsenal U18 1

FA Youth Cup Final First Leg, Friday 27th April 2018

A brace from Daishawn Redan plus a header from Marc Guehi saw Chelsea come from a goal behind to defeat Arsenal in the First Leg of the FA Youth Cup Final at Stamford Bridge and take a two goal lead into Monday’s Second Leg at the Emirates.

On a sodden Friday night in the West of the capital the two London rivals came head to head in the first leg of this seasons Youth Cup Finale, and it was the hosts who posed more of an attacking threat in the opening exchanges, and probably should have been a couple of goals to the good by the half hour mark, however it remained goalless.

That was until ten minutes before half time when the Gunners, who had had a couple of attacks on the break after soaking up quite a bit of Chelsea pressure, who broke the deadlock as Xavier Amaechi, who impressed in the semi final second leg against Blackpool, was played in and he chipped the keeper before seeing the ball go in off the post to give Arsenal the lead.

And despite plenty of hosts pressure it was the Gunners who held that lead at the break, it had been the perfect smash and grab performance from the visitors up till this point.

Half Time Chelsea 0 Arsenal 1

The opening exchanges of the second half went pretty much the same way as the first half had gone, with Chelsea on the front foot but finding the wall of Arsenal defenders in their way, however in the 66^th minute Chelsea finally managed to break through when second half substitute Redan got through on the right and fired an effort into the far corner and the Blues were level.

You felt the hosts would go on and maybe grab another as the goal gave them even more impetus although the hosts had to be aware of Arsenal and their counter attacks and you could not rule out one of these restoring the Gunners lead.

But in the 77^th minute Chelsea found a second to take the lead in this one, and deservedly so in all honestly, as a ball returned back into the box saw the giant centre half Guehi nod home a downward header from close range and give The Blues the advantage finally in this tie.

The Blues knew a third would certainly put one hand on the trophy going into the second leg on Monday whilst The Gunners would know only a one goal deficit wouldn’t be a disaster so didn’t want to concede again, however with five minutes left Chelsea found a third after poor defending from the visitors.

A ball in saw a defender miskick his clearance and the dangerous Redan pounced on this error to nip in and finish beyond the keeper and give Chelsea a two goal cushion going into Monday’s Second Leg in North London.  So Chelsea with one hand on the cup, and the Gunners have it all to do if they want to clinch the FA Youth Cup this season.

Full Time Chelsea 3 Arsenal 1

Harold Wood Athletic 2 Frenford 7

Essex Olympian Premier, Wednesday 25th April 2018

Hat-tricks from Nick Hughes and Luke Woodward helped see Essex Olympian Premier Division leaders Frenford defeat Harold Wood Athletic at Harold Wood Rec as they hit seven to give their title hopes a little boost whilst ending the hosts chances.

Wood knew that they had to win to realistically keep their title hopes alive as they sat ten points behind the leaders in fourth with four games in hand whilst Frenford knew a win would mean only Catholic United would be their only title rivals and this being the visitors final game of the season, they needed to put three points on the board to give the Southend side more work to do to catch them.

And just five minutes into the contest Frenford grabbed the lead as the hosts keeper misjudged a cross and ended up pushing it onto the bar, only for Hughes to be there to poke the loose ball over the line.

It got better for the visitors in the 14th minute as well as they doubled their lead when another defensive error, which saw a cross from the left miscued by a defender, fall into the path of Hughes right in front of goal and he has the easiest tap in and the visitors were already two goals to the good.

Wood to their credit kept going though and after the mother of all hailstorms had drenched an already rather lush surface, the hosts found a way back into the contest on the half hour when Charlie Liddiard burst through on goal and struck an effort under the keeper and into the net.

But just three minutes after this the visitors restored their two goal cushion as the Wood defence went to sleep again, allowing Dan Driscoll to get through and slot into the far corner of the net, however four minutes before the break Wood got themselves right back in the contest again when a brilliant cross from Dan Gillard saw Rob Whitnell place a header into the far corner of the net and it meant Frenford only had a one goal cushion at the break.

Half Time Harold Wood Athletic 2 Frenford 3

Twelve minutes into the second period the visitors restored their two goal cushion once again as Hughes completed his treble by getting across his marker to poke an effort in off the post from a visitors corner kick, and then with twelve minutes left ended this competitive contest by adding a fifth as Driscoll laid a ball across to Woodward who sent a first time finish into the far corner.

With the game pretty much over Frenford ran away with the contest in the final ten minutes, adding a sixth goal with seven minutes remaining as Woodward grabbed his second by sending a cross over the keeper and into the far corner, and then in the first minute of stoppage time Woodward saved the best till last, completing his hat-trick by sending an effort over the keeper and into the far corner once again.

It was an impressive display from the visitors although the scoreline was probably slightly harsh on the hosts who had been competitive for most of the contest. 

It all meant that Harold Wood's title chances were over, and now means Catholic United are the only side who can stop Frenford from winning the title.  The Southend based side trail the leaders by seven points with five games to go, meaning three wins will see Catholic claim the title, and with Frenford now finished they can only sit back and wait.


Full Time Harold Wood Athletic 2 Frenford 7