Essex Alliance Football League Senior & Division Two Cup Finals (Double Header)

Saturday 11th May 2019 (at Victoria Road, Dagenham & Redbridge FC)

It was another double header for me at Dagenham & Redbridge’s Victoria Road ground for the second weekend running and this time it was the turn of the Essex Alliance League as they were hosting the Senior and Division Two Cup Finals which involved Senior Champions Jolof Sports up against Docklands Albion, and also Second Division runners-up CSM London up against Rainham Working Mens Club.

First up at 2pm was the Division Two Final, so here is how that went:-

Essex Alliance Football League Division Two Cup Final (2pm)

Rainham Working Mens Club Vs CSM London

CSM London came into this final as favourites after they finished runners-up in Division Two and eighteen points above their opponents Rainham Working Mens Club who finished three places below them in fifth spot.  And initially it looked like CSM would take the game to their opponents and the opening exchanges certainly favoured the favourites as they carved out the best chances in the opening twenty minutes.  And in the 22^nd minute CSM got their noses in front when a ball flicked to the far post saw Omar Wilson slide home at the back post, and despite Rainham’s protests for offside, the goal stood and CSM had a deserved lead.  In the minutes that followed that goal though Rainham created a couple of openings to level, and they remained the better side for the remainder of the half but it looked as if they would go into the break behind.  But two minutes into first half stoppage time they managed to deservedly level when a ball over the top saw Tormey run onto it and produce a marvellous finish beyond the oncoming keeper saw Rainham go into the break all square.

Half Time Rainham Working Mens Club 1 CSM London 1

The opening twenty minutes or so of the second half saw the game continue to be a decent battle but Rainham had the best chance of the opening exchanges of the period when they saw a header cleared off the line, but as the half went on it became rather stop start as players were going down with various niggles which wasn’t helping the flow of the game.  Both teams tried to find a winner but neither could so it meant that the Division Two Cup would be decided from twelve yards.  Both teams saw spot-kicks struck straight at the keepers before they both netted their next four to make it 4-4 going into sudden death.  After both sides netted their next penalties, CSM London netted their seventh, meaning Rainham had to net to keep the shoot-out going, but they saw the keeper save to his left, meaning CSM London won the Division Two Cup for the season.

Full Time Rainham Working Mens Club 1 CSM London 1 (CSM London won 6-5 on penalties)

Onto the second game of the day now and it saw Senior Division Champions Jolof Sports up against Docklands Albion in the Senior Division Final, here is how that one went:-

Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division Cup Final (6pm)

Docklands Albion Vs Jolof Sports

Jolof Sports were looking to add their Senior Division title and also complete a League and Cup double in the process, and they were up against Docklands Albion who had finished in fourth spot some thirteen points behind their opponents, so you could say that Jolof were slight favourites heading into this one.  But Docklands are a decent side themselves so this was always going to be a hotly contested final, but the opening exchanges didn’t really see much in the way of goalmouth action, that was until Jolof created a couple of chances just before the twenty-minute mark, although these were not converted.  In the 21^st minute though that would change in spectacular circumstances as an effort from forty odd yards out caught keeper Riddell off his line, and although the Docklands keeper managed to catch the ball, his momentum saw him take the ball over the line and Jolof had edged ahead in this one.  Apart from this moment though neither keeper had very much to do as the half entered it’s final stages, and although Docklands did have openings, Jolof looked like they could add to their lead late on, and with the final moments of the half should have had a penalty when after the attacker and got the wrong side of the defender, he was brought down running in on goal but the referee incredibly waved play on, much to everyone’s bemusement.  It meant that Jolof went into the half just a goal ahead and smarting at that decision not to award them a late penalty in that half to possibly double their lead.

Half Time Docklands Albion 0 Jolof Sports 1

The opening fifteen minutes of the second period saw both sides create openings in what continued to be a tight contest, but as the half wore on Jolof started to create more and more chances and although Docklands did have the odd chance themselves, the league champions should have added to their lead, and you began to think they may pay for these misses if Docklands, who looked more than capable of creating a chance, could convert.  But with seven minutes left Jolof sealed this contest when after an awful attempted clearance went up in the air and towards the Docklands area, keeper Riddell came but was second best to a challenge for the ball, and it allowed Jolof in to slot into the empty net and cue mass celebrations amongst them.  And no further alarms meant they sealed a league and cup double for the Senior Division so well done to them.

Full Time Docklands Albion 0 Jolof Sports 2

So another good day at Victoria Road, and with over 500 spectators coming through the gate combined for both games it was certainly a successful day for the league, that’s good numbers indeed!!!    

Loughton Lions 0 Sungate Reserves 2

Essex Alliance League Division Four Cup Final, Tuesday 7th May 2019

Two second half goals were enough for Sungate Reserves to complete an Essex Alliance League Division Four League and Cup double after victory over Loughton Lions at Dagenham & Redbridge’s Victoria Road.

Sungate came into this one heavy favourites, they had won Division Four whilst Loughton had finished third bottom in the division, some 27 points behind their opponents, and with Sungate having netted 14 goals in their two league games this season it was always going to be difficult for Loughton.

Cup finals can throw up surprises though, but Sungate so nearly took an early lead when heading against the bar from close range, and they hit the woodwork for a second time inside five minutes when striking an effort against the post.

Sungate then saw a close-range effort blocked before another chance was well saved by the keeper, they could have easily been four up inside ten minutes but had nothing to show for their early attacking play.

Loughton then had their first chance of the contest but could strike an effort wide, before Sungate then curled a free kick over the bar, and the favourites missed another opportunity when a header looped over the bar.

Loughton then almost took a shock lead when a free kick deflected inches wide, before the resulting corner was punched away for another corner by the keeper before that corner saw a header go over the bar as the underdogs made sure the favourites knew they were there.

A ball over the top of the Loughton defence saw Sungate in the clear, but the effort was scuffed straight at the keeper, before Loughton had a golden chance to take the lead when the ball of the ball deceived a defender, allowing them in, but the finish was way off target.

Sungate then hit the woodwork for a third time in the half, striking the post from an angle, before Loughton sent a cross into the box, and after it fell to the edge of the box, the effort was volleyed way over the bar.

Sungate had one more chance to take a lead into the break, but saw a header glanced wide of the post, and it meant this game remained goalless, somehow, at the half.

Half Time Loughton Lions 0 Sungate Reserves 0

The second half was just four minutes old when Sungate finally found the back of the net with a fine finish thumped into the bottom corner, and they nearly doubled this when a good move ended with a header back across goal looping just wide of the far post.

Another good Sungate move almost saw them get in on goal, that was until a great last-ditch tackle thwarted them, but midway through the second period they did double their advantage when a corner was flicked into the six-yard box and headed home from close range, giving them some breathing space in this contest.

Loughton then almost gifted Sungate a third, playing an awful pass across the pitch and seeing it intercepted, but the final effort was well saved at the near post, before Sungate sent a long-range effort wide.  They were cruising to victory though with the game entering its final phase.

Loughton did fire a decent effort from long range just over the bar, before Sungate sent a powerful header from eighteen yards straight at the keeper, and it was almost three for the favourites when they saw an effort blocked on the line before the loose ball was scooped wide.

Sungate then pounced on a poor goal kick but could only curl an eventual effort wide, before Loughton had a great chance to give them late hope when going clean through, but the keeper came to save the effort and with that any faint hopes of a comeback.

Sungate then had another chance to make it three, but shot straight at the keeper, before Loughton had one final effort on goal, but soon after the whistle went and Sungate could celebrate their league and cup double.

Full Time Loughton Lions 0 Sungate Reserves 2

Stansted 1 West Essex 0

Essex Senior League Errington Challenge Cup Final, Monday 6th May 2019

Callum Ibe netted a 95^th minute winner as Stansted completed an ESL Cup double with victory over West Essex at The Prokit UK Stadium in Bishop’s Stortford to win the Errington Challenge Cup, adding to their runners-up finish in the league too.

Stansted had won the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy on Easter Monday, and after they saw their title/promotion chances ended last weekend they had the chance to end the season with another Trophy here.

They were up against a strong West Essex line-up though, and with several key personal missing for this one the Airportmen knew this would be a very tough encounter.  And with West themselves keen to finish the season with some silverware this was going to be a good battle.

The first chance did fall to West as a Tom Macleod header was cleared off the line by James Briggs, and West had the next chance to as after a Joe Lefley free kick had been blocked, the ball came back to him and his first-time effort was well saved by Charlie Turner.

West continued to have the better of the opening exchanges and saw Michael Mignot’s close range effort saved by Turner, before a follow up effort from Samraj Gill went straight at Turner, and then another West attack saw full back Emanuel Wazola burst down the right and send a ball flashing across goal.

Stansted’s first chance then arrived as a cross into the box found Jordan Palmer, but he could only send his header straight at Jack Coker, whilst a Stansted corner fell to Briggs just inside the box, but he could only send his effort just over the bar.

West then fired over whilst down the other end Briggs went close when firing over a Stansted free kick, before Mignot was slipped in but his clipped finish from an acute angle went wide of the Airportmen’s near post.

Two minutes before the break though West should have taken the lead when after Mignot beat Turner to a though ball, his sent an effort towards goal but just as it was about to roll over the line, a defender got back to clear it away, meaning this contest remained goalless at the break.

Half Time Stansted 0 West Essex 0

A decent crowd of 417 had come to see this one, and the dangerous Mignot had the first chance of the second period, hooking the ball over his head and taking two defenders out in the process to create a shooting opportunity for himself, but his effort was scuffed straight at Stansted keeper Turner.

Stansted replied to this by sending in a decent ball to Rob Norris, but he could only divert a header into the hands of Coker, before a great run by Gill towards the Stansted box ended with his effort flying just over the crossbar, drawing oooh’s and ahhh’s from the crowd.

West continued to threaten and Lefley sent an effort at goal which bounced in front of Turner, and although he could only parry the effort in front of him, he managed to dive on the ball to thwart any more danger, before Gill then went down in the box for West but saw his appeals waved away, however the ball broke lose and saw a clearance almost go in off Mignot.

Stansted then sent a decent ball into the West area, but substitute Harvey Brown could only slice his effort wide, whilst back down the other end Mignot burst into the area but his cross just invaded Symeon Taylor’s boot and the ball flashed across goal and away from danger.

Izzy Ogedi-Uzokwe then came on for West, and he should have netted soon after as he struck an effort from a decent position straight at keeper Turner, but as the game entered stoppage time there were still no goals to show.

In the first minute of injury time though West should have netted, as Mignot burst clear of the Stansted defence, but as he tried to go around keeper Turner the stopper manged to claw the ball off his feet and save the Airportmen.  Mignot then got in again soon after, rolling his marker but then seeing an effort blocked, and it seemed destined this game was going to extra time.

But, in the fifth minute of injury time Stansted went on one last attack and ended with the ball finding its way to the back post where Ibe was waiting to head home from close range and win the Errington Challenge Cup for The Airportmen, and at the same time break West Essex hearts.

Stansted will be first to admit they were second best today, but they all did their jobs and dug in and netted when it mattered right at the death, so will done to them for what they have achieved this season.  Also, big mention to West Essex who on another day could have won this one by two or three, but they should be mighty proud also after where they have come from.

Full Time Stansted 1 West Essex 0

ESCFL Trophyland Cup Final & Corinthian Cup Final Double Header

Essex Sunday Corinthian Football League Finals Double Header, Sunday 5th May 2019

It was a double header at Dagenham & Redbridge’s Victoria Road ground on Sunday 5^th May as both the Trophyland Cup Final and the Corinthian Cup Final took place for the Essex Sunday Corinthian Football League, and it involved Dagenham United, East Ham Inter, Repton Park and Warren United, so here is how it all panned out:-

Trophyland Cup Final (11am)

Dagenham United 3 East Ham Inter 1

The first final of the day saw Second Division winners Dagenham United take on Fourth Division runners-up East Ham Inter, so Dagenham were clear favourites in this final, although in a cup final you can never tell how it would go.  And the opening half saw very little between the sides as the underdogs certainly gave as good as they got, and with four minutes of the first half to go they stunned their higher league opponents by taking the lead when a poor header back towards the keeper saw them nip in to head past a stranded keeper, and cue wild celebrations amongst the East Ham Inter bench and players.  Was there a shock on the cards? Well at the break this looked very possible indeed.

Half Time Dagenham United 0 East Ham Inter 1

So how would Dagenham deal with this pressure?  Well they managed to begin the half well and brought on Tom Carter who with his first touch nodded home a 57^th minute equaliser, this after a wonderful pass and hook back across goal gave him the easiest of headers from a yard out, and then with fifteen minutes left Carter netted again, slotting home from inside the box.  The favourites had deserved this lead after missing chances before taking the lead, and they had been well on top in this second period.  And with nine minutes remaining Dagenham sealed their league and cup double by adding a third when a superb ball over the top saw Ricardo Teixeira run onto it and lob brilliantly over the keeper to complete a super second half fightback.

Full Time Dagenham United 3 East Ham Inter 1

Right onto game two now, which saw an all Premier Division contest between two sides who knew each other well:-

Corinthian Cup Final (3pm)

Repton Park 4 Warren United 2

This was a repeat of last years final which saw Repton Park take the honours in that one, so no doubt Warren United would of liked to have gained retribution for that.  Repton Park were Premier Division champions so were looking for a league and cup double, whilst Warren United had finished fourth so were looking to end the season with some silverware.  Both these teams come from the same area, and both sets of players are friends off the pitch, but there were no friends once they crossed that white line and a decent game was expected.  It was almost a perfect start for Warren United too as they saw Bell strike the post, but in the 3^rd minute fell behind when Repton Park saw an effort crash off the bar before the rebound was headed home, but in the 11^th minute it was 1-1 when a complete cock up at the back allowed Bell to slot into an empty net, it had been some start to this one.  Further chances were missed by both but just past the half-hour mark Repton Park regained the lead when sloppy defending allowed the ball to be slammed home, and then two minutes before the break Repton Park increased their lead when after breaking the offside trap down the left, and brilliant effort across Green nestled into the far corner, and the Premier Division champions had a two-goal cushion at the half.

Half Time Repton Park 3 Warren United 1

So no doubt Warren United’s half time team talk was to keep tight and make sure you get the next goal in this one, they had created chances in the first half but were found wanting at the back at times, so to concede such a soft goal barely a minute into the second half would have been painful for sure, as more defensive woe allowed the number nine in to complete his hat-trick and put three goal between the two sides.  Warren United to their credit kept going though and did pull one back in the 56^th minute when a long-range effort was parried into the path of an attacker who swept the rebound home, and they came so close to 4-3 when Gates struck a wonderful free-kick against the underside of the bar.  Repton Park regrouped and hit the bar themselves late on, and they ended up seeing out what had been a wonderful game of football between two brilliant sides, but it was Repton Park who claimed a league and cup double by retaining the Corinthian Cup.

Full Time Repton Park 4 Warren United 2

So a good day all round, and many thanks to the guys on the Corinthian League for their wonderful hospitality throughout the day, and also thanks to Dagenham & Redbridge for the use of their facilities too.  Super stuff!!!