Denmark 0 Spain 1

Women's Euro 2022, Group Stages Match Day Three, Group B, Saturday 16th July

West London was my venue for my third experience of the Women's Euro 2022 and saw a late Marta Cardona header net Spain victory over Denmark at Brentford's Community Stadium and set up a mouth watering Quarter Final clash with hosts England.

This was my first visit to the stadium, and what a stadium it is, it's designed different to a lot of other ones and certainly keeps the noise inside the ground, and a raucous atmosphere of over 16,000 were present to see who could set up a quarter final with England on Wednesday in Brighton.

Spain were the ones in the driving seat and the favourites to succeed not just in this game and qualify, but one of the front runners for the whole competition, they needed to just avoid defeat in this one against a Denmark side who needed to win to stun their opponents and make the last eight instead.

Denmark's tournament began in disappointing fashion in what was labelled the 'Group Of Death' after being thumped by another of the front runners Germany, but the 2017 runners up bounced back to beat Finland last time out, setting up this decider against the Spanish of whom had thumped Finland but then lost to the Germans last time out.

Spain were expected to dominate possession, which they did, but the stubborn Danes really put up a great fight and this made for a terrific contest, and led brilliantly by the Chelsea striker Pernille Harder carried a real threat on the counter, and Harder in fact created the first real chance of the contest, laying off to team-mate Karen Holmgaard who took two long to try and shoot and was snuffed out.

Harder then raced onto a through ball but failed to chip it over Spanish keeper Sandro Panos, before the Chelsea forward linked up with Rikke Madsen, only to force a save at the near post from a tight angle, but they were certainly giving Spain a lot to think about that was for sure.

Spain did eventually settle though and got into their rhythm and pin the Danes into their own third and should have taken the lead but saw Athenea del Castillo's close range header scrambled away from close range, but the game was evenly poised as the players went into the changing rooms for a well earned half time break.

Both managers made changes early in the second period as Denmark worked tirelessly to win the ball back and their opponents looked for that opening to ease the pressure on them, knowing a Danish goal could send them out, and although Spain created plenty of chances to ease the tension, Denmark so nearly grabbed that goal on more than one occasion.

Harder, who was a constant menace, fired an attempt inches over the bar, and then she almost created a breakthrough, teeing up substitute Nadia Nadim whose effort was well tipped over by Panos, but as the clocked ticked past the 89 minute mark, Spain grabbed that goal to rubber stamp their quarter final place.

It came when Cardona rose highest at the back post to send a lovely header back across goal and into the far corner, it had been a unconvincing display from the Spanish who looked vulnerable out of possession, but after loosing Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas on the eve of the tournament, it was a relief to qualify for the last eight.  

Denmark put up a very good fight it must be said, but the current runners up are now out, England await Spain in the Quarter Finals, that is one not to be missed.

Full time Denmark 0 Spain 1

Austria 1 Norway 0

Women's Euro 2022, Group Stages Match Day Three, Group A, Friday 15th July

I was down on the South Coast again for another Women's Euro 2022 encounter, and a first half header from Nicole Billa proved enough for Austria to defeat Norway at The Amex in Brighton to qualify for the Quarter Finals.

The equation was simple, Austria would qualify in second spot if they avoided defeat, whereas Norway knew a win for themselves would see they nick second spot and a quarter final berth instead, but how would the Nordic country be feeling after that 8-0 demolition at the hands of England in their previous Group A encounter?

Austria on the other hand had run England close in the opening game and then defeated the Northern Irish leading into this one, so they would have been in a much better mindset, and it seemed this way early on as the Austrians dominated the opening forty five minutes as a nervy looking Norway failed to settle.

They almost gave away an early penalty when Billa went to ground under the challenge of Guro Bergsvand and Julie Blakstad, and then Guro Pettersen, the Norwegian keeper, fumbled a Laura Feiersinger effort onto the crossbar moments later as Austria could sense their opponents vulnerability.

Pettersen managed to redeem herself when making a fine one handed save from Billa, but with eight minutes of the half remaining Billa managed to beat the Norwegian stopper when a lovely ball into the box by Verena Hanshaw saw Billa rise to glance a header beyond Pettersen into the far corner and hand Austria a more than deserved lead.

Could Norway find something in the second half? It had been a rather lifeless performance in a game of such importance, but despite having more possession it was their opponents who were carving out the better chances, but Pettersen was equal to efforts from Barbara Dunst, Billa and Feiersinger, before she had to deflect a Lisa Makas close range effort just wide of the near post.

A second goal would have sealed the Austrians Quarter Final berth for sure, but at 1-0 Norway knew a goal back could set up a grandstand finish, and they committed bodies forward in the latter stages and finally registered a first shot on target a minute from time when Manuela Zinsberger, who had pretty much had nothing to do in the Austrian goal, tipped a Celin Ildhusoy shot onto the crossbar.

And Ada Hegerberg, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner and who had returned to the international fold after a self imposed five year exile, almost snatched a late equaliser in added time, only to see Zinsberger make a fine close range stop to deny her, and it meant Austria would go through in second with a second win and second clean sheet in succession.

Austria then go through to face Germany in the Last Eight, a terrific achievement for them, whilst for Norway their will surely be a post mortem into what went wrong at these finals, many had them tipped as dark horses for the tournament, but another lifeless display in this one capped an awful showing at these finals and the 2013 finalists go out.

Finally a word on what was another enjoyable night at a Women's Euro 2022 encounter, a fantastic atmosphere once again and over 12,000 in attendance, superb to see and not a hint of trouble, this is how football should be quite frankly.

Full time Austria 1 Norway 0

Shenfield AFC 0 Basildon Town 5

Pre Season Friendly, Wednesday 13th July

My latest pre season outing saw me over at St Martins School 3G and saw Eastern Senior South new boys Basildon Town net five as they ran out comfortable winners against former Essex Olympian Premier foes Shenfield AFC.

These two met regularly in league matches over the last few seasons as both competed at Step Seven in the Olympian Premier, but Town won promotion last season to take their place in senior football for the very first time so were preparing for an historic season for the club, taking their place in the Eastern Senior South.

Shenfield would obviously be taking part in the Olympian Premier once again for the coming season, and midway through the half almost went in front but only for a fine point blank save from a close range header deny them, and seconds later the visitors had gone down the other end and scored after a sublime pass released Louie Hall who slotted home to give the Step Six side the lead.

That lead was doubled nine minutes before the break when a corner into the box saw a header a goal saved, however the keeper could not hold onto the ball, and eventually saw Ronnie Hobbrough ram home from close range and had it not been for the woodwork it could have been more for the visiting side, but they did lead by two at the half.

Just before the hour mark Town made several changes, bringing on the likes of player boss Marcus Bowers and the pacey Rhys Fatt, and the player boss didn't take long to get involved, crossing into the box for Jamie Bradborne to ghost in between two defenders to nod home from close range, and with seven minutes to go and after an effort had been blocked, the ball was played back into the danger zone where Graham Harrison got his head to the ball and saw it parried into the net for a fourth for the visitors.

Shenfield tried to grab a consolation but saw the keeper make another decent save to maintain his clean sheet, and then with virtually the last kick of the contest Town made it five when Bowers got on the end of a cross from the right to add yet another goal to his long career, and cap a fine performance from his side.

Full time Shenfield AFC 0 Basildon Town 5

Hashtag United 3 Walthamstow 0

Pre Season Friendly, Monday 11th July

My latest pre season friendly saw me back over at The Len Salmon and saw Hashtag United net three goals without reply against Walthamstow to win their latest run out ahead of the new season.

The Tags were getting ready for their second season at Step Four in the Isthmian North after a successful first campaign, so they were looking to do even better this time round and try and reach the playoffs or even more perhaps, whereas Stow were back at Step Four level for the first time in a few years after winning the Essex Senior League last season and were preparing for their first season in the Southern One Central.

On a very warm evening it was Hashtag began the better and were awarded a penalty after just four minutes when a direct run from Jermaine Francis ended with him being upended inside the box, and PK Humble emphatically dispatched the spot kick, and then after fifteen minutes The Tags doubled their lead when Pedro Banks blasted down the left and crossed into the six yard box and although Francis header was misdirected, it fell into the path of Joni Vukaj who rifled home emphatically.

It was a decent first half performance from The Tags who had a certain Adebayo Akinfenwa playing up front in the opening forty five minutes, but he and a couple of others made way at half time, and then just past the hour mark they made more changes, as did Stow, to try out some more personal. One of the guys replaced on the Stow side was Callum Ibe who looked very lively although sadly for him his team mates could not give him the service he needed.

And shortly afterwards the hosts added a third as after a great touch and strike from Teniola was well saved, Okunja was on hand to get to the loose ball and loft over the keeper and see the ball just go over the line before a defender managed to get back to hack it clear. 

Tags keeper Page did have something to do late on when he got down well to superbly deny the visitors a consolation goal, but if truth be told The Tags looked much the better team on the night and ran out comfortable winners on a barmy evening in South Essex.

Full time Hashtag United 3 Walthamstow 0

Benfleet 4 Canning Town 1

Pre Season Friendly, Saturday July 9th

My latest pre season outing saw me make my first visit to Benfleet's real home, Woodside, and they netted four against Canning Town on a very warm July afternoon to win their latest run out ahead of the new season.

Benfleet will be competing once again in the Eastern Senior League South division this season, which is step six and the lowest Senior status, and they so nearly won promotion last season but sadly lost in the semi final of the playoffs after what had been a very good season for them.

Canning Town did actually suffer the despair of relegation last season from the Essex Olympian Premier, which is Step Seven in the non league pyramid, the top level for Junior football, down to the Senior Division One, which is step eight, but they were reprieved after the season had ended meaning they will once again compete in the Premier Division.

It was a very warm afternoon in South Essex it has to be said, so this was going to be a real test of fitness for both sides, and it was the higher level Benfleet who had the better of the opening exchanges and they did grab the lead in the 28th minute after an over hit cross from the left was played back into the six yard box where a close range header put the hosts in front.

And five minutes before the break Benfleet doubled that lead when a cross from the left took a bounce, taking out the first defender and allowing the attacker to ghost in between that defender and another one behind him to nod past the stranded keeper from close range, and it meant the hosts had a two goal cushion heading into the half time break.

The visitors did get themselves back into the contest just before the hour mark when a free kick floated into the box saw a lovely header sent over the keeper and into the net, and headers seemed to be a thing in the contest as Benfleet restored their two goal lead with eighteen minutes to go as the ball somehow found it's way to the far post where a close range header went in via the keepers hand.

And guess what, four minutes afterwards came the final goal in the contest, again it was a header, as all the goals had been in this one, and it was a lovely glancing effort after a cross from the right which left the keeper no chance whatsoever, capping a decent day for the hosts.

Full time Benfleet 4 Canning Town 1