Blueharts 2ndXI 3 - 4 Southend
"First win in Division 2"
Following last weeks disappointing defeat to Broxbourne, Southend were determined to put things right against Blueharts on Saturday. The long trip to Hitchin meant an early meet time and the team looked in good spirits as it left.
The team was announced and at full strength with everyone available. The Captain started with James Lockwood at left back (showing faith in the young Essex star despite him being officially the worst player in the first team), Keith back at sweeper and Rich Hill keeping his place warming the bench.
Blueharts started strongly and had plenty of early possession but the defence held firm, limiting them to few chances and the team as a whole looked dangerous on the break. Eventually a quick break led to a chance and Southend took the lead through the clubs joint top scorer (level on 4 goals with me!) Strawbs. Things looked to be going well and the game continued in much the same vein until Blueharts got round the back of the Southend defence and equalised just before half time.
"If we keep our discipline and patience and keep going this game is ours for the taking" went the team talk (Does that sound familiar to last week?). This week however the team listened and had obviously learned from last weeks lesson in how not to do it and started the second half strongly. Almost straight away we began to dominate the game. 10 minutes into the second half James Lockwood was forced off with a repeat of his girly injury. Obviously with the worst player in the team going off, this led to an improvement and the team looked much stronger again. A change at the same time of only having three at the back meant that we began to really dominate the game. Gareth Ingram finally managed to convert one of his many short corners (great goal Gareth you might even get your name in the ECHO for that) and Christian also managed to get on the scoresheet (cant remember the goal so it can't have been any good).
Blueharts got one back to keep the game close, when Steve Hayman allegedly hacked down one of their forwards in a clear scoring position (I thought it was a definite foul but a harsh flick) and a penalty flick was awarded. The flick was easily converted past Johnny 5 (Does the 5 stand for 5 goals a game conceded?) and Blueharts thought they were back in it.
The 2 goal advantage was re-established soon after when Stress went clear one on one with the keeper, went round him with his first touch (mis-control?), looked up (?), and with a neat reverse flick scored easily (!). All was well again and a two goal lead should have meant that the game was won. However, we didn't like to make things easy for ourselves and when one of the Blueharts midfielders popped up ummarked in the D, Blueharts were back in the game almost straight away (You will notice that this was a Blueharts midfileder and not a forward as they were all marked!).
Minor panicking and a stroing finish from the opposition meant that the final whistle couldn't come quick enough and in the end we managed to hang on for a well deserved win. In two games so far we have played well and deserved at least the 3 points we have achieved. If we keep playing like this we will do well in Division 2. Next week Letchworth at home 2.15pm for anyone who wants to watch.
Team - Johnny 5, Keith, Lee, Steve, James, Puppy, Rich, Stress, Stu, Gareth, Christian, Strawbs
Goals - Ingram, Utton, Jenkins, Needham
Burberry Trousers - Gareth for spaffing an aerial attempt and trying to excuse it with "I felt under pressure as there were girls watching!"
S&BHC Ladies 1's 2 - 0 Brentwood
It was the second league fixture, being played over at tommey moore as Waterside Farm is still out of action. An Unusual game for both sides i think. The entire game seemed slow and awkward. We hadn't played at tommey moore for well over a year and it was just a horrible pitch.
The first half seemed sluggish, both teams trying to put on an attack but not finding much smooth ground. We were fortunate enough to get a goal, scored by Naomi Barker in the first half and we then took all of the second half to get the other scored by Chloe Harris. A Very well worked goal and Chloe certainly deserved it, she had been patient all game waiting for her opportunity, and it was a lovely dummy to the keeper that she managed to slip under her pads.
Brentwood put up a strong fight, it was a different team to their usual players from past seasons. This side looked more comfortable and got stuck in. They proved to be a strong side that we will not under estimate for the future. A superb performance by both teams, well done to all of us.
Ladies 2's
The game this week was always going to be a tough one having played and (due to a spot of dubious umpiring around the second goal) lost to Basildon 3's
last week. Southend fielded an unfamiliar side, many players never having the chance to play together before and this showed from the off (of which 2 players missed the first 10 minutes due to arriving in Braintree via Romford....). Basildon took full advantage of Southend's weakness and put two goals away in no time at all. Southend, reformed and dug their heels in
and fought back hard but it was not long before Basildon had broken through the shaky defence and the score at half time was 4-0.
Southend came out in the second half with a new determination and took control of the ball play on many occasions which captain Claire King took full advantage of but was unlucky despite putting in some fantastic attempts on goal. Basildon continued scoring and then end result of 7-0 unfairly reflected the actual run of the game in which Southend worked hard and had
some good chances on goal as a result. Full credit has to go to 'man of the match' Stacey Chandler who, despite having no keeper training, worked her
socks off in goal and had it not been for her saving and clearing some amazing shots the final score most definitely would have been in double figures. |
