Boxing Day Football LIVE

Posted by GerryXGerry Smith Info:
Look, let's face it, I'm great. I just don't let it show in any way, shape or form on either the Brighter Breakfast or any sports reports.Posts by the author (66) in Sports News | 0 comments

Canvey Island  0-2  Concord Rangers

Grays Athletic  1-2  Romford

Tilbury  3-1  Great Wakering

Chelmsford City  1-0  Thurrock 

Dagenham & Redbridge  3-0  Barnet

Aldershot Town  0a1  Southend United  – MATCH ABANDONED AFTER 45 MINUTES DUE TO FLOODLIGHT FAILURE

 

——————————

 

4.57 – FULL TIME:  And there we have it.  Concord win the Island derby to do their Ryman Premier survival hopes a power of good and severely dent Canvey’s play-off chances in the process.

Elsewhere great wins for Tilbury and Dagenham, but disappointment for Grays, Thurrock and Southend for wildly differing reasons.

Your next football fix will be, erm, well, tomorrow afternoon actually.  Live updates and reports will be from New Lodge as Ryman Premier leaders Billericay Town take on third placed AFC Hornchurch.  It’s bound to be a Christmas cracker, especially with updates from Aveley v East Thurrock United, too.

In the meantime, enjoy your Boxing Night festivities.  Right, where’s that bottle of Bud and box of Heroes …..

4.54pm – North of the border, Ross County somehow scrape a point from a game that seemed lost with a 95th minute equaliser at second placed Falkirk in Scotland’s game of the day.  Six points clear at the head of the First Division of the SFL with a game in hand are the Staggies.

4.52pm – Injury time at Park Lane and the home supporters have been leaving in the droves the past few minutes.

4.50pm – Some late cheer for Dagenham & Redbridge.  Burton Albion take a late lead at Northampton and if it remains that way the Daggers are out of the League 2 relegation zone.  Huzzah and hurrah!

4.47pm – Well inside the last 10 minutes of the Island derby and it looks as if it’s going to be a Beach Boys party tonight.  Not that I’m trying to tempt fate or anything.  Much.

4.42pm – As if someone is reading this out to the side, Rob King steams forward for Canvey but his shot rises comfortably above the Concord bar.  Groans from the home support.

4.40pm – Time ticks on, still no signs of a Canvey revival as yet.  The natives of Park Lane are getting restless.

4.32pm – Ooh, that was nearly curtains for Canvey.  Net and fabric ones too.  Steve Sheehan only partially clears a centre into the box, it goes as far as James Elmes, and he shoots narrowly wide.

Attendance:  A very healthy 757 are in attendance at Park Lane watching Canvey and Concord battling out the Island derby.

4.25pm – If you’re wondering at the lack of Thurrock updates, it’s just that, like Tilbury, it’s just half time and full time scores being fed to us.

4.19pm – Canvey Island try to get back into their derby match at Park Lane but Rob King puts his shot well wide.

4.17pm – Perhaps it was just as well the lights went off at Aldershot.  Just two shots in total in the entire first half – and one of them was a penalty.

4.13pm – Canvey Island supporters may just be wishing for a similar outcome to Southend’s game.  Tony Stokes fires over the top as Concord try to making the game safe.

4.07pm – Much more of an ‘oops’ ….. Aldershot Town  v  SOUTHEND UNITED – MATCH ABANDONED DUE TO FLOODLIGHT FAILURE.  The generator has given up the ghost.  45 minutes have been played so no match and also no refund.  Nobody happy I should co-co.

4.06pm ….. Except at the Recreation Ground where the floodlights at Aldershot Town  v  Southend United have gone off again.  Oops.

4.05pm – KICK OFF!  Which it seems what we’ve been doing all afternoon.  Still, hit me baby one more time.

——————————

Half / Full Time:  And shell shocked at Park Lane.  Canvey Island wasn’t expecting that.  Neither, I suspect did Concord Rangers.  They must be delighted.  And nobody expected what is going on at Aldershot.  Refs are meant to be homers, not awayers!  Still, it’s Christmas, so who cares!

Really disappointing home defeat for Grays Athletic though, especially after taking the lead with over an hour again, and Needham Market having suffered a humiliating loss earlier.

Still plenty more to come from this afternoon I suspect though.  Let’s get out breath back.

3.43pm – GOAL! ….. Canvey Island 0,  CONCORD RANGERS 2  Well well well!  Previous chairman Jeff King said the Gulls avowed aim was to be the number one side in South Essex.  They are not even the number one side on Canvey now.  HARRY ELMES doubles the Beach Boys lead with a looping header.  Blimey O’Reilly!

3.42pm – More shenanigans at Aldershot.  The home side are down to 10 men, Darren Jones sent off for trying to throw a punch at Luke Prosser.  The home supporters are going, well, slightly berserk at proceedings.

3.40pm – Those floodlights at Aldershot keep going on and off.  In between, though, the home side are very much on top, despite Southend being ahead.  Same thing in the Island derby.  Canvey the better side, but Concord with the goal.

3.36pm – GOAL! ….. Grays Athletic 1,  ROMFORD 2  Disaster for the home side – or more accurately the lodgers – as the lodgers of Mill Field take the lead for the first time this afternoon.  Doh!

3.33pm – Controversy at Park Lane too.  Steve Sheehan turns away to celebrate what he thinks is his equaliser for Canvey.  The ref has a differing view, though, and waves play on, insisting the ball never crossed the line.  The players and home fans are outraged.  Chortle.

3.31pm – It looks like Southend are leading a charmed life at Aldershot.  McGlashon goes down inside the area after a somewhat crude tackle by Prosser but the ref again books the home player for diving.  The Aldershot fans are furious so by definition makes it fairly amusing.  Ho hoho.

3.29pm – GOAL! ….. Canvey Island 0,  CONCORD RANGERS 1  Wow, that will set the cat amongst the pigeons!  A dipping half volley by JAMES ELMES from around 25 yards gives the struggling visitors the lead.  Game most definitely on!

3.26pm – Better get their shillings and 50p’s out at the Recreation Ground.  The floodlights keep going off and then back on.  Or perhaps it’s a cunning plan from the hosts.

3.22pm – GOAL! ….. Grays Athletic 1,  ROMFORD 1  Now that’s how your respond to going a goal behind.  Straight from the re-start the Boro equalise.  Harumph.

3.21pm – GOAL! ….. GRAYS ATHLETIC 1,  Romford 0  At last the deadlock is broken at Rookery Hill.  BRADLEY THOMAS is the man after getting on the end of a Harry Agombar free kick.  Liquid football.

3.18pm – James Elmes shoots across the face of the Canvey goal in the Island derby.  It seems nerves are getting the better of both sides so far.  Probably due to too much talking up of it prior to the game.

3,16pm – Ooh, controversy at the Rec, where it appears an Aldershot forward was hauled down in the area by Southend keeper Daniels.  Instead of awarding a penalty, though, he books the forward for diving.  Good decision.  I’ve always liked that ref.  Whoever he is.

3.15pm – GOAL! ….. CHELMSFORD CITY 1,  Thurrock 0  The Rocks fall behind to a Dave Rainsford penalty.  Plenty of time though, lads, plenty of time.

3.13pm – Very encouraging start by the Shrimpers.  The home side are being forced into conceding a number of free kicks already.  And, of course, that penalty.

3.11pm – Danny Heale’s header is tipped over the bar by Young in the Concord goal.  Brewing up nicely already.

3.07pm – GOAL! ….. Aldershot Town 0,  SOUTHEND UNITED 1  Jingle bells, jingle bells … An obvious handball from Aldershot’s Ben Herd and LIAM DICKINSON makes no mistake from the penalty spot.  Get.  In.  There.

3.05pm – First shot at Park Lane is from Concord’s Harry Elmes which is easily saved.  So it’s to presume the kick-off wasn’t put back …..

3.02pm – Ho ho ho, already a goalfest at Sixfields, Burton Albion equalise at Northmpton just a minute after falling behind.  One more away goal and Daggers will remain out of a relegation place!

3.01pm – And already bad news for Dagenham & Redbridge.  Northampton Town take the lead in the first 30 seconds of their game.  Ho hum, it was nice being out of the relegation zone for the 5 minutes or so that it lasted.

3.00pm – Kick Off!  Second half at Rookery Hill, the traditional first half at Park Lane, Melbourne Park and the Recreation Ground.

——————————

2.57pm – Full time at Chadfields, too, and another three goals and three points for the home side.  Tilbury are having a superb season and it really looks like they’ll be in the play-off mix at season’s end.  Dan Trenkel, the Rovers manager, will now know the size of his task of the avowed aim to make Great Wakering promotion candidates next season.

2.53pm – Full time at Victoria Road.  Three great goals and three priceless points for the Daggers.  Oh, so vital too, as Plymout came back from the dead to win at Bristol Rovers.  But, at least, for a couple of hours at least, Dagenham & Redbridge are out of the League 2 drop zone, replaced by Northampton Town on goal difference.  Hurrah!

2.50pm – Some pre-match controversy already at Park Lane.  Some Concord players were stuck on M25 traffic and the referee is making a decision shortly on whether to put back kick-off by 30 minutes.  Oooh!

2.48pm – Half time at Rookery Hill arrives goalless.  Grays won’t like that considering the incredible scoreline over at Needham Market.

2.47pm – You’ll Never Guess, Yep, Team News:  Concord Rangers go into the Island derby at Park Lane against Canvey with:  Young, White, Robinson, Beckford, King, Tafazolli, J Elmes, Cowley, Stanley, Stokes, H Elmes.  Subs: A Lee, R Lee, Dudley (GK), Scott-Durojaiye, Ware

2.45pm – The game seems to be drifting away at Victoria Road, although the Daggers fans are in fine voice.  Over 2,000 there, as well, a very decent crowd.

2.43pm – Even More Team News:  Canvey Island’s team for the far-too-much talked about Island derby with Concord Rangers is:  Russell, West, Dumas, King, Sheehan, Easterford (c), Gordon, Dobinson, Curran, Heale, Woods-Garness.  Subs: Hallett, Alaile, Kerrigan, Mathews, Foster.

2.40pm – Team News (again):  Southend United, away at Aldershot Town, go with:  Daniels, Clohessy, Phillips, Coughlan, Prosser, Leonard, Ferdinand, Kalala, Grant, Timlin, Dickinson.  Subs: Morris, Hall, Harris, Sturrock & Woodyard.

2.35pm – Team News:  Thurrock, facing a daunting task at Chelmsford City, go with:  Holloway, Furlonge, Ashton, I’Anson, Grant, Thurgood, Cutler, Terry, Deen, Broughton, Guy.  Subs:  Boylan, Bowditch, Osbourne, Holloway, Hughes.

2.30pm – Another Daggers substitution.  Josh Scott is replaced by Jon Nurse.  Barnet, inevitably, are driving forward, chasing the game.

2.26pm – GOAL! ….. DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 3,  Barnet 0  They will be even happier with that though!  Montano is the provider this time, with a cross inside the six yard box, and BRIAN WOODALL heads home.  Victoria Road goes wild.  Christmas has certainly come for the Daggers.  Oh yes!

2.25pm – As you might expect, over at Victoria Road, Barnet are coming forward trying to retrieve their situation.  Some pressure, one shot on target easily saved, and two others off target, is the sum total of their efforts though.  Daggers will be happy enough with that.

2.17pm – Over at Rookery Hill, Grays come so close to breaking the deadlock when a Paul Olima header smacks against the post.

2.10pm – Nothing more to report of as yet – but wow elsewhere!  Ryman One North leaders Needham Market losing 0-5 at half time at home to Leiston.  Now that’s putting a cat amongst the Chrsitmas turkeys!  And poor Hythe Town.  Last year they had an epic FA Cup run but today are losing 7-0 at Folkestone Invicta.  Ouch.

2.02pm – KICK OFF!  Second halves underway at Dagenham and Tilbury, first half gets going at Grays.

1.55pm – Team News:  Grays Athletic go into battle against Romford with:  Aksoy, Pope, Thomas, Cooper, Baker, Cowley, Muguo, Agombar, Carlos, Small, Olima.

——————————

Half Time:  And what a cracker of a 45 minutes for the Football League’s bottom but one side.  Montano’s the man just when Dagenham & Redbridge need it most.  This could be the start of the great revival.  Those half time mince pies and mulled wine will be going down even more sweetly than normal.  Oh yes!

A cracker of a game, too, at Chadfields, where the Dockers have the lead 2-1 against the Rovers.  We’ve only just started and it’s already hotted up nicely!

1.47pm – GOAL! ….. DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 2,  Barnet 0  And that pressure pays off big style!  Bryan Woodall passes to CRISTIAN MONTANO and on the edge of the area fires home again.  His second, the Daggers second, and they’re walking in a Winter Wonderland at Victoria Road!

1.45pm – An early substiution for Dagenham & Redbridge.  The injured Peter Gain is replaced by Billy Bingham.  The Daggers, though, seem to have found their earlier momentum and are exerting some pressure.

1.40pm – Really nothing too much going on (yep, trying to tempt some fate type stuff).  Elsewhere Piers Wixon, the ex East Thurrock United striker, has scored for Harlow Town against Ware in a match that Ryman One North sides Grays Athletic and Tilbury will be looking out for.

1.30pm – An immediate response to that last update from Barnet.  Intense pressure, a couple of shots off target, and a couple more that Daggers keeper Chris Lewington did well to get to.  Maybe I should keep quiet.

1.25pm – Midway through the first half at Victoria Road.  Just two shots in the entire game, both from the Daggers, who have also had more possession, so they deservedly lead.  Not a great game so far, but when you’re struggling, so long as you win who cares?

1.16pm – GOAL! ….. DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 1,  Barnet 0  And here’s a break and a half for the Daggers!  A fizzing shot from outside the area into the top right hand corner and CRISTIAN MONTANO gives the home side the lead.  Oh yes!

1.15pm – It’s probable that it will be just half time and full time scores from Chadfields that will be coming in, as Tilbury look to strengthen a play-off bid against Dan Trenkel’s Great Wakering Rovers.  Well, we all deserve a break, wherever we are.

1.10pm – Just going through the Barnet players, one of their side is N’Diaye.  Hmmm, this wouldn’t be the same N’Diaye that Southend United chief exec. Tara Brady insisted on bringing in at the expense of club captain Craig Easton in the summer?  It seems Brain Clough was bang on about football directors.

1.00pm – KICK OFF!  For the first of many times this afternoon

——————————

12.55pm – Apparently a very good crowd at the, ahem, ‘London Borough Of Barking And Dagenham Stadium’, including a sizeable Barnet contingent.  Nice to know that even at the bottom of the Football League the game endures.

12.50pm – Around the Conference, it’s 0-0 in the North East derby between Gateshead and Darlington, although with over 30 miles between them ‘derby’ is stretching it a bit, and in the cross-border battle Wrexham are 1-0 ahead at Telford.  Bucks Head included.

12.45pm - Already some games underway, too.  Oxford United leading at AFC Wimbledon 1-0 and Bristol Rovers beating Plymouth Argyle 2-0.  I like the look of Preston v Carlisle at 1.30pm, that could be very tasty.

12.35pm – Elsewhere across the UK, there’s a full Premier League programme, which no doubt will hog the headlines, as well as in the Football League and Conference.

North of the border, you may well have heard news from Tynecastle on Saturday’s show as the SPL decided to play on Christmas Eve.  A full SFL programme today, though, and in Division One, it’s 2nd v 1st as Falkirk take on our adopted Scottish side Ross County.  Bit of a cracker, that one.

Pre-match entertainment, however, tops the lot.  Holiday On The Buses.  Oh yes.

12.25pm – Team News:  Dagenham & Redbridge’s line-up for their crucial six-pointer at Victoria Road against Barnet is:  Lewington, Rose, Doe, Spillane, Ilesanmi, Montano, Gain, Maher, Dom Green, Scott, Woodall.   Subs: Hogan, Bingham, Cunnington, Geohaghon, Nurse

12.15pm – Good afternoon from Gateway Towers.  Hope you’re enjoying Chrustmas.  I certainly am.  I somehow managed to cook my best ever dinner, the multitude of presents, chocolate and snacks continue unabated, and it’s almost time for an afternoon of thrilling festive football fayre.  Oh yes!

The big game of the day locally seems to be the Island derby, in fact you’d think it was the only game being played across the globe the way the two sets of supporters have droned on about it, but there’s still plenty of other intriguing games, particularly at Grays and Tilbury.

As ever, refresh this page every few minutes and lo, the wonders of Christmas football shall appear.  Possibly with a few cracker jokes thrown in.

Game on!