Sport
We bring you exclusive sports updates, scores and news as it happens, right from our sports desk. With four daily sport updates on Breakfast and Drivetime during the week, and a specialised local sports bulletin on a Monday, we try to bring you the very up to date sports news. As well as this, our dedicated sports team are out and about all the time reporting straight to our website with the latest results and scores.
East Thurrock United v Wingate & Finchley – LIVE
East Thurrock United 1-2 Winagte & Finchley
Margate 2-2 Billericay Town – BILLERICAY ARE CHAMPIONS
Concord Rangers 2-3 Lewes
Horsham 1-2 Canvey Island
Tilbury 1-1 Maldon & Tiptree
Waltham Abbey 0-1 Grays Athletic
Bromley 0-0 Thurrock
Dagenham & Redbridge 1-1 Crawley Town
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FULL TIME: It wasn’t to be for the Rocks. Apologies to Ben Wood for naming him throughout as the own goal man. Turns out it was Matt Hall. A very entertaining match brings the Rookery Hill curtain down on a fine Rocks season, though there’s still a couple of away games left.
Rich congratulations to Billericay Town. They are champions on merit. Won more games, obtained more points, that’s the name of the game. A wonderful, wonderful achievement for the New Lodge outfit. The Conference awaits.
As ever, thank you for sticking with it. Until the next time, enjoy your weekend, and your football.
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Injury time – Still end to end here- but Billericay Town are Ryman Premier champions and are promoted to the Conference North / South. Congratulations to Craig Edwards, the team, and supporters for a superb season.
88th min – Kye Ruel, so impressive this half, gets clear of the Wingate defence. The keeper comes out, but Kye lobs him, it looks all set to be an equaliser, but it drifts agonisingly over the bar.
86th min – End to end at Rookery Hill but elsewhere a seminal moment. Billericay equalise and as it stands will be champions by what they do on the pitch today.
83rd min – Another Kye Ruel run, and his pass finds Matt Hall. His shot from 20 yards goes just wide of the right hand post. Bother.
80th min – The Rocks still coming forward and Kye Ruel’s looping header forces another fine save. Meanwhile, Billericay pull a goal back. They’re still losing, but so are Lowestoft and Hornchurch, which is all that matters.
75th min – A very handy attendance of 148 here enjoying this afternoon’s fun. Concord equalise again and Canvey take the lead after coming from behind. Hurrah!
71st min – Oh, my word, how did he miss? Great work by Kye Ruel on the left, he gets to the bye-line, there’s a low centre that evades the keeper. It finds makeshift midfielder Ryan Sammons a yard out from goal in a central position. He somehow shoots over the bar and in the general direction of One Tree Hill.
67th min – The Rocks resume the attack and from a Gilbey free kick, Matt Hall’s 22 yard pile-driver looks destined for the top corner of the net until Wingate keeper gets a hand to it and turns it round the post. Brilliant save.
Players run towards the free beer at the Bus Stops End
65th min – How is that not a red? Wingate’s David Laird commits an awful tackle, stamping down the back of Reiss Gilbey’s leg. A certain sending off. The ref, however, who was just yards away, gives a yellow. Nobody, least of all Laird himself, can believe it.
61st min – End to end stuff. Both sides going for it. Meanwhile, Lowestoft pull a goal back. If they win and Billericay’s score remains the same, it’s winner take all at New Lodge next weekend.
56th min – GOAL! ….. EAST THURROCK UNITED 1, Wingate & Finchley 2 Shall I give you my lottery numbers then? Tom Stpehen plays a one-two, runs inside the area, and is clipped from behind. An obvious penalty. SAM HIGGINS puts it away in style.
Game on!
54th min – Oh, so close. Great work down the left, a bit of old fashioned get to the bye-line and getting the cross in, Reiss Gilbey heads it, and it goes inches wide of the right hand post. The goal is coming, trust me.
51st min – As the Rocks press for a way back, news filters through that Billericay have gone 0-2 down at Margit. Another penalty, this time Rob Swaine the culprit. Attention turns, with Lowestoft also losing, to the Hornchurch game.
48th min – The Rocks get a corner on the right but it’s easily cleared – as far as Reiss Gilbey from 25 yards, whose low shot is easily saved. The linesman nearest to us, though, is earning the ire of the locals, with unsubtle back chat to what is some banter put his way, none of it abusive. Perhaps if he’d bothered to either watch the match or read up on the laws of the game he would need his smart alec comments.
4.04pm – Kick Off! Ooh, let’s see what box of delights this half brings.
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HALF TIME: And the whistle blows on a disastrous but still entertaining first half. A comedy of errors for both goals. At least there’s nothing riding on it. Elsewhere, it’s a pretty dismal afternoon for all concerned. The only consolation for Billericay is that Lowestoft are losing as well.
Right, off for a Haribo or two. Laters
43rd min – I don’t believe it. East Thurrock break again, the cross comes in on the right, and everyone assumes Spencer Harrison is offside, including Spencer himself. He has an air shot at the ball from inside the six yard box, misses, shrugs, then looks around to see he was actually onside and would have scored if he’d tried to get to it. Blimey.
42nd min – The Rocks find more success down the right, and Sam Higgins steams into the penalty area. Wingate keeper Bobby Smith comes off his line, though, and parries the goal-bound shot away. Bah.
38th min – GOAL! ….. East Thurrock United 0, WINGATE & FINCHLEY 2 Oh dear, oh dear. Dreadful luck. A Rocks clearance canons off one of the Wingate players, and it rebounds invitingly for LEON SMITH, who was running from an offside position. He was still off, but the lino and ref waved play on, and he tucked the ball home from less than 10 yards.
Football can be a cruel mistress.
35th min – Ooh, that looked nasty. Wingate’s Jon Docker is right booked for going in on Matt Hall’s head. There’s a free kick, in a central position, from 25 yards. Reiss Gilbey’s shot beats the wall, beats the keeper, but goes agonisingly wide of the left hand post too.
31st min – That should have been a Wingate goal as well. A Rocks free kick on the left is given away and there’s a break on. It’s two-on-one for a second, but David Laird’s first touch isn’t the best, which enables to defence to recover, and his shot from around 15 yards is easily held by Jamie Riley.
26th min – Wingate break themselves, though, and Leon Smith’s speculative strike from around 25 yards isn’t too wide of the right hand post.
23rd min – A nice East Thurrock break on the right, the cross comes in, Reiss Gilbey puts a header in from around 8 yards, but it goes wide of the right hand post at the Manorway End. Harumph.
19th min – The Rocks earn a free kick wide on the right about 15 yards from the bye line. It eventually gets into the box at the second attempt but there’s no forwards there to take advantage.
15th min – Oh, that should have been two! Wingate get inside the area, there’s a shot from 15 yards that’s blocked, it falls to Ola Williams unmarked on the right hand edge of the six yard box, but he somehow screws it wide of the left hand post. A real let off for the Rocks.
In happier times. Before the match started.
12th min – The Rocks earn a free kick, in a central position, about half way inside the Wingate half. Sam Higgins tries his luck with a low shot, it deflects off the wall towards goal, but visiting keeper Bobby Smith does well to get down to the far post and collect.
10th min – The Rocks have settled down after that shock start. Behind me, crocked keeper Richard Wray, my own choice for Ryman League player of the season, says Jamie’s error was simply a product of lack of match practice. Elsewhere, an awful start for Billericay. Dave Collis handballs and Margate take the lead with a penalty. And Concord fall behind too. Bother.
3rd min – GOAL! …..East Thurrock United 0, WINGATE & FINCHLEY 1 A ridiculous start. BEN WOOD passes back to keeper Jamie Riley, with not a Wingate player within 10 yards of him. Riley goes to kick it, misses, and the balls rolls into the Bus Stops Ends net almost apologetically.
Oops, did I say Ben Wood? Step forward MATT HALL. I know I shouldn’t but ….. chortle.
3.02pm – Kick Off! Oh yes!
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2.58pm – The sides come out to the sight of Kris Newby, out with a hamstring problem, kicking a practice ball high and long into the Corringham air. Brains in his pants, that lad. Meanwhile, Tom Stephens receives his well earned Player Of The Year award to polite applause.
2.55pm – We will, of course, keep you up to do date with goings on by the seaside as Billericay Town seek to wrap up the Ryman Premier title at Margit. Shout out, too, for Basildon RFC, involved in a promotion play-off after just one season in London Two North-East. Rather spiffing show that.
2.50pm – Team News Here it comes peeps>
| 1 | Jamie Riley |  |
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| 2 | Spencer Harrison | |
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| 3 | Tom Stephens | |
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| 4 | Ben Wood | |
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| 5 | Simon Peddie | |
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| 6 | Matt Hall | |
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| 7 | Ryan Sammons | |
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| 8 | Reiss Gilbey | |
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| 9 | Sam Higgins | |
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| 10 | Kye Ruel | |
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| 11 | Sam Collins | |
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| Substitutes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Michael Ramkin | |
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| 13 | Marc Gorbell | |
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| 14 | Reece Hewitt | |
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| 15 | Greg Cohen | |
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| 16 | Joe Keith | |
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2.45pm - Right this is definitely, absolutely, positively the last featured live game of the season. I’m off for a week or two after this for some rehabilitation and recuperation after my heart op. The nearest you’ll get to a live report will be from the Ross County game and I doubt that will have much bearing on the Ryman One North play-offs.
It’s because of my op recovery that today comes from the very familiar and even more welcoming Rookery Hill. Billericay’s title tilt at Margate, or even Tilbury’s bid for the play-offs, may have been the game in any other week. But, with me having to be careful with my old ticker, and also the area of my body they stuck the tubes up (let’s just say it’s a very sensitive area), it had to be the easiest game to get to.
Not that I am unhappy to be here. Quite the contrary. East Thurrock United are a smashing club, the epitome of what all clubs should strive to be, filled with good people from top to bottom. As everyone knows, too, there’s never a dull moment with their matches.
Standing in their way this afternoon are the side who were promoted with the Rocks last year via the play-offs. Wingate & Finchley have consolidated well and are only 3 points behind their hosts. The Rocks, though, are just one win away from their best ever Ryman Premier season, and will be all-out to make sure that happens today.
If this afternoon is anything like Tuesday’s extraordinary encounter at Concord Rangers, put your seat-belts on, because it will be one heck of a roller-coaster ride!
As ever keep refreshing this page every few minutes and tune into Jimmy from 3pm on here and on FM to get the very best local football coverage. To download the on-air reports, simply right click and select ‘save link / target as’.
East Thurrock v Wingate Preview
Game on!
Concord Rangers v East Thurrock United – LIVE
Concord Rangers 4-5 East Thurrock United
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FULL TIME: What a magnificent, marvellous advert for the game, full stop, let alone non league football in this area. Nine goals, comic defending, superb finishing, two teams committed to the win despite having nothing to play for, and played in the best of spirits. Both clubs are a credit to the area and the game.
Concord 4-5 ETU FT (right click and select ‘save link / target as’ to download)
Right, after we’ve got our breath back, there will be more coverage this weekend. Until then, enjoy yourself, and your football.
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90th min – GOAL! ….. CONCORD RANGERS 4, East Thurrock United 5 Game on! The ball is crossed into the area from the left and sub SHERWIN STANLEY nods home from eight yards. Could there yet be a twist?????
89th min – Harry Cook is almost onto a long ball for the Rocks but James Dudley comes out and comfortably controls the ball, passing it to Arthur Lee.
87th min – A Concord free kick on the left is lofted into the area. There’s a bit of momentary panic but a firm boot up-field eventually ensues.
82nd min – A dangerous ploy. The Rocks are sitting back, content to give Concord possession and snuff out anything in the last third. Perhaps they believe in ironic karma of a goalless second half after the first 45 minutes. I wouldn’t.
77th min – Reiss Gilbey breaks from inside his own half ventures into Concord territory, sees the overlapping Joe Keith and plays the ball out wide. Joe centres it and James Dudley does well to clasp it from the air without falling into the net.
75th min – Michael Rankin tries a shot from the rocks from a tight angle on the left hand edge of the box. It goes out and Harry Cook throws up his hands in exasperation, being unmarked and in the six yard box.
71st min – East Thurrock come forward again and Reiss Gilbey is upended on the edge of the Concord area. The free kick is well struck but goes inches over the bar. Covo’s boys are looking to kill this one off. The next goal is so, so vital.
68th min – After a Rocks corner is only half cleared, Sam Collins tries a volley from 25 yards, which just misses the gas works.
66th min – At last the Rocks respond, and the pacy Harry Cook gets into some space on the right. He shoots from just inside the area and it hits the side netting. Ooh, close.
63rd min – Another long ball from Concord, it looks like it might go out, but Tony Stokes gets a head on the end of it, only to see it goes inches wide of the right hand posts as he overruns into the perimeter fencing.
The second half is going by in a blur.
61st min – The hosts are certainly on top now, and there’s a jinking run on the right bye-line. The ball is hit, and there are appeals for handball. While everyone stops, Harry Elmes doesn’t and his cross-cum-shot is heading for goal until Ryan Sammons heads off the line. What a game!
60th min – And just to complete the substitutions for the night, Sherwin Shirley replaces Ben Bowditch for the visitors.
58th min – Substitutions for both sides. Karl Beckford replaces Lee White for Concord, and Michael Rankin comes on for Kye Ruel for East Thurrock.
55th min – After chatting about the mighty Ross County with one of the paying punters, I look up to see Tony Stokes piling forward onto a through ball again, this time letting in Arthur Lee inside the area on the left, but this time the defence shepherds him away well.
50th min – Back come the Beach Boys and the redoubtable Tony Stokes finds space inside the left hand edge of the area. He shoots and Jamie Riley does superbly to parry away for a corner, which he subsequently collects.
48th min – East Thurrock United resume the attack and Sam Collins shot from around 25 yards, in a central position, goes just wide of the right hand post.
47th min – A Rocks free kick near the bye-line on the left after a foul on Sam Collins. I do not believe my eyes. The defence has cleared it. This can’t be right.
8.52pm – Kick Off! I dare not say what will happen next.
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HALF TIME: And the ref blows the whistle on the most remarkable 45 minutes of football I’ve seen in my life. Too ridiculous for wards. It’s as if both sides have agreed to have designated periods of attack v defence. Or I’ve wandered into a six-a-side match. An incredible, magnificent, showstopping 45 minutes. Hang on boys, I’ve only just come out of heart surgery, don’t do this to me.
Right, off for some Bovril and beta blockers. Laters.
Anyway, yes … 45th min – GOAL! ….. CONCORD RANGERS 3, East Thurrock United 5 This is crazy. Literally crazy. Another ball over the top. Another sleeping defence. Another TONY STOKES goal. Somehow, game on!
45th – I give up. Stokes. 3-5. Details in a bit!
43rd min – GOAL! ….. CONCORD RANGERS 2, East Thurrock United 5 Look, thus is getting stupid now. Another ball straight down the middle, this time from the hosts, and TONY STOKES shoots home from 18 yards.
42nd min – Sam Higgins goes off, suffering from the knock he took getting that hat-trick goal, and is replaced by Harry Cook. Tom Stephen also comes on for Kris Newby.
38th min – GOAL! ….. Concord Rangers 1, EAST THURROCK UNITED 5 I simply do not believe this. A simple ball over the top and SAM HIGGINS was again all on his own. Dudley came out to the edge of the area and clattered Higgins trying to save the day, but the forward’s header was lofted over him into the net. Unreal.
36th min – At the moment, Simon Peddie in the Rocks back line is receiving treatment. It might give time for the Beach Boys to draw breath. Everybody is stunned. The hosts have tried to get back into it, and had a header that just went past the left hand post, but it looks like the Rocks will score every time they come forward.
32nd min – GOAL! ….. Concord Rangers 1, EAST THURROCK UNITED 4 This is unbelievable. A simple through ball and SAM HIGGINS is totally unmarked inside the Concord half. Keeper Dudley comes out, but from about 15 yards, Sam puts it away with ease.
28th min – And Concord’s first substitution, Arthur Lee replacing the injured Kurt Robinson.
25th min – Lovely run on the left from Kye Ruel, who makes his way inside the penalty area, then delivers a low curling shot that goes inches past the far post. “Not good enough” comes the shout from a Concord defender but that was simply great play from the East Thurrock United forward.
23rd min – The match, finally, has settled down. The crowd seem to be almost as shell shocked as the home side with the blistering start to this game. You can’t keep your eyes off this one. Which is difficult when you have to tap-tap-tap away on the keyboard.
18th min – GOAL! ….. Concord Rangers 1, EAST THURROCK UNITED 3 Poor old James Dudley. The Rocks come forward and REISS GILBEY hits a weak shot towards the goal. Agonisingly, though, the ball hits a divot, and bounces over the keeper and in. Reiss seems almost apologetic about it.
16th min – Too much action! I look up just to see Jamie Riley turn a volley from 15 yards out for a corner superbly. Have no idea which Concord player it was. Except it was inside the left hand edge of the penalty area.
14th min – GOAL! ….. CONCORD RANGERS 1, East Thurrock United 2 What did I say about being a cracker? The home side respond immediately. After one shot is cleared off the line, a cross comes in from the right and STEVE KING heads home at the far corner. Striker!
12th min – GOAL! ….. Concord Rangers 0, EAST THURROCK UNITED 2 What is going on here? The home defence is sound asleep as a cross-field pass leaves 2 East Thurrock attackers bearing down on the keeper. Kye Ruel does the simple thing, draws the keeper, and SAM HIGGINS shoots into an empty net.
10th min – “Too many cheap free kicks” rightly shouts Nicky Cowley as Concord concede another. Sure, it may have been in the Rocks half, but at the moment there’s only one side showing any continuity.
7th min – The home side have tried to come back into it, pressing forward on the right, but no penetration as yet. Good response though.
3rd min – GOAL! ….. Concord Rangers 0, EAST THURROCK UNITED 1 And the warning wasn’t heeded. Joe Keith takes another free kick, this time on the right touchline, and this time KYE RUEL gets a free header from 8 yards out. James Dudley gets a hand to it but can’t stop it going into the Clubhouse End goal via the woodwork.
What a start for the Rocks!
2nd min – Ooh, almost a flying start for the visitors. Joe Keith takes a quick free kick on the left and finds Sam Collins completely free inside the penalty area. James Dudley saves the day, though, saving Sam’s goal-bound effort and the defence clears the subsequent corner.
7.48pm – KICK OFF! Oh yes! And the Beach Boys genial chairman Ant even shakes my hand and asks how I am. Good sort, non league football folk.
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7.45pm – The teams come out to the usual politie but apathetic applause which seems to be synonymous with non-league football, the Rocks playing in all red.
7.40pm – Team News Hurrah! Here’s tonight’s line-ups:
Concord Rangers: 1 – James Dudley. 2 – Ashley Miller. 3 – Kurt Robinson. 4 – Steve King. 5 – Lee White. 6 – Paul Goodacre. 7 – Ben Bowditch. 8 – Nicky Cowley. 9 – Reece Harris. 10 – Harry Elmes. 11 – Tony Stokes. SUBS: 12 – Arthur Lee. 14 – Karl Beckford. 15 – Sammy Knott. 16 – Sherwin Stanley
East Thurrock United: 1 – Jamie Riley. 2 – Ryan Sammons. 3 – Joe Keith. 4 – Ben Wood. 5 – Spencer Harrison. 6 – Simon Peddie. 7 – Kris Newby. 8 – Reiss Gilbey. 9 – Sam Higgins. 10 – Kye Ruel. 11 – Sam Collins. SUBS: 12 – Tom Stephen. 14 – Harry Cook. 15 – Mark Gorbell. 16 – Reece Hewitt. 17 – Michael Rankin.
7.35pm – Team news in just a little while. The littlest of little whiles. In the meantime, I must say a big thank you to everyone from clubs all across our area who have taken the trouble to chat to me and send me best wishes after my recent visit to the hospital. Indeed, Rocks manager John Coventry sought me out at last night’s Essex Senior Cup Final to make sure I was okay.
The synopsis was that at one point I may have resembled Peter Griffin after eating too many burgers but it’s turned out okay so long as I get plenty of rest. So after this weekend it’s definitely, absolutely the last live coverage this season. Maybe.
7.25pm – Good evening from a cold and wet Thames Road – but my, am I glad to be here!
At first glance it looks as if there’s nothing to play for here. Neither side can go up. Neither side can go down. Looks can be deceiving though. 12th placed Concord are just four points ahead of 14th placed East Thurrock, who also have a game in hand.
There is also the local derby aspect to this, as well as the fact that the Beach Boys will be thirsting for revenge after a humiliating 4-1 beating when the sides met at Rookery Hill. Pride is a great motivator.
So the scene is nicely set for a fascinating, competitive contest between two sides who know they can just go for it. This could well be a cracker.
As ever, just keep refreshing the page every few minutes, and tune into Mark Hardie’s 90′s Revival online or on FM, and tonight’s proceedings will unfold before your very eyes and ears. For the audio links, just right click, and then choose ‘select link / target as’ to download.
Game on!
Gulls Grab Late Winner In Essex Final Thriller
Essex Senior Cup Final
Canvey Island 1, Colchester United 0
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In a thrilling encounter at Ship Lane, Thurrock, Canvey Island overcame the odds, as well the fatigue of playing two games in 48 hours, to beat League One outfit Colchester United and lift the Essex Senior Cup for the first time in a decade.
The Park Lane outfit thoroughly deserved their triumph, dominating the match throughout and creating plenty of chances.
Rob King heads home the winner. Or John Easterford, depending on who you believe.
With the clock reaching the 84th minute, and the Gulls still unable to break the deadlock, it seemed as if their profligacy would be punished as penalties loomed. Jay Curran, a livewire throughout, would have had cause to think how he somehow missed from two yards out midway through the second half. The noisy Canvey following were already celebrating, such was the subsequent disbelief that the chance went begging.
In the finest traditions of cup finals, though, a dramatic finale was in store. A corner came in from the right and from the edge of the six yard box ROB KING appeared to power home a header. JOHN EASTERFORD would dispute that, though, with him perhaps getting the final touch. The announcer certainly agreed with that and gave the goal to Easterford. I’m not so sure but, frankly, with a cup up for grabs, it didn’t matter!
Canvey would have scored much earlier had Colchester not hidden the ball.
For their part, Colchester United were disappointing, and barely created a chance, resorting to set pieces from early on, which were either easily dealt with or well wide.
Manager Glen Alzapiedi will be just proud of his Gulls, and with former owner Jeff King back to help out in the background again, it seems a head of steam is once again building up down Park Lane way.
That would be a fitting reward for the loyal and vociferous Canvey Island supporters, who saw the heart of their club ripped out of it just six years ago and rallied round to keep it going. Tonight’s Essex Senior Cup triumph is as much for them as it for the players and management.
Saturday Scores – LIVE
Billericay Town 1-0 East Thurrock United
Canvey Island 3-1 Leatherhead
Metropolitan Police 3-0 Concord Rangers
Grays Athletic 2-0 Brentwood Town
Tilbury 1-0 Potters Bar Town
Thurrock 1-2 Basingstoke Town
Basildon United 1-4 Hullbridge Sports
Bowers & Pitsea 3-0 Clapton
Aldershot Town 1-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
Torquay United 0-0 Southend United
Ross County 3-0 Dundee
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FULL TIME: So there we have it. All Billericay need is one win from their last two games and they’re up. A pity their brand of football is less than entertaining, but my word is it effective, and their supporters rightly won’t care one bit. Vital wins for both Ryman One North play-off hopefuls too.
About as fun an afternoon as you could have from the bedside whilst recovering from heart surgery. Especially with that Grand National win. Ooh yes! Right, channel hopping for the rugby league now. Until the next time, enjoy your weekend, and your football.
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4.55pm – RED CARD FOR BILLERICAY! No end to the New Lodge drama. Deep into injury time, ‘Ricay keeper Dale Brightly goes.
4.51pm – GOAL! ….. THURROCK 1, Basingstoke Town 2 Too little, too late, two goals conceded earlier makes it but a consolation at Ship Lane.
4.49pm – GOAL! ….. ALDERSHOT TOWN 1, Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Late drama at the Recreation Ground, where Daggers concede a late equaliser. But a point’s enough to stay up.
4.46pm – GOAL! ….. BOWERS & PITSEA 3, Clapton 0 That man CALVIN POKU knows where the net is, doesn’t he. The season finishes with a flourish.
4,43pm – GOAL! ….. Basildon United 1, HULLBRIDGE SPORTS 4 Oh dear. That is all.
4.40pm – GOAL! ….. CANVEY ISLAND 3, Leatherhead 1 New father LEON GORDON makes the points safe. Congratulations Leon. And goodbye sleep.
4.37pm – Blimey, my horse, Neptune Collonges, has won the Grand National. Sunny Hill Boy second, Seabass (ridden by Kate Walsh) third and Cappa Bleu fourth. I should’ve had the confidence to actually tell you who I was betting on, especially as my tip came in live on air with the Derby last year. And especially especially with winning odds of 33/1.
4.35pm – No more goal news but a photo finish at the Grand National. Including the horse I lumped a few quid on, Neptune thingy.
4.32pm – GOAL! ….. METROPOLITAN POLICE 3, Concord Rangers 0 Game over, sadly, for the Beach Boys, as the hosts nick the goals and points.
4.28pm – GOAL! ….. TILBURY 1, Potters Bar Town 0 Oh yes! How important could that goal by JOE NIGHTINGILL be? Shirley a play-off spot is more or less done and dusted? meanwhile, at Gardiners Close, Basildon United go 1-3 behind. Hmmmmm.
4.26pm – GOAL! ….. CANVEY ISLAND 2, Leatherhead 1 The visitors breathe life into Canvey’s play-off hopes by obligingly scoring an own goal. And Ross County go 3 up. Oh yes.
4.24pm – GOAL! ….. Basildon United 1, HULLBRIDGE SPORTS 2 They just had to be the party poopers. Or perhaps the wake poopers. Whatever way you describe it, oh poop.
4.21pm – GOAL! ….. BOWERS & PITSEA 1, Clapton 0 Calvin Poku opens the scoring for the Crown Avenue outfit. And in chilly Jocko land, Ross County double their lead. Second placed Dundee will be 20 points behind them – and also 20 points from the bottom. Blimey.
4.20pm – GOAL! ….. Aldershot Town 0, DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 1 Safe from relegation now, Shirley? SCOTT DOE opens the scoring for the Daggers.
4.16pm – Squeaky bottom time at New Lodge. Kris Newby’s shot flashes inches past the far post.
4.11pm – No further news of any goals yet, although Billericay’s Dale Brightly done very well to keep out a Reiss Gilbey shot and preserve their lead of East Thurrock. Ooh, must stop eating all these blueberries.
4.04pm – GOAL! ….. Thurrock 0, BASINGSTOKE TOWN 2 Sigh … sometimes you wish you hadn’t bothered. Thurrock’s desperate season is reaching its desperate conclusion in desperate style.
4.03pm – Kick Off! Yep, another one.
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HALF TIME: Blimey, I can feel the tension ease from here! What a time for Billericay to score. With Hornchurch losing, it could be a memorable day for the ‘Ricay faithful. Elsewhere, Concord need to buck their ideas up a bit, but all the others have a decent chance of getting good results. Right, off to get a Bovril and a Nurofen. Laters.
3.48pm – GOAL! ….. BILLERICAY TOWN 1, East Thurrock United 0 That’s what champions are made of, getting great results in adversity. HARRISON CHATTING sends New Lodge wild with an injury time opener.
3.43pm – GOAL! ….. CANVEY ISLAND 1, Leatherhead 1 Sheehan may have made amends for his earlier error, or maybe Dumas had the final touch. Frankly, who cares? The Gulls are level. Hurrah!
3.40pm – GOAL! ….. Basildon United 1, HULLBRIDGE SPORTS 1 I suppose it had to happen, bearing in mind the awful season the Bees have endured on and off the pitch. Doesn’t make it any less hurtful though.
3.37pm – GOAL! ….. Canvey Island 0, LEATHERHEAD 1 By all accounts an error from Steve Sheehan, with a backpass that was too short, has lead to the Tanners taking an unlikely lead in their relegation battle. Ho hum.
3.35pm – GOAL! ….. GRAYS ATHLETIC 2, Brentwood Town 0 DANNY leads the Grays CHARGE towards the play-offs by doubling their lead. You see, I can do hackneyed one-liners too!
3.30pm – RED CARD FOR BILLERICAY TOWN Now that’s put the cat amongst the pigeons at New Lodge. Jay May has been given his second yellow in 26 minutes so has to go. A comment from the home supporters has been made of “The ref seems to be an awayer today.” Blimey, it’s not like Billericay fans to moan about the ref is it!
3.29pm – GOAL! ….. BASILDON UNITED 1, Hullbridge Sports 0 Oh my! In possibly the Bees last ever game, having not won at home all season, they keep to the script and take the lead at Gardiners Close. Fantastic.
3.27pm – GOAL! ….. METROPOLITAN POLICE 2, Concord Rangers 0 Big problems now for the Thames Road outfit. Has to be said, though, the Met are a decent side, so losing to them is no disgrace.
3.25pm – GOAL! ….. Thurrock 0, BASINGSTOKE TOWN 1 Now that’s not fair. The ’Fleet supporters have suffered enough. But the misery at Ship Lane continues. Bah.
3.22pm – No news of any more goals locally yet, but West Ham are 3-0 up. Must be Big Sam’s Total Football doing the trick at last. And in the Grand National, Ruby Walsh can’t ride in it after falling of a horse in an earlier race. Ooh, that must hurt in so many ways.
3.16pm – GOAL! ….. METROPOLITAN POLICE 1, Concord Rangers 0 Not the best of starts for the Beach Boys, who need to win all the rest of their games to keep their faint play-off hopes alive. Bother.
3.15pm – A quiet start at New Lodge, with the Rocks slightly shading it. Joe Keith curled a free kick from 25 yards but Dale Brightly easily dealt with it.
3.12pm – GOAL! ….. GRAYS ATHLETIC 1, Brentwood Town 0 The ever impressive Joao Carlos gives the Blues a precious early lead. Get. In. There.
3.11pm – The first goal comes north of the border. The incredible Ross County, unbeaten in the league since last August, go ahead against second placed Dundee, who are a mere 17 points behind them.
3.07pm – No news of any goals but just down the A13 West Ham are already two up ahead against Brighton. I’m not saying Sam Allardyce has got the Hammers playing the long ball early on but I saw the crosses for the goals from my bedroom window.
3.00pm – Kick Off! Oh yes!
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2.58pm – Team News East Thurrock United go into battle at New Lodge with: Wray, Sammons, Keith, Wood, Spencer, Peddie, Newby, Gilbey, Higgins, Collins, Cohen. Subs: Stephen, Gorbell, Hewitt, Cook, Ruel.
2.55pm – Tell you what, I’ll throw in the Grand National result later on as well. My tip – look both way before crossing the road.
2.53pm – Team News Concord Rangers starting line-up is: Eyre, Miller, Robinson, Bowditch, King, White, Harris, Cowley, Stanley, H Elmes, Stokes. Subs: Beckford, Lee, Dudley, Knott.
2.50pm – Team News Canvey Island go with: Russell, Alaile, Dumas, King, Sheehan, Easterford, Curran, Game, Hallett, Gordon, Mason. Subs: Ward, Dobinson, Rhodes, Heale, Foster.
2.45pm – Elsewhere, Liverpool vanquished Everton in the FA Cup semi-final. I watched the Scottish counterpart, though, as there was so much more intrigue. Hibs are through to the final in a competition they haven’t won for 110 years. What a story, and do watch out for Aberdeen’s equaliser if you can. Goal of the season. And further north than that – can you believe it? Ross County in the SPL. Unbelievable Jeff.
2.40pm – Team News Grays Athletic’s side for their vital match is: Tucker, Pope, Baker, Cooper, Flynn, Gordon, Beaney, Hall, Carlos, Charge, Bunn. Subs: Bunce, Agombar, Fontaine, Olima, Sweeney.
2.35pm – Team News Billericay Town’s line-up for their game is: Brightly, Oates, Green, Collis, Swaine (c), Sobers, Chatting, Lechmere, May, Onwubiko, Poole. Subs: Halle, White, Luke, Edwards, Ottley
2.30pm – Good afternoon from the bedside of a convalescent. I might not be able to make today’s games but I can at least let you know how they’re all getting on.
The good news from my perspective is that, after a hairy moment or two, my op seems to have gone okay. Hurrah!
Even better is that there’s a feast of frolicking footballing fun to be had this afternoon. Pick of the day is possibly Basildon United’s last ever match as a senior club as they host Hullbridge Sports. A huge game in store at New Lodge where Billericay Town, just 3 wins from the Conference, have local rivals and East Thurrock United. That could be an absolute cracker.
Whatever you’re doing today, just sit back and relax as I am doing, with my Lucozade and grapes. Refresh this page every few minutes and tune into Gateway Sport, here or on FM, and another thriller of a footballing afternoon will come your way.
Game on!
Great Wakering Rovers v Tilbury LIVE
Great Wakering Rovers 1-2 Tilbury
AFC Hornchurch 0-0 Billericay Town
Concord Rangers 1-2 Canvey Island
East Thurrock United 4-1 Aveley
Romford 2-2 Grays Athletic
Welling 1-0 Thurrock
Gillingham 1-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
Southend United 2-0 AFC Wimbledon
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FULL TIME: And it’s bedlam here. The Tilbury fans and players celebrate and the Great Wakering Rovers supporters berate the referee, more out of the gut wrencher of losing in injury time. What a finish! It appears, according to one supporter, that it was Aiken who actually handled the winner home, with Rovers Nick Skelton dismissed for protesting.
Who needs the Premier League when local football dishes up drama and action week in, week out?
Anyway, that wraps it up from me for this season. See you in August. Hopefully with Dockers in the Ryman Premier. In the meantime, stayed tuned into Gateway Sport and regular bulletins during the week, enjoy your football, and most importantly, good health to you all.
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Injury time – GOAL! ….. Great Wakering Rovers 1, TILBURY 2 STRIKER! It all stemmed from a Wakering corner. Dan Trenkel’s header was goal-bound until it hit team mate Jay Nash. Tilbury break on the left with Jack West, they get to the bye-line, it’s centred, a Rovers player handballs it but EMIEL AIKEN doesn’t care and rifles home the rebound from inside the six yard box. To rub salt into the wound, Rovers are also down to 10 men, presumably for the handball. A pivotal moment for TIlbury and liquid football.
87th min – Another Emiel Aiken break on the left, he moves menacing inside the Rovers half, but the Docker has the ball taken from him with a last ditch tackle.
83rd min – Wow! Rovers earn a free kick on the right hand edge of the area. Billy Johnson crosses in, and a header crashes off the crossbar. Tilbury then break on the left and Emiel Aiken looks sure to either score or set up a winner. He does neither, though, as he centre-cum-shot goes harmlessly across the goal. Extra action stuff.
78th min – A corner to the Dockers on the left. A shot comes in and is deflected out for another corner on the right. This time Rovers clear.
"Now, to get to Bowers & Pitsea, take the A13 to the market, then ..."
75th min – End to end as each side search for a winner, priceless to both teams for so different reasons. Nice cross on the right from Ashley Hawkins just now, which just failed to find a Rovers head.
70th min – Tilbury resume the attack, and from about 20 yards, a Gary Henty shot in a central position is on target but well saved by Louis Godwin-Green and eventually cleared.
68th min – Dockers skipper Gary Henty his imploring his side “Don’t switch off”. They’re not, but that was a pacy Rovers break just now. For a split second it looked like two forwards through but the ball was just too quick.
65th min – Corner to Tilbury on the right. At the far post Steve Good has a free header. He puts it over. He shouts at himself in angst. The Dockers faithful groan too. Time is beginning to be of the essence.
60th min – I can see Tilbury have used all their subs now, with Joe Collins on. There’s no PA announcer, though, so I’m left trying to see what numbers are no longer on the pitch. If only they could stand still with their backs to me. Still competitive on the pitch, but no obvious chances created the last few minutes.
Rovers would shoot at goal if only the Dockers hadn't hid the ball
55th min – Oof, that was a crunching tackle by the Tilbury substitute Dan Smith, who is rightly booked for a bad ‘un on Rovers’ Jack Carlile. As he turns away, though, he clearly says something not too nice. He’s a lucky lad the ref took it as a shout of frustration than directed at him.
53rd min – Again Trenks gets the Rovers going and from his promptings Billy Johnson has a crack at goal, from a centre right position, at about 20 yards. It’s on target but deflected for a corner and then another, neither of which threaten the Dockers goal. Worrying signs for Tilbury though.
50th min – Dan Trenkel is a wise old head, though, and he helps to push Rovers forward with nice passing out to the left flank. The cross comes in and it’s eventually cleared.
46th min – Straight back to the action. Tilbury go forward and Conor Mead’s shot from around 25 yards goes centimetres over. “Wake up TIlbury”, came the shout before resumption. That they most certainly have.
4.08pm – Kick Off! Late due to the extensive injury time in the first half. Here we go, peeps.
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HALF TIME: And it’s been an eventful and entertaining spectacle in spite of the conditions. Tilbury bossed the first half hour or so but went to sleep after taking that vital lead. Then in the last 10 minutes Rovers took over.
The pitch is a little rutted, there’s wind and rain blowing across the pitch, but credit to both sides for trying to play it on the deck as often as they can. Some of the tackles, though, have been as agricultural as the surrounding area.
Rovers 1-1 Tilbury Half Time Rerview
Right, off for a Bovril and a radiator. Laters
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Injury time: A fair bit for a number of injuries. Tilbury are beginning to be penned back in their own half. Maybe Paul Vaughan will be happy to get his boys in level at the break.
Having said that …. a break down the right, a nice cross from the byeline, and … ooh, Emiel Aiken heads wide.
41st min – A corner to Great Wakering Rovers on the right, a great delivery causes consternation in the area, Marrable blocks an incoming shot from about 8 yards and is given a free kick when he’s fouled going for the follow-up. No doubt, though, Rovers have stepped it up and the last few minutes have looked the better side.
39th min – Rovers come forward again and James Marrable goes down well at the far post of the Clubhouse End goal to keep out a shot from about 15 yards. At least we thought we did until the lino’s flag was up.
34th min – It’s as if roles are reversed. It’s Tilbury making the running like a home team and Rovers who are breaking like an away side. Perhaps not surprising when you consider their respective positions. Another warning to the Dockers though. A cross on the right and Ashley Hawkins header isn’t too far wide.
My view of the game. Like watching it through a bus stop except wetter.
28th min – Sub Jack West is now on for Alex Read, who’s picked up a knock, and already he’s busying himself on the edge of the Rovers area. Nothing clear-cut in the past few minutes. “Come on Tilbury” pipe up the away fans.
24th min – Oof! Tilbury’s Steve Good goes in a bit late on Rovers player-manager Dan Trenkel on the edge of the home side’s penalty area. The ref has a quiet word in his shell like but nothing else.
22nd min – Ooh! Ashley Hawkins goes crashing down inside the Dockers penalty area under the weight of a strong tackle. Rovers appeal enthusiastically for a penalty but it’s not given. A proper hearts in the mouth moment for Tilbury fans though.
20th min – GOAL! ….. GREAT WAKERING ROVERS 1, Tilbury 1 And from the resumption in play, the Rovers get an equaliser from nothing. The kick is defended, there’s a break down the right, a cross comes in that evades James Marrable in the Dockers goal, and the oncoming Rovers forward has a simple tap-in into an empty net. Scorer? No idea because supporters and media stood up in front of me. But it was a goal, no doubt.
19th min – Been an extended delay for treatment to Tom Webb after a hefty tackle. He’s okay though. The Tilbury supporters are, understandably, in good voice, a fair few of them congregated in the covered enclosure.
14th min – GOAL! ….. Great Wakering Rovers 0, TILBURY 1 Tom Webb links up superbly with Alex Read on the edge of the area and gets clear. He runs towards goal and Rovers keeper Louis Godwin-Green takes him out. Stonewall penalty. ALEX READ puts it away with ease. Great start for the Dockers.
10th min – Alex Read is fouled and Tilbury have a free kick near the right touchline about 40 yards out. It’s a nice delivery, there’s a flick and Rovers have difficulty in clearing. But they do.
5th min – Rovers try an attack of their own, and from 30 yards out in a mid-left position, the shot from Ashley Hawkins heads towards Shoeburyness East Beach.
2nd min – And the Dockers are already on the attack. A surging break on the left, it’s centred inside the area, and it takes frantic defending to put the ball out for a corner. From there, a header goes wide. The Dockers have settled well.
3.00pm – KICK OFF! Oh yes!
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2.59pm – Team News Here we are:
Tilbury.
1 – James Marrable. 2 – Conor Mead. 3- Eljay Worrall. 4 – Joe Nightingill. 5 – Sam West. 6 – Gary Henty. 7 – Emiel Aiken. 8 – Steve Good. 9 – Alex Read. 10 – Tom Webb. 11 – Tom Wright. Subs: 12 – Jack West. 14 – Someone Smith. 15 – Brad Barnes. 16 – Joe Collins. 17 – Ben Crooks.
Great Wakering Rovers
1 – Louis Godwin-Green. 2 – Jake Gibson. 3 – Adam Holmes. 4 – Jack Carlisle. 5 – Lewis Sparrow. 6 – Nick Skelton. 7 – Dan Stanley. 8 – Dan Trenkel. 9 – Jay Nash. 10 – Ashley Hawkins. 11 – Billy Johnson. Subs: 12 – Jack Mochalski. 14 – Julian Okai. 15 – Dan Williams. 16 – Max Drury. 17 – Ashley Webb.
There. Got there at last.
2.58pm – The teams come out. Line ups in a mo
They look so enthusiastic, don't they.
2.55pm – No team news or team sheet yet so you’ll be left with my legendary accuracy over who’s doing what. I can reveal that Tilbury are in yellow socks and shorts while the home side are in white shorts and green socks. I won’t commit myself to shirt colours until they take their tracksuit tops off.
2.50pm – As ever, the ground has attracted some characters which is the norm at non-league football. One lad here is a Potters Bar Town fan who lives on Canvey but follows Tilbury when he can’t see his favourites. He asked if he could take a pic of me. You can’t get odder than that! “Football’s a funny game”, said Dockers boss Paul Vaughan with a rueful smile just a few minutes ago. Funny amusing as well as funny peculiar I guess. Which is what makes it so, so much fun – and the ‘characters’ really are what make it, good people and the game’s lifeblood.
2.45pm – And just to clarify the Gateway 97.8 Sport coverage this will almost certainly be the last featured live game of the season. Sadly, the hospital calls later this week, and I’m in for some heart surgery. It will take some time to recuperate so, just as the season nears another exciting finish, I have to sign off. Bother.
There will, however, be constant updates on Gateway Sport every Saturday afternoon and bulletins on our regular shows throughout the week. And, if need be, carrier pigeon. Just don’t eat Speckled Jim when he gets to you. Melchitt gets very upset.
2.40pm – A few peeps have asked why this is the featured live game when there’s so much going on elsewhere. The reasons are twofold. The first is that Tilbury haven’t been a featured side, and Ryman One North a featured match, for some time. And secondly, being reliant on public transport, it was the one game that didn’t take at least two hours for me to get to!
Big day all round though. Ryman Premier leaders Billericay away at second placed Hornchurch, the Island derby, with Grays, Southend United and Dagenham all having vital games too. Worry yet not, the latest scores will be forthcoming from those clashes too.
2.30pm – A very good afternoon to the damp and windy rural outpost of Burroughs Park, the homely surroundings of Great Wakering Rovers, as Paul Vaughan’s Dockers seek to nail down an unlikely Ryman One North play-off slot.
Unlikely only inasmuch that Tilbury were relegation favourites at the start of the season but they’ve simply but superb – and consistently superb, too.
The team that really are in relegation trouble are the hosts. The return of prodigal son Dan Trenkel have lifted spirits but nothing else after the disastrous reign of Danny Greaves. Rovers at the moment cannot buy a win and are in grave danger of relegation to the Essex Senior League.
That reason alone makes them dangerous opponents for Tilbury and should ensure another intriguing afternoon. As ever, keep refreshing the page every few minutes for continual updates, and to download the on-air reports, just right click and then select ‘save link / target as’.
Game on!
Grays Athletic v Chatham Town – LIVE
Grays Athletic 1-1 Chatham Town
Canvey Island 2-3 Wingate & Finchley
Hastings United 1-1 Concord Rangers
Horsham 1-5 East Thurrock United
Tilbury 3-1 Leiston
Basildon United 1-3 Sawbridgeworth Town
Bowers & Pitsea 0-2 Southend Manor
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FULL TIME: Ultimately two points dropped. Grays have absolutely dominated this game from 15 minutes onwards but didn’t find their shooting boots and fell to a sucker punch. How vital or otherwise this slip-up will be depends on results elsewhere. Their play-off destiny, though, is still in their own hands.
Next up is Tilbury away at Great Wakering Rovers on Monday. Have a great weekend.
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Injury time: Grays continue to surge forward but it’s more hit and hope panic with the final ball now. Come on. Yes! A certain penalty. But no! Somehow the ref gives Harry Agombar a yellow for diving- when he was through on goal.
85th min – In a final throw of the dice, Danny Charge replaces Nathan Gordon. The 237 strong crowd are urging the boys forward in hope as well as anxiety.
83rd min – Fizzer seems to be the buzz word. A supporter in front of us implores Nathan Gordon to fizz a free kick into the area from the far right. He does, but after momentary confusion, the ref adjudges an offside.
80th min – Wow, could that be a game saver? Chatham break, Tony Tucker comes out of his goal and Brad Potter heads over him into what appeared to be an empty net. But from nowhere, Junior Baker clears the ball off the line. I’m half expecting him to wear a cape and his pants on the outside now.
75th min – GOAL! ….. GRAYS ATHLETIC 1, Chatham Town 1 Yes! Joao Carlos, with yet another run, passes it out to the left hand edge of the area and LEE FLYNN equalises with an absolute fizzer, low into the right hand corner of the net. Game on!
69th min – Ohhh, even closer. The corner on the right is met by the head of Junior Baker and his effort crashes off the Bus Stops End crossbar. So, so unlucky.
68th min – Ohhh, so close. Jean-Marie Sigere breaks down the centre and lays it to Joao Carlos. He sidesteps a challenge and his shot from 18 yards is goalbound until Tim Roberts brilliantly parries it out for a corner.
66th min – Real anxiety both on and off the pitch. Grays try to come forward but their attacks are less cohesive. Every home mistake is greeted with shouts of frustration. It’s shown when Brad Thomas is booked for a crude lunge on scorer Lloyd Blackman.
61st min – Grays respond with a double substitution. Joe Sweeney replaces Jake Hall and Jean-Marie Sigere comes on for James Bunn.
57th min – GOAL! ….. Grays Athletic 0, CHATHAM TOWN 1 Disaster. Chatham, who really have done nothing, break, and suddenly there’s a two-on-one with the keeper. Tony Tucker comes out and does superbly to save the first effort but LLOYD BLACKMAN casually lobs the rebound in from 20 yards. A great finish but a dagger through the heart.
55th min – Why has the ref got wires hanging down from his shorts? That’s a question I never thought would be asked but it looks to be the case here.
50th min – Pretty much as the first half. Grays pressing, Chatham offering little except hanging on. Bah.
4.02pm – Kick Off! Yep, once again.
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HALF TIME: A frustrating first half. After a slow opening, Grays are clearly on top but it’s just that final touch inside the area that’s lacking. Chatham have offered little but should be down to 10 men after that horrendous challenge on Lee Flynn. There’s still 45 minutes to put this right so don’t panic, don’t panic, they don’t like it up ‘em.
Right, off for a Bovril and a Wispa Egg. Laters.
42nd min – Joao Carlos breaks on the right again, and a teasing cross looks like it may wrongfoot Tim Robert but he just about gets fingertips to it on the edge of the six yard box and it’s cleared.
40th min – An awful, late, and potentially leg breaking tackle from Chatham’s Garry Tilley crucnches into Jake Hall, who writhes around the floor. Seconds later, Jake’s up to try to exact revenge but when other players from both sides rush in he goes to ground again. I suspect this may have saved Tilley’s bacon, as the ref gave him just a yellow card when a red was the obvious choice.
38th min – Chatham break and results in a James Lawrence shot from about 30 yards which goes in the general direction of Fobbing.
35th min – A definite pattern emerging. Nice play from Grays going forward but just not finding that cutting edge yet, with Joao Carlos really causing problems. You feel if Grays get one they could then get ahatful. But Chatham look dangerous on the break. You can feel the early vestigies of nervousness in the crowd.
27th min – Blimey. Chatham’s Matt Solly goes in late on Lee Flynn. He responds with a stamp. The colour red seemed a certainly but instead Lee gets a yellow card and Matt nothing. Perhaps he didn’t see the incident otherwise they would both have gone.
22nd min – Ooh, hotting up nicely. First Chatham get a corner on the left and keeper Tony Tucker misses it completely but is scrambled clear. Then Grays break on the right through Joao Carlos, he gets a low centre in and it seems a certain Grays opener only for a visiting defender to block and clear inside the six yard box.
17th min – And more good Grays work on the far results in a cross going in. It finds Joao Carlos inside the area but bounces off his shoulder into the Chatham keeper’s hands. The hosts are warming up nicely.
15th min – Ooh, that was a close. A corner on the left and a Brad Thomas header from the edge of the six yard box goes centimetres over the bar. Good stuff.
10th min – Still very little to chat about. Grays have settled well, nice approach play bar a Nathan Gordon cross that almost ended up on the Manorway, but no chances as yet
5th min – Absolutely nothing of note has happened. At least it’s not raining. The media man beside me and his blonde assistant aren’t so much as glancing at each other. Chortle. Again.
3.01pm – Kick off! Oh yes!
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2.58pm – The teams come out to the usual wave of apathy.
Feel the love
2.55pm – Just to underline my own popularity here, whilst getting settled in the press box here, a certain bloke from another media outlet greeted me and then a rather attractive trainee who is about 40 years her junior. I exchanged plesanatries, saying to listen to him and learn from the master, to which he responded with ‘He’s from Gateway. Who’s he?’ The look from the young lady suggested she was as unimpressed with his tart comment as Dot Cotton licking a nettle. Chortle.
2.50pm – Team News Here’s the Grays line-up:
| 1 | Tony Tucker | |
|
| 2 | Craig Pope | |
|
| 23 | Jake Hall | |
|
| 4 | Junior Baker | |
|
| 5 | Brad Thomas | |
|
| 17 | James Bunn | |
|
| 7 | Danny Bunce | |
|
| 18 | Nathan Gordon | |
|
| 19 | Lee Flynn | |
|
| 10 | Harry Agombar | |
|
| 11 | Joao Carlos | |
Subs
| 12 | Jason Fontaine | |
|
| 20 | Jean-Michel Sigere | |
|
| 14 | Paul Olma | |
|
| 15 | Danny Charge | |
|
| 21 | Joe Sweeney | |
2.45pm – Welcome to this intriguing Ryman One North clash between play-off candidates Grays Athletic and mid-table Chatham Town.
Intriguing? You bet. It’s generally the mid-table sides that are most dangerous. Nothing to play for at this stage of the season, no worries, they can go for it and will certainly present a worry or two.
The table doesn’t lie, though, and Grays Athletic are way above them for a reason. The onus will be on Hakan’s boys to prove that on the pitch this afternoon.
On a personal note, this could well be the last featured live Saturday game this season. As many people are aware, I go into hospital for heart surgery in the next few days. Thank you to all the people from all the clubs in our area who have sent me goodwill messages. I am touched and already have Lucozade and grapes stocked up.
Today, though, it’s all about the three points on offer to one of our title contenders. Should you want to download any of the live on-air reports, just right click on the title and select ‘save link / target as’.
Game on!
East Thurrock United v Harrow Borough – LIVE
East Thurrock United 0-3 Harrow Borough
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FULL TIME: Thank goodness for that. A desperately disappointing Rocks display, reminiscent of performances in the first half of the season. Not a single shot on target that I can recall. No zip to the team at all. There’s definitely been a reaction to the League Cup Final defeat. Heads will have to be up for the rest of the campaign but, on this display, Covo has a tough job to get that done.
Next up is the Ryman One North play-off battle between Grays Athletic and Chatham Town. Until then, enjoy the week, the bank holiday, the chocolate, and your football.
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Injury Time: 5 minutes to go. Come on, why not blow up now?
87th min – Jamie Riley’s shot is blocked. You know what, I doubt think the Harrow keeper has had a single save to make. Hmmmmm.
83rd min – And Richard Wray, diving to his right, prevents a fourth from another low shot. I can’t imagine Covo will be too happy. Possibly the understatement of the year, judging by his demeanour.
79th min – GOAL! ….. East Thurrock United 0, HARROW BOROUGH 3 Game over. A low centre into the area and from around 15 yards SIMEON AKINOLA again slots home nicely. With other results going their way, Harrow are currently out of the drop zone. On the evidence of this performance they shouldn’t be anywhere near there.
78th min – Opening up into an end-to-end festival of football. Well, perhaps not quite, but certainly chances at both ends. Sam Collins has come close, and Akinola and Ferguson for the visitors have created and caused problems. In between all that the visiting directors berate the ref at perceived wrong decisions. Oddly enough I’m not asked to comment. Chortle.
73rd min – Harrow reply in kind and Simeon Akinola fires just over, from a central position, from about 25 yards.
72nd min – Sub Harry Cook has a crack from around 30 yards. Not a bad effort but was always rising over the bar.
69th min – Really nothing creative from either side (he says, trying to tempt fate), although a Rocks effort just a few seconds ago may create a traffic jam on the A13 if it hits a car windscreen.
64th min – The immediate upshot is plenty of possession but no penetration and it’s the visitors who eventually break and actually look more dangerous because of that. It comes to nothing though.
My view. Similar to HD telly but with pillars in the way.
57th min – Well, there’s an interesting ploy by the Rocks bench. Three substitutions in a job lot. Harry Cook, Joe Keith Kris Newby are on for Simon and Jamie Riley are on in place of Matt Hall, Simon Peddie and Mark Ramkin. I think anyway. Brave innit.
53rd min – From a centre-left position and about 25 yards out, Sam Collins has a dig. It’s low and goes about a foot wide of the post.
51st min – The Rocks try to get things going and Reiss Gilbey sends in a free kick on the right. Just a momentary flicker of panic on the edge of the penalty area but it’s soon cleared. Ho hum.
47th min – Michael Ramkin brings down Simeon Akinola on the edge of the area. But, phew, the kick is cleared.
8.50pm – Kick Off! Here we go again. And Covo has spent a good 5 minutes of the break alone in the home dugout. Let’s just say the paint in the home changing room has been blistered a bit.
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Half Time: And the Rocks have it all to do. After a dormouse quiet first 25 minutes, Harrow Borough exploded into life, as did their chairman, for whom it should be said their vice chairman apologised profusely on behalf of. Two decent goals and Richard Wray forced into a couple of excellent saves. Covo has hit work cut out but if anyone can he can.
ETU 0-2 Harrow Half Time (right click then select ‘save link / target as’ to download)
Right, off for a Bovril and some boxing gloves. Laters.
45th min – And from that the Rocks break on the left, Sam Collins finds space inside the area, he looks certain to score, but his shot from around 10 yards agonisingly goes across the face of goal and out. Bah.
44th min – Another free kick to visitors on the right. It’s curled in and causes momentary panic. But there’s no attacker on the end of it and the Rocks clear.
40th min – You’d never have guessed Harrow were in relegation trouble. Organised, quick and confident as Richard Wray in the East Thurrock is forced into a fine parried save from a shot inside the area to keep his side remotely in this.
35th min – GOAL! ….. East Thurrock United 0, HARROW BOROUGH 2 Double trouble for the Rocks. From around 25 yards out and in a centre-left position, SIMEON AKINOLA has a pop and it goes past Wray and just inside the far post. Liquid football.
33rd min – And despite that the hottest action is off the pitch. The chairman of Harrow Borough decides to advise me what to include in these updates. I politely say I’ll write things as I see it. He then mentions something about dishonesty and ends up saying something very rude about me. I rightly berate him for swearing in front of women and children and he looks down intently at his notes, suitably embarrassed. Chortle.
28th min – GOAL! ….. East Thurrock United 0, HARROW BOROUGH 1 And there we have it, the away team’s first attempt, and it’s there. A low centre between the keeper and defender, Richard Wray makes a couple of brave saves, but can do nothing about ASHLEY WATSON’s follow-up from 6 yards, hitting the roof of the net. That should liven things up.
26th min – Harrow’s Simeon Akinola goes down under a hefty challenge on the right, level with the ‘D’ of the penalty area. Despite the protestations of the Harrow supporters behind the Bus Stops End goal to send the Rocks defender off – okay, one of them – he stays on card-less. Rightly so too. The free kick is easily defended.
The height of excitement so far. A throw in.
21st min – At last a shot at goal! A free kick to the Rocks, about 30 yards out in a centre-right position, and Sam Higgins has a crack at goal, which goes about a couple of feet over the crossbar.
20th min – The rain has returned, though is fairly light. No shots on target to report on though. Or off target.
15th min – Hmmm, well, ahem ….. The best I can say is that both sides are at least trying to play a decent game now bearing in mind the conditions. A bit less in the air and trying to get the ball to skim off the surface. That, of course, makes control that more difficult.
10th min – Nope, still not much, nothing remotely approaching a chance created. The Borough have been marginally the better of the two sides but not in a way immediately noticeable. How’s that for ambiguity?
5th min – Really nothing to report. Plenty of surface water and the ball in the air a fair bit. At least the rain has stopped.
7.44pm – KICK OFF! Oh yes!
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7.42pm – The teams come out to a wave of apathy, bar one visitor shouting “Come on ‘Arrow!”
7.40pm – Team News Here’s the Rocks line-up:
| 1 | Richard Wray | |
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| 2 | Ryan Sammons | |
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| 3 | Simon Peddie | |
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| 4 | Ben Wood | |
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| 5 | Spencer Harrison | |
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| 6 | Michael Ramkin | |
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| 7 | Reiss Gilbey | |
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| 8 | Matt Hall | |
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| 9 | Sam Higgins | |
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| 10 | Kye Ruel | |
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| 11 | Sam Collins | |
Subs:
| 12 | Harry Cook | |
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| 13 | Greg Cohen | |
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| 14 | Reece Hewitt | |
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| 15 | Kris Newby | |
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| 16 | Jamie Riley | |
7.35pm – Just to give you an idea of how enthusiastic the teams are in completing their pre-match warm up, here’s an exclusive blurry pic from the press box
The excitement mounts
7.25pm - A very good evening from a torrential Rookery Hill for this evening’s fine feast of footballing fayre. My goodness, how the heavens have opened!
Not the best of weather and not been the best of weeks for the Rocks. After the disappointment of their League Cup defeat last week was followed up by home defeat to Cray Wanderers, Covo will have a job on his hands to lift spirits.
Their Middlesex visitors will be no pushover, either, despite their lowly position. In the last relegation spot on goal difference, this is Harrow Borough’s game in hand on their rivals, and they will going full pelt for the win.
You know the score by now. Just keep updating this page every few minutes and you won’t miss a thing. Well, you will, but not the important bits.
I’ll also try to upload the on air reports that will go out during Mark Hardie’s superb ’90′s Revival’ show, which is thoroughly recommended listening.
ETU v Harrow Preview (right click then select ‘save link / target as’ to download)
Game on!
Ryman League Cup Final LIVE: Bury Town v East Thurrock United
Bury Town 1-0 East Thurrock United
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FULL TIME: And so it was not to be. The Rocks 23rd cup tie this season was just a step too far. 10 out of 10 for effort and commitment but they were quite simply outplayed by a superior Bury Town outfit. There is absolutely no disgrace in losing to such a fine side and the whole club can be proud of their cup forays this season. They are the pride of East Thurrock without a shadow of doubt.
Right, time to get the coach home. No live updates this weekend so until the next time, enjoy yourselves, and your football. And East Thurrock United FC, we are all very proud of you.
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Injury time – Just three of them.
90th min – John Sands is free down the right. He looks offside but it isn’t given. His cross is poor, though, and finds the hands of Richard Wray.
87th min – In a final throw of the dice, Reece Hewitt replaces Matt Hall. The rest of us get our prayer mats out.
86th min – And the Rocks come forward again. Michael Rankin gets inside the area on the right and his shot is put out for a corner. From that Sam Higgins has a stab at goal, but goes wide for a goal kick, despite his protestations that there was a deflection.
84th min – Ooh, close. Nice pass by Reiss Gilbey finds Sam Higgins inside the area. He shoots at goal, it takes a deflection, and is trickling in until Marcus Garnham just tips it round the post. There’s panic from the corner, too, but is eventually cleared.
80th min – Mr. Camp. of BBC Suffolk is most miffed that a cheeky little passback to Richard Wray, who picks the ball up, is missed by the ref, who was only a few yards away. It’s like witnessing Danny La Rue being upset with the quality of a croissant. Chortle
77th min – Joe Keith has made an impact coming forward with some nice passing. The final ball into the box, though, is lacking – well, lacking everything a final ball should. Bah.
74th min – The rather camp BBC Suffolk reporter asks me to tell his studio producer that Bury Town are on top, as apparently he doesn’t believe him. A curt ‘yes’ is enough. Joe, meanwhile, puts his head in his hands as a Rocks player tries a pass forward with a Bury player standing right in front of him.
71st min – The Rocks put on Joe Keith for Kye Ruel. You can’t beat a bit of experience. I hope.
69th min – And again Richard Wray comes to the rescue, a superb tip over the bar from a 20 yard piledriver by John Sands. The subsequent corner is cleared comfortably.
67th min – More good play from the Suffolk side, with the pace of Lee Smith down the right, it goes to Lee Reed and then John Sands whose shot is blocked. Sometimes you can lose and be annoyed because you haven’t played well. Tonight, though, East Thurrock United are simply being beaten by a much better side. Don’t understand how, on the evidence of the meetings with the Rocks this season, how they’re not top.
63rd min – Although it’s only a single goal deficit, it feels like north face of the Eiger time. Again Bury Town go forward and win a free kick. Richard Wray can only punch the ball down onto the edge of the six yard box but it’s scrambled clear.
59th min – GOAL! ….. BURY TOWN 1, East Thurrock United 0 I suppose it was coming. More Bury pressure, it’s cleared out to MARK COULSON and his low, swerving shot from 25 yards ends up in the right hand corner of the net. Ho hum.
56th min – Another dangerous Bury Town break on the right, with Callum Kearns centring low and hard into the six yard box. Ben Wood scrambles it clear for a corner which is comfortably defended. But it seems the good Rocks start to his half is being neutralised.
54th min – Although having said that … Bury resume their attacks with a succession of corners. From one of them, there’s an appeal for a Rocks handball which is quickly dismissed. The Bury Town squad players nearby say “This ref is so biased against us.” No, boys, he’s just been blessed with the gift of sight.
52nd min – You’d have thought the teams had swapped shirts at half time. It’s been East Thurrock causing all the problems, particularly Matt Hall and Sam Collins, and Bury have been booting the ball aimlessly whenever they have possession. Funny old game innit.
48th min – Ooh, close for the Rocks. Sam Collins hits a corner on the right, there’s panic in the six yard box, Kye Ruel tries to shoot with his back to goal, it comes out to Sam Higgins, who shoots well over the bar. Much better, Rocks.
46th min – Already the Rocks come forward on the left and Sam Collins’ shot goes wide of the far post.
8.32pm – KICK OFF. Again.
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HALF TIME: And how exactly are East Thurrock United level? They’re not playing particularly badly, it’s just that Bury Town have played superbly. Pace down both wings and being in the right place at the right time has created a multitude of chances.
They may live to regret them. Covo, Jay and Terry will be getting the Rocks fired up that bit more and there’s this sneaking feeling that it could be one of those ‘totally outplayed and steal a 1-0′ games. Hope so. Being level could deflate Bury Town after all.
Anyway, off for a Bovril and a quick prayer. Laters.
Bury – ETU HT (right click then select ‘save target / link as’ to download)
Injury time – Bury Town’s Danny Cunningham takes a free kick wide out on the left. It finds Sam Reed in the penalty area on the right and his shot is smartly saved by Richard Wray.
45th min – At last a corner to the Rocks on the left. The ball is headed clear of the area and Tom Stephen decides to have a volley at goal from about 30 yards. It’s probably just cleared the Thames by now.
43rd min – Simon Peddie is spoken to by the ref after a crunching tackle. He may well have received a yellow card had the Bury player not rolled around as if he was German. Danny Cunningham’s subsequent free kick on the right goes harmlessly out.
41st min – Kris Newby has taken a knock and is replaced by Michael Rankin.
39th min – Glorious chance number 4. John Sands has real pace and gets onto a through ball to be one-on-one on the edge of the area. Richard Wray superbly gets a hand to the ball, but instead of trying to shoot him, he tries to dribble round Wray and the retrieving Rocks defence and is eventually cleared. My goodness, the Rocks are living on their wits.
36th min – From the goal kick, the Rocks go forward again. This time Sam Higgins’ shot is on target but easily saved.
35th min – Covo’s lads try to respond and Matt Hall, on the right, tries a shot from around 20 yards, which goes wide of the far post.
34th min – And another great chance for the Suffolk side goes begging. The ball is hoisted into the box and Sam Reed’s shot from 6 yards out again misses the target. A corner is gained from the clearance and a subsequent on the left goes narrowly wide. The Rocks are wobbling again.
31st min – Wow, a second real let off for the Rocks. John Sands finds space on the left inside the penalty area. He shot is superbly saved by Richard Wray but from the rebound, Lee Reed somehow misses the target from the inside the six yard box. What a chance. Again.
29th min – Back come Bury Town and Sam Reed gives a lovely pass on the right to Lee Smith who momentarily gets himself clear. But before the danger is turned into anything tangible he pauses for a split second and the danger is cleared. Phew.
27th min – Bury’s Danny Cunningham finds a bit of space on the left, and his cross his put out for a corner by Simon Peddie. It results in a header towards goal on the edge of the six yard box but is well off-target.
22nd min – Just getting the feeling now that East Thurrock United are finding their feet. Nothing clear-cut created but the lads are starting to win 50/50′s, Kris Newby has shown a couple of nice touches, and Tom Stephen has caused the odd problem with his overlapping runs.
18th min – That’s better. Sam Collins pounces on a defensive error on the left and shoots from just inside the area. Garnham parries the ball out for a corner which is then comfortably dealt with but at least it’s the Rocks asking a question.
15th min – The game pattern so far is that East Thurrock United are on the back foot with the Rocks trying to get a foothold in the game. Lee Reed’s overhead kick from the edge of the penalty area is optimistic and comfortably over the bar but is a clear sign as to who have settled the best. Come on lads. Get into this.
10th min – Ooh, that should have been a penalty. Kye Ruel brekas on the right inside the area. He clearly gets a shove in a back by the byeline and goes down. The ref waves play on, and to Kye’s credit, so does he.
8th min – Really haven’t had time to settle, have Covo’s boys. Whenever they are in possession, the Suffolk outfit are pressurising. Looking for space, a nice cross-field pass finds Sam Collins, but his ball into the area is easily taken by Bury keeper Marcus Garnham.
4th min – Oh, and that’s another Bury chance. Nice work down the right inside the area, a cross comes in from the byeline and Sam Reed’s header is turned over superbly by Richard Wray. The corner comes to nothing but ooh, talk about a nervy start.
1st min – Oooh, almost a disaster in the first few seconds. A long ball through to John Sands clears the Rocks back four and he’s through on goal. But from 15 yards out he shoots the ball wide of the left hand post. What a let off.
7.30pm – KICK OFF! Come on you Rocks
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7.27pm – Team News As the team’s come out, the team sheet arrives.
| 1 | Richard Wray | |
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| 2 | Ryan Sammons | |
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| 3 | Tom Stephens | |
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| 4 | Ben Wood (c) | |
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| 5 | Simon Peddie | |
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| 6 | Reiss Gilbey | |
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| 7 | Kris Newby | |
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| 8 | Matt Hall | |
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| 9 | Sam Higgins | |
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| 10 | Kye Ruel | |
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| 11 | Sam Collins | |
Subs:
| 12 | Joe Keith | |
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| 14 | Reece Hewitt | |
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| 15 | Michael Rankin | |
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| 16 | Greg Cohen | |
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| 16 | Jamie Riley | |
7.25pm – No team sheets as yet but I can tell you that Wheatsheaf Park is well appointed. At the front is a ladies gym and by the windows are women running on the treadmill. That’s all I need for a perfect football ground. Joe likes the hot dogs though so there’s another plus.
7.15pm – Good evening from a mild and clear Wheatsheaf Park, home to Staines Town, and venue for this season’s Alan Boon League Cup Final. Yes, you can make up all manner of ‘Staines Massive innit’ cliches and puns, but for East Thurrock United is a mas … huge occasion this evening.
What a season it’s been for the Rocks. A great run in the FA Trophy, memorably disposing of Conference outfit Welling United, but which was itself overshadowed by that historic FA Cup sojourn, going out in a blaze of glory in front of the nation’s tv screens.
This, though, would dwarf even all that. Victory tonight against a very talented Bury Town would be a tangible and thoroughly deserved reward for Covo and the boy’s magnificent efforts this season. Going down in the history books as ‘winners’ is something very, very special.
Whether both teams get too intense about the occasion, or both sides play their natural game, either way it’s going to be an enthralling and potentially thrilling evening. As ever, simply refresh this page every few minutes and you won’t miss a thing. Apart from the things I miss. Which might be a lot. But bear with me anyway.
Game on!
Billericay Town v Lewes – LIVE
Billericay Town 1-0 Lewes
Canvey Island 0-2 Kingstonian
Tooting & Mitcham United 0-6 Concord Rangers
Wealdstone 2-2 East Thurrock United
Grays Athletic 2-0 Heybridge Swifts
Tilbury 0-1 AFC Sudbury
Truro City 3-0 Thurrock
Basildon United 1-1 Bethnal Green United
Sporting Bengal 4-1 Bowers & Pitsea
Bristol Rovers 1-0 Southend United
Dagenham & Redbridge 2-1 Accrington Stanley
Partick Thistle 0-1 Ross County
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FULL TIME: Wow, what a finish! A distinctly average game, frustrating for long periods, but who cares, the goal came, the three points were taken, that’s all that matters. You have to feel sorry for Lewes, who put up a great fight. Well, you don’t I suppose, but I do. They deserved a point. But what you deserve and what you get are two different things.
Phew, off for a lie-down. Until Wednesday’s cup final, enjoy yourself, and your football.
Billericay – Lewes FT (right click and choose ‘save link / target as’ to download)
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Injury time – GOAL! ….. BILLERICAY TOWN 1, Lewes 0 Oh, wow, what did I say about tempting fate! Another ball pumped into the penalty area, an appeal for handball by the crowd, the Lewes defenders stop. HARRISON CHATTING doesn’t and he rifles it home from 15 yards. So hard was the shot that the ref originally didn’t give the goal. The lino saw it though. Ecstasy for the New Lodge faithful!
Billericay 1-0 Lewes (right click and choose ‘save link / target as’ to download)
90th min – Onwubiko doesn’t give up, though, and on the right, he tumbles inside the area. Nothing doing though. He tripped over himself and the ref waves play on.
88th min – And that pressure coinsists presently of hoisting the ball into the box and seeing what happens. Sub Emeka Onwubiko agains looks to have a decent chance but his header goes wide.
86th min – Trying to tempt fate here by saying we won’t see a goal here until midnight if they played on. Lewes, with Crabb and Draycott dangerous up front, might have something to say about that, mind, so I’d best not say it. But at least Billericay are applying the pressure.
82nd min – Oh, that was close! A Billericay corner on the left, and Rob Swaine’s goalbound header is cleared off the line. Onwubiko follows up but it ends up going about a foot over the bar. Oooh, so frustrating!
79th min – Courtney White goes off, to be replaced by Onwubiko. In the meantime, Harrison Chatting has gone into the referee’s notebook for dissent after ironically applauding a free kick given to ‘Ricay. He’s reflecting the home supporters feelings, who are thoroughly hacked off with things.
74th min – You can feel the tension in the majority of the 651 crowd. Consensus is that the ref is having a poor game. Although he seems a bit fussy, I think he’s done okay. Harrison Chatting is up to his old tricks of mazy dribbles and passes but, if truth be told, the rest of the Billericay side have been nothing more than okay.
69th min – People around wonder why I’m punching the air and shouting “Yes! Yes! Yes!” News reaches me that up in Scotland Ross County lead, Dundee are being held, and Falkirk trail! Meanwhile, you’re not missing much, as the overworked Lewes physio attends to another of her fellas.
66th min – The crowd are getting on the ref’s back. He’s had an okay game as it goes, it’s just the frustration of the afternoon seeping through, especially with Hornchurch winning. It has to be said, though, Lewes are a good side, organised and competitive.
61st min – Another ‘Ricay free kick, another header inside the area, this time from Chris Wild, but nothing doing.
58th min – A Billericay free kick is pumped into the area and Rob Swaine nips forward to power in a header from the edge of the six yard box. It goes just wide of the left hand post.
56th min – It’s fast becoming a moaning old women’s convention. Dale Brightly collides with Harry Harding going for the ball. The keeper sees Harding is injured and kicks the ball out but the Lewes players surround the ref imploring further action. This in turn gets the home crowd going. I’m surprised handbags aren’t supplied at the turnstiles.
54th min – At last Billericay show something, getting a corner on the left. It isn’t cleared properly and Harrison Chatting, after a lovely bit of trickery on the byeline, tries another cross, which is eventually cleared.
51st min – Nathan Crabb is fouled by James Hawes inside the Billericay half and the home defender is given a yellow card. From at least 35 yards out, a somewhat optimistic shot comes in that almost troubles the corner flag.
48th min – Back come the visitors again with another corner on the right. It comes out to Harry Harding on the edge of the area and his shot is deflected for a third Lewes corner in as many minutes. It’s easily defended but a good start to the second half by the Sussex side. Bah.
46th min – Lovely run by Lewes’ Nathan Crabb on the right, who gets the better of Chris Wild and earns a corner, which comes to nothing.
4.02pm – Kick-Off! Yep, again.
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HALF TIME: And after a bright start to the game it’s all got a bit niggly. Credit to Lewes, they’ve stuck at it, and are competing for every ball. Billericay have been the better side, but not by a big enough margin to deserve a lead, and they will have to up the ante if they want to claim the three points today.
Billericay – Lewes HT (right click and select ‘save link / target as’ to download)
Right, off for a Bovril and a non-cholesterol pie. Laters chaps and chapesses.
43rd min – A nice little run on the right by Ian Draycott. He gets to the byeline and heads towards goal but the ball is bundled out for a corner by James Hawes before he can do any damage, which is then easily defended.
39th min – A lofted ball from the Billericay left finds its way into the area and Courtney White goes to ground with a defender in close attendance. The ref waves play on despite appeals behind the goal. Rightly so.
35th min – Play just starting to get a bit scrappy. The more vocal home supporters regale another Lewes player receiving treatment with a somewhat crude song imitating the French national anthem. Regulars will know what I mean, even if Frank Bruno doesn’t.
31st min – After some decent build-up, Courtney White is crudely hacked down on the edge of the area and the defender Malvin Kamara is rightly booked. After what seems an age to take it, Dave Collis’ shot is tame and easily saved.
28th min – Sub Charlie Leach comes on for Lewes. Didn’t have to deal with anything much in the intervening period. The visitors have settled down quite well after an energetic home start.
25th min – Play is held up for a while while Lewes’ Jack Walder gets treatment from the physio. She signals to the bench, having taking him to the sidelines, that his bang to the head has rendered him unfit to carry on, so the away side at the moment are down to 10 men.
22nd min – Back come ‘Ricay again, and after a nice pass from Chatting on the left, Courtney White cleverly tries to lob the ball over the keeper and run round him. His touch is too heavy, though, and it goes out for a goal kick.
20th min – Nice chasing and harrassing by Sam Lechmere on the right forces another Billericay corner. After a couple of attempts to boot it clear, the third cross into the area is well collected by Ingram.
15th min – Back come the Sussex men and Nathan Crabb gets free inside the area on the left. He puts a looping centre in and Peter Gregory tries to get a head to it. He was hoping against hope he could suddenly grow by about a yard but it wasn’t to be. Appeals by their fans behind the goal for a penalty are almost as amusing as the team huddle.
13th min – Ian Draycott makes a run down the left for the visitors and Rob Swaine hauls him down on the edge of the area. The ref books Swaine for his trouble. The free kick, though, floats harmlessly out.
8th min – Lewes break and get a corner on the right that comes to nothing. Billericay then go back on the attack and force a corner of their own on the left, which is also easily defended. A bright start to the match.
5th min – Close again. Jay May forces Ingram into conceding a corner and from that the Lewes keeper again has to keep out a Rob Swaine header from a Harrison Chatting cross. The New Lodge faithful are in good voice already. Good for them anyway.
2nd min - Ooh, almost the dream start for ‘Ricay. Great cross on the right by Sam Lechmere and Jay May gets a free header at the Blunts Wall Road End goal, which keeper Matt Ingram does well to get down to at the far post.
3.00pm – KICK OFF! Oh yes! And a very impressive Lewes huddle that doesn’t cry out to be made fun of at all.
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2.57pm – The teams come out to a healthy crowd, polite applause, and delightful weather. Everyone is so well behaved this would be the sort of game Terry & June would be at.
2.55pm – You can tell it’s a big game today. All the local and BBC media peeps are here but above all my son hasn’t asked me for any burger money yet, such is his pre-match anticipation. Blimey.
2.50pm – Team News. Lewes go with: 1 – Matt Ingram. 2 – Malvin Kamara. 3 – Lewis Hamilton (please, no tiresome F1 jokes about driving the team forward and stuff). 4 – Chris Breach. 5 – Steve Robinson. 6 – Max Hustwick. 7 – Jack Walder. 8 – Harry Harding. 9 – Nathan Crabb. 10 – Ian Draycott. 11 – Peter Gregory. SUBS: 12 – Paul Booth. 14 – Max Howell. 15 – Charlie Leach. 16 – Simon Wormull.
2.45pm – The ground is filling up nicely, which presumably means Chelsea v Spurs in the clubhouse bar has finished. Gorgeous day as well. Not too hot either and still looks like there’s a little bit of give on the pitch. Perfect football weather.
2.40pm – Apologies to anyone expecting today’s updates to be from Grays Athletic v Heybridge Swifts. Problems on the A13 and the Fenchurch Street line meant I couldn’t make it without going to strenuous lengths. Normally that wouldn’t bother me but as I’m having a heart op next month, and been told specifically to avoid any unnecessary stress, plans had to change to a game I could get to as easily possible.
2.35pm – Team News. Billericay Town’s side is: 1 – Dale Brightley. 2 – Greg Oates, 3 – James Hawes. 4 – Dave Collis. 5 – Rob Swaine. 6 – Chris Wild. 7 – Harrison Chatting. 8 – Sam Lechmere. 9 – Jay May. 10 – Courtney White. 11 – Glenn Poole. SUBS: 12 – Jerome Sobers. 14 – Emeka Onwubiko. 15 – Nathan Green. 16 – Richard Halle. 17 – Harry Ricketts.
2.25pm – A very good afternoon from a very nice and warm New Lodge, home of the Ryman Premier leaders Billericay Town, for their vital clash with play-off chasing Lewes.
With just seven matches to go and with a seven point lead, albeit having played a game more than their rivals, it’s Billericay’s title to lose. People have criticised their style of play, but my is it effective, and if means Craig Edwards’ boys get into the promised land of the Conference South, no ‘Ricay fan will care.
Standing in their way this afternoon are a determined Sussex outfit. Lewes are just a point and a place from the play-off zone, but like Billericay have played a game more than their rivals, so victory is just as crucial for them too. They will also be buoyed by their thumping 3-0 win over Tranmere Rovers in Danny Baker’s Sausage Sandwich Game this morning.
With other important games going on throughout the afternoon for our local sides, I promise you you won’t miss a thing, especially from here. Just keep refreshing this page every few minutes, and tune into the wonderful Jimmy Lindsay and Gateway Sport from 3pm here online or on 97.8 FM, and another thrill-a-minute ride that all our sides provide will unfold before your very peepers and lugholes.
Billericay v Lewes Preview (right click and then select ‘save link / target as’ to download)
Game on!
Today’s Fixtures
FOOTBALL
Billericay Town v Lewes
Canvey Island v Kingstonian
Tooting & Mitcham United v Concord Rangers
Wealdstone v East Thurrock United
Grays Athletic v Heybridge Swifts
Tilbury v AFC Sudbury
Truro City v Thurrock
Basildon United v Bethnal Green United
Bristol Rovers v Southend United
Dagenham & Redbridge v Accrington Stanley
RUGBY
Thurrock v Chingford
Basildon v Enfield Ignatians
Romford & Gidea Park v Canvey Island
Bancroft v Billericay
Brightlingsea v Stanford-le-Hope
Digital TV Switchover
About Gateway 97.8
Gateway 97.8 is the local community radio station for the Basildon and East Thurrock areas of South Essex, providing news, sport and information to the local population. 