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.
Breaking News: Basildon United Provisionally Resign From Essex Senior League
It has been revealed to Gateway 97.8 Sport that, in a dramatic move, Basildon United have provisionally resigned from the Essex Senior League for 2012-13.
The Gardiners Close based club, who have been ESL champions a record five times and League Cup winners on three occasions, have been dogged for many years over planning issues on the site of their ground, which has prevented any stadium redevelopment.
This in turn has meant that the club would be denied entry to the Ryman League, which has led to a multitude of managers and players leaving to further their own ambitions, with the unsettled nature of the club sadly being reflected in their bottom of the table placing this season.
The resignation, however, is purely provisional at this stage. The club will be weighing up its options prior to the league’s AGM in June and it may still well be that the club continues its ESL membership thereafter.
The latest measure has been taken as a cost-cutting exercise, with a fine being incurred had any provisional resignation been handed in after 31 March.
Fingers are crossed that ‘provisional’ doesn’t become ‘definite’ and that the club pulls through.
East Thurrock United v Bury Town – LIVE
East Thurrock United 2-1 Bury Town
Barnet 2-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
Southend United 0-1 Aldershot
Clapton 3-2 Basildon United
Canvey Island v Waltham Abbey (friendly)
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FULL TIME: And what a tremendous advert for the Ryman Premier League this game has been. It had it all, goals, skill, pace, controversy and two teams really going for it. Both sides deservedly received a standing ovation from the 158 strong crowd. If their meeting next week in the League Cup Final is anywhere near as good as this, we are in for a treat.
Next up is the Ryman North One clash between Grays Athletic and Heybridge Swifts. Until then, enjoy the week, and your football.
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90th min – GOAL! ….. East Thurrock United 2, BURY TOWN 1 Ooh, there’s life in this one now. A SAM REED piledriver from 20 yards has given the visitors some hope. Squeaky bottom time for everyone now!
86th min – Play is starting to fizzle out so attention is turning to latest scores elsewhere. Leeds 3, Forest 6. Ooh Neil ‘Colin’ Warnock won’t like that. But we will.
82nd min – The ref books Bury’s Danny Cunningham for dissent, which I think is a bit harsh. Meanwhile, the Rocks bring on Harry Cook for Kye Ruel.
79th min – Plenty of liquid football from the Rocks. Firstly there’s a beautiful cross-field pass from Kris Newby to Sam Higgins. Then Reiss Gilbey combines wonderfully with Kye Ruel and his shot goes inches wide of the left hand post at the Bus Stops End.
76th min – Still Bury Town won’t give up. Lee Smith has been excellent tonight and he forces a corner on the right. It comes to nothing but it shouldn’t detract from his or the team’s performance. Definitely one of the best sides to have visited Rookery Hill this season.
72nd min – Elsewhere, the ‘Ammers have scored against Middlesbrough, and the Daggers are still drawing. Good to see Basildon United winning, too, having had such a traumatic season.
67th min – GOAL! ….. EAST THURROCK UNITED 2, Bury Town 0 When your luck’s out, it’s out. A Kris Newby free kick is hammered in from 22 yards on the right, Garnham does superbly well to save, only for the rebound to hit a defender, Bullard, at the far post and go in. It’s a cruel game at times.
65th min – Inevitably, Bury Town fight back furiously, and force a number of errors from the home defence. Despite the frenetic nature of their comeback, as well as a number of corners, Richard Wray is not forced into any sort of save.
59th min – GOAL! ….. EAST THURROCK UNITED 1, Bury Town 0 Is this a turning point or what! Reiss Gilbey turns inside the area and is pulled back by Roscoe Hipperson. The ref gives the penalty and sends Hipperson off. SAM HIGGINS duly dispatches the penalty.
56th min – Up in Scotland, both of Ross County’s title rivals are losing. If it stays that way, it’s 10 points needed from 8 games for the Staggies. I must admit to having a County scarf on as I type, too.
53rd min – Despite Bury Town supporters’ very rude protestations to the contrary, Spencer Harrison was indeed pushed to the floor as the visitors tried to gain the ball halfway inside the Rocks half. There’s something strangely amusing to see and hear fat middle aged blokes getting so het up.
50th min – Apologies for the temporary break in updates. As far as broadband goes, 3 isn’t a magic number. Luckily, though, you haven’t missed anything.
849pm – Kick Off! (again).
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HALF TIME: ETU – Bury HT (right click and select ‘save link / target as’ to download)
44th min – Wow, that was close! Kye Ruel breaks down the left and is left on his own. He gets to the byeline, inside the penalty area, centres low across the face of goal, and for a second it looks as if the Bury defender has turned it into his own net but he rescues the situation with his hand – but the ref waves play on! Cracking and controversial stuff.
41st min – Elsewhere, it’s stalemate at the Southend, Dagenham, West Ham and in the Scottish First Division games. Never let it be said that South Essex people don’t like their draws.
38th min – Back come East Thurrock United though, and after fine work from Kris Newby and Kye Ruel on the right, Sam Higgins shot from the edge of the area is deflected away, more by luck than judgement, and misses the far post by inches. The resultant corner is easily cleared.
36th min – Bury Town try to turn the screw in their search for an opening goal. They win a corner on the left, there’s panic in the area, and Richard Wray somehow gets to two point blank efforts and a 15 yard piler driver in the space of a few seconds. Jimmy Montgomery would be proud.
33rd min – After an enthusiastic exchange of tackles, Sam Higgins complains a little too loudly and the ref has a quiet word with him. When play resumes, he tries to channel his frustration with a shot just inside the left hand edge of the area, but it’s well wide.
30th min – Ooh, that was close. Back come Bury, there’s a cross from the left, and Sands’ low header from six yards looks a certain goal until Wray somehow tips it past the post. Liquid football from both sides.
28th min – Ooh, dear, a bit of a dive by Sands on the right, halfway inside the Rocks half, but the lino buys it. The free kick comes to nothing. One of the locals berates the ref, but is told it was the lino that gave it, so correctly barracks him instead. Chortle.
26th min – Back come the Rocks and both Sam Collins and Kye Ruel have a crack at goal. Let’s just say at least they were in the position to shoot.
25th min – The visitors break again, and for a moment, about 30 yards out, Sands seems to have a 1-on-1 situation, but he miscontrols the ball at the crucial moment and the Rocks clear.
23rd min – You haven’t missed any play. Marc Gorbell went down injured on the edge of his own penalty area, and has had to be helped off, being replaced by Spencer Harrison. Nothing too serious, hopefully.
20th min – A very enjoyable game so far. Both are decent teams, with a bit of pace and flash of skill about them. Very evenly balanced, although the Bury Town fans seem to think the ref has it in for them. He doesn’t.
16th min – A long ball into the East Thurrock half, which results in Bury Town’s Leabon hauling Tom Stephens to the ground. No malice, though, and after a bit of treatment, play resumes. No histrionics or surrounding the ref for that. You get the feeling that other teams in so-called professional leagues may have reacted differently.
12th min – First serious shot at goal and a clear warning from the vistors. After good work on the left, Kieran Leabon blasts a volley from 22 yards that Richard Wray does superbly well to parry out for a corner. From that, the next shot at goal ends up on the A13 but the Rocks, if they didn’t know already, certainly know now they are in for a tough game
9th min – The visitors break themselves, and down by the right hand corner flag, Lee Smith appears to be upended. The ref, though, says play on, much to the costernation of the supporters behind the Bus Stops End goal.
8th min – Nice work between Sam Collins and Kye Ruel ends with Bury conceding a corner on the right. From that Reiss Gilbey’s shot on the edge of the area is easily blocked.
5th min – And the first shot of the evening comes from Kris Newby, on the right, from around 20 yards out. But keeper Marcus Garnham has no problem in picking up the ball at the near post of the Manorway End goal.
4th min – Both teams looking quick, keen and lively. So already it’s a vast improvement on Saturday.
7.47pm – KICK OFF! Oh yes!
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7,44pm – The teams come out to the normal indifference, bar the odd clap and ‘come on Rocks / Bury’. Or it may have been someone extolling the virtues of 80′s detective series Rockcliffe’s Babies. I doubt it though as it was awful.
7.43pm – More Team News Blimey, I can even give you the Bury Town side! 1 – Garnham. 2 - Kearns. 3 - Coulson. 4 – Kennedy. 5 – Hipperson. 6 – Bullard. 7 – Smith. 8 – Sands. 9 – Reed. 10 – Reed (another one). 11 – Leabon. SUBS: Cunnigham, Short, Nunn, Hall.
7.40pm – Team News No sooner said than done! Here’s the Rocks line-up:
| 1 | Richard Wray |  |
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| 2 | Ryan Sammons | |
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| 3 | Tom Stephens | |
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| 4 | Simon Peddie | |
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| 5 | Marc Gorbell | |
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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 | Harry Cook | |
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| 15 | Reece Hewitt | |
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| 16 | Spencer Harrison | |
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| 16 | Jamie Riley | |
7.35pm – Will give you the team news as soon as Jen has finished with the team sheet. All I can say is that it’s a good one. A healthy away following here, considering it’s midweek, but as it’s the end of season run-in and they need the points to cement their play-off spot it’s not altogether surprising. Nice to see them, to see them, nice.
7.25pm – There is, of course, plenty of football being played up and down the UK. Will be keeping an eye out on the not-so-happy Hammers. I don’t know who they’re playing but on the train here saw lots of massively bulging claret and blue shirts barely draped over the revoltingly massive beer guts of a fair few people. The men weren’t much better either.
North of the border, our adopted team, Ross County, aren’t playing, but their two neareast rivals at the top of Irn Bru League 1 are, so fingers will be crossed for the Staggies tonight as well.
7.15pm – A very good evening from a very clear and very mild Rookery Hill. East Thurrock United, fresh from making themselves safe from relegation at the weekend, are now looking towards next week’s League Cup Final as well as climbing up the table.
The cup final is very much on everyone’s minds simply because tonight’s visitors, Bury Town, are their opponents on 28th March. As well as that, they are striving for the play-offs, so in no way, shape or form will tonight be treated any less lightly than in eight days time.
With another important night ahead, too, for our local professional clubs, it promises to be an intriguing night. And if it isn’t, I will at least make it entertaining, although that quite won’t extend to the pensioners scrapping again like there was on Saturday.
As ever, keep refreshing the page every few minutes, and all the fun and excitement of a Tuesday night in Corringham will come your way.
Game on!
East Thurrock United v Tooting & Mitcham United – LIVE
East Thurrock United 1-0 Tooting & Mitcham United
Carshalton Athletic 0-1 Canvey Island
Concord Rangers 2-0 Hendon
Leatherhead 0-2 Billericay Town
Brentwood Town 1-2 Tilbury
Ware 1-2 Grays Athletic
Thurrock 2-0 Dorchester
Bowers & Pitsea 3-5 Haringey & Waltham Development – half time score
Sporting Bengal United v Basildon United – MATCH ABANDONED
Dagenham & Redbridge 2-0 Macclesfield Town
Hereford United 2-3 Southend United
Ross County 2-1 Falkirk
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FULL TIME: And if all kicks off! Some of the Tooting supporters are less than enamoured with the result and try to start a fight in the stand. Secretary Neil Speight does a wonderful job in making sure the flashpoint passes out without it turning really ugly.
A poor game, a great result, and a referee’s performance that was okay, no more or less errors than anyone else. It was fun. Eventually.
Right, best go home and calm down. Until the next time, enjoy the weekend, and your football.
ETU 1-0 Tooting FT (right click and select ‘save target as’ to download)
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Injury time: Another Rocks break on the left, no offside flag, a shot from sub that hits the post, it’s not cleared, the Rocks gain a free kick, and Sam Higgins shot hits the post again. Liquid football.
88th min – The atmopshere is turning rather sour. The visiting supporters are incensed by the referee, not completely without justification, which makes it all the more funny. North of the border, Falkirk have 2 players sent off at Ross County. With the Basildon abandonment, there’s been a lot of angry people at the football today. Chortle.
83rd min – GOAL! ….. EAST THURROCK UNITED 1, Tooting & Mitcham United 0 Oh yes! Kye Ruel switches flanks, he looks offside down the left, but the flag doesn’t go up, a low centre into the area, and from about 15 yards SAM COLLINS sweeps home. Get. In. There.
ETU 1-0 Tooting (right click and select ‘save target as’ to download goal report)
82nd min – Lovely linking play down the right between Kris Newby and Kye Ruel ends with a cross inside the six yard box.
78th min – Ooh, a whole flurry of T & M shots and three corners in the past few minutes. Although they weren’t far off, they didn’t really test Richard Wray, although he did well to punch a corner away so strongly.
74th min – Wonder of wonders, Tooting have a shot at goal. Their sub goes on a nice little run, but shoots well wide of the left hand post. They come back a minute later, and another shot misses the post by inches. Getting exciting now. Well, not really, but at long last some action.
72nd min – News reaches me that after one red card, three yellow cards, and a fight, this afternoon’s game between Basildon United and Sporting Bengal United has been abandoned. Blimey.
69th min – After a period of mis-hit shots and passes, the Rocks get a corner on the left. It causes momentary panic in the six yard box but is soon cleared.
65th min – Excellent attendance at Rookery Hill this afternoon. 202 people are watching enrapt at the proceedings. Of Waldorf and Stadler sat in the stands, not the match itself.
58th min – T & M win a free kick on the left, 30 yards from goal, and Waldorf & Stadler demand a booking, if not ceremonial sacrifice. It comes to nothing, of course. The free kick, not the sacrifice.
56th min – Lovely through ball from Sam Higgins, after good work from Kye Ruel on the right, leaves Sam Collins in plenty of space. His shot goes just a few feet wide of the right hand post at the Bus Stops End.
51st min – Ooh, a bad foul on Kye Ruel, for which the Tooting culprit is rightly booked. The Tooting Muppet Show concludes that the East Thurrock players surrounding the ref were somehow cheating by pointing out the prone Kye on the floor. Great fun.
49th min – The real entertainment this afternoon is coming from the visiting supporters. After the ref gives the Rocks a free kick for a fairly obvious foul on Richard Wray, one of the elderly gents shouts “You should be put in a hole in the ground.” Insulting whilst remaining polite. I like it.
4.03pm – KICK OFF! Please be better this half.
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HALF TIME: Thank goodness for that. Totally forgettable. The less said the better. The big bonus is that the second half can only get better. Right, off for a Bovril and a cry. Laters peeps.
43rd min – As we approach half time, Jay May gives Billericay a priceless lead at Leatherhead. Hurrah!
40th min – Oof, that has to hurt. The visitors forward puts his head low in search of the ball but instead finds the boot of Marc Gorbell. Free kick rightly given but no intent, just two players going for the ball.
38th min – Nice run from Sam Collins on the left, his drilled cross is deflected for a corner. It isn’t cleared properly and Collins this time has a goalbound shot, which is blocked on the edge of the six yard box. Totting deal well with the next corner but, at last, some semblence of rhythm.
35th min – An enforced substitution for the Rocks. Greg Cohen has a back injury and is replaced by Kye Ruel. He almost scored with his first touch, too, a shot inside the left hand side of the area after a darting run, which keeper Darren Behcet did well to parry away at the near post. Ooh, excitement at last.
29th min – Tooting come forward, and after after their right midfielder showed off his silky soccer skills by falling over the ball and landing on his jacksie, a bit of panic actually ensued in the Rocks penalty area. Richard Wray eventually punches the corner clear.
25th min – East Thurrock come forward again, and Kris Newby gets himself into a dangerous position on the right hand edge of the six yard box. His shot lacks pace, however, and is wide in any case.
23rd min – YES! A Richard Brittain penalty gives Ross County the lead aganst Falkirk. First against second in Scotland’s game of the day, with the top team promoted to the SPL. I’m clutching my County wallet with extra joy. In the meantime, you’ve missed nothing.
19th min – The Rocks go forward and the two Sams, Higgins and Collins, combine and … ah well. At least the keeper had to pick the ball up.
18th min – Pretty poor fare so far. Just had a cross that was reminiscent of a Charlie Adam penalty. The main source of entertainment is watching the under 8′s running around the pitch perimeter. Ho hum. Only 72 minutes to go.
13th min - Ooh, could be something here. Free kick for the Rocks, central, about 30 yards from goal. Erm, nope. Shot from Sam Higgins rolls along the floor and harmlessly wide of the left hand post at the Manorway End.
11th min – Pretty nondescript stuff here at the moment. Of course, the rain won’t have helped the pitch much, which was already bare and bumpy in places, but still, it’s worrying to be daydreaming about other stuff so early on.
5th min – The visitors have a free kick of their own, on the right, from 30 yards out, but which is equally unproductive. Nice kits though. It’s like watching Livingston v St. Mirren. Except with a bit of football thrown in.
3rd min – Already plenty of early Rocks pressure. A free kick on the left and a corner on the right. Come to nothing, of course, but it’s nice to get them, isn’t it.
3.01pm – KICK OFF! Oh yes!
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2.58pm – The teams come out to a fairly enthusiatic welcome from a crowd bumped up by plenty of youth football players.
2.55pm – Team News Here’s the Rocks line-up:
| 1 | Richard Wray | |
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| 2 | Ryan Sammons | |
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| 3 | Tom Stephens | |
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| 4 | Simon Peddie | |
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| 5 | Marc Gorbell | |
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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 | Sam Collins | |
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| 11 | Greg Cohen | |
Subs:
| 12 | Joe Keith | |
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| 13 | Harry Cook | |
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| 14 | Reece Hewitt | |
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| 15 | Kye Ruel | |
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| 16 | Jamie Riley | |
2.50pm – A very good afternoon to Rookery Hill, home of this season’s Ryman League Cup finalists, East Thurrock United.
Apologies for the late appearance today, due entirely to watching the rather splendid FA Cup tie between Everton and Sunderland. If the replay is half as good as today’s game, then today’s match will have been twice as good as that.
After a steep learning curve in the early part of their Ryman Premier campaign, punctuated by their unforgettable cup exploits, the Rocks are almost safe from relegation.
Standing in their way this afternoon lie Tooting & Mitcham, themselves FA Cup heroes of the mid 70′s, who are very much in the mire, two places and nine points from safety.
It might not be pretty, with Covo’s boys wanting to extinguish any faint chance of going down, and their opponents desperately needing a win at any cost, but it’s bound to be absorbing.
As ever, keep refershing this page every few minutes, and tune into Reece from 3pm on 97.8 FM and online, and another afternoon of footballing thrills and spills involving all our local teams will unfold before your very eyes and ears.
Game on!
The Weekend’s Local Sport
With local rugby again taking a back seat due to the climax of the Six Nations – and believe us, a large number of club players would have been missing, due to pre-arranged trips for these games – it’s the ongoing excitement of title chases, promotion and relegation battles of our football sides that come to the fore again.
Here’s this weekend’s fixtures:
Carshalton Athletic v Canvey Island
Concord Rangers v Hendon
East Thurrock United v Tooting & Mitcham United
Leatherhead v Billericay Town
Brentwood Town v Tilbury
Ware v Grays Athletic
Thurrock v Dorchester
Bowers & Pitsea v Haringey & Waltham Development
Sporting Bengal United v Basildon United
Dagenham & Redbridge v Macclesfield Town
Hereford United v Southend United
The featured live game this Saturday on Gateway Sport comes from Rookery Hill, where East Thurrock United will be looking to extinguish any faint relegation worries as they take on Tooting & Mitcham in a Ryman League Premier Division clash. There will be regular live reports and updates, as well as scores across the area and up and down the country. So, if you can’t get to the game, do the next best thing, and tune into Gateway Sport, on 97.8 FM and online, on Saturday between 3 and 5pm.
Concord Rangers v Wingate & Finchley – LIVE
Billericay Town 2-2 Horsham
Concord Rangers 1-1 Wingate & Finchley
Harrow Borough 3-1 East Thurrock United
Hastings United 1-1 Canvey Island
Grays Athletic 3-2 Ilford
Waltham Forest 2-5 Tilbury
Weston-Super-Mare 2-2 Thurrock
Hamilton Academical 0-2 Ross County
AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
Southend United 2-2 Accrington Stanley
Basildon United 1-1 Enfield 1893
Takeley 3-1 Bowers & Pitsea
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FULL TIME: A classic case of falling for the sucker punch has cost Concord a couple of points. Nothing much wrong with the performance, they just were up against an inspired keeper on the day. Just one of those things.
Anyhow, until the next time, enjoy your weekend, and your football.
90th min – It’s a classic case of the team needing the points going forward desperately, but the opponents fighting for every ball to keep hold of what they have. Pressure from Concord but no clear cut chances.
86th min – Groans from the home supporters. A second successive free kick on the left hand edge of the area has been wasted, either kicked straight out or into the arms of Smith.
84th min – Have to say the keeper and left back for Wingate & Finchley have been the best players on the pitch, superb displays by them in the face of heavy pressure. Well done to Tilbury, too, whacking in five. They haven’t been caught napping.
80th min – The Beach Boys attack down the right and Harry Elmes at last defeats the advancing Bobby Smith what a clever lob just inside the area. It goes agonisingly over the bar though. Bother.
77th min – Concord try to respond immediately, and push the Wingate defence back. There’s a melee in the area and a shot is deflected wide for a corner. Appeals for handball are swiftly turned down and the corner is cleared.
73rd min – GOAL! ….. Concord Rangers 1, WINGATE & FINCHLEY 1 The hosts simply didn’t heed the warning. A break on the left, a cross inside the six yard box, and unmarked sub OLA WILLIAMS rifled it home. Oops. Game on here.
70th min – Ooh, that was a chance and a half for Wingate. Ball from the right caused havoc in the area, a free shot in the six yard box near the far post, and it’s put into the side netting. Phew. What a let off for Concord.
67th min – One of those days. Another chance for Concord inside the area, another shot saved by Wingate’s Bobby Smith. I’m beginning to think he’s not a human being but Bobby is Squiddly Diddly in disguise. Tony Stokes is again denied by him.
65th min – Not missed too much as Leon Skinner was being taken off injured for the visitors. Hope the lad is okay. In the meantime, for the Beach Boys, Mitch Hahn has come on in place of Sherwin Stanley.
60th min – Nearly the perfect 100th appearance for Ash Miller. Another run down the right, and he shot from outside the area is superbly saved again by Smith. A cracking keeper and great football all round.
58th min – Though they are not creating much, Wingate & Finchley are still getting plenty of territory and possession. Very competitive, work hard for each other, and the occasional glimpse of skill. I like them.
55th min – Lovely turn and shot inside the area from Harry Elmes, but again Smith is equal to the task, saving comfortably by the left hand post of the Clubhouse End goal.
51st min – Corner to Wingate on the left which is cleared easily enough. Interesting to hear, though, that it’s now the away fans haranguing the ref. Sounds to me as if he’s doing a decent job if everyone’s moaning as at least he can’t be biased.
48th min – Not to be outdone, Wingate & Finchley produce a pacy attack on the left and Beach Boys keeper Nicky Eyre is forced into a point blank save. That was dangerous. And at last some liquid football.
46th min - Ooh, an all-action start to the second half. Concord surge forward, Sherwin Stanley again finds space in the left hand side of the penalty area, but his on-target shot from about 15 yards is parried away by the impressive Smith.
4.06pm – KICK OFF! Blimey, that was a longish break!
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HALF TIME: Not the greatest of 45 minutes but at this stage of the season it doesn’t have to be. It hasn’t been particularly entertaining to watch, but then again, not too many errors, just two very closely matched sides cancelling each other out. It was probably inevitable that it would only be a penalty that separates them.
Right, off for a non heart attacking threatening snack and mineral water. Laters all.
45th min – Spurred on by the goal, Concord break again, and from just inside the area, Sherwin Stanley’s shot is well saved by Bobby Smith.
41st min – GOAL! ….. CONCORD RANGERS 1, Wingate & Finchley 0 From nothing the Beach Boys take a vital lead. Harry Elmes is clearly taken out in the left hand side of the box and TONY STOKES makes no mistake from the penalty spot. Oh yes!
39th min – Another visitors attack ends with a fairly tame shot inside the area, that Nicky Eyre takes easier than listening to Easy Like A Sunday Morning on an easy listening show.
35th min – The natives are becoming a little restless after the ref misses a handball that was clear from where we were but where the players had their backs to the official. No real clear cut scoring chances. In fact no chances at all the past few minutes.
30th min – Nice run from Sherwin Stanley on the left forces a corner for the hosts, but is easily cleared. From that, Wingate break forward and Nicky Eyre does well to palm away a shot from inside the area away for a visitors corner, which eventually comes to one less than one.
28th min – After a high ball in the middle third of the pitch, a lovely little Harry Elmes touch puts Sherwin Stanley in the clear. Until the moment the lino puts his flag up for offside. Rightly so but a lovely bit of skill.
24th min – Back come the visitors, though, and their pressure forces the odd defensive mistake, a couple of corners, and a shot that didn’t go too far wide. No doubt about it, Wingate & Finchley are a handy side.
22nd min – Concord corner on the left, Paul Goodacre puts a header into the mix on the edge of the box after it’s taken wide, but the ref blows up for a bit of a push and a shove in the area.
19th min – WIngate are starting to get back into it, trying to speed up the pace of ther game. The home defence will need to be alert throughout this afternoon. Elsewhere, East Thurrock United have already fallen behind and drawn level. Cracking start there and a good one here too.
14th min – And Concord go close again. Nice passing football onto the edge of the area, and centurion Ashley Miller goes past a defender, but his shot goes wide.
10th min – Ooh, lovely Beach Boys ball from the right goes into the penalty area. Sadly, I didn’t see who from, as I was busy celebrating a Ross County goal. I did, though, see Harry Elmes on the floor by the far post as it went inches wide. Hmmm, I must concentrate more.
7th min – First sign of danger from the visitors. A run down the right isn’t dealt with by the Concord defence, the cross arrives on the edge of the area, but luckily the first time shot goes high and wide.
3rd min – Early chance for the Beach Boys. A nice little through ball leaves Harry Elmes on his own on the edge of the Wingate area. Visiting keeper Bobby Smith advances out though, and Harry’s goalbound shot from 20 yards is well blocked. Encouraging though.
3.02pm – KICK OFF! Oh yes!
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2.58pm – The teams come out to mild, laid back applause. A bit like James Morrison in concert I suppose. Ashley Miller celebrates his 100th appearance and the visitors are in their white and orange kit, like Blackpool away without the classy wonga ad on it.
2.57pm – Team News. The Concord Rangers line-up is: 1 – Nicky Eyre. 2 – Ashley Miller. 3 – Kurt Robinson. 4 – Karl Beckford. 5 – Steve King. 6 – Paul Goodacre. 7 – James Elmes. 8 – Nicky Cowley. 9 – Sherwin Stanley. 10 – Harry Elmes. 11 – Tony Stokes. SUBS: 12 – Lee White. 14 – Mitch Hahn. 15 – Arthur Lee. 16 – Reece Harris. 17 – Josh Cooper.
2.55pm – Players have just finished their warm-up. During the exercises I heard one of the Dan’s (I won’t mention which Dan to spare Scopesy’s blushes) “It’s a bad day to be dead.” I tended to think every day wasn’t a particularly good one to be pushing up daisies. Unless you’re in the Big Brother house. Still, if the Beach Boys win, some of it will be down to Cloughesque motivation like that, certainly.
2.50pm – If you’re wondering why live match updates and results in recent weeks haven’t been coming as they usually do, the answer’s simple. Under doctor’s orders to take things easy prior to having my heart op. It means, sadly, if I feel even slightly under the weather, I have to stay in bed and watch repeats of Top Gear on Dave. It’s a tough life innit.
2.46pm – QPR losing? Make that lost. Oops!
2.45pm – With the here and now, ooh, the gamble QPR took in sacking Colin Wa … ahem, Neil Warnock, and replacing him with Mark Hughes appears to be backfiring. In a dare-not-lose game at Bolton they are, erm, losing. And in chilly Jocko Land, you never know what you get with Hearts. Last week they win 2-1 at Ibrox. Today, in the quarter finals of the cup, they draw 2-2 at home scoring a superb late own goal. Chortle.
2.35pm – Even in the ranks of our professional clubs there’s so much to play for. Southend United need to win at Roots Hall against Accrington Stanley to keep up their promotion charge in League Two. At the other end, Dagenham & Redbridge are fighting hard to avoid drop and need something from their trip to AFC Wimbledon.
North of the border, our adopted Scottish team have so much to play for. Ross County are bidding for an incredible 24 games unbeaten in the First Division as they go to Hamilton – the only side to beat them in the league so far. Ooh, that’s a cracker Frank Carson would’ve proud of.
2.25pm – Good afternoon from a balmy Thames Road. A lovely spring day, a resurgent local side, and opposition who fought back from 3 games and a man down in midweek. It has all the makings of a fabulous afternoon.
Since their miserable start to the campaign, Concord Rangers have been playing like champions. Tony Stokes may be grabbing the headlines but so many other players have chipped in. It’s a good side on a great run.
Elsewhere, so many vital games. Billericay know there is no error for margin, even against bottom side Horsham, and all of our other Ryman League sides have vital games as they try to strengthen their play-off bids.
As ever, keep refreshing this page every few minutes, whilst tuning into Jimmy from 3pm online and on 97.8, and the ecstasy and agony of another thrilling footballing afternoon will reveal itself before you.
Game on!
The Weekend’s Football Fixtures
With our local rugby sides taking a little break before their league run-ins, attention is focused again on our football clubs.
Ryman Premier leaders Billericay Town has what seems like a straightforward afternoon in prospect at New Lodge when they take on rock bottom Horsham, who have dispensed with their second manager of this season. As we all know, though, it sets it all up for a potential classic upset.
Elsewhere, East Thurrock United, who you’d never dare to predict how they will do, go to Harrow Borough, whilst Canvey, Concord Grays and Tilbury all have vital games in their bid to make the play-offs.
Basildon United, bottom of the Essex Senior League, go for an unlikely double at Gardiners Close this afternoon when they host perennial title contenders Enfield 1893, having beaten them 3-2 away just four days ago. No home wins all season, though, makes the task that much harder.
Here’s the full fixtures list:
Billericay Town v Horsham
Concord Rangers v Wingate & Finchley
Harrow Borough v East Thurrock United
Hastings United v Canvey Island
Grays Athletic v Ilford
Waltham Forest v Tilbury
Weston-Super-Mare v Thurrock
Basildon United v Enfield 1893
Takeley v Bowers & Pitsea
AFC Wimbledon v Dagenham & Redbridge
Southend United v Accrington Stanley
This Weekend’s Sport
Football
AFC Hornchurch v Concord Rangers
Canvey Island v Hendon
East Thurrock United v Metropolitan Police
Wealdstone v Billericay Town
Soham Town Rangers v Grays Athletic
Tilbury v Redbridge
Thurrock v Sutton United
Eton Manor v Bowers & Pitsea
London Apsa v Basildon United
Burton Albion v Southend United
Dagenham & Redbridge v Bradford City
Rugby
Hammersmith & Fulham v Thurrock
Basildon v Old Streetonians
Ipswich v Canvey Island
Maldon v Billericay
Stanford-le-Hope v Phantoms
If you can’t get to the game, do the next best thing, and tune into Gateway Sport from 3pm this Saturday. Interviews, an eye being kept on national scores and breaking sports news, but most importantly constant updates on how our local sides are doing, including minute by minute goalflashes online. So, to keep in touch with your team, log onto your laptop or tune into 97.8 from 3 until 5 this and every Saturday
Great Wakering Rovers v Brentwood Town – LIVE
Great Wakering Rovers 0-2 Brentwood Town
Basildon United 2-4 Bowers & Pitsea
Morecambe 1-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
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FULL TIME: And the curtain calls on a very entertaining evening at Burroughs Park. Great Wakering Rovers can’t be faulted for effort, but Brentwood Town were simply too good. Edgar and Butterworth were particularly impressive and the whole team looked good. I’d fancy them to go up if they make the play-offs.
Next up is East Thurrock United v Met Police. Unitil then, enjoy the week, and your football.
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90th min – This time Neil Cousins didn’t beat the offside line, but somehow the lino doesn’t put the flag up. Cousins advances inside the area but his curling, on-target shot from around 12 yards is superbly parried away by Godwin-Green. Again.
86th min – More lovely football from Ryan Edgar and Steve Butterworth – a pass with the outside of Ryan’s foot on the ‘D’ of the area and Steve’s ghosting run – ends with a goalbound effort being cleared off the line by Wakering sub Jack Mochalski. Great stuff.
83rd min – Looks to be all over. Trenks gave his side the mother of all rollickings on the pitch, but if truth be told Brentwood are simply a better team. Louis Godwin-Green has put in two exceelent saves to keep out stinging volleys from Ryan Edgar, and Darren Blewitt, after a few corners, had a header cleared off the line.
77th min – GOAL! ….. Great Wakering Rovers 0, BRENTWOOD TOWN 2 This could be the killer. After Kevin Mcleod gave the ball away when it seemed a simple pass would do the job, the danger for Rovers seemed to be over, but they didn’t clear properly, and from a cross back in on the left, STEVE BUTTERWORTH rounds the keeper and hammers it home. Sportingly, being an ex Rover, he doesn’t celebrtate.
75th min – Anyway, back to the action. Brentwood’s Neil Cousins beats the offside line on the right, and from the byeline he tries to centre it to an unmarked forward, but Nick Skleton gets a superb block in and the resultant corner is easily cleared.
72nd min – With play being confined to the middle third in the past few minutes – well, don’t you find your mind starts to wander? Mine did with the thought ‘whatever happened to Hamfatter?’. You know, the group the posh one on Dragons Den got his claws into. Not that I really care, mind.
68th min – Ryan attempts to have the last laugh, though, or at least the latest laugh, with another nice little run and shot from the edge of the area, which Louis in the Rovers goal again does well to get down to and hold.
66th min – Biggest chortle of the evening was Ryan Edgar just now pleading with the ref “I got the ball” after conceding a free kick which came to nothing. Yes, he did, but only after blatantly kicking a couple of Wakering shins out of the way first. Cheeky chappie.
61st min – Neil Cousins is causing problems down the right with his pace, and from that, Lee Blackburn has a crack at goal for Wood from about 20 yards. It’s powerful but well held by Godwin-Green.
57th min – Another excellent bit of skill by Scouser Butterworth inside the Rovers penalty area leaves him with a bit of space in a central position. He looks certain to score but his shot is charged down superbly.
55th min – A little bit of handbags after a push and a shove on a touchline near the halfway line. The ref calls a couple of players over and tells them they won’t have jelly and ice cream in the clubhouse bar afterwards. They are suitably chastened.
52nd min – Hotting up here as well. Brentwood get a free kick in a menacing position on the right hand edge of the penalty area, a decision the home fans dispute vehemently. Steve Butterworth has a crack and it goes narrowly over the crossbar.
51st min – Ooh, it’s game on at Gardiners Close in controversial circumstances. The ball is taken out of the Bowers keeper’s hand, legally says the ref, and Basildon United tap it in. 2-3 there.
49th min – Lively start to this half by Rovers. They earn a corner on the right, and Dan Williams is given a free header, but it goes well over.
8.52pm – Kick Off! Oh yes! Again.
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HALF TIME: And a half full of jolly japes it has been. Rovers have found it difficult to contain Brentwood but have given it their all. But the visitors are looking good and on the basis of this performance wouldn’t look out of place in the Ryman Permier by any means.
Anyhow that story …. A few weeks ago a Ross County supporters coach broke down. The team coach, hearing this, made a detour to pick the supporters up and take them home. Paisley to Dingwall is no picnic.
Now today, the supporters repaid the team. A few of the players clubbed together to buy an 8 seater carrier. a heap of junk, but it cost just £400. It’s done wonders for team spirit and micky taking and has been dubbed the Vengabus. Steven Craig, the legend that opened the scoring in their 2-0 win over Celtic, tweeted that it had broken down today and looked dead. Within minutes supporters put out an appeal. Within the hour, they had got the Vengabus seen to and is now getting repaired.
Don’t you just love quirkiness like that? It’s why the Scottish Premier League, with all the shenanigans over Rangers, needs Ross County to go up and join them this season. They are what football should be all about.
Right, time for a bacon roll and a pint. Back in a few shakes of a lamb’s tail.
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44th min – Rovers try to hit back with a free kick of their own. The Wood defenders are in a quandry as to who clears it but nobody does. Frustratingly, there’s no home player looking for anything inside the six yard box and it goes harmlessly out.
40th min – GOAL! ….. Great Wakering Rovers 0, BRENTWOOD TOWN 1 Terrible tackle by Adam Holmes on Danny Dafter on the right hand touchline near the halfway line. The free kick is lofted inside the area, the defence panic, and LEWIS SPARROW whacks it into his own net. Poor lad. But Brentwood are deservedly ahead.
37th min – Rovers Billy Johnson goes off injured, replaced by Max Drury, and he makes an immediate impact, making a great run onto a through ball to the right hand byeline. His centre is easily collected by Justham.
36th min – Ooh, that was close. Great ball from Ted Llewellyn which found Darren Blewitt on the right, and his first time pass found the feet of Lee Blackburn. He dribbled inside the area and his goalbound shot was parried clear by Godwin-Green. Great football.
31st min – Brentwood rightly get a free kick on the right, near the byeline, after a crude tackle, and Godwin-Green is forced to put Butterworth’s effort out for a corner on the left. Louis does well, though, to pluck that out of the air. A salmon that was a-leaping he looked like.
27th min – Wood attack again on the right, and Steve Butterworth sends a volley whistling over the crossbar by about a foot.
25th min – Looking elsewhere locally, Southend Manor have taken a potentially priceless lead in their ESL title clash at Witham. Wilf Msiska with the vital strike. Ooh, it’s bound to be tasty there.
23rd min – Another mazy Ryan Edgar run gets him inside the area, but his shot is diappointing and goes well wide. No doubt, though, Brentwood look by far the better team. It’s the home side doing the breaking and the away side applying the pressure.
22nd min – Just as there’s a lull in play, Dagenham & Redbridge take the lead away at Morecambe. Hurrah!
18th min – Inevitably, Rovers come back, and win a corner on the right. But it’s easily cleared. Liquid football, this.
16th min – But, again, Brentwood break, and Ted Llewellyn gets inside the penalty box on the left. He passes it back to Danny Dafter, but his 15 yard shot is charged down. It’s gone from watchable to a crtacking game now.
15th min – Back come Rovers from the goal kick, and a cross from the left finds the head of Nick Skelton on the edge of the six yard box. It goes a foot wide of the right hand post.
14th min – Billy Johnson tries to do something about for the hosts, and he sends a great through ball on the right hand side of the area, but Jay Nash can’t quite reach it before it rolls out.
12th min – Again Brentwood attack. Ryan Edgar, on the left, is causing all sorts of problems for the Rovers rearguard. He wins a corner, which is headed out for a corner on the opposite side, which eventually comes to nothing.
9th min – And a similar thing happens. Rovers win a corner on the right, Trenks’ shot on the edge of the area is easily blocked, Wood break on the left, which ends with Scouser Butterworth shooting softly but just wide of the left hand post at the Clubhouse End. End to end stuff without it being too exciting. But watchable nonetheless.
7th min – From the keeper’s kick, there’s momentary panic in the Rovers defence but the Brentwood shot goes wide.
6th min – Rovers win a free kick on the left but the danger lasted only until the moment it was taken, as after that it was a comfortable catch for keeper Elliot Justham.
3rd min – Back come Brentwood, and Steve Butterworth tries to get onto a pass inside the area, but is beaten to it by Dan Trenkel, who evenyually clears. Lively start by the visitors though.
1st min – Spider armed throw-in on the left from the visitors lands inside the area, Neil Cousins has a shot on the turn, but Louis Godwin-Green saves easily.
7.48pm – KICK OFF! Oh yes!
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7.45pm – The teams come out to indifference from the crowd and mild mocking from the PA announcer. Just the way it should be.
7.40pm – Contrast in the warm-ups. Trenks had Rovers doing vigorous quick busrts, one touch stuff and that. Steve Witherspoon, however, made sure that Wood were gently jogging. A lovely sight to see their backsides squeezing out of their claret shorts when they moved onto stretching exercises. We thought the floodlights had gone out but it was just their rear ends eclipsing the light.
7.35pm – Team News. Ooh, here’s tonight’s most spiffing of line-ups
Great Wakering Rovers: 1 – Louis Godwin Green. 2 – Nathan Fletcher. 3 – Nathan Fletcher . 4 – Jack Carlile. 5 – Lewis Sparrow. 6 – Nick Skelton. 7 – Billy Johnson. 8 – Dan Trenkel. 9 – Dan Williams. 10 – Jay Nash. 11 – Julian Okai. SUBS: 12 – Jack Mochalski. 13 – Dan Gardener. 14 – Max Drury. 15 – Ashley Webb.
Brentwood Town: 1 – Elliot Justham. 2 – Martyn Stokes. 3 – Ted Llewellyn. 4 – Tony Russell. 5 – Darren Blewitt. 6 – Dany Dafter. 7 – Steve Butterworth. 8 – Lee Blackburn. 9 – Kevin Mcleod. 10 – Neil Cousins. 11 – Ryan Edgar. SUBS: 12 – Robert Rees. 14 – Mitchell Seymour. 15 – Jacob Dingli. 16 – Connor Witherspoon. 17 – Tim Pittman.
7.30pm – Elsewhere it’s a Gateway derby in the ESL with Basildon United taking on Bowers & Pitsea. I promise you, I just couldn’t be remotely impartial for that one, so it’s probably best I’m in this quaint village instead. No hints as to my loyalties (but come on Bees, hammer them). In League 2, time is running out for the Daggers. Getting at least a point at Morecambe, who beat Southend United at the weekend, is essential to build up their currently shattered confidence. And a point or 3 might come in handy, too.
7.25pm – It could be a case of the blind leading the blind tonight. As both these sides fall out of the normal catchment area, I know very little about either side really. I remember Brentwood storming to the ESL title a few years ago and hammering Southend Manor in the FA Cup. I remember Rovers getting to the Essex Senior Cup Final. I admit it doesn’t help tonight very much. But it won’t be bland. I have a cracking little tale to regale you with soon.
7.15pm – Good evening from Burroughs Park, the homely, homiest of homes of village side Great Wakering Rovers. A change of scenery this evening, featuring a couple of clubs just outside the Gateway 97.8 catchment area, but are both well known, the clubs and their players, to everyone in our region.
The hosts are in a terrible position at the foot of Ryman League One North, and also have financial difficulties, hence one of the reasons why I’m here. Putting my hand in my pocket to help out a club that needs it seems the right thing to do.
The visitors we have covered before, in the gripping but ultimately heartbreaking play-off final last season. A win tonight for them would hoist them above Grays Athletic and Tilbury into the play-off zone, so there will be plenty of locals logging on here this evening - willing on the Rovers! Being impartial, though, all I hope for is a good bacon roll.
As ever, keep refereshing this page every few minutes, and an evening of football action, which will have an impact on a couple of our local sides, will unfold before your very eyes.
Game on!
Billericay Town v Cray Wanderers – LIVE
Billericay Town 3-1 Cray Wanderers
Concord Rangers 2-1 Leatherhead
Lewes 2-2 East Thurrock United
Tooting & Mitcham United 0-1 Canvey Island
Grays Athletic 1-1 Harlow Town
Ware 0-2 Tilbury
Basingstoke 3-1 Thurrock
Morecambe 1-0 Southend United
Plymouth Argyle 0-0 Dagenham & Redbridge
Bowers & Pitsea 2-1 Enfield 1893
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FULL TIME: So there we are, what looked to be a rout turned into a hard fought win in the end. A decent match, a good display, 3 goals, 3 points, couldn’t ask for more from ‘Ricay. The title beckons!
Cheers, as ever, for logging on. Until the next time, enjoy your weekend, and your football.
90th min – Oh! Jay May, with both a header and shot from inside the area, misses two glorious chances to round things off in style.
88th min – With news filtering through, though, that nearest challengers Hornchurch are leading handily at Kingstonian, the singing is muted a little. Only a little, mind. Most of the 488 crowd are in good spirits.
84th min – I should also say that Courtney White has also gone off, replaced by Ricahrd Halle. The ‘Ricay fans are now in good voice, sensing the win is theirs.
80th min - Seems like ‘Ricay are playing this one out. Harrison Chatting and Sam Berry have been replaced by Nathan Green and Emeka Onwubiko, but apart from that, there’s been little to report in the last 5 minutes or so.
73rd min – Oh, what a miss! Great work on the right, and inside the area, after some neat trickery, the ball is laid square to Glenn Poole. But from 8 yards out and with the goal at his mercy, he somehow shoots wide. Blimey!
71st min – While Cray make a substitution, Billericay’s Chris Wild is booked, almost unnoticed by the crowd, for something only the ref has seen. Wild looks almost as bemused as a bee musing.
70th min – Back come Cray, who get a free kick of their own, about 30 yards out in a central position. Jack Clark tries his luck and the ball goes a foot over the bar.
67th min – Ooh, much closer though. A free kick is floated in from Dave Collis on the left and Rob Swaine’s towering header goes inches past the far post. Another ‘Ricay goal will shirley finish the game off?
66th min – A Jay May shot from 18 yards out narrowly misses Waitrose on the High Street. No worries though. The scoreline will do Billericay just dandy.
63rd min – Not too much going on in this half. More like the contest we expected prior to kick-off, tight, different styles of play, and not much in it.
57th min - Cray’s Joe Vines is given a yellow card for a somewhat agricultural challenge, a few seconds after he himself had gone to floor but hadn’t gor the free kick he wanted. From that, Billericay’s attack comes to nothing after a push on the Wanderers custodian.
54th min – For the first time this afternoon the ref is incurring the wrath of the home fans, after giving a couple of soft free kicks in dangerous positions. Well, they would be if the kicks weren’t just lobbed way over the players heads, the bars, and the trees behind the goal. Chortle.
50th min – Ooh, that was close. Great cross from Cray’s Lewis Perkins on the right, who found Leigh Bremner on the edge of the Blunts Wall Road End penalty area. His shot went inches past the left hand post. Bit of a warning there.
47th min – This time unaided, Cray keeper Andy Walker makes a hash of his kick without any home supporter encouragement. Eventually, the ball goes to Sam Berry, and from 25 yards out he shoots just over.
4.04pm – Kick-Off! Yep, again.
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HALF TIME: And somehow, despite the scoreline, Billericay will be releived the break has come. Coasting with an excellent display, deservedly three goals ahead, one slip at the back and the visitors are back in it. Craig Edwards will be delighted with the overall performance but I wouldn’t like to be a defender in that changing room.
Right, off for a Bovril and pie. Back in a teeny, tiny little bit.
41st min – The goal has sparked Cray into life. A corner on the right isn’t cleared, and after some panic in the box, a visitors shot whistles just past the far post. Cool it chaps. No need to panic.
36th min – GOAL! ….. Billericay Town 3, CRAY WANDERERS 1 A terrible lapse in the Billericay defence. Plenty of time to clear but instead the allowed the clearance to be charged down on the edge of the area and CHRIS SAUNDERS nipped in to comfortbaly shoot home from 10 yards. Game on?
35th min – Quite frankly, the visitors look shell-shocked. But ….
28th min – GOAL! ….. BILLERICAY TOWN 3, Cray Wanderers 0 Ooh, it’s cricket like weather and it could be a cricket score. Yet another cross on the left, Sam Berry nods it back and CHRIS WILD powers it home. The New Lodge faithful are in fine voice. This is a champions performance written all over it.
24th min – GOAL! …. BILLERICAY TOWN 2, Cray Wanderers 0 Oh yes! It’s that man COURTNEY WHITE again. He latches onto a through ball, beats the offside trap, and from just inside the area smacks it home. ‘Ricay well in control here.
18th min – Cray aren’t a bad side with the ball, and Tommy Whitnell has been a handful, but they have posed no threat at all. ‘Ricay, though, look menacing whenever the crosses and long throw-ins get inside the Wanderers area. The ref again came to the keeper’s rescue after another joust inside the box. Looking good so far though.
13th min – GOAL! ….. BILLERICAY TOWN 1, Cray Wanderers 0 Just the start the boys wanted. A run down the left, the cross came in, and COURTNEY WHITE, inside the six yard box, pounced to shoot home. Liquid football!
11th min – The ‘Ricay fans are getting vocal at the Blunts Wall Road End and seemed to have off Cray keeper Andy Walker somewhat, as he’s sliced a couple of kicks. Looked very comfortable to ground though, just now, as he easily saves a Glenn Poole shot inside the penalty box on the left.
8th min – Corner to Billericay on the left. As soon as it’s put in, though, the ref blows for an infringement on keeper Andy Walker. Molly-coddled, keepers nowadays, you know.
5th min – Cray move forward down the left, and by the corner flag, Tommy Whitnell is crudely hacked down by captain Rob Swaine, who is booked for his troubles. The free kick, though, is a poor one, and easily defended by the home defence.
2nd min – Lively start by ‘Ricay. Corner on the right, attacking the Blunts Wall Road End, and a good cross from the right by Sam Berry, neither of which come to anything. Encouraging though.
3.01pm – KICK OFF! Oh yes!
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2.57pm – The teams come out to polite applause and a muted cheer. They do things properly here. Behaviour. Standards. Football is a sport to either play or watch, not to enjoy, you know.
2.55pm – Just had a chat with occasional summariser Joe about the crowd. Consensus was that at the moment there were less than 200 in the ground. A lot usually come out of the clubhouse late on, though, as well as locals wandering in, so fingers crossed it’s a bumper crowd.
2.50pm – The PA announcer, as per usual, plays his stirring wartime film music in the background as he announces the teams, fixtures, etc. And as usual it drowns out at least half of what he’s saying. Poor lad, he tries, but there is a sense of indifference in the crowd to the pre-match entertainment.
2.40pm – 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 Berry. 9 – Jay May. 10 – Courtney White. 11 – Glenn Poole. SUBS: 12 – Richard Halle. 14 – Emeka Onwubiko. 15- Billy Radley. 16 - Nathan Green. 17 - Reece Ottley.
2.30pm – It’s an absolutely gorgeous day. You’d never believe that less than a fortnight ago the pitch here was under almost have a foot of snow. The programme is full of respect for the visitors and how they play the game. The contrast in styles should be an interesting one. Especially with seeing how effectivc it is. Ooh, I’m getting all Sky pundity. I’ll have to start being sexist then ……
2.20pm – A very good afternoon from New Lodge, home of the leaders of the Ryman Premier League. Say what you like about Billericay Town’s style of play, my oh my, is it effective. Top of the table with a five point gap, Craig Edwards’ boys are on the crest of a wave.
Standing in their way today, however, are a team thought by many to be the best in the league on their day. Cray Wanderers are in fourth place, and with a game in hand, will be thinking a win here could reignite their own title hopes.
It has the makings cracker here, and with plenty of other important games, especially Dagenham & Redbridge’s relegation six pointer at Plymouth, it’s going to be another rollercoaster afternoon. As ever, keep refreshing the page every few minutes, and with Jimmy’s great show online and on 97.8 FM from 3pm, you’ll have the best possible coverage of YOUR local sides.
Game on!
Basildon United v Southend Manor – LIVE
Basildon United 0-4 Southend Manor
Canvey Island 0-0 Dagenham & Redbridge (Canvey win 6-5 on penalties)
East Thurrock United 1-0 Lewes
Thurrock 0-1 Farnborough
Aldershot Town 2-0 Southend United
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FULL TIME: And the curtain comes down on tonight’s proceedings. Great effort from the Bees, particularly in the second half, but they were outclassed, if truth be told. Southend Manor, meanwhile, could well win the title. A class outfit.
Have a great week, peeps, and enjoy your football.
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86th min – GOAL! ….. Basildon United 0, SOUTHEND MANOR 4 Best goal of the night, a beauty of a chip from just inside the left hand edge of the area. I’d give you the scorer, but I haven’t been told what player is what number. So well done Number 16. Tonight you are a number. A goalscoring number.
85th min – Chris Baddeley’s shot from about 30 yards just about clears Whitmore Way. He could get a job as a penalty taker for the Ivory Coast, could Chris.
80th min – GOAL! ….. Basildon United 0, SOUTHEND MANOR 3 They think it’s all over – of course it is now. The Bees were caught in possession after that last chance, and the impressive JAY SMITH pounced to shoot home from about 15 yards. Rough justice on the Bees this second half but it’s goals that count.
79th min – Ooh, now that was a chance to finish it off. Mark Sisson beats the offside trap on the right and, as he nears the byeline, his shot screams across the face of goal. With nobody there to finish it. A lucky escape for the Bees.
75th min – Manor players dispute what they see as a soft free kick. My, they sound like right girlies, football players, when they moan! Anyhow, the ball, from 45 yards out, is lofted into the area, and a real scramble ensues, with Adam Seal only getting to the ball at the third attempt after some desperate defending. Jangle jangle jangle ….
71st min – Ooh, that was close! Back come Basildon, and Adam Seal is made to parry a shot on the left from 15 yards, it’s not cleared properly, and overlapping full back Aaron Hunwicks shoots just centimetres past the post. Is that the sound of nerves jangling I hear?
70th min – A spell of heavy Manor pressure as they look to kill off the game. One stinging shot comes in, which again Durell is equal to.
66th min – It’s much more even this half. The Bees try to work something down the right but the final ball to Dave Ade is cut out. For all their efforts, Basildon simply don’t look like scoring
62nd min – With a lull in play, elsewhere, both Thurrock and East Thurrock United have missed second half penalties. But the Rocks lead 1-0 thanks to a rare Ryan Sammons strike. Get. In. There.
58th min – The Bees are nothing if not resilient though. Back they come, and a corner on the left causes momentary panic in the six yard box. You can’t help thinking that Chris Wood is putting together the makings of a good side, if only they could put a run together and gain some confidence, some belief.
55th min – Back come Manor and from Baddeley’s clever pass on the right, Mark Sisson hits a thundering shot from 12 yards that Mason Durell does superbly well to parry away. Liquid football from both sides.
53rd min – Not too far away, mind, as eventually Manor force a corner. It’s not cleared properly, but luckily for the Bees, Chris Baddeley’s final ball is too hard and goes out.
52nd min – More Bees pressure but from that Jay Smith breaks and his mazy run ends abruptly about 25 yards from goal fairly abruptly. The free kick hits the wall and is deflected away.
49th min – Much brighter start from Basildon United. A bit of pressure on either flanks has given them a couple of free kicks around the edge of the area. The latter kick, from Jamie Pooley on the left, was whipped in viciously and only just cleared. That’s more like it.
8.49pm – KICK OFF! Yep, again.
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HALF TIME: And my goodness, it’s been men against boys. Basildon United have tried and tried, 10 out of 10 for effort and commitment, but Southend Manor have been in a different class. The one hope is that the visitors should be out of sight by now, and may have been if it wasn’t for Mason Durell’s heroics, which may play on their minds. Particularly if the Bees get the next goal. In fact, they have to.
Right, time for a pint and a quick prayer. Back in a mo.
41st min – This time it’s Chris Baddeley who shoots narrowly wide of the right hand post for Manor. Alamo stuff here.
39th min – The visitors have a corner on the right, and from that Brad Vaughan headers powerfully but narrowly over the bar. The Southchurch Park outfit are really showing why they are in the title fight this season. Slick, eye-pleasing, incisive passing allied with plenty of pace is an irresistible combination
36th min – Back come Manor, and it looks for all ther world it’s going to be number three as Mark Sisson bears down on goal. But Durell bravely dives out at the edge of the area and make a goal saving block, pouncing on the rebound.
32nd min – Basildon punt a long ball forward, and for a second forward Dave Ade looks like he’s through on goal, but Manor custodian Adam Seal punches the ball clear on the edge of the area. Is that the first time Basildon have remotely threatened? I think so.
29th min – Another couple of Manor corners, the latter ending with a header from six yards rattling the bar. Luckily, the ref blows for a foul on a Bees defender so no melee ensues.
26th min – For the first time in the game a semblenace of a Bees attack. Nice work down the left momentarily opens up a bit of space. Instead of the simple pass the break the Manor defence down, though, it was a long punt forward that Seal easily gathered. Totally bereft of confidence, the Bees, that much is obvious.
22nd min – And so the siege on the Bees goal continues. A corner on the right isn’t cleared and at the far post Durell does superbly to get to a point blank shot again. One team in it at the moment. Sadly.
17th min – GOAL! ….. Basildon United 0, SOUTHEND MANOR 2 This could be a very long night indeed for the Bees. A long punt by Manor keeper Adam Seal, and BEN HUDSON nips in ahead of everyone to send a looping header into the net.
14th min – GOAL! ….. Basildon United 0, SOUTHEND MANOR 1 The inevitable happens. Manor break again on the right. Mason Durell superbly saves the first shot from 12 yards out, but the ball is parried to MARK SISSON who makes no mistake from close range. Harumph.
12th min – Another Manor shot, on the right and from about 20 yards out, only just clears the bar. The Bees are fighting tenaciously though. They have to. Manor are showing just why they are title contenders so far.
10th min – A rasping Ben Hudson drive is tipped over by Durell. The corner results in a scramble but is eventually put wide. Phew.
5th min – It’s been almost one way traffic from the visitors already. Mason Durell has been forced into a couple of excellent saves, one a long rabge shot and another from point-blank range, with Manor also going close from a corner, narrowly missing the left hand post of the Rugby End goal. This could be a long night.
7.47pm – KICK OFF! Oh yes!
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7.41pm – How very apt. As the teams line up in the tunnel, the radio blares to Fat Les’s ‘Vindaloo’. It has the be 1998, it has to be Mark Hardie, and it has to be the 90′s Revival, a fine show now on 97.8. Why listen and follow the action here at the same time?
7.35pm – Gardiners Close (or The Hive, if you prefer) is what football afficionadoes describe as ‘rustic’. One main wooden stand, one enclosure, one smaller seated area, all down one side of the pitch. The rest is in the open with a small grass bank, and trees on the opposite side to lose balls in. I genuinely love this place. It’s the true epitomy of grass roots football.
7.30pm – TEAM NEWS. Here’s tonight’s sides
Basildon United: 1 – Mason Durell. 2 – Ryan Wilsner. 3 – Aaron Hunwicks. 4 – Jamie Pooley (c). 5 – Chris Rothon. 6 – Ben Crouch. 7 – Jack Baines. 8 – Danny Aggio. 9 – Terry Lindsay. 10 – Dave Ade. 11 – Rich Radda. SUBS: 12 – Kyle Paeve. 14 – Luke Painter. 15 – Mike Mann. 16 – Marlon Agard. 17 – Scott Moore.
Southend Manor: 1 – Adam Seal. 2 – David East. 3 – James Matthews. 4 – Brad Vaughan. 5 – Terry Griffiths (c). 6 – Jay Smith. 7 – Ben Britnell. 8 – Chris Baddeley. 9 – Mark Sisson. 10 – Ben Hudson. 11 – George Ness.
7.25pm – Elsewhere, there’s plenty of great action too. Canvey Island are just one step away from an Essex Senior Cup Final. Standing in their way at Park Lane are Dagenham & Redbridge. Ooh, that looks tasty.
Another side just one step from a cup final are East Thurrock United, who take on Lewes in a Ryman League Cup semi-final.
Southend United, meanwhile, will be looking to further their League Two title ambitions when they play their re-arranged game at Aldershot Town – there’s plenty of needle there after the Boxing Day abandonment too.
Looks like tonight is gonna be a good ‘un!
7.15pm – Good evening from one of our area’s traditional football outposts. Gardiners Close officially, The Hive unofficially to many (including me), Basildon United have a rich history, a distinctly indifferent present, and what looks like an increasingly bleak future.
Unable to make any ground improvements due to a compulsory purchase order on the land, the Bees can progress no higher than the Essex Senior League. Players have therefore left to pursue Ryman, Conference, Football League (and in one case Premier League) ambitions, crowds have dwindled dramatically, and the club has plummeted to the bottom of the league.#
It can’t get much tougher tonight. Southend Manor are involved in a three way title fight and earlier this season had a memorable, historic FA Cup run, going out in a blaze of glory. To say it’s a massive task for the Bees is an understatement.
There is, however, hope. Chris Wood is a seasoned, experienced and respected manager. He has made Basildon United difficult to beat. With that in mind it has the makings of a classic bottom-beats-top upset. It’s going to be intriguing to find out.
As ever, refresh this page every few minutes, and another evening of football action will unfold. Game on!
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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. 