Essex & Suffolk Border League

Premier Division

Saturday 19th October 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.05

Barnston 1 Gas Recreation 1, attendance 29

38’ 0-1

88’ 1-1

@ High Easter Road

Barnston

CM6 1LZ

No Admission or Programme.

It was a comfortable thirty five minute drive north from Brentwood for my second match of the day. Barnston have really struggled over the last three seasons, but have managed to avoid being relegated from the Premier Division, despite finishing bottom of the league twice and then second from bottom last season. They are much improved this season though and started the day 11th (out of 16) in the league table. Gas Recreation are aiming for a third consecutive title and despite coming into this down in seventh place, winning their games in hand would see them draw level with the current leaders Stanway Pegasus.

Gas Recreation dominated throughout, but struggled to break down a very resolute home defence, finally going ahead following a defensive mix up seven minutes before halftime. The second half saw them continue their dominance, but the very physical approach from the hosts, combined with a pitch that was far too well grassed and really could do with cutting, saw them fail to add a second goal that would have killed the game off. With two minutes left, Barnston had their only real chance of the second half, which saw a header well saved, but the rebound was scrambled in for an unlikely looking equaliser, which on balance of play wasn’t really deserved. Gas Recreation finished the game with ten men, when they had a man sent off in stoppage time for picking up a second yellow card.

Arthurian League

Division 1

Saturday 19th October 2019

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.06

Old Brentwoods 4 Old Malvernians 2, attendance 10

15’ 1-0

52’ 1-1

55’ 2-1

58’ 3-1

64’ 3-2

90’ 4-2

@ Old Brentwoods Sports Club

Ashwells Road

Pilgrims Hatch

Brentwood

CM15 9SE

No Admission or Programme.

Old Brentwoods Sports Club consists of two football pitches, separated by a cricket square, and a rugby pitch, that is furthest from the pavilion/clubhouse, which is the pick of them as it has wooden fencing along one side and a small piece of cover on the halfway line. Today’s match was played on Pitch 1, which runs widthways in front of the pavilion/clubhouse.

The match was 6th versus 10th (bottom) in the league table. Neither side looked up to much at the back, but the two sets of forwards never made the most of numerous chances that came their way. Every time one of the teams attacked it looked like a goal would come. Quite how it was only 1-0 at the break, I don’t know. Malvernians then levelled early in the second half, but within six minutes they found themselves 3-1 down. A fumble by the home ‘keeper saw the ball scrambled in to make it 3-2 and set up a frantic last 25 minutes of end to end football, with constant attacking from both teams and Brentwoods finally Killed the visitors off when they made it 4-2 in the dying seconds.