Essex Olympian League
Premier Division
Saturday 12th October 2024
Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.04
Toby 1 Old Southendian 2, attendance 32
42’ 0-1
43’ 1-1 (pen)
49’ 1-2
@ Mansion Sports Club
Barleylands Farm (Site 2)
Barleylands Road
Noak Bridge
CM11 2UF
No Admission or Programme.
I wanted to be home to watch the Rugby League Grand Final between Wigan Warriors and Hull Kingston Rovers, which was kicking off at 6 o’clock and this game fitted the bill perfectly. It was the only ground I hadn’t visited in the Essex Olympian League Premier Division and it pitted 13th (out of 14) against top of the table and the only unbeaten team, who’d won 7 of their first nine games and led second in the table Runwell Sports by six points, as well as having a vastly superior goal difference.
Although Toby have won just once so far this season, they have only suffered one heavy defeat (1-5 v Runwell), with three of their defeats being by just a single goal. They certainly made Old Southendian work hard for the three points today and it took until three minutes before halftime for the visitors to break the deadlock, cutting in from the right and pulling the ball back for a first time finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards. Straight from the restart Toby punted the ball forward and their striker won the race with defender and ‘keeper to nip between them and finish from a tight angle. However, the Referee disallowed it and after much discussion with the Linesman, awarded a penalty instead, which was duly dispatched to make it 1-1. Four minutes into the second half Old Southendian were back in front, when a cross from the right was finished with a diving header at the far post. I expected them to comfortably go on and win it by a few goals from here, but Toby never gave up and although they applied pressure in the last ten minutes, they were unable to break down a very resilient defence and the visitors hung on to take all three points.
The ground here at Mansion Sports Club is new for Toby this season, with this being their third game here. It’s not easy to find. If you head north once leaving the A127, then turn left up Barleylands Road, you need to turn left into the ground of F.C. Redwing, where you drive past some pitches on the right before finally getting a few small signs pointing to Toby F.C. About another 200 yards further on you reach the car park. There is a roped off pitch in front of you, with the clubhouse/changing rooms to the right, with the main pitch beyond. It is also fully roped through plastic posts and apart from the trees along one side, there is no other shelter, although they served their purpose during the worst of the rain midway through the second half. Although I didn’t venture inside, I noticed hot drinks did appear to be available from the clubhouse.
Surprisingly trouble free journey in both directions, with the usual 8-9 mile queue towards the Dartford Crossing not even encountered outbound and back home for the Grand Final with an hour to spare.
