Essex Olympian League

Division 1

Saturday 12th August 2023

Kick Off 12.30 On Time!

Wakering Sports 4 Beacon Hill Rovers 2, attendance 35

6’ 0-1

18’ 1-1

25’ 2-1 (pen)

27’ 2-2

33’ 3-2

42’ 4-2

@ Cupids Country Club

Poynters Lane

Great Wakering

SS3 0AX

No Admission or Programme.

This was the opening game of the season for these two and was 11th (bottom) versus sixth as far as last seasons final positions went. Wakering avoided relegation as their Reserves finished in a promotion position in Division 2, but were unable to go into a division above the first team, so they have both remained where they were.

It was certainly a game of two halves. The first half was end to end stuff, with chances galore. BHR went ahead early, but Wakering levelled with a header and then went in front from the penalty spot, but within two minutes the visitors made it 2-2 when a fumble by the keeper was tapped in from close range. An angled free kick into the far top corner then put Wakering back in front just after the half hour mark and three minutes before halftime they made it 4-2, finishing side footed after a defender failed to cut out a cross. The second half never matched the first. Very few chances at either end, not helped by BHR having a man red carded just before the hour mark and both teams seemed to settle for what they had.

The ground here is certainly good for the level. There is hard standing along the near side and behind the right hand goal, with these two sides railed off, whilst the other two sides are roped off through wooden stakes. There is a seated stand on the near side, set back from the pitch, although everyone stood in front of it, so not much use. There are also a couple of rows of open seating either side of this, with a pair of dugouts on the far side.