ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

SATURDAY 4^TH APRIL

BARKINGSIDE 0 TAKELEY 2

IMPRESSIVE WIN FOR TAKELEY AT OAKSIDE

With a squad of new and old players Don Watters’ proved Takeley FC can still operate efficiently. Barkingside began as earnestly as the Takeley boys, with the visitors back line providing impressive defending, particularly from the Barkingside close-in free kicks. In the Takeley front line Chris Grove, Michael Kennedy and the fast running Joe Galsworthy were threatening at every conceivable opportunity. On 28 minutes Michael Kennedy was presented with a great pass from Galsworthy, who had overcome numerous tackles, on his left wing run. Michael KENNEDY responded to the pass with a splendid connection that left Matt Cope in the Barkingside goal well beaten.

28 mins…BARKINGSIDE 0, TAKELEY 1. (Kennedy)

At the other end of the field, James May who has played on and off for Takeley in the past year gave 100% throughout the ninety minutes. Danger man Gregg Thompson leapt into a well co-ordinated move from a corner by Dom Harkins and could not believe that James May could possibly have reached with his attempt, but the Takeley keeper deserved the applause as he tipped the ball over the bar. Seven minutes later on 41minutes Joe Lustig broke up another home side attack with a well aimed tackle and put Takeley back into a move forward. Chris Grove picked up from a blast by Lewis Baker that was deflected into his path only to be prevented from increasing the visitors’ lead by Goal keeper Matthew Cope.

Leonard Reny and Christian Lazar came on in the second half for Barkingside and were soon active in a move forward by the home team. However, it was at the other end that danger loomed, as Joe Galsworthy broke away on the left wing and fired in a great shot that beat Cope, but went inches wide. For all of his hard work Joe Galsworthy fails to hit the score card of late, however a quote from a conversation between two Barkingside spectators sums up the player’s effect ’he has the opposition nervous with his astounding ball control and speed’. James May was in action again following Leonard Reny’s free kick reached Jamie Bly. His shot from six yards was touched over the bar. Within a couple of minutes of the hour Charlie Pollard stopped Mark Stedmam as he raced down the left flank, enough to prevent another dangerous set up by the home side. A James Amott attempt was so close from a Chris Grove centre, by scraping the upright. For the final quarter of an hour Josh Colson replaced Louis Bristow.

Michael Kennedy was pushed in the back, as he worked down the wing, by Jamie Bly gaining the Barkingside midfielder a Yellow Card. Inching backwards as he awaited a high cross, a Yellow Card was awarded Chris Grove as he fell into the goalkeeper, Matthew Cope. Jack Parker replaced James Amott to fill out Takeley’s back line for the final couple of minutes of real time, but it did not prevent the earlier Takeley newcomer forward, Josh COLSON who looked hungry from his introduction, being aware of Parker’s lob over the keeper. He raced in to finish from 12 yards.

90 + 2 mins… BARKINGSIDE 0, TAKELEY 2. (Colson).

As the clock moved forward to more than five minutes of added time Josh Colson was close to doubling his scorecard, with a well timed connection that blasted in forcing Matt Cope to make a great stop.

This impressive win on a very favourable sunny afternoon was further enhanced by both teams playing some very good football . Barkingside had chances to have reversed the score if James May had not been so concentrated and in great form, for which he is appointed Man of the Match. Every Takeley player played superbly and Basingstoke appeared unharried by Takeley’s record. Gregg Thompson made the going tough for Takeley at times and was well watched by Baker, Watters and Amott. 

Teams: BARKINGSIDE: Matthew COPE; Jamie LANGTON, Harry STEVENS; Danny CALLAWAY, Craig DENNIS, Dom HARKINS;Jamie BLY (Captain); Dom HARKINS, Gregg THOMPSON, Chris LEWIS, Warren BENNETT, Mark STEDMAN. Substitutes: Nen RENY, Christian LAZAR..

TAKELEY: James MAY; Charlie POLLARD, Lewis BAKER; Michael GLIDDEN, Mark WATTERS (Captain), James AMOTT; Michael KENNEDY, Joe LUSTIG), Chris GROVE, Joe GALSWORTHY, Louis BRISTOW.  Substitutes: Josh COLSON,  Jack PARKER.

Goalkeeper Matthew Cole (Barkingside) collects the ball before advancing Galsworthy can get a foot to it

David Edwards

On behalf of Chairman, administrators, players supporters of Takeley