ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

SATURDAY 14^TH MARCH

ROMFORD 4 TAKELEY 0

ROMFORD ONLY POSITIVE TEAM IN IMPORTANT LEAGUE MATCH

Not a lot of football skills by either side at Aveley Football Club ground. However, it is goals that count and a crowd of 149 watched Essex Senior League leaders Romford find the net four times, to extend their lead to 13 points

In the eleventh minute of play Paul KAVANAGH received the ball from a free kick and converted for the home side, leaving stand-in Takeley goalkeeper Jason Hardy stymied.

11 mins...ROMFORD 1, TAKELEY 0 (Kavanagh)

Hardy stopped a shot from James Gammons with his legs moments later, which brought a gasp from the stand, then Bobby Port put a 25 yard pile driver just wide of the upright. On 23 minutes Tobi Oshitola (TFC) broke through the middle, past the Romford defenders, but his final knock forward was picked up by the advance of the home keeper Neil Finn. What appeared to be a class goal by Brian Suchley was immediately ruled offside by referee Mr Livingstone (who had an excellent game throughout). After the half hour mark Jack Parker received a Yellow Card for an unnecessary fall and within the final minute of the first half ironically, Jack Parker was brought down by Paul Clayton and he received a Yellow Card booking. The first period was a lack lustre display after Romford had begun on top for over 20 minutes.

Romford came out after the break with some fine movements into the Takeley back line, with Paul Kavanagh and Bradley Walsh coming close to expanding the home side score. The roof at the ground was raised as Manzi Mbala made a breakaway run down the right wing, centred and with a flying header Ricki MACKIN connected to score through the back door, leaving Hardy unmoved on the Takeley goal line.

53 mins...ROMFORD 2, TAKELEY 0 (Mackin). 

Daniel Boatang, formerly with Arsenal, Leicester and Harlow Town was replaced after his first Takeley game by Takeley old timer Josh Colson. He made his mark within a few minutes leaping onto a Scott Smith corner he rifled in a shot that singed the outside of the post. There was further celebration for the home supporters as the Romford Captain Ben TURNER headed in goal number three as he was left unmarked, from a Bradley Walsh corner.

80 mins...ROMFORD 3, TAKELEY 0 (Turner).

Takeley had another rare opportunity after Tobi Oshitola was tumbled. Scott Smith hit the free kick to Josh Colson and his powerful drive was blocked in front of the goalmouth. Romford were released back into the attack and from an unlikely move on the right the ball was centred over the Takeley defence to the feet of substitute Chris BARRY. He placed the ball neatly inside the bottom of the post to close the scoreline. 

89 mins...ROMFORD 4, TAKELEY 0 (Barry).

One more Yellow card booking was awarded to Romford’s  Dean Nyman seconds before the final whistle.

Final Result: ROMFORD 4, TAKELEY 0.

Michael Glidden was Takeley’s best player and he left the field to be replaced by Joe Lustig,  seven minutes from time. Josh Colson made a difference to Takeley in their effort to fight back, with Mark Watters working hard as centre back. Chris Grove played deep, yet was an imposing poacher earlier in the season and Joe Galsworthy played up front, lacking space to break forward with his classic run. Both looked unimpressive and out of comfortable positions. Alex Martin always shows a busy and intimidating play on the left wing. With only half of the Takeley team playing together this season there was a lack of the expected quality we have been used to. Missing from the line up Andros Demosthenous, Charlie Pollard, Ross Tobolewski, Adam Sontag, Gregg Williams and the evergreen James Amott showed.

Romford on the other hand were confident in their play at all levels, knowing each others’ abilities, passing being accurate and centres finding their men. Paul Kavanagh and James Gammons threatened every time they were moving forward.

Teams:

TAKELEY FC: Jason HARDY; Chris DORRIAN (Captain), Jack PARKER; Michael GLIDDEN, Mark WATTERS, Daniel BOATANG; Dan CROOK, Chris GROVE, Joe GALSWORTHY, Tobi OSHITOLA, Alex MARTIN. Substitutes: Scott SMITH, Josh COLSON, Joe LUSTIG.

ROMFORD FC: Neil FINN; Bobby PORT, Kevin NEVILLE; Brian SUCHLEY, Ben TURNER (Captain), Ricki MACKIN; Paul CLAYTON, James GAMMONS, Bradley WALSH, Manzi MBALA, Paul KAVANAGH. Substitutes: George TUBEY, Dean NYMAN, Chris BARRY.

David Edwards

On behalf of Chairman, administrators, players supporters of Takeley