ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

WEDNESDAY 1^ST APRIL

STANSTED 4 TAKELEY 4

TAKELEY GIVE AWAY TWO GOAL LEAD IN ADDED TIME IN LOCAL DERBY

A great game full of some excellent football was only hampered by stoppages in the flow of the game.

Three former Takeley players and one former Stansted player scored. With a lead of two goals and ten men opposition Takeley lost their advantage in 4 minutes of added time.

John Bricknell fired Stansted’s first opportunity in the first minute high over the crossbar. Alex Martin playing in his position as left half back was like a busy wasp, continually harassing Stansted’s players and making breaks for the Takeley midfield to feed the attack. He made his first great move putting James Amott into position for a blinding shot that was turned around the upright for the first corner after six minutes. The speed of Joe GALSWORTHY in a breakaway, after an interception by Chris Grove of Sam Tanner’s goal kick, ended up in the back of the home side netting.

11 mins...STANSTED 0, TAKELEY 1 (Galsworthy)

Yellow cards were initially awarded by referee Jim Pope to Jamie Haywood and Danny Demetriou after 18 minutes, for a two footed tackle and dissent respectively. Although Mark Watters had the ball in the net following a classic corner, the referee barred the goal for an implied push by Joe Galsworthy on Sam Tanner. Stansted Right Full Back Billy Sendalll was awarded the third Yellow Card for dissent ten minutes from half time. Takeley produced some excellent football and it was a shot over the bar by Lewis Baker, which ended the team’s great move forward on 38 minutes. A moment later Greig TAYLOR (Former Takeley player) with a low shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net, after his race through the middle of the visitor’s defence, that put Stansted on equal terms for the first time.

39 mins…STANSTED 1, TAKELEY 1 (Taylor)

James Amott (TFC) received a Yellow Card for a questionable tackle on 40 minutes and one minute later another ex Takeley player Chris BULLOCK was on the far post to put away a goal from a corner kick and give Stansted the lead, two minutes before half time.

43 mins…STANSTED 2, TAKELEY 1 (Bullock).

Stefan Szajewski (TFC) had received a badly injured ankle and was replaced by ex-Stansted player Joe Lustig on restart after the break. Within three minutes of the second half James May pulled off a brilliant save as Danny Demetriou headed under the bar from a long accurate throw by Billy Sendall. Takeley’s revived enthusiasm was proved as James AMOTT hit home a centre from Alex Martin.

51 mins… SIANSTED 2, TAKELEY 2 (Amott)

Two minutes later and Takeley assumed absolute dominance, which was impressed as again Alex Martin this time put Joe LUSTIG through for him to give the visitors the lead again.

53 mins…STANSTED 2, TAKELEY 3 (Lustig)

Yet another three minutes and Takeley were scoring again, after Joe GALSWORTHY raced through the pack of Stansted defenders to beat the advancing goal keeper Sam Tanner.

56 mins…STANSTED 2, TAKELEY 4 (Galsworthy)

The Stansted bench became desperate and brought on Kareem Imbert and Steve Merrick. Takeley poured in full force with Joe Galsworthy moving his position to play on the right and centre, from the left hand side. On 65 minutes a Galsworthy cross to Chris Grove was sublime, but Sam Tanner reacted quickly to block the shot, the rebound fell to Grove but his second attempt went wide. A few minutes delay followed after Tanner twisted his left ankle on the goal kick, from which time Takeley’s forceful display slowed down. Pulling Joe Galsworthy back as he lined up to score, cost captain Jack Dallender a second Yellow, thus a Red Card.

Into added time and Stansted’s ten men went forward, opening up the Takeley back line, which just stood still and Kareem IMBERT beat his way past two full backs and the goalkeeper to fire in a well placed drive, from just inside the Takeley penalty box, into the net.

90 + 2 mins…STANSTED 3, TAKELEY 4 (Imbert)  

Alex Martin gained a Red Card as a pile up in the Takeley penalty area gave Stansted the dream of opportunities for the final kick of this extraordinary finish. The referee awarded a penalty and it gave Danny DEMETRIOU (ex Takeley) the equalising goal for Stansted…...The whistle blew for Full time.

90 +? mins…STANSTED 4, TAKELEY 4 (Demetriou Pen).

Why Takeley did not shut up shop in the final five minutes of real time baffles, but the prospect of only ten men to beat probably gave them more confidence to add to their scoreline, was too tempting. A lesson  should have been learned, following the Christmas game at Southend Manor, 3-1, 4-2, ended 4-4, remember?

Rarely do I criticise an official, but so many stoppages for delivery of cards, spoils movement and excitement, for so many minimal reasons. This was a game of 100% Derby thrills. Takeley should have won decisively, but the scorecard is the reality. Eight goals shared!

Man of the Match for Takeley has to be Alex Martin. He was so busy and always involved in providing the goals and opportunities for Takeley. James Amott and Joe Galsworthy were significant in their roles, too. Stansted were so well served by Billy Sendall. His throw ins rate him as ESFL Delap, always dangerous to any opposition. He also marked and ran with the speedster Joe Galsworthy, until the Takeley ‘Roadrunner’ moved position. If he had not moaned often, he was closely matched by Jamie Haywood. Demetriou, Taylor and Bullock were held back securely by Takeley, but they still managed to gain recognition with a goal each.

Teams: STANSTED: Sam TANNER; Billy SENDALL, Tommy SPILLANE; Jamie HAYWOOD, Greig TAYLOR, Jack DALLENDER (Captain); Ben BRADBURY, Ryan MAXWELL, Dan DEMETRIOU, John BRICKNELL, Chris BULLOCK. Substitutes: Kareem IMBERT, Callum CLEMENTS, Steve MERRICK, Elliott BROWN. Not played Joe FISHER.

TAKELEY: James MAY; Michael GLIDDEN, Stefan SZAJEWSKI; Alex MARTIN, Mark WATTERS, James AMOTT; Michael KENNEDY, Gregg WILLIAMS (Captan), Chris GROVE, Joe GALSWORTHY, Lewis BAKER. Substitutes: Joe LUSTIG. Not played: Charlie POLLARD, Jack PARKER, Chris DORRIAN.

Galsworthy beats Billy Sendall (Stansted) in a tackle on Wednesday (1st April).

David Edwards

On behalf of Chairman, administrators, players supporters of Takeley