ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE CUP GROUP B

TUESDAY 17^TH FEBRUARY

TAKELEY 2 BOWERS & PITSEA 0

TAKELEY BACK AFTER A COLD WINTER WITH AN IMPORTANT LEAGUE WIN

Takeley looked likely to carry out a Blitzkrieg against a young Bowers & Pitsea outfit. Well supported, the away team were under pressure as the first whistle was blown. In the eighth minute Joe Galsworthy took the ball from a defender and pushed a through pass between two shaken backs into the path of Tobi OSHITOLA and he made no mistake to find the net.

8 mins...TAKELEY 1, BOWERS & PITSEA 0. (Tobi Oshitola)

Alex Martin put in a crackshot free kick which was only blocked on the line by a stretched defender in the following eight minutes. The continual bombardment by the home side appeared to eventually add two, or three more goals. Not to be however, the visitors having every block successful and opportunities for Galsworthy, Grove and Oshitola just could not hit the mark. It was a close call for the Station Road team on 42 minutes as Jake Gibson fired in a free kick on the offside post. Forwards and defenders scrambled for the ball, as Andros Demosthenous coolly came in to pick the ball out of the melee.                                                    HALF TIME TAKELEY FC 1, BOWERS & PITSEA FC 0.

Ten minutes into the restart, a late charge for the ball with Goalkeeper Dean Neil, gained James Amott a Yellow Card. It was not an intentional clash, but the referee was correct to administer the booking. In the next minute Joe Galsworthy hurtled down the right wing, cut into the middle but was deprived of a scoring opportunity by Tom Playle’s extraordinary accurate tackle. Replacements by both sides took the edge off the game as the time moved into the final 25 minutes of play. A penetration into the centre of the Bowers back line, by Joe Galsworthy from a formidable cross field ball was cleared off the line.

Sean Merchant was substituted by Nathan Evans, Scott Smith for Alex Martin and Chris Dorrian passed the captain’s arm band to Mark Watters following a recurrence of his injury, replaced by James Whitbread.  Although little occurred for a quarter of an hour  Nicky Judd (B&P) picked up a Yellow Card after several clashes in mid field. A low shot by Nathan Evans was covered by Demosthenous with a diving save. He had not been too troubled throughout the match. On 85 minutes Dan Crook hooked in a long range free kick which found James AMOTT, and he tucked the ball into the net, from within 6 yards.

85 mins...TAKELEY 2, BOWERS & PITSEA 0. (Amott)

It was a pleasure to have some fine refereeing and excellent assistant decisions. Not often that full marks go to the officials is it? Mr Thomas Ramsey (Chelmsford), backed up by Mr Adrian Amey and Mr Lee Dorling (Harlow).

Ross TOBOLEWSKI gained a warm recognition as Man of the Match for Takeley, with Jake Gibson putting on a good show for the visitors. After such a long lay off it was a good game of football that reckons well for Takeley in their rush for League top position.

Teams:

TAKELEY: Andros DEMOSTHENOUS; Dan CROOK,  Chris DORRIAN (Captain); Ross TOBOLEWSKI,  Mark WATTERS, Adam SONTAG; James AMOTT, Tobi OSHITOLA, Chris GROVE, Joe GALSWORTHY, Alex MARTIN;  Substitutes: Dayo OSHITOLA, James WHITBREAD, Scott SMITH..

BOWERS & PITSEA: Dean NEIL; Ben CONNELLY, Terry HARRIS (Captain); Tom PLAYLE, Derek BIRKETT, James ABBOTT; Jack BARNES,  Nicky JUDD, Ashley BARNES, Sean MRCHANT, Jake GIBSON. Substitutes: Nathan EVANS, Terry BUSS, Tony READE, Karl READE, Terry LINDSEY.

David Edwards

On behalf of Chairman, administrators, players supporters of Takeley