ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

TUESDAY 3^RD MARCH

TAKELEY 0 LONDON APSA 1

TAKELEY BEATEN BY A BREAKDOWN IN WEATHER CONDITIONS

Joe Galsworthy attempted to put the result in favour of the Station Road team within the first quarter of an hour, but the dream became a nightmare as the ball would not do its job and go into the net. The most opportune moment in Joe’s favour was on 7 minutes, but the forward lifted the ball to be out of the APSA keeper reach, but Dan Higley stopped the ball in the face.  It must have been painful, but set in motion the way the match would follow. After a breakaway Gus Tetteh came close to give the visitors the lead, following a weak free kick by Alex Martin (TFC) that was cleared out of APSA danger zone. The shot by Tetteh skimmed the upright, just wide.

Takeley had every chance to go in at the break with at least one goal, but the wind and rain affected shots to swirl and Takeley’s system of playing the long ball was doomed to failure.

In the second half London APSA came out early, even with the conditions deteriorating. It bode a message of determination by the opposition not to go back to London without an all out attempt to put passion into the game. The new role paid off well within five minutes as the Takeley defence stood still, with the ball within ten yards of the goal area. Carl CONWAY had a free shot in between a melee of Takeley players, to whip London APSA into the lead

50 mins TAKELEY FC 0, LONDON A.P.S.A. 1 (Carl CONWAY)

Other than a cracker of a shot by Tobi Oshitola, that was tipped over the bar by Daniel Higley, after 73 minutes, very few further opportunities fell to either side. Because the Londoners came out more determined of the two teams they probably were the more adventurous and dangerous. Man of the  Match - Yasser Rashid (APSA) always moved in with some clever moves and well placed centres to rate as the best player, with Tobi Oshitola for Takeley trying so hard to get his chances. It was a shocking evening of cold, wet and windy conditions, which prevented good football.

James Amott and Tobi Oshitola received Yellow cards, for Takeley and for London A.P.S.A. David Hambless and Carl Conway all during the second period. Officiating in the wicked conditions Referee Mr Garwood and assistants Mr Eubel and Mr Innes had unenviable tasks. So many slips on the slippery surface could be determined as intentional fouls, or accidental efforts. The players behaved well, however, which is always commendable.

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

LONDON A.P.S.A.: Daniel HIGLEY; Joel GALLIMORE, Gus TETTEH; Carl CONWAY, Alistair TROTMAN, Christpher LAPPEARL; Chris BILL, Anthony CHUCK, David HAMBLESS, Yasser RASHID, Bilau BAPU. Substitutes: John HIGLEY, Tom CONWAY, Khalid PERVAIZ.

Attendance: 33

David Edwards

On behalf of Chairman, administrators, players supporters of Takeley