Within 2 minutes Essex gave a free kick away and Frankie Kent then headed the ball past Joshua Vickers to put Middlesex in front. Sometimes, when a team scores so early it kick-starts the opposition into playing and this is what happened. Essex started to play some attractive football and after some lovely play by Tyrell Thomas and Matt Dicks fed Chuba Akpom, who was strong enough to hold off the defender and slot past the Middlesex goalkeeper.
A strong wind allowed Middlesex to play direct football in behind Essex but the back four of Joyce, Gibson, Kent and Wright stood firm and the hosts were able to mount a few attacks of their own. Most notably, George Cole beat two players out wide and sent a great cross in to Omar Nye but unfortunately he scuffed his shot wide.
The second half brought about one Middlesex substitution, which simply changed the game. The forward brought on was able to bring the long balls down and turn and run at the Essex defence and the game became much more open. With Essex dropping-off there was more space to be exploited and Middlesex created as many chances as Essex did in a very even game.
After some good play by Joyce down the right he played a through ball in to Akpom who again showed his strength by holding off two defenders before one of them brought him down in the box for a definite penalty. Cole stepped up and confidently sent the 'keeper the wrong way to put Essex ahead with only 15 minutes remaining.
At this point the impressive Alex Iwobi was on playing wide right and Joshua Odunwo was on to try to push for a third and it nearly came from goalkeeper Vickers! He connected with the ball from his hands and, with the wind behind him, he kicked it the whole length of the pitch, nearly bouncing it his opposite number who recovered to push it over for a corner!
Middlesex were now piling on pressure and, with three minutes to go, a cross hit Kevin Wright's hand and the referee deemed it to be handball to give the visitors a penalty. Their impressive substitute scored to send Middlesex supporters crazy.
In extra time, Essex went back to a basic 4–4–2 and tried to play again. Tyrell Thomas came back on to strengthen the midfield but Middlesex kept bypassing it and placing pressure on the centre-halves. With minutes remaining, and the Essex management thinking about penalties, Middlesex's substitute controlled a long ball and went past Gibson. He recovered brilliantly to block his shot and nine times out of ten the ball would have gone off for a corner but this time it careered off his boot and flew past Vickers to give Middlesex the lead with around four minutes remaining.
There was still time for Essex to create three more chances, with the best of them falling to Akpom after Iwobi’s great cross from the right. Unfortunately Essex’s top scorer headed over, and with it went Essex’s chance of reaching a deserved final.
After the game, Manager John Brandon said: "Well done to all the boys who had the honour to represent their county this year and - that's football. Upon reflection it was a quality match and although Middlesex didn’t create any of their three goals they were gracious in victory. We hope in October next year the parents bring their sons back to trials so we're able to finish off what we started. Thanks to all who watched this year."
Suffolk 0-1 Essex (27/2/09): Essex completed their unbeaten league campaign as Chuba Akpom scored his third goal in two games against a Suffolk side who proved to be a lot better than their league position suggested.
The hosts were a stubborn and hard-working side with several players who caused Essex's defence a few problems all morning. The conditions didn’t help, with freezing temperatures adding to a gale force wind blowing across the pitch as well as a heavy surface making a ‘leveller’ of the game.
Alex Iwobi picked-up an injury in the week so Kojo Apentang lined-up on the right of midfield but this was the only change from the previous win against Norfolk. Suffolk employed a 4-5-1 formation and the spare man in the middle was causing Essex's midfield pair of Matthew Dicks and Tyrell Thomas some problems as Suffolk started the brighter.
They enjoyed three or four good chances from the edge of the box, all being comfortably saved by Joshua Vickers in the Essex goal. When the away side started to play the slick passing football they were encouraged to do, the pitch was stopping them making any progress and it became a very frustrating first 20 minutes.
But they didn’t give up and, with the management asking Akpom to come deep and collect the ball and make an extra body in midfield for ten minutes, it seemed to work. Omar Nye and the wingers of Rydings and Apentang were now finding space in dangerous areas and Essex were finally able to start to play.
Akpom had the best chance of the half after some nice play by Thomas in the centre of midfield set him free. He rounded the 'keeper and had an empty net. But, as he hit the ball from six yards, it took a horrible bobble and ended-up hitting the side netting. This was the only notable chance of the first half.
The second handed debuts to George Harvey from Southend Boys and Charlie Fairhead of Rushcroft School while Danny Joyce returned from injury and replaced Flynn Linard at right-back. All three subs were involved in numerous good moves throughout the half and one of them ended with Harvey heading back to Fairhead but his shot was blocked.
Another move allowed the ball to be worked to Harvey on the right but Suffolk were quick to block his shot. However, from the resulting cross, the ball fell to Fairhead and as he pulled the trigger the Suffolk defender once again blocked the shot ricocheting off for a corner.
Apentang delivered a perfect cross from the resulting corner and Akpom rose 'like a salmon' to powerfully headed Essex in to a deserved lead. A sense of relief could be heard and Essex started to play. A large number of offside decisions against Essex seemed to inspire Suffolk and they switched their formation before rallying together for the last ten minutes.
They had a glorious chance to equalise when one-on-one against Vickers but Joshua saved well once again at the striker's feet to preserve the lead and make it 250 minutes without conceding a goal. There were some fantastic performances from Warren Gibson and Captain Frankie Kent at the centre of defence and Chuba Akpom once again showed how important he is to the team. Kojo Apentang also stood out giving the management a welcome selection headaches for the semi-final.
After the game, Manager John Brandon stated: "Games like this are never easy but the boys showed once again that they have character and bottle as well as quality and this result places us in a great frame of mind going in to the South-East England semi-finals. Well done to all!"
Norfolk 0-3 Essex (6/2/10): Essex played out this long-awaited fixture and comprehensively beat a previously unbeaten Norfolk side. A three-hour trip to the impressive Easton College was undertaken and, having had this fixture cancelled three times previously, everyone was itching to get back to winning ways.
Joshua Vickers played his first game in the Essex goal, Declan Rydings was named in his first game on the left and Tyrell Thomas got his first start by partnering ever-present Matthew Dicks in centre midfield. After words from the Management to be professional and to move the ball quickly around the park, Essex dominated from the starting whistle.
All eleven players were on the same wavelength throughout the first half and chance after chance was created. After some great work from the very impressive Alex Iwobi and Flynn Linard down the right side, Chuba Akpom was set free. His pace was too much for the Norfolk defence but he dragged his shot wide. Then the lively Omar Nye was put through by Thomas but he shot at the goalkeeper, then Thomas himself blazed over from close range after more good work again down the right by Campion schoolboy Iwobi.
Declan Rydings and Kevin Wright were also in tandem together and between them they set-up Akpom again then it was Wright's own turn, going close as the 'keeper made a great save to deny him his first goal. At this point Norfolk were relying on an Essex mistake and catching the back four out by a long ball.
This nearly happened when a mix-up between Gibson and Linard allowed a Norfolk forward to race in on Josh Vickers but the Billericay School goalkeeper just calmly came out, closed the angle down and swept the ball away from the forward before standing up and rolling the left-back in to start another Essex attack! Very cool goalkeeping indeed!
Two changes were made at half-time, with Rydings and Iwobi being replaced by Apentang and Jordan Siddhu. Within five minutes Siddhu had beat two defenders before winning a corner. The first cross was cleared to Thomas who got to the goal line before standing-up a great cross to the back post where captain Frankie Kent volleyed his first goal to give Essex a deserved lead.
Confidence was now high and Apentang and Man of the Match Wright played some neat one-twos with Akpom and Thomas. One fantastic first-time move involving five players, allowed the ball to be intelligently worked to Siddhu, the Oaks Park winger crossing to the far post where Akpom rose at the far post. The ball then "brushed his hair" to allow the St Bonaventure's striker to get a well-deserved goal and Essex to take a two-goal lead.
The fantastic performance by Essex meant they were able to get a third goal by more good work from Apentang and Iwobi, who was now playing in central midfield, working the ball to Akpom who powerfully shot through the Norfolk defence to get his second and Essex’s third.
At the end of the match the management were very pleased with the performance. The way which the boys worked tirelessly for each other as well as having the ability to play quality effective football is hard to find. This team now needs to continue with their professional attitude against Suffolk in a final group game on 27th February.
A final thank you is offered to all the parents for their continued support, all of whom made the six-hour round trip to cheer the boys on. This is much appreciated by teh Management and, of course, the boys themselves.
Essex: Vickers, Linard, Gibson, Kent (C), Wright, Iwobi, Thomas, Dicks, Rydings, Akpom, Nye, Apentang, Siddhu.
Essex 2-0 Bedfordshire (21/11/09): Essex got their first win of the 2009/10 campaign, defeating a plucky and hard-working Bedfordshire side at Fairlop Waters. Essex started with a very attack-minded team, with Tim O’Reilly, Kojo Apenteng and Danny Joyce getting their debuts in midfield and Alex Iwobi partnering Josh Odunwo up front.
Chuba Akpom dropped to the bench as he was very ill but still turned-up wanting to do his bit for the team, an attitude that impressed the Management Team. Essex started brightly enough but never really got going into the passing style they can play. Too many times the players wanted to take three or four touches instead of one or two and, as a result, couldn’t get going though Essex were dangerous on the counter attack. Iwobi went close from the only notable chance created by Odunwo and Linard in a very lacklustre first half.
At half time Akpom, Declan Rydings and Matthew Dicks came on and instantly changed the game. Essex’s shape was better and, with Dicks holding, it meant George Cole could bomb forward and, along with Omar Nye, Akpom, Joyce and Rydings, Essex were now playing slick one and two-touch football. Chance after chance was being created. First Nye broke through after a lovely through ball from Akpom only to hit the side netting then Joyce had a shot from the edge of the box saved and Cole watched his long-distance shot sail just wide.
Essex got their deserved breakthrough after great work from the impressive Kevin Wright and Akpom. The ball was worked to Joyce on the right-hand side of the box and he cut inside a defender before firing left-footed into the top corner from 18 yards. It was a quality goal. Essex pressed forward and debutant Jordan Siddhu set-up Jesse Blohm, but his shot was saved well and Nye once again got in behind the defence only to shoot wide when a cut back would have meant a certain goal for George Cole.
However, George got his deserved goal in impressive style. The ball was played to him about 50 yards from goal. He turned and ran at the defence, taking on four of them, before coolly slotting it past the goalkeeper for a well-deserved 2-0 lead. Essex had another three golden opportunities to increase their lead but couldn’t take them, so 2-0 is how it stayed and all the management were very happy with the second half performance which instilled confidence going into another tough game against Norfolk.
Essex: O’Reilly, Linard, Wright, Kent (C), Gibson, Joyce (Siddhu), Cole, Apentang (Dicks), Nye, Iwobi (Akpom [Blohm]), Odunwo (Rydings). Unused Substitutes: Dillane, Akpobi.
Essex 1-1 Hertfordshire (7/11/09): Essex fought-out an entertaining draw against a very tough and physically powerful Hertfordshire side. The visitors started brightly, hitting the bar after only 15 seconds.
Essex then settled and started to play some attractive, passing football with Kevin Wright and Omar Nye getting some notable good touches out on the Essex left. On the opposite flank, Flynn Linard and Alex Iwobi were developing a good partnership also, and this was causing the Hertfordshire defence a few problems.
Essex deservedly took the lead after good work from Matthew Dicks allowed Josh Odunwo to outpace the defence and score from the rebound after the goalkeeper saved his first attempt. Then a defining moment occurred in the 34th minute. A Herts forward clearly handled the ball but there were a lot of bodies competing for it at the time and the officials adjudged an Essex player to have handled, instead awarding a penalty. Kieron Dillane in the Essex was beaten and it became one apiece.
The second half was fairly even, Chuba Akpom enjoying two or three chances and Josh Odunwo had another great one-on-one, hitting the side-netting on this occasion. Throughout the second half Hertfordshire looked quick and dangerous on the counter-attack and the centre-back partnership of Warren Gibson and Frankie stood firm.
It was an exciting last five minutes as George Cole hit the bar from all of 30 yards after some neat touches from Apentang and a goalmouth scramble at the Essex end kept the nerves jangling. But it stayed 1-1 and both teams were happy with a draw, the Essex management now hoping that if their chances created can be converted in the next game against Bedfordshire on the 21st November it will be the start of a positive campaign.
Essex: Dillane, Linard, Wright, Kent (C), Gibson, Iwobi (Thomas), Nye (Akpobi), Dicks (Apentang), Cole, Akpom, Odunwo. Unused Substitutes: Blohm, O Reilly, Joyce, Rydings.
Managers: John Brandon, Carl Papworth and James Lodge.
Squad: Kieran Dillane (Westcliff High School for Boys), Flynn Linard (Ockendon), Kevin Wright (Seven Kings), Frankie Kent (Shenfield High), Warren Gibson (Thurrock Gateway), Omar Nye (Abbs Cross), Alex Iwobi (Campion), Matthew Dicks (St Martin’s High), George Cole (Bromfords), Joshua Odunwo (St Bonaventure’s), Chuba Akpom (St Bonaventure’s), Jason Akpobi (St Bonaventure’s), Daniel Joyce (King John), Jesse Blohm (All Saints), Luke O’Reilly (Trinity), Tyrell Thomas (Sanders Draper), Declan Rydings (St Clere’s), Kojo Tackie-Apenteng (St Thomas More). Reserves: Jordan Siddhu (Oaks Park), George Harvey (Southend High School for Boys), Charlie Fairhead (Rushcroft), Joshua Vickers (The Billericay School).