Thursday 24th September 2009, Thames Road, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Under 18s Representative Friendly.
A hugely competitive friendly fixture saw Essex claim an impressive goalless draw with beaten FA County Youth Cup finalists Kent in their latest fixture at Concord Rangers Football Club.
Following a fixture played at a furious pace throughout, Essex boss Howard Mackler was once again delighted with the performance of his young side, claiming: “I’m really happy with where we are ahead of the FA County Youth Cup tie with Hampshire. We have now kept three consecutive clean sheets which is something I’m particularly pleased with.”
Mackler continued: “We’ve tried a number of new boys from different clubs tonight. I think there were seven clubs represented in the starting line-up and it can take a while for them to gel, but they’ve done very well and it was a good performance. We now have one final friendly at Middlesex on Sunday and hopefully that’ll set us up nicely.”
The game started as fiercely competitive as it continued and two strong midfield and back lines kept chances to a premium, but the visiting County did force some opportunities mid-way through the first period with wide man Jack Funnell often the instigator. Firstly, with 25 played, he crossed accurately for Pat Taylor who directed a header wide of ‘keeper Billy Byrne’s post before Jake Marsh ventured forward for Kent and sending a low shot past the upright.
Further openings didn’t arrive until shortly before half-time and it was Kent who benefited once more with Funnell seeing his rasping shot brilliantly pushed around the post by Byrne before the same player slid a low effort off-target following a neat pull-back by Louis Rankin. But it was the home County who got the second half rolling when Perry McIntyre fired wide of the post from the edge of the area just two minutes in prior to Jack Gardner, on his home ground, firing a fierce effort over the top.
With time running out, Essex substitute Tom Wolfe nodded Christy O’Donoghue’s centre fractionally off-target before another player from the bench, ‘keeper Lewis Batchford, earned his County a point in stoppage time with a fine save, pushing Eddie Sharman’s rasping shot around the post.
Essex: Billy Byrne (AFC Hornchurch), Matt McGregor (Great Wakering Rovers), Luke Smith (Brentwood Town), Martyn Stokes (Brentwood Town), Danny Johnson (FC Clacton), Sam Cusack (Brentwood Town), Casum Tiffon (Bowers & Pitsea), Jack Gardner (Concord Rangers), Chris Manangu (Brentwood Town), Christy O’Donoghue (Thurrock), Perry McIntyre (Thurrock). Substitutes: James King (Wivenhoe Town), Lewis Batchford (Chelmsford City), Conor McKay (Thurrock), Tom Wolfe (Basildon Town), Joe McBurney (Thurrock), Ryan Henshaw (Cornard United).
Kent: Jack Rankin (Bromley), George Lloyd (Long Lane), Jake Marsh (Dover Athletic), Charlie Sweetman (Corinthians), Pat Taylor (Bromley), George Mitchell (VCD Athletic), Ray Mfon (Corinthians), Adam Woolcott (Canterbury City), Eddie Sharman (Ebbsfleet United), Scott Heard (Whitstable Town), Jack Funnell (Langton Green). Substitutes: Matt Daniels (Dartford), Luke Prentice (Margate), Ibrahim Mobolaji (Chatham Town), Louis Rankin (Crockenhill), Josh West (Ebbsfleet United).
Bookings: Essex: Manangu (90, foul).
Referee: David Chittock (Canvey Island).
Assistant Referees: Karl Dunnage (Basildon) and Rhys Battye (Grays).