Tuesday 8th September 2009, Broad Lane, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex Round One.
The 2009/10 Essex Senior Cup got underway with an all-Ridgeons Eastern Counties League affair at Broad Lane as goals from Tom Devaux, Jordan Page and Man-of-the-Match Ray Turner saw the visitors advance to the next stage.
After 20 minutes both teams had been sparring well, with no clear-cut chances for either. Wivenhoe struggled with a long throw-in, and the ball ended-up at the feet of Danny Rowell. However, a defender managed to block the goal-bound shot. This lead to a period of pressure from the visitors and a succession of corners. This spell paid off, with Devaux rising to head the ball past Sam Mansfield in the Wivenhoe goal.
Halstead then put one foot into the next round on the stroke of half-time. A ball down the right flank found Page and, after jinking around his marker, he shot across the goal and found the bottom corner. But the Dragons came out on the offensive after the break and got a deserved goal on 49 minutes. A long throw from skipper Josh Gould was deflected into his own goal by opposing Captain, Steve Daly.
Both teams knew the importance of the next goal and a breakaway for Halstead found it. A lengthy pass forward searched out Turner in a little bit of space and, spotting Mansfield off his line, he produced a shot which flew into the top section of the goal.
Wivenhoe didn’t give up, however, and some good work from Ricky Griggs down the right wing, where he always looked to have the better of his defender, nearly created a grandstand finish. His 88th-minute cross eventually found Ed Butcher at the edge of the penalty box, but his shot ended up going harmlessly wide.
Eventually Halstead progressed to another short away trip in their Second Round fixture to Witham Town, where they will compete for the opportunity to be in the hat when the likes of Southend United, Colchester United and holders Chelmsford City begin their quest for the trophy.
Wivenhoe Town: Sam Mansfield, Ben Lampon, James Raby, Jack Sibbons, Josh Gould, Ben Pudney, Ricky Griggs, Bryan Turner (Sam Holman, 68), Richie Meadows (Luke Rogers, 60), Ed Butcher, Jake Ivory (Josh Vaughan, 9). Unused Substitutes: Wilf Hall, Harry Schofield.
Halstead Town: Ed Wooten, Andy Joslin, Tom Austin (Liam Morley, 76), Mark Emerson, Tom Devaux, Lee Townrow, Hyunjin Lee, Steve Daly (Tom Webb, 71), Ray Turner, Jordan Page (Jimmy Pirie, 68), Danny Rowell. Unused Substitutes: Ryan Sutton, Adam Gillespie.
Bookings: Wivenhoe Town: Sibbons (unsporting behaviour, 56), Rogers (unsporting behaviour, 63).
Referee: Simon Essex.
Assistant Referees: Adrian Arnot and Robert Cox.
Man-of-the-Match: Ray Turner (Halstead Town): Always made himself available and held the ball up well. Concluded the fixture with a finish worthy of deciding the tie.