Wednesday 7th October 2009, The Len Salmon Stadium, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex Round Two.
A second half brace from Paul Carr and a strike from skipper Craig Gillam saw Bowers & Pitsea clinch a spot in the Third Round of the Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex at the expense of 1984 FA Vase winners Stansted at the Len Salmon Stadium.
An exciting Second Round clash saw the visitors enjoy the best of an ultimately goalless first period, with young forward Ryan Murray proving a constant thorn in the home side’s rearguard. Indeed Murray had already seen an effort chalked-off by an offside flag before he twisted his way past an opponent and shot into the side netting from 20 yards, with ‘keeper Paul Horwood beaten.
The Bowers stopper was in action again moments later, doing well to cling onto Andy Oxby’s stinging half-volley in the slippery conditions after Lewis dark’s long free-kick wasn’t fully cleared. Good work on the left by Murray created further problems and only a fine block from defender Del Birkett prevented Horwood being called upon before the home side found their way into the game and, shortly before the interval, saw Nicky Judd’s long-ranger test ‘keeper Paul Seymour.
The game really sparked into life after the break, although shortly after seeing a 20-yard effort slide just off-target, danger man Murray was forced to leave the action, handing the initiative to the home side who duly took the lead within moments of the substitution. Gillam picked-up a loose ball following Mitchell Stuart-Evans’ free-kick and neatly shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Gillam, now posing problems himself, then saw his dipping lob drop over the top before the visitors forced a couple of opportunities to level. Firstly, Lewis Dark’s persistence led to him eventually firing an angled shot wide of the far post before a long Tommy Spillane free-kick was poked wide by full-back Billy Sendall.
Bowers doubled their advantage on 79 minutes, Judd’s excellent through ball finding Carr who calmly went past Seymour before sliding into an unguarded net. Stansted weren’t finished, though, and within two minutes had pulled a goal back following a neat move involving firstly Dark and then Spillane. The latter tidily laid the ball off for substitute Jamie Haywood to stab a low shot beneath Horwood from six yards.
The clash was put to bed two minutes from time when Bowers regained their two-goal lead. Stansted ‘keeper Seymour saw his up-field free-kick nodded clear and Carr was left with the task of finding the open net from 40 yards, doing so with aplomb.
Bowers & Pitsea: Paul Horwood, Neil Marron, Robert Collins, Del Birkett, Mitchell Stuart-Evans, Nicky Judd, Marcus Allen, Michael Fenttiman (Tom Playle, 76), Paul Carr (Ben Cook, 89), Craig Gillam, Daniel Barrington (Emmanuel Erasmus, 46). Unused Substitute: George Anderson.
Stansted: Paul Seymour, Billy Sendall, Tommy Spillane, Kieren King, Andy Oxby, Jack Dallender, Dwight Gayle, Lewis Dark, Ryan Murray (Kevin Vallis, 52), John Bricknell (Luke Giddings, 64), Aaron Best (Jamie Haywood, 72). Unused Substitute: Vinnie Durrant.
Bookings: None.
Referee: Graham Bellingham (Grays).
Assistant Referees: Graham Mathurin (Stanford-le-Hope) and Martin Osborne (Leigh-on-Sea).
Man-of-the-Match: Craig Gillam (Bowers & Pitsea): Following the early second-half withdrawal of Stansted threat Ryan Murray, Gillam took full advantage, immediately giving his side the lead with an accomplished shot before showing great hold-up play and distribution as the skipper led his side by example.