(abandoned after 62 minutes due to fog), Wednesday 28th October 2009, Redbridge FC, Kick-Off 7:45pm, East Anglian Counties Under 18s Championship.
The autumnal weather was the only winner at Oakside as an entertaining Under 18s fixture was cut short after 62 minutes due to a thick fog which descended with Essex and Cambridgeshire locked at two goals apiece.
It was a disappointing end to a tensely-poised fixture which had seen Cambridgeshire twice peg back the home county in an exciting first period. “It’s a shame, but we were having trouble even seeing which team was in possession and I couldn’t see into the far corner of the pitch at all,” explained Essex boss Howard Mackler afterwards. “The referee spoke to the Cambridgeshire Manager and myself shortly before the abandonment and it was agreed we couldn’t continue if the conditions deteriorated, which they duly did. We now have another game to look forward to in Bedfordshire on Sunday.”
The game got off to a lively start and Luke Parkinson had already fired an effort marginally over the top for the visitors before Essex grabbed the lead with just 4 minutes played, Jack Gardner delivering an excellent cross from the right which saw Billy Radley fire an acrobatic bicycle kick into the far corner from six yards. Within four minutes, though, Cambridge were level when ‘keeper Max Castledine misjudged a long Rogan McGeorge free-kick and Ryan Ingrey found space to head home.
Essex were back in the lead four minutes before the interval from the penalty spot. Gardner was hauled down by Daniel Stopher and duly stepped up himself to confidently fire home from twelve yards. But once again Cambridge hauled themselves level, this time on the stroke of half-time in the quickly-gathering gloom as Parkinson stabbed home from close range following a low ball from the right.
As the mist began to envelop the ground after the interval, visibility became notably poor and, moments after George Tolliday had headed wide for the visitors, referee Craig Pullen was left with little choice but to bring an abrupt halt to proceedings with 28 minutes still remaining to play.
Essex: Max Castledine (Brentwood Town), Tom Wolfe (Basildon Town), Tyler Spillman (Thurrock), Bradley Vaughan (Grays Athletic), Danny Johnson (FC Clacton), Jamie Oates (Hullbridge Sports), Christy O’Donoghue (Thurrock), Jack Gardner (Concord Rangers), Kofi Kessie (Billericay Town), Ryan Smith (Southend Manor), Billy Radley (Billericay Town). Unused Substitutes: Ryan Henshaw (Cornard United), David Hughes (Thurrock), Andrew Morgan (Thurrock), Mark Laing (Billericay Town).
Cambridgeshire: Michael Winstone (Unattached), Scott Everdell (Histon), Rogan McGeorge (Histon), Daniel Stopher (Cottenham United) (Jay Dowei [Histon], 58), Joe Stroud (Histon), Dubi Ogbama (Soham Town Rangers), Lewis Taffe (Histon), James Stevenson (Histon), Ryan Ingrey (Histon), George Tolliday (Cottenham United), Luke Parkinson (Bury Town). Unused Substitutes: Jonathan Milne (Foxton), Rhys Williams (Histon), Jack Sessions (Histon), Robbie Dance (Histon).
Referee: Craig Pullen (Ilford).
Assistant Referees: Edward Smith (Hornchurch) and Adam Deller (Dagenham).