Thursday 8th October 2009, Terence MacMillan Stadium, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex Round Two.
Three second-half strikes saw Basildon United book their place in the hat for the Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex Third Round draw with a comfortable victory over fellow Essex Senior League outfit London APSA at the Terence MacMillan Stadium.
It was a well-earned victory for Basildon who, despite dominating first-half proceedings, couldn’t conjure a break-through until the second period. United created all the early running and carved the first opening on 16 minutes, Ollie Baker firing wide following Martyn Guest’s neatly-laid free-kick. Shortly afterwards, Wes Bocking hit a free-kick just off-target before a fine ball by Paul Lander found Lee Mertens who fired inches wide from the edge of the area.
Wide man Paul Richardson saw a 20-yard effort well held by APSA ‘keeper Dan Higley who was again in fine form to push Steve Poulter’s long ranger around the post. Though the home side did create opportunities of their own towards the end of the first half, Mo Dakri being reluctant to shoot from six yards before being quickly closed down following a long Isaac Buttler-Aubynn throw-in. Basildon then had further chances, with Bocking nodding a Lander corner wide and Poulter seeing his stinging effort held by Higley.
APSA enjoyed a brighter start to the second period, midfielder Anthony Chuck watching his 25-yard effort pushed around the post by Basildon stopper Marc Palmer and Dakri also saw his long effort stopped. But it was the visitors who grabbed the lead on 52 minutes, Bocking coolly curling home into the corner from 15 yards having lost his marker.
The hosts responded immediately with Dada Femi’s lob testing Palmer, but within five minutes Basildon doubled their lead, this time Baker stabbing home from close range after Richardson’s corner had been headed away from under the crossbar. The decisive third goal arrived on 72, substitute Lawrence Smith’s dangerous centre inadvertently directed into his own net by Simpson Mpalampa, himself only just off the bench.
APSA didn’t finish the game without some fight, however, and with twelve left to play they grabbed a consolation when Dakri superbly headed home Buttler-Aubynn’s right flank cross from six yards.
London APSA: Dan Higley, John Langton (Junior Sanda, 59), Benjamin Gabon, Dada Femi, Stephen McCulloch, Majid Hussain, Jamie Langton, Anthony Chuck (Simpson Mpalampa, 70), Mo Dakri, Isaac Buttler-Aubynn, Stuart Houghton (Ben Dixon, 49). Unused Substitute: Zeshan Choudhry.
Basildon United: Marc Palmer, Lee Mertens, Del Gladden, Martyn Guest (Lawrence Smith, 57), Dan Hipgrave, Paul Lander (Lance McDowell, 78), Ollie Baker, Sean Merchant, Wes Bocking, Steve Poulter (Ryan Wettner, 78), Paul Richardson. Unused Substitutes: Richard Robinson, Richard Mann.
Bookings: London APSA: Gabon (74, unsporting behaviour).
Referee: Thomas Brooks (Dagenham).
Assistant Referees: Gary Waplington (Brentwood) and Damian Partis (Pilgrims Hatch).
Man-of-the-Match: Wes Bocking (Basildon United): A constant menace in the APSA side with his presence in attack and scored an impressive goal to give Basildon the crucial break-through seven minutes into the second half.