Sunday 13th December 2009, The Brentwood Centre Arena, Kick-off 2:00pm, East Anglian Counties Under 16s Championship.
Two goals from debutant central midfielder Albert Levett set Essex en route to a resounding 4-0 triumph over Suffolk in their East Anglian Counties Under 16s Championship fixture at The Brentwood Centre Arena.
“I’m absolutely delighted with today’s performance. When you consider much of the team today also played 120 minutes for the Schools’ side in a penalty shoot-out defeat to Cambridgeshire only yesterday, to put in such a fantastic and energetic performance today was terrific,” explained boss Dave Agass MBE afterwards.
He had every right to be pleased, too, as his Under 16s side devoured a Suffolk team who had scored ten goals in the process of comfortably winning their two opening fixtures in the competition. Essex took a strangle-hold early on, James Jaconelli threatening when his 25-yard free-kick dropped just wide before a rare Suffolk attack saw home ‘keeper Joe Fowler cling onto Jordan Egerton’s half-volley at the second attempt.
The home county took the lead on 18 minutes though as Levett, who marked his first appearance as skipper, fired an unstoppable long-range shot in off the underside of the crossbar, giving Suffolk ‘keeper Ben Lancaster no chance. Within five minutes the advantage was extended to two, this time a classy move finishing with Andre Gumbs brilliantly side-footing home Jack Browne-Sykes’ cross at the far post.
A good save from Lancaster prevented a third shortly after as Browne-Sykes was denied before Will Hitter sent a 30-yard effort wide of the mark for the visitors. And five minutes ahead of the break Agass’ side almost struck again, but Moses Kamonda saw his close-range effort bounce off a post after Lancaster had parried Ben Sartain’s low drive.
The hosts dominated the second period and Browne-Sykes saw his 20-yard shot zip just wide before the decisive third goal arrived on 56 minutes, Levett shooting into the far corner from 15 yards after a tidy exchange. Levett, seeking his hat-trick, slammed a 15-yard effort off-target and Sartain watched a shot well stopped by Lancaster before the scoring was completed three minutes from time, a great move involving Sartain and Browne-Sykes neatly finished by substitute Lewis Wright from close range.
Essex: Joe Fowler (Maldon Town), Andre Gumbs (Waltham Abbey), Robbie Rees (Brentwood Town), Albert Levett (Chelmsford City), Matt Allen (Heybridge Swifts), Joe Bilton (AFC Hornchurch), Ben Sartain (Grays Athletic), James Jaconelli (Waltham Abbey), Nivi Mahendran (Manford Way), Jack Browne-Sykes (Dartford), Curtley Yates (AFC Hornchurch). Substitutes (repeated): Lewis Wright (Chelmsford City), Mose Kamonda (Waltham Abbey).
Suffolk: Ben Lancaster (Woodbridge Town), Jay Welham (East Bergholt United), Sam Cullivan (Woodbridge Town), Jack Edwards (Woodbridge Town), Adam Clarke (Woodbridge Town), Will Hitter (Woodbridge Town), Stewart MacFarlane (Woodbridge Town), Harry Barker (Woodbridge Town), Jordan Egerton (Cambridge United), Ryan Titlow (Woodbridge Town), Kieran Morley (Achilles). Substitutes (repeated): Stacey Payne (Woodbridge Town), Stephen Fenner (Woodbridge Town).
Bookings: None.
Referee: Jonathan Smith (Wickford).
Assistant Referees: George Lock (Hornchurch) and Anthony Owen (Purfleet).