Sunday 7th February 2010, Mill Field, Kick-Off 2:00pm, East Anglian Counties Under 16s Championship.
Hopes of an Essex Under 16s title were dashed as Cambridgeshire mounted an impressive comeback to seal a 4-2 victory at Aveley FC’s Mill Field venue, the defeat marking Essex’s final game of the East Anglian Counties Championship as their unbeaten run came to an end.
Essex were unbeaten in their three previous matches but Boss Dave Agass was in a placid mood afterwards, explaining: “We’ve had a good year again but I think we’re all a little disappointed with today’s result and performance. Cambridgeshire were a very good side, though, and played some great football. We made a dream start but perhaps that came a little early and it allowed the opposition plenty of time to come back into the game.”
It was a dream start, too, as the home county found themselves two goals to the good within ten minutes. Firstly, Curtley Yates bundled the ball over the line after Geantan Bimangu had turned it into the danger area following a Jack Browne-Sykes corner on 7 minutes. Andre Gumbs then capitalised on a misplaced punch by ‘keeper Jamie Crook and fired into the roof of the net from close range to double Essex’s lead.
Cambridgeshire regrouped and soon found a route back into the game as they halved the deficit on 24 minutes, Kaine Sheppard finding space for himself to send a low daisy-cutter in off the foot of the post. Just two minutes later the visitors were back on level terms, Lewis MacDonald’s long throw being flicked into the path of Jack Davis who made no mistake in stabbing home from close range.
Cambridgeshire could have stolen a half-time lead as Essex ‘keeper Joe Fowler did well to cling onto Sheppard’s effort. However, just eight minutes after the restart the visitors did grab the initiative, Gumbs’ clearance bouncing into the net off Endurance Bisong after Sheppard’s low effort had also been cleared. A chance to level went begging for the home side when skipper Albert Levett shot wide after a strong run but on 55 the visitors scored their fourth, Bisong slotting home at the far post after fine work by Davis.
Essex had opportunities to reduce the arrears via Lewis Wright who squandered a one-on-one with Crook and also when Browne-Sykes slid an effort off target. But, with twelve minutes remaining, the visitors could have grabbed a fifth. Following a long stoppage, Fowler shook-off a knock to save Josh Line’s penalty after Gumbs had brought down the Cambridge front man. Fowler also made a fine stop deep into stoppage time, pushing Sheppard’s stinging effort over the top as Cambridgeshire ran out as winners.
Essex: Joe Fowler (Maldon Town), Moses Kamanda (Waltham Abbey), Ose Alli (Essex Schools), Joe Bilton (AFC Hornchurch), Andre Gumbs (Waltham Abbey), Robbie Rees (Brentwood Town), Albert Levett (Chelmsford City), Matt Allen (Heybridge Swifts), Jack Browne-Sykes (Dartford), James Jaconelli (Waltham Abbey), Curtley Yates (AFC Hornchurch). Substitutes (repeated): Lewis Wright (Chelmsford City), Geantan Bimangu (Chelmsford City), Dan Bely (Essex Schools).
Cambridgeshire: Jamie Crook (Histon), Max Avery (Histon), David October (Histon), Charlie Day (Histon), Ryan Hutton (Cambridge United), Lewis Macdonald (Histon), Josh Line (Histon), Jake Twinn (Histon), Kaine Sheppard (Histon), Endurance Bisong (Histon Hornets), Jack Davis (Histon). Substitutes (repeated): Adam Wright (Cambridge City), Ben Sawyer (Histon Hornets), Rickie Knael (Histon), Ollie Montique (Swavesey Spartans), Mitchell Bevans (Histon).
Referee: Graham Bellingham (Grays).
Assistant Referees: Rhys Battye (Grays) and Karl Dunnage (Basildon).