County Cups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE FansFocus.Com SENIOR CUP
 
 

BOWERS & PITSEA   1 - 0   CLACTON          
 
Bowers & Pitsea, semi-finalists in 2005, successfully got their new FansFocus.Com Essex Senior Cup campaign off and running with Scott Curly's single first half goal seeing-off the reformed F.C. Clacton at the Len Salmon Stadium.

F.C. Clacton, created in June following the demise of Clacton Town, started the brighter of the two sides, with front-man Sam Benhamina curling a shot wide after two minutes and Kevin Cole volleying over following an Andy Taylor cross just before the quarter-hour.

However, the home side soon found their feet and grabbed hold of the game. A fine run and shot by Danny Greaves was parried by 'keeper Craig Pulton and Scott Pethers saw his rebound blocked. Pulton was again called into action to deny Greaves' sharp shot before moments later Carl Reed fired a thirty-yard effort over the top.

The crucial goal arrived on 32 minutes. A low Greaves centre picked-out Curly who struck home the winner with the outside of his right boot from ten yards. A fantastic tackle by Bowers' Brad Davy kept his side ahead at the interval, though, denying Benhamnia who had sprinted onto Cole's incisive through-ball.

Clacton also spurned the first opportunity of the second period. A good move involving Benhamnia and Cole saw the latter's low shot gathered by shot-stopper Paul Dennis at the second attempt.

Bowers soon re-gained their composure and will have been disappointed not to have extended their lead. Peters picked-up a Davy through ball and ran unchallenged towards the Clacton goal but saw his low shot well held by Pulton before a fine one-two between Greaves and Craig Gillan saw Gillan's effort blocked before Pethers fired the loose ball just wide.

Lively forward Greaves was then twice guilty in front of goal as he first took the ball past goalkeeper Pulton but stabbed the ball into the side-netting before side-footing Gillan's cut-back over the bar from six yards.

A late threat from the visitors brought a good effort from substitute Mark White, his shot dipping inches wide of the post, and White was also left stranded out of reach in front of a gaping net as Cole's cross flashed across the face of goal.

Bowers & Pitsea: Paul Dennis, Darren Ellis, Carl Reed, Brad Davy, Chris Tuckner, Jamie Clarke (Ricky Thompson, 67), Scott Curly (Taylor Lang, 46), Jamie Gray (C), Craig Gillam, Danny Greaves, Scott Pethers. Unused Substitutes: Harry Stevens, Ollie Baker, Nathan Evans.

F.C. Clacton: Craig Pulton, Andy Taylor, Jimmy Carmichael, Gareth Gibson, Simon Carmichael, Ash Periara, (David Coyle, 87), Paul Hillier (C), Dan Smith, Aaron Condon (Mark White, 46), Sam Benhamnia (Todd Wildney, 83), Kevin Cole.

Bookings: Bowers: Danny Greaves (43, foul).

Referee: Ben Quartermaine (Dagenham).

Assistant Referees: Jamie Pope (Hockley) and Jonathan Smith (Wickford).

Attendance: 41.

Man of the Match: Kevin Cole (F.C. Clacton) - Despite Clacton spending much of the game on the back foot, Cole remained a livewire throughout. His work on the wing and through the centre caused Bowers continuous concern.