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UNDER 18
 
 
Somerset  0 - 3  Essex    
Sun 7th Oct 2007 at Hands Stadium
FA County Youth Cup First Round
 
Essex's Under 18s team began their assault on the 2007/08 F.A. County Youth Cup with a 3-0 victory over Somerset at Clevedon Town F.C. on Sunday.

The County has enjoyed limited success in the competition in recent years, last reaching the final in 1995 and recording just two successes in the Cup's 62-year history, in 1948 and 1950. But new boss, Howard Mackler, has assembled a young and varied squad, which set up a Second Round tie against Huntingdonshire with a comfortable win in the West Country.

"The lads hadn't played together before," the coach revealed after the triumph. "We introduced a new formation, and nearly all of the boys said they thought that this was a step up in class for them. There were a lot of Under-17s out there, and they can only get better."

The fixture started slowly for Essex, with the hosts making much of the early running before Tony Russ smashed a shot into the side-netting from Gary Ogilvie's neat cut-back in the 7th minute. "At the start, some people tried too hard, but eventually we got it down and began to play, passing the ball around them," Mackler said. That was evident as Harlee Dean drove the ball across the penalty area for Russ to hit a dipping effort just wide.

A strong period for the visitors ensued, and on the half-hour mark Brentwood Town front man Russ earned his reward. Dean was again involved before Russ exchanged passes with strike partner Sam Eldridge and fired a shot into the top right-hand corner. "It was a super finish, and it settled us down," Mackler remarked.

Just two minutes later Russ was denied converting Reiss Gilbey's through-ball by the base of the left upright, and right wing-back Troy Allen was prevented by the legs of Somerset stopper Luke Purnell. "Although I never thought they would score, we only switched off once just before half-time, and Danny Fowler made an excellent save," Mackler said. That came from Chris Goldsborough's header, turning the ball onto the post before Callum Stewart bundled the ball over the line from an offside position.

Essex went close to increasing their lead as Dean bounced an effort from an acute angle along the top of the crossbar, whilst Fowler again made a smart save just before the hour, tipping Kevin Cosham's fierce shot over the bar.

Ogilvie was struggling with cramp by this stage, but that didn't stop him scoring the goal of the game on 64 minutes. It was a wonderfully crafted move, with Gilbey sending a pinpoint lofted cross to the back post where Ogilvie met the ball with a rising left-footed shot into the roof of the net.

"Gary had played 75 minutes for Concord Rangers in the F.A. Vase twenty-four hours earlier, and he was really suffering from cramp, but it was a superb finish from a superb cross. He made a great effort to run fifty yards and get on the end of it," Mackler said.

Essex closed the game down in the final twenty minutes, although there was still time for Dean to be denied by a fine Purnell save and then, in stoppage time, for Russ to net his second of the afternoon when he picked up the ball from a wayward goal-kick and struck a deflected shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

Reflecting on his first matchday experience, Mackler said: "I'm really delighted with the result. It has been an excellent day, everything has been organised well and the sixteen that I selected have all been available, so hopefully we can keep this squad together."
  
 
Somerset: Luke Purnell (Weston-super-Mare), Jack Malone (Street) (James Self, [Taunton Blackbrook, 90+1]), Tom Rolls (Weston St. John) [Jack Milton (Churchill), 82]), Nick Bull (Taunton Blackbrook), Sam Johnson (Weston-super-Mare), Callum Stewart (Millfield School) (Ryan Vickery [Taunton Blackbrook, 80]), Graham Mercica (Bishop's Lydeard), Peter Coates (Winscombe), Chris Goldsborough (Churchill), Cameron Nott (Wellington), Kevin Cosham (Weston Super Mare).

Essex: Danny Fowler (Billericay Town), Troy Allen (Brentwood Town), Gary Ogilvie (Concord Rangers) [Tony Boyle (Thurrock), 67]), Wayne Bowers (Brentwood Town), Gary Hickey (Southend Manor), Lee Peacock (Harwich & Parkeston), Michael Rankin (A.F.C. Hornchurch), Harlee Dean (Dagenham & Redbridge), Sam Eldridge (Harwich & Parkeston) [Joe Dear (Brentwood Town), 77]), Tony Russ (Brentwood Town), Reiss Gilbey (Thurrock) [Reece Harris (Harwich & Parkeston), 74]). Unused Substitutes: Nick Pyne (Ilford) and Paul Kear (Dagenham & Redbridge).

Bookings: Somerset: Rolls (58, unsporting behaviour).

Referee: B. R. Huxtable (Torrington).

Assistant Referees: P. Lister (Exeter) and I. McGuffog (Exmouth).