Rep Teams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERMEDIATE
 

AMATEUR FA   1  v  2     ESSEX FA
 
Words of Caution
ESSEX'S INTERMEDIATE rep side ensured that they will play in the final of the Southern Counties Championship after a 2-1 success over previously unbeaten AFA...
 
Essex will now face either AFA or Middlesex in the final of the competition after leapfrogging the Amateur FA to top the group with just Middlesex's clash against London at Hillingdon Borough on 13 April left to be played.
 
However, they left it late, White Ensign's Neil Benson stabbing home from close range in the 81st minute after Dan Ashley had clawed away Dave Bryant's chipped effort.
 
Ashley, who plies his trade with Norsemen, was the pick of the players on show, making his first save as early as the fifth minute when he claimed Stuart Cochrane's low shot at his near post. He made a similar stop from Miguel Cunha's volley a quarter-of-an-hour later.
 
The hosts did fight back well to control much of the play in the opening 45 minutes, Epping's John Thomas saving from Brain Hanley before Alex Ewing was denied twice on the half-hour, firstly by Cunha's deflection and then by Thomas' groping touch when the front-man raced through one-on-one.
 
Thomas also had to be alert to scramble the Nottsborough forward's close-range poke around the right-hand post, with long-haired front-man Neil Hughes flashing a volley past the same upright from the ensuing corner.
 
Bryant nodded over from eight yards and also scuffed a shot across the face of goal after rounding Ashley as Essex responded at the end of a lively first half. Ashley also palmed away Nicky Symmons' 35-yard piledriver at the start of the second period.
 
However, it was the AFA that took the lead twelve minutes after the interval. Osman Akkaya delivered a deep right-wing free-kick into the penalty area and Ewing reacted quickest to curl into the bottom right-hand corner.
 
Hughes' fierce shot was bravely blocked by John Edwards before Essex fought their way back into the match. First Cochrane's chip was flicked on by Cunha and Bryant was denied by Ashley, and then Ben Smith equalised as he rose highest at the back post to head home Cunha's set-piece.
 
AFA could have recorded a second goal, Barnado Da Silva's dipping drive cannoning off of the crossbar before Thomas punched away the rebound and, with just five minutes left and Benson's strike having given the visitors the lead, Smith was fortunate not to be reprimanded after bringing down Dan Chantler on the edge of the area. Hughes hoisted the free-kick over and Essex could celebrate.
 
Essex: John Thomas, Andy Denney (Marcus Nicholls 82), John Edwards, Ben Smith, Dean Godden, Chris Baddeley, Neil Benson, Nicky Symmons, Stuart Cochrane (Darryl Wilson 70), Dave Bryant, Miguel Cunha. Sub not used: Dan Weller.
Goals: Smith 67:50, Benson 80:39
 
AFA: Dan Ashley, Adam Freeman (Matt Harrison 57), Dan Chantler, Alistair McCombe, James Concannon, James Ayres, Michael Ayres, Osman Akkaya, Barnado Da Silva, Neil Hughes, Alex Ewing.
Goal: Ewing 57:06
 
*The Under-16s fixture against Cambridgeshire at Church Road, Tiptree United F.C. was postponed on Sunday due to a waterlogged pitch. News of a rearranged date for this match will be found on www.essexfa.com when available.
  

AMATEUR FA      v       ESSEX FA
 
Wednesday, 15th March 2006, kick-off 7:30pm at Potters Bar Town FC
 

Essex Intermediate Squad
Essex Squad
 
John THOMAS Epping James QUILTER Manford Way Dean GODDEN Bishop's Stortford Sw. Darren HEGGARTY Manford Way Kalam MOONIARUCK Bishop's Stortford Sw. Nicky SYMMONS Manford Way Stuart COCHRANE Bishop's Stortford Sw. Neil BENSON White Ensign Andy DENNNEY Bishop's Stortford Sw. Chris BADDELEY White Ensign Miguel CUNHA Bishop's Stortford Sw. Dave BRYANT White Notley Ryland MYNOTT Bishop's Stortford Sw. Neil GRANT Frenford Senior Dave FIELD Frenford Senior 

Manager - Pete ISHERWOOD.
Asst. Manager - Dave CHAPLIN
Physio - John BARWICK
 

LONDON FA    0  v  5     ESSEX FA
 
QUICK-FIRE goals within seconds of each half set Essex Intermediates on their way to a storming 5-0 victory over London at Leyton FC on Wednesday evening.
 
The reigning Southern Counties Champions grabbed the lead after just 38 seconds at Lea Bridge Road, debutant Dave Bryant providing the ammunition for Dave Coates to slide a shot in off the post. 
 

Essex Intermediate Squad
 
Pete Isherwood's side were even quicker off the blocks to double the lead after the break, White Notley frontman Bryant smashing home an unstoppable finish after just 18 seconds.  That provided the backbone for a convincing victory with Kalam Mooniariuck, Stuart Cockrane and Bryant again rounding off the win.
"We were simply awesome tonight" said a beaming Isherwood after the game. "We have had a number of new lads come in and they have all done really well.  Both Dave Bryant and Stuart Cockrane were making their first appearances up front and the gelled really well.  You never know what to expect from a new pairing, but we have tried them out and it's really paid off"

Essex, if it was not for the heroics of London goalkeeper Stewart Back, could well have had the game killed off by the interval, as Isherwood was quick to highlight: "In a way it was disappointing to only be one goal up at the break, because it could have been more. However we had a good word at half time and second half, well what can I say?  I thought we were fantastic, we worked really hard and thoroughly deserved the result.  They are a nice set of lads and I'm really pleased for them"

Following Coates' slick opening goal, Essex had a number of chances to increase their lead and will count themselves very unlucky that they didn't do so.  Bryant was lively on his debut and Back did well to halt a speedy goalbound dash before Chris Baddeley fired a 20 yard free kick just over the top.

A Coates corner was then headed against the crossbar by Dean Gooden whilst a rare London attack saw John Thomas make a fine stop from David Moss.

The last action of the first half saw Back make a sharp stop from Bryant before the Cray Valley shot-stopper produced another stunning save to tip Coates's shot onto the outside of the post.

Following Bryant's fierce right-footed finish just seconds after the second half re-start, Essex began their second half dominance which brought a cheeky third goal from ex-England Youth International Mooniaruck. The Bishop's Stortford Swifts star burst down the right flank before cutting into the middle where, 20 yards from goal, he stepped over the ball with his left foot before flicking home with the outside of the right boot.  The fourth goal arrived on 83 minutes. A fantastic move started from 'keeper Thomas whose throw found Mooniaruck with Bryant unleashed on the right flank. Cockrane dashed into the box and comprehensively nodded home Bryant's pin-point centre.

London custodian Back was forced to make an impressive double stop from Bryant in the closing stages before the White Notley frontman rounded off proceedings in stoppage time with a neat low finish past Back.

ESSEX:- John Thomas (Epping), Andy Denney (Bishop's Stortford Swifts), Darren Heggarty (Manford Way), Neil Grant (Bishop's Stortford Swifts), Dean Gooden (Bishop's Stortford Swifts), Dave Field (Frenford Senior), Dave Coates (Bishop's Stortford Swifts), Chris Baddeley (White Ensign), Stuart Cockrane (Bishop's Stortford Swifts), Dave Bryant (White Notley), Kalam Mooniaruck (Bishop's Stortford Swifts).   Subs  -  Nicky Symmons (Manford Way), Neil Benson (White Ensign), Ryland Mynott (Bishop's Stortford Swifts)