Tolleshunt D’Arcy Cup Semi-Final
Venue: Lower Road
Attendance: 51
Date: Tuesday 28th March 2017 7.45pm KO
Hullbridge Sports : Blue & White Striped Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
Burnham Ramblers : Red & Yellow Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks

Scott W reporting (Follow me on Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
On a fairly serene evening at Lower Road, Hullbridge Sports took on ESL rivals Burnham Ramblers in the second Tolleshunt D’Arcy Cup Semi-Final.
Hullbridge started the stronger of the two sides, having a goal chalked off after just five minutes for an Off-side. Charlie Little down the Hullbridge right flank was posing the visitors’ problems through his direct running, pace and pinging across the odd good cross as well. The Hulbridge forward pairing of captain Jimmy Cox and Luca Frankis did have openings, Cox in particular spurning a few chances, failing to beat visiting ‘keeper Chris Leonard.
The home side did eventually make their superior play count just past the half hour as midfielder Dean Wallace blasted home from inside the area into top right corner. Only minutes later, midfielder comrade Dan Regan blasted another effort wide, much to the Hullbridge man’s dismay. Burnham couldn’t quite retain possession long enough to string together passages of play in attack unfortunately, as the both sides named strong XI’s for this Cup match. Burnham’s best chance really came on 14 minutes as forward Charlee Hughes’ header from a free-kick was saved by home ‘keeper Jamie Merralls.
Half-Time: Hullbridge Sports 1 – 0 Burnham Ramblers
The second half began with Hullbridge having a slender lead for a fairly dominant first period. They made good on their resolve though early on in the second period, as just three minutes in, Hullbridge forward Cox passed the ball into the net after a defensive mishap to double the home side’s lead. Only seven minutes or so after that, winger Little blasted home a long-range effort to really take the wind out of Burnham’s sails.
Burnham kept going for the majority of the second half, though struggled to create guilt-edged chances, though they did pose the Hullbridge back four a few more problems through forwards Craig Heskey and Charlee Hughes, though Hullbridge could’ve added to their goal tally late on. Substitute Ryan Wallington skewed his strike wide of goal when one-on-one with Leonard, before Little had two well-struck efforts well-saved by Leonard late on as Hullbridge reached the Final, where they’ll play Ryman League Division North side Heybridge Swifts.
FT: Hullbridge Sports 3 – 0 Burnham Ramblers
Wallace 32’, Cox 48’ , Little 55’
Teams: |
|
Hullbridge Sports
Player-Manager: Rob Hodgson |
Burnham Ramblers
Manager: Lee Hughes |
1 Jamie Merralls (GK) | 1 Chris Leonard (GK) |
2 Aaron Hunwicks | 2 Connor Peralta |
3 Sam Taylor | 3 Grant Webb (Subbed 64’) |
4 Dan Regan | 4 Ben Timson |
5 Rob Hodgson | 5 Reggie Disley (C) |
6 Joe Turpin | 6 Matthew Coppen |
7 Charlie Little | 7 Andrew Mowforth (Subbed 64’) |
8 Dean Wallace | 8 Luke Moloney (Subbed 46’) |
9 Jimmy Cox (C) (Subbed 73’) | 9 Craig Heskey |
10 Luca Frankis (Subbed 73’) | 10 Ryan Stillwell |
11 Charlie Gerada (Subbed 73’) | 11 Charlee Hughes |
Substitutes: | |
12 Ryan Walington (On 73’) | 12 Sam Eve (On 46’) |
14 Howard Wright (On 73‘) | 15 Sam Kimmence |
15 Ronnie Pallett (On 73‘) | 15 Jordan Denyer (On 46’) |
GK Ryan Emery | 17 James Wilsher (On 64’) |
18 Kevin Obaze | |
Booked: Regan, Wright | |
Referee: | Dave Tregaskes |
Assistant Referees: | Tom Bullard
Stephen Vieira |