Essex Senior League
Venue: Lower Road
Attendance: 57
2017-18 Season – Match 19
Tuesday 12th September 2017 7.45pm KO
Hullbridge Sports: Blue & White Striped Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
Burnham Ramblers: Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks
Scott W reporting (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
On a wet, grim evening at Lower Road, Hullbridge welcomed Burnham Ramblers in another Essex Senior League encounter. And this one was a cracker!
Hullbridge started this match like a train and hassled the visitors’ defence early-doors. They made good on their intentions early-doors too as player-boss Rob Hodgson, playing in midfield, got the opener just four minutes in, heading in defender Aaron Hunwicks’ free-kick. The hosts were in dreamland after just eight minutes as winger Yvan Kombi blasted a curling effort that sailed past visiting goalkeeper Josh Strizovic to put Sports two goals to the good.
Importantly though for the visitors, Burnham pulled one back on the quarter-hour as after a good right-wing cross by full-back Jed Bowman eventually fell to midfielder Billy Howard who slotted home in a congested penalty area. In all fairness, it was a super start to the match.
As the midway point of the first half approached, the visitors hit the bar twice, forward Charlee Hughes hit a 25-yarder which cannoned off the woodwork and then soon after fellow forward Bradley Morgan’s drive was spilled by Hullbridge goalkeeper Bobby Mason onto the bar and out. Mason has returned to the club after ending his spell at Isthmian Premier side Thurrock recently.
The visitors did have a good spell around the half-hour mark though couldn’t convert their decent play. In the last six minutes of the half, it was a tale of two chances. Firstly, on 39 minutes Burnham were awarded a penalty after a foul on Morgan by Hullbridge defender Angus Poole in the area. Hughes stepped up to take it though blazed his effort over the bar.
And secondly, three minutes afterward, Hodgson made a good run down the middle and was found by captain Jimmy Cox and slotted home well for his second of the evening to restore Hullbridge’s two-goal cushion at half-time.
Half-Time: Hullbridge Sports 3 – 1 Burnham Ramblers
The rain continued to lash down as the second half began and before long, the conditions were not easy to play in. A minute into the second half, Hullbridge winger Charlie Gerada made a good darting run down the left wing though couldn’t find the cross to pick out Cox in the middle. Burnham responded though Burnham midfielder Adam Brotherton twice couldn’t find the target. The hosts could have extended their lead seven minutes after the break, though Hodgson couldn’t direct his header past Strizovic and the ‘keeper made the save.
Burnham were reduced to ten men eight minutes into the second half as Brotherton was given a straight red what was adjudged to be a dangerous tackle. This seemed to invigorate Burnham though as on 59 minutes, Hughes got his side’s second as he nodded home a free-kick past Mason. And then only two minutes later, Burnham were level as a drive from distance from Hughes sailed past Mason into the left corner to get his brace.
The visitors really had their ‘tails up’ now and midfielder Ben Timson’s strike was well-saved by Mason. Hullbridge forced Strizovic into a good save soon after as Kombi made a good run and strike though the ‘keeper was equal to it. For about 20 minutes from the midway point of the half onwards, Burnham pliled forward as Morgan was twice denied by Mason and Hughes blasted a 30-yard drive which went over the bar. Full-back Grant Webb also shot wide of the far-post after substitute Craig Heskey’s pass.
Hullbridge also poured forward in the dying moments though couldn’t quite fashion any clear-cut chances.
So, it ended as a draw, on another day it might’ve been a different result. We could’ve conceivably had eight or more goals tonight. Both sides may be frustrated, though what I do know is that this encounter was richly entertaining and credit has to go to both sides on that note. For Hullbridge, Rob Hodgson played well and could’ve had a hat-trick, Yvan Kombi also did well. For Burnham, Charlee Hughes ran his socks off in leading the line for his side and full-back Jed Bowman really put in a good performance as well in my view.
Full-Time: Hullbridge Sports 3 – 3 Burnham Ramblers
Hodgson 4’, 42’ Howard 15’
Kombi 8’ Hughes 59’, 61’
I’d like to wish both sides well for the rest of the season and thank Hullbridge for their hospitality.
|
Teams: |
|
| Hullbridge Sports
Player-Manager: Rob Hodgson |
Burnham Ramblers Manager: Lee Hughes |
| 1 Bobby Mason (GK) | 1 Josh Strizovic (GK) |
| 2 Charlie Buffin | 2 Jed Bowman |
| 3 Aaron Hunwicks | 3 Grant Webb |
| 4 Lewis Watson | 4 Scott Plom |
| 5 Angus Poole | 5 Andrew Mowforth (Subbed 76’) |
| 6 Ollie Quick | 6 Billy Howard |
| 7 Yvan Kombi | 7 Adam Brotherton |
| 8 Rob Hodgson | 8 Ben Timson |
| 9 Jimmy Cox (C) | 9 Bradley Morgan (Subbed ‘90+3) |
| 10 Sam Dulieu (Subbed 80’) | 10 Ryan Stillwell (C) |
| 11 Charlie Gerada (Subbed 68’) | 11 Charlee Hughes (Subbed ‘90+1) |
|
Substitutes: |
|
| 12 Ronnie Pallett (On 80’) | 12 Craig Heskey (On ‘90+1) |
| 14 Ryan Wallington (On 68’) | 14 Sam Eve |
| 15 Jamie Buffin | 15 Daniel Green (On 76’) |
| 16 George Vile | 16 Albino Christo (On ‘90+3) |
| 17 Jamie Merralls (GK) | 17 Aydin Coban |
| Referee: | Jamie Pope |
| Assistant Referees: | Paul Falvey
Cristiana Hattersley |
| Booked: Cox | Booked: Plom, Howard |
| Sent Off: Brotherton | |
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