Essex Senior League
Venue: Cricklefield
Attendance: 52
2017-18 Season: Match 39
Wednesday 15th November 2017 8.05pm KO
Ilford: Blue & White Hooped Shirts, Blue Shorts, White Socks
Hullbridge Sports: Yellow & Blue Striped Shirts, Yellow Shirts, Yellow Socks
Scott W reporting (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
On a decent evening at Cricklefield, Hullbridge Sports travelled to face Ilford in another Essex Senior League encounter. For both clubs, it was the dawn of a new era as for the hosts Billy Cove has joined club legend Allan Fenn as joint-manager whilst Darren Manning had his first game in charge of Hullbridge here. Regarding the teams, James Peagram and Andrea Montovani led the line for the hosts while Shawn Coe made his full debut for Hullbridge at right-back. Ollie Miller and captain Jimmy Cox led their attack.
The match was delayed for twenty minutes due to the referee’s dislike for the faint lines on the pitch and to be fair, he had a point. Onto the match then and well proceedings were a bit sluggish to get going to be honest, with both sides needing to defend deeply in what was a bitty opening quarter-hour. Ilford winger George Whitelock did draw a save out of experienced stopper Jamie Merralls though on 21 minutes.
As it turned out, the visitors took the lead just shy of the half-hour as left winger Damien Siemienczuk found himself in a good position, closing in on goal and his goal-bound shot nicked off defender Karolis Atutis past home goalkeeper Chris Clark into the net. The visitors did look a little more active going forward though Siemienczuk blazed a shot wide five minutes before the break. Ilford did level three minutes before the interval as following a good ball in from the left flank, Peagram grabbed a tap-in. Certainly the timing of the goal was important for the Foxes at they headed into the break honours-even.
Half-Time: Ilford 1 – 1 Hullbridge
After the break, the hosts looked to step it up a gear and just two minutes into the second half, Atutis blazed a header over the bar. The visitors were still in this match though as Ollie Miller reminded us on 54 minutes when his strike needed the intervention of Clark to force a corner. Ilford were not at their best defensively, including the goalie though to be fair Clark was playing with a knock and the pitch was a bit slippery too. The hosts took the lead on 62 minutes as Atutis did make up for his earlier misfortune by powering in a free header from a corner. Hullbridge could have levelled things eight minutes later as winger Charlie Buffin’s effort forced a save from Clark with substitute Howard Wright’s follow-up strike being deflected over for a corner.
The visitors did not allow their heads to drop, as evidenced by Ilford’s Peagram working his way into the box though full-back Shawn Coe’s brilliant tackle denied him as the striker was poised to strike. Peagram did get his side’s third goal soon after though as the visitors were static in defending a corner and the striker headed home. Ilford still had to defend in the latter stages though they had done enough to record another three points. There wasn’t much in it at times though Hullbridge know they need numbers as they seek to lift themselves up the ESL table.
My thanks to Ilford joint-manager Allan Fenn and Hullbridge FC for their assistance with the teamsheets.
Full-Time: Ilford 3 – 1 Hullbridge Sports
Peagram 29′, 73′, Atutis 62′ | Siemienczuk 29′
Teams:
Ilford
Chris Clark (GK), Sam Buffour, Justas Paliulis, Isaac Nkosi, Karolis Atutis (Jonah Gregory 70′), Eamon Payne, George Whitelock (Bill Rungay 60′), Chris Lockwood, James Peagram (C), Andrea Montovani (Alex Paraskeva 60′), Alex Akanbi
Subs Not Used: Matthews, Oshin
Goal-scorers: James Peagram [42′ & 73′] & Karolis Atutis [62′]
Hullbridge Sports
Jamie Merralls (GK), Shawn Coe, Sam Taylor, Ben Perry, Angus Poole, Ollie Quick, Charlie Buffin (Sam Kimmence 76′), Sam Dulieu, Ollie Miller (Tom Ranger 63′), Jimmy Cox (C) (Howard Wright 63′), Damien Siemienczuk
Subs Not Used: Osborne, Wallington | Booked: Cox
Goal-scorer: Damien Siemienczuk [29′]
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