Essex Senior League
Venue: Cricklefield
Attendance: 55
2018-19 Season – Match 17
Saturday 29th September 2018 – 3pm KO
Ilford : Blue & White Hooped Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue & White Socks
Hoddesdon Town: White Shirts, Black Shorts, Black Socks
Stalemate rules at Cricklefield in battling draw
Report & Photos by Scott W (Twitter: ScottMHC14)
The sun shone on Cricklefield though the match couldn’t quite match that sunshine as Hoddesdon took on Ilford. Ilford’s forward line was led by Yemi Adelani and Callum Maltese with Lion Docaj and Morgan Seaman providing the width from the flanks. Hoddesdon were missing a few due to unavailability but could name full-back Aiden Critchley, winger Connor Bolton and Joss Lillis in their starting XI.
Both sides struggled to get their rhythm in the early stages of this match though Ilf winger Morgan Seaman stood out with his intelligent runs and composure on-the-ball. A poor clearance from home ‘keeper Hugo Rosetti led to Hoddy winger Connor Bolton having a pot-shot at goal which was deflected for a corner. From that set-piece, fellow winger Harry Bushell blazed over from a narrow angle.
Town forward Courtney Clay attempted to stretch the home defence by darting down the channels though they lacked cohesiveness in general. Ilford had two good chances st the midway point as forward Yemi Adelani and winger Lion Docai both fired wide of goal.
Hoddy had a decent chance seven minutes before the break as Bolton was well-denied by Rosetti after being found by midfielder Ciaran Doherty. The Foxes responded chance-wise on the cusp of the interval though Adelani fired over.
Half-Time: Ilford 0 – 0 Hoddesdon Town
Both sides needed to ‘ramp it up’ after the break though Hoddesdon had some fortune immediately into the second period as custodian Aaron Bull rashly came out of his box to beat Adelani to the ball after the forward’s surging run though the latter’s run took him away from goal and the ball sailed out of play. Visiting forward Kane Lowe spurned two good chances before the hour mark though the hestiant passing of the visitors stifled their ambitions throughout this match.
Neither Adelani or Hoddy attacking midfielder Joss Lillis could put away opening on goal, the latter being the strongest force arguably for Simon Riddle’s side in the last half-hour or so. Hoddesdon ‘keeper Bull had to alert to deny his own defender, Jack Riddle a less than prestigous own goal but tipping the latter’s header onto the bar with 13 minutes left. Lillis also headed wide , as did Jamall Dzoisi late on from a free-kick though the growing feeling that this one would end a goal-less draw was borne out.
In fairness, the draw was the fair result and a battling point for both sides, though both will play a lot better this term I suspect.
Full-Time: Ilford 0 – 0 Hoddesdon Town
Teams
Ilford | Manager: Martin Haywood
Hugo Rosetti (GK), Luke Casey, Josh Perry, Connor Kain, Danny Haigh (Capt), Jamall Dzotsi, Morgan Seaman (Billy Atim 36′), Mitchell Victorin (Yussuff Olajide 80′), Yemi Adelani, Callum Maltese (David Oyeleke 63′), Lion Docai
Booked: Dzotsi, Victorin, Haigh, Atim | Subs Not Used: Nazor
Hoddesdon Town | Manager: Simon Riddle
Aaron Bull (GK), Scott Hayes, Aiden Critchley, Michael Elliott (Capt), Jack Riddle, Ciaran Doherty, Harry Bushell (Sam Cross 66′), Joss Lillis, Courtney Clay (Millik Rickman 78′), Kane Lowe, Connor Bolton (Ben James 90′ +2)
Booked: Elliott, Clay, Cross | Subs Not Used: Smits (GK)
Thanks for reading.
survivor16b 