Errington Challenge Cup 2018-19: Round Two
Venue: Hargrave Park
Attendance: 63
2018-19 Season – Match 26
Tuesday 23rd October 2018 – 7.45pm KO
Stansted : Blue & Black Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
Takeley : Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks
Stansted progress in the Errington Cup with a late flourish
Report & Photos by Scott W (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
Our travels took us to Hargrave Park to see Stansted welcome Takeley as the Errington Challenge Cup reached its second round stage. Team-wise, The Airportmen rested several of the starting XI that has been making waves in the Essex Senior League so far this season. In came recent signings Charlie Buffin at full-back and James Briggs in central midfield. Jack West and Jordan Palmer led the line while Paul Preston and Connor Hammond were on the flanks, with Callum Ibe among the substitutes. Takeley suffered a blow early this week with star forward Charlie Cole leaving the club. Stalwart Ronnie Yates continued in goal, while Josh Sykes was supported by skipper Jason Todd in attack.
If I’m being really honest, the first half rather limped into life with the bulk of the chances in the early stages coming from set-pieces. Three minutes in, Stansted winger Connor Hammond’s free-kick sailed wide. Five minutes later, a free-kick from Takeley’s Alex Martin was nodded on to a decent header by midfielder George Pullen though home stopper Charlie Turner saved comfortably.
Home winger Paul Preston was looking lively down the right wing, and as we approached the midway point of the half, his strike, heading for the top corner was well punched away by the ever-commanding goalkeeper that is Ronnie Yates. Both sides struggled somewhat to find that telling final ball to breach the other’s defence. To be fair to the visitors, centre-backs Leo Pontes and Bryn Thorpe did a decent job of restricting chances though wingers Preston and Hammond were certainly keeping the Takeley defence alert.
Half-Time: Stansted 0 – 0 Takeley
In the second half, Takeley started things stronger as winger Alex Warman, who did catch the eye at times, fizzed a shot over the bar. Minutes after Martin also fired over the target, forward Josh Sykes sent a good low drive agonizingly wide of Turner’s far post. Stansted did push back in the last twenty minutes with substitute Callum Ibe stretching the visiting back-line with his pace and directness down the flanks. The Airportmen finally broke the deadlock in this tie on 75 minutes as after Yates well to deny an initial effort, centre-back Sam West reacted well to toe-poke in from close range.
With eight minutes to play, Ibe was released down the right and smashed a classy strike from 20-odd yards past Yates into the top left corner to seal progression for Paul Pittuck & Marc Benterman’s side. Despite a rather tetchy end to the match, the hosts did prevail while Takeley may take a few matches to regroup though I suspect they will do so soon.
Full-Time: Stansted 2 – 0 Takeley
My thanks to League President Rob Errington, Glyn Warwick and all at Stansted FC for their hospitality this evening. Best wishes to both clubs for the rest of the season.
Stansted | Joint-Managers: Paul Pittuck & Marc Benterman
Charlie Turner (GK), Courtney Homans, Charlie Buffin, Sam West, Matt Frew, James Briggs (Callum Ibe 69′), Paul Preston, Paul Clayton (Capt), Jack West, Jordan Palmer (Olly Bell 72′), Connor Hammond (Lewis Stantiall 83′)
Goal-scorers: Sam West [75′], Callum Ibe [82′]
Booked: Frew | Subs Not Used: Carvalho, Bennett
Takeley | Manager: Marc Das
Ronnie Yates (GK), Andre Humphrey, Kyan Gulliver, Alex Martin (Charlie Avent 83′), Leo Pontes, Bryn Thorpe, Mitchell Das, George Pullen (Coby Miles 71′), Josh Sykes (Musape Oguntuga 75′), Jason Todd (Capt), Alex Warman
Booked: Martin, Warman, Das | Subs Not Used: T Wickenden
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