Essex Olympian League – Division Two
Venue: Rochford Recreation Ground
2021-22 Season: Match 30
Attendance: 15 (Est)
Saturday 9th October 2021 – 2pm KO
Rochford: Red & Yellow Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks
Wakebury: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
Wakebury’s goal power sees them to good win at Rochford Town
Rochford Town 3 – 5 Wakebury
Match Report & Photos by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14]
This weekend I did well to even keep my record of Saturday matches going (being honest) as I elected for this local Essex Olympian League Division Two match between my local club Rochford Town and visitors Wakebury. The hosts got a crucial win last week and fielded Elliott Pattison in goal, with a defensive four of Keaton Holyland, Alex Gray, Jack Clarke and Jamie Skinner. Club stalwart Freddie Pettitt skippered the side, with Harry Ford and Luke Jackson leading the forward line. Wakebury were missing a few players here, including injured goalkeeper Josh Harrison and forward Ibrahim Kagbanda. We did see a rare start for assistant boss Dan Blewett in goal, with a back three of Jack Smith, Elliott Hutchinson-Khupe and Ben Perry. Sam Rowe and Kofi Gyamfi were the wing-backs, with Max Hall and Harry Kateley leading the attack.
We didn’t have to wait long for the chances to start cropping up in this one. Five minutes in, a Wakebury long throw by Sam Rowe found forward Max Hall lurking at the back post only for his header to be well-denied by home custodian Elliott Pattison. Rochford were looking lively through the middle with midfielder Matt Welsh and forward Luke Jackson getting on the ball and it was Jackson who was involved in the opening goal. A decent break by the hosts saw Jackson find strike partner Harry Ford who evaded a less than stringent visiting defence before slotting in from a wide angle, low past stand-in Berries goalkeeper Dan Blewett and into the far corner on seven minutes. Given their good record on scoring goals, Wakebury responded strongly, with both Max Hall and Harry Kateley blazing over the woodwork with half-chances in the next phase of the game. At the midway point of the half, Kateley was denied again by Pattison but you sensed there was a goal in the offing.
Moments later, said goal did materalise as forward Max Hall continued his fine goal-scoring season with a fine strike into the top corner, giving Pattison little chance. Things rather turned for the home side at that point, and on the stroke of the half-hour the Berries took the lead from the penalty spot. Hall stepped up and his strike from twelve yards just got past Pattison into the left corner of the net. Jim Cooper’s side were not impressed with the penalty decision and in just a few minutes, they had two players in the sin-bin. Wakebury sought to make the most of that advantage, with the hosts temporarily down to nine men as forward Will Wheeler dragged his shot on goal wide of Pattison’s goal when well-poised to score. If that was a fortunate escape for Town, they had no such reprieve just before the interval.
Wheeler was in on goal again after getting the better of a re-jigged home defence and this time, Wheeler’s radar was on-song as he connected well with another low strike which found the left corner. It was a decent comeback by Matt Cardy’s side, despite a few nervous moments defensively. Rochford started well but couldn’t keep their passing rhythm for long periods of the half as the match did become rather scrappy at times.
Half-Time: Rochford 1 – 3 Wakebury
Wakebury really put themselves in a comanding position soon after the interval as they got a fourth goal. Good running by wing-back Kofi Gyamfi down the right channel found Kateley whose initial strike came back off the woodwork. But in the next attacking phase, substitute Danny Buglione powered home a strike which Pattison misjudged and it sailed low into the net. To their credit, Rochford responded at the other end as Ford found himself in on goal with only Blewett to bypass, but his scuffed effort was gathered by the veteran stopper. That missed oppurtunity was telling as the visitors added to the pain for their hosts with a fifth goal on 53 minutes. A good move involving Sam Rowe found opposite wing-back Gyamfi who powered home low into the net to crown off a good game for him.
The home side were still keen to get themselves back into the contest with just half hour to play as jackson narrowly fired wide after a good pass in by Welsh who broke well down the right channel. The open-ended match continued as Pattison did well to deny Hall a treble, and club stalwart Chris Gore headed over as well. Those nervy moments for the visiting backline were still apparent though, as winger Bobby Anderson stole in but couldn’t beat the goalkeeper. As we entered the fnal third of the match, Jackson’s cross was headed on by Wakebury centre-back Elliott Hutchinson-Khupe but the fall fell to Ford who couldnt get his strike away on goal. To be fair to the hosts, they did merit another goal for their efforts and with 15 minutes remaining, skipper Freddie Pettitt advanced into the box, got in first before his marker and fizzed home a strike high into the net evading Blewett.
The visitors were still looking enterprising going forward at this point as well, as Buglione fired a shot wide with about ten minutes remaining. Wakebury had to finish the match with ten men as replacement PJ O’Hanlon was dismissed for two bookings. Rochford did grab another goal in added time as a fine free-kick by Harry Ford was powerfully struck into the right-side corner of the goal for his second goal of the game, only for the goal celebration by Jackson to land the latter in further trouble as the referee duly handed out the red card. It was a glib note to end what was a really entertaining match which showed both sides have goals in them, though Matt Cardy’s side again showed that their goal power was good much to reign in.
Full-Time: Rochford Town 3 – 5 Wakebury
To summarise, Wakebury did well to overcome early jitters and falling behind to get themselves ahead in the match, as the hosts were stifled by two players being sent to the sin-bin before half-time. The Berries extended their lead at start of the second period and despite a commendable effort by Rochford to get back into the game, it was Matt Cardy’s side who emerged victorious.
For stand-out performances here, the victors Wakebury were indebted to two-goal forward Max Hall who did really show his energy, pace and finishing today, although the sevond goal from the penalty spot just evaded Town stopper Pattison. Quick forward Will Wheeler also grew into the game and took his goal well and also showed good passing to build attacking moves. Forward Harry Kateley also did well in possession and was unfortunate to not score here, and wing-back Kofi Gyamfi also showed very good energy levels and took his goal well. For Rochford, the forward pair of Harry Ford and Luke Jackson both gave the visiting defence some nervy moments, with Ford notching two good goals and Jackson stretching the visiting defence with pace and energy. Midfielder Matt Welsh also showed good dribbling and passing and was their key outlet in the middle of the park, plus captain Freddie Pettitt put in a good shift for his side and took his goal well. A word also for Town ‘keeper Elliott Pattison who made some decent saves to keep his team in the game.
Best wishes to both teams for the rest of the campaign.
Teams
Rochford Town | Manager: Jim Cooper |
Starting XI: 1 Elliott Pattison (GK), 14 Keaton Holyland, 3 Alex Gray, 5 Jack Clarke, 6 Jamie Skinner, 4 Freddie Pettitt (Capt), 8 Matt Welsh, 7 Max Harrington, 9 Harry Ford, 10 Luke Jackson, 11 Bobby Anderson
Goal-scorer: Harry Ford [7′, 90’+2], Freddie Pettitt [74′],
Subs On: 12 Matthew Pettitt [45′], 15 Owen Pedder [66′]
Booked: F Pettitt | Sin-Binned: Skinner, Jackson | Sent Off: Jackson | Subs Not Used: Cooper, Hare
Wakebury | Manager: Matt Cardy | Assistant: Gareth Cleverly
Starting XI: 1 Dan Blewett (GK), 3 Jack Smith, 5 Elliott Hutchinson-Khupe, 6 Ben Perry, 2 Kofi Gyamfi, 11 Sam Rowe, 4 Chris Gore (Capt), 8 Harrison Grant, 7 Will Wheeler, 9 Max Hall, 10 Harry Kateley
Goal-scorers: Max Hall [24′ & pen 29′], Will Wheeler [45′], Danny Buglione [47′], Kofi Gyamfi [53′]
Subs On: Peter-James (PJ) O’Hanlon [13′], Danny Buglione [46′]
Booked: Perry, Khupe, Smith | Sent Off: O’Hanlon | Sub Not Used: Lewis
Referee: Kenneth Goff
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