Essex Olympian League – Premier Division
Venue: Garon Park 3G
2022-23 Season: Match 12
Attendance: 20 (Est)
Saturday 3 September 2022 – 2.30pm KO
Old S: Green Shirts, Black Shorts & Green Socks
Canning: Blue Shirts, White Shorts, Blue Socks
Clinical finishing sees Canning Town resist late fightback by OS at Garon Park
Old Southendian 3 – 4 Canning Town
Match Report & Photos by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14]
The weekend’s foray into Non-League saw a welcome return to the Intermediate divisions, with this interesting match seeing hosts Old Southendian welcoming Cannning Town to Garon Park in an Essex Olympian League Premier division encounter. Both of these sides can score goals but are also somewhat inconsistent.
We certainly didn’t have to wait long for chances to crop up here, as the drizzle came down. It was the visitors who started well, as physical forward Nabil Musah got past the off-side trap and his strike cannoned off a post, whilst one-on-one with OS stopper Pete Loveday. Before Altar Ali’s side could restore some impetus, Canning forward Napat Pattanawanitkitkul sent a good effort which also came off the woodwork. Unfortunately for the hosts, their fortune did not last, as Nabil Musah continued to pose problems as he got past the home defence before slotting home confidently to open the scoring.
To their credit, Old Southendian did start to find their passing range to an extent, and had a promising moment on 21 minutes as forward Ruari McIntyre broke down the left channel before fizzing a good cross which went right across the face of goalbut was unable to find a team-mate. Fellow forward Callum Ludlaim was also making some decent runs and after he skewed a strike wide, both McIntyre and Ludlaim had decent efforts well denied by Town goalkeeper Nial Akata.
OS crucially did get themselves level eight minutes from the interval. Winger Ed Gould saw a chance to strike and duly launched a fierce effort which deflected off a defender, which wrongfooted Akata on its way into the net. If Town were cursing their luck, they responded superbly as barely a minute later, they were back ahead. Musah was again well-poised just inside the area before sending a good curling effort which came off the crossbar and had crossed the line.
Old Southendian were definitely getting their way back into proceedings although they will be disappointed by the lack of possession they had in the first half. Canning certainly did show some neat play and the instinct of this writer was that there would be more goals to come here.
Half-Time: Old S 1 – 2 Canning Town
Straight after the interval, OS did push forward looking for another leveller but it was Canning Town who added a third goal on the counter-attack. Musah was found against and after getting past his marker, he rounded advancing stopper Loveday before slotting home calmly into the net to complete a clinical hat-trick. Just when you thought it couldn’t get better for Lee Wilson’s team – it did as they got another goal on 52 minutes. Napat Pattanawanitkitkul was found in a congested penalty area and he converted from close range to really add to the hosts’ pain and make it 4 – 1 to Canning Town.
OS responded well though to this setback as McIntyre sent a curling effort not far off-target before the hour mark. Altar Ali’s side were gradually becoming more of a threat as Canning’s nerves were steadily rising. Said nerves were definitely felt for the visitors as OS got a second goal on 68 minutes. Jordan Faulkner had made a good bursting run down the middle and he forced a low strike into the net, via a defender.
That was not a technique goal but the hosts’ third goal certainly was. Callum Ludlaim curled in a dipping strike which looped over Akata and found the net. The last ten minutes or so was a scramble as both sides looked to score.
Canning Town held on with some guile to be fair to them, though there was one last chance six minutes into added time which saw home midfielder Mitchell Ali send a cool lob which was heading into top left corner, only for the goal-line defender to clear well with a header.
The fact that Old Southendian could have equalised with the last action of the game really endorses the point that this was an enterprising, all-action match with some quality goals as well.
Full-Time: Old Southendian 3 – 4 Canning Town
To summarise this entertaining match, Canning Town made tbe most of good spells of the game to open up a three-goal advantage before the hour mark. However, the ‘Old Boys’ spirit assisted tbem to a strong finish and really gave their visitors some nervy moments, but ultimately the hosts gave themselves too much to do after a tepid start to this match.
The stand-out performances here for the victors Canning Town were led by physical forward Nabil Musah, who put in an impressive performance with his strength & movement only adding to his fine treble here. Creative midfielder Bron Pattanawanitkitkul really added to his team’s performance with good dinking runs and clever passing. Full-back Taiwo Oniti also did well to assist his side defensively, particularly in the first half while the hard-working Dominic Lewis also deserves a mention in central midfield.
For OS, forward Callum Ludlaim scored a fine goal and generally was a good presence leading the hosts’ attack, alsi being thwarted by Akata earlier in the game. Talented winger Ed Gould also scored with an oppurtunistic strike and also tested the Town backline with some eat interchange passing. Also, Jordan Faulkner made some good runs from the back in possession & also made some telling interceptions. Lastly, Jack Thompson made a good cameo from the substitutes’ bench and added to his team’s renewed momentum after the interval.
Finally, I’d like to wish both teams a good remainder of the season.
Teams
Old Southendian | Manager: Altar Ali | Assistants: David Tubbs, Paul Tonking & John Rees
Starting XI: 1 Pete Loveday (GK), 2 Connor Burrows, 3 Billy Taylor, 4 Neil MacLean, 6 Jordan Faulkner, 5 Oliver Tatton-Bennett, 8 Mitchell Ali, 9 Ruari McIntyre, 10 Jack Lelliott, 7 Callum Ludlaim, 11 Ed Gould (Capt)
Goal-scorers: Ed Gould [37′], Jordan Faulkner [68′], Callum Ludlaim [79′]
Subs On (Time): 14 Jack Thompson [46′], 15 Nico Dubouchet [60′], 12 Ronnie Lovegrove [73′]
Booked: Ali | Sub Not Used: Tonking
Canning Town | Manager: Lee Wilson |
Starting XI: 1 Nial Akata (GK), 2 Fernando Johnson, 3 Taiwo Oniti, 4 Frank Iheukor, 5 Matt Betts (Capt), 7 Kane Maloney, 8 Dominic Lewis, 6 Bron Pattanawanitkitkul, 9 Nabil Musah, 10 Napat Pattanawanitkitkul, 11 Jack Williamson
Goal-scorers: Nabil Musah [14′, 38′ & 50′], Napat Pattanawanitkitkul [52′]
Subs On (Time): 16 Emmanuel Omafo [30′], 12 Stephen Ikumelo [44′], 14 Peter van Hooft [64′], 15 Yurii Polischuk
Booked: Johnson, Akata | Subs Not Used: Wilson
Referee: Nnaemeka Ukah
Assistants: Daniel Mann & Guy Pell-Ilderton
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