Report by Derek Pedder

OUCH BY THE CROUCH FOR BLUES

We were outplayed by Hullbridge Sports as the swirling wind blew up from the River Crouch and on the day the better side deservedly won. Perhaps, as generously suggested by a home supporter, Sports had some small advantage from being accustomed to playing in the prevailing windy conditions but as our players would, I am sure, be the first to admit, this was no excuse for our performance which was below our usual standard. Had it not been for two excellent saves by Mark Parker and a wayward shot by Lloyd Wilson we would have been 4-0 down at half time rather than just 1-0.

However this disappointing end to the season should not detract from the achievements of our current management team of Steve Munday, John Bennett and Neil Day and players in the second part of the season which were typified by the excellent performance in the 1-1 draw with third placed Takeley last Tuesday. Results speak for themselves as is shown by the following statistics.

We were bottom of the league when they took over and finished five places higher in twelfth position. Their task was made more difficult because, due to early cup exits, we had played and lost up to five games more than our rivals. When they took over we had six points from twelve games to which they added 25 points from 18 games. This included an unbeaten run of six competitive games.  In addition we played four friendlies, of which three were against teams from higher leagues, losing one and drawing three and were winning 3-2 in a game abandoned at half time.

This was our fourth meeting of the season, the others being a 3-0 victory, a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 defeat, and our tenth in total. Our first ever meeting was on 8-1-2002  in an away Essex Senior Cup  tie which we won 3-2 and our complete record against Hullbridge Sports is now P10 W3 D4 L3 F15 A11 .

We started well with a Lee Pyne attack which it took two defenders to subdue, more good work by Pyne setting up a header for Matt Knight which the wind and home custodian Bobby Mason combined to keep out and then a promising situation for Danny Gillard which came to nothing. However Sports then took over and it took  good interceptions by Scott Borthwick and Joe Tungate, a clever chip over an opponent’s head by Mark Doyle and a good Mark Parker save from a deflected shot by Jamie Salmon to keep the scores level. Sam Dennis made a positive run into the home penalty area but was b eaten by a cruel bounce and then Parker made another superb save, coming out to block a shot with his body and Craig Leader cleared well. The home pressure was rewarded in the 35th minute when Lloyd Wilson finished well, having received the ball in an unmarked position on the right. He burst through again but shot wide and the half ended with a good Doyle clearance and good defensive work by Danny Hopkins and Dennis.   

A post interval Hullbridge free kick was headed wide as was a Doyle cross by Pyne at the other end. Borthwick intercepted well and his through ball was reached by Mason just ahead of the onrushing Pyne. Jared Small made an excellent run and cross from which a good near post Richard Whiteman header went agonisingly just over the bar.Another good chance fell to Gillard but perhaps his youth and relative inexperience told as he blasted over the bar from two yards. An excellent Dennis cross was not met and a determined Pyne run ended in a goal kick. We continued our late revival with a high cross which Mason just managed to palm away from Gillard and Dennis won a corner from which Pyne’s shot was blocked. Another Dennis cross was cleared for a corner to which Whiteman got his head but it (the ball that is) flew over the bar. Borthwick cleared again, a Pyne free kick was too high and Craig Greenwood had an effort cleared off the goal line as Hullbridge clung to their lead to finish three places above us in ninth position.