ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

TUESDAY 24^TH MARCH

TAKELEY 3 SAWBRIDGEWORTH 1

The scoreline exaggerates the reality of an evenly matched game, which perhaps was just in favour of the Station Road team. A large crowd attended for the local derby and enjoyed some fine displays by the back line of both sides.

Sawbo came out determined to score early and finishing was very close, but the Takeley keeper, Andros Demosthenous, was securely backed up by Chris Dorrian, Stefan Szajewski and Mark Watters, with good support from Ryan Williams and James Amott. In a 3 minute period, the referee blew up for Sawbridgeworth to have 4 free kicks, from close in, but the home back line proved able although Raich Fraser should have scored with a header across the face of the goal within 6 yards from one of these free kicks. It was on 29 minutes that Gregg WILLIAMS took a penalty and converted following an illicit action by a visiting defender in the crowded Sawbridgeworth box.

29 mins...TAKELEY 1, SAWBRIDGEWORTH 0. (Gregg Williams, Pen)

Dan Hudson should have recouped the equalisation from the break of the centre, when he shot into the goal, with Demosthenous out of position, only to have Chris Dorrian clear forcibly away off the goal line. Some activity in both goal areas came to nothing as half time was reached. Perhaps, Sawbo looked the more dangerous in the first period, but some fine defending by the Takeley back line held out, until the whistle.

Into the second period and Takeley had one or two uncomfortable moments, but from corners Takeley threatened to add to their lead. On 57 minutes following a disputed hand ball by a Sawbo defender, which was unsighted by Referee and thought accidental by the linesman, Alex Martin gained a Yellow Card for dissent. A free kick a yard outside the penalty box was blasted too high by Gregg Williams for Takeley. Matt Coggin, Sawbridgeworth was booked with a Yellow Card on 70 minutes. With only a quarter of an hour left until full time Andros Demosthenous dropped the spinning ball off Matt COGGIN as he honed in to push the ball home in the goal mouth melee, to bring the scores level.

75 mins…TAKELEY 1, SAWBRIDGEWORTH 1. (Matt Coggin)

At the other end an incredible rerun of the failure to hold the ball occurred for Jamie Ring, the Sawbridgworth Goalkeeper, however the ball was scrambled away from the Takeley forwards. Lewis BAKER after a recent substitution fired in a brilliant free kick from just outside the penalty box to record his first goal on 89 minutes for the home side. Dan Hudson (Sawbo) was awarded a Yellow Card for dissent.

89 mins…TAKELEY 2 , SAWBRIDGEWORTH 1, (Lewis Baker).

‘It is not over yet’, could well have been sounded, as Takeley had a rebirth of enthusiasm, Chris GROVE putting away the third goal for the home side in added time. 

90 + 4 mins…TAKELEY 3, SAWBRIDGEWORTH 1. (Grove)

It is difficult to name Man of the Match for Takeley, with the defence looking so good. Stefan Szajewski was extremely active after a long absence, Gregg Williams another player so much missed in the recent games since Christmas and  new addition Lewis Baker having a great game, with Chris Grove back on the score card after a long absence, deserve accolades. Sawbridgeworth, too had a great display at the back for 88 minutes, but Raich Fraser made his mark, being noticeable throughout. 

Teams:

TAKELEY: Andros DEMOSTHENOUS; Chris DORRIAN (Captain), Stefan SZAJEWSKI; Ryan WILLIAMS, Mark WATTERS, James AMOTT; Michael KENNEDY, Gregg WILLIAMS, Chris GROVE, Joe GALSWORTHY, Alex MARTIN. Substitute played: Lewis BAKER; Additional Subs unused: Michael GLIDDEN, Dan CROOK, Charlie POLLARD, Josh COLSON.

SAWBRIDGEWORTH Jamie RING; Stuart CUNNINGHAM, Matt COGGIN; Richard LONGLEY (Captain), Marcus COPLAND, Paul BAKER; Dan HUDSON, Raich FRASER, Jim WYATT ,Ashley  CONLAN, Dean BUCKINGHAM. Substitutes not used: Bradley SMITH, Jordan CHILDS, Tom ALDERTON, Phil BULLED, Tommy DAY.

David Edwards

On behalf of Chairman, administrators, players supporters of Takeley