Westview Essex Senior League
Saturday 17th September 2005
	Burnham Ramblers	2 - 3	AFC Hornchurch
Trenkel 54', O'Reilly 74'		H/T 0-1 Att:158	Holland 24', King 55', Heale 61'

Match Highlights

Burnham Ramblers

AFC Hornchurch

	24	GOAL - Holland
Trenkel - GOAL	54
	55	GOAL - King
Cable - OFF Winters - ON	56
	61	GOAL - Heale
Shaves - BOOKED	61
Jones - OFF Portway - ON	66
Gray - BOOKED	66
	70	OFF - Perry ON - Dear
O'Reilly - GOAL	74
	87	OFF - Tiffin ON - Thomas

Match Report by Tony Middleton
 

On a bright and sunny day it was something of an experience to be the first to walk around the ground, as a large spider web stretched from the perimeter fence to the railing, and behind the far goal was a wasps’ nest, with a constant flow of black and yellow traffic to and fro. And the ground was certainly buzzing with an end to end start, with Michael Collier’s clearance rebounding dangerously back, and then within seconds, the play moved upfield, where Nicky Cowley became the first Urchin to the fouled. From his free kick the ball found Steve King whose header was blocked on the line by a defender, and Holland pounced on the loose ball, only for Burnham’s number one, Rob Small, to touch it onto the post. The pattern was quickly set, with many Urchins moves ending with a free kick in their favour, and from another Nicky Cowley free kick, King raced in but could not direct his header enough to beat Small, who appeared to be very much a favourite with the away following. Ramblers, unbeaten since they played at Bridge Avenue at the start of the season, could have taken a surprise lead when Tiffin was caught in possession, and O’Reilly hammered the ball goalwards, perhaps a little too eagerly, as his shot went close, but not close enough to count.

King was prominent in defence and it was hit low upfield pass which picked out Greg Tiffin, who centred to Billy Holland. Small did well to parry but Nicky Cowley’s follow up was too high and over the bar. Yet another foul, this time Gray on Heale, another Nicky Cowley free kick, and Gray heads out for a corner. Nicky again, and his corner almost found King, but Lyons got there first with a header to clear. Lyons again, this time down the wing, and his cross found Jones, whose shot screamed past the post. When Cable was caught in possession, Holland tried a snap shot which went wide, and then a Heale pass found Holland who went close with a first time shot, Small doing well to save at the second attempt. Then it was Tiffin again, this time from Perry, who crossed to Heale, and as Heale moved past the defender a massive appeal for hand ball was rejected by the referee, who was unsighted and by the linesman who appeared not to have noticed the player trying to play basketball well inside the penalty area. Tiffin once more, Heale though a second time, and another hand ball appeal was turned down, this time with some justification. Tiffin then was put clear by Bostock but was pulled up for offside.

And then at last came the goal which was beginning to look a little bit overdue. Holland and Tiffin were prominent in the build up, and Tiffin’s centre had Heale waiting for the ball only for BILLY HOLLAND to get there first. Ramblers came back within seconds, Danny Cowley dropping back in defence to kick away when Cable broke through, and then King cleared off the line following a goalmouth scramble, which resulted from Jones’ corner. Heale could have scored with an excellent run past three defenders, thanks to Paul Golby’s well flighted throw, but Shanks ran back to cover and eventually clear. Ramblers continued to come forward, and Cable’s free kick was turned over for a corner by Collier. Jones took the corner, O’Reilly headed goalwards, and Bostock headed out for a corner on the right hand side, again taken by Jones, who was doing for Ramblers what Nicky Cowley was doing for Urchins. Bostock away once again, and this sent Perry clear, but Lyons tackled. Trenkel was given a lecture for a bad tackle when perhaps a card was more appropriate, and Nicky Cowley’s free kick dropped over the bar, narrowly missing the wasps’ nest. Play swung down to the other end, where Collier made a magnificent save, diving full length at the feet of the onrushing Lyons. With half time approaching, a terrible back pass created all sorts of problems for Ramblers, which increased when Small completely missed the ball as it was lofted into the centre by Nicky Cowley, but Gray did well to cover.

The main discussion at half time was when is a penalty not a penalty and what has to be done in this league to earn a card of any colour. Which overlooked the fact that Ramblers are a very good team, and their pitch and set up is excellent. The opening few minutes in the second half were largely played out in midfield, but it was Ramblers who levelled the score following a long free kick from Jones, who seemed to be taking just about everything. King headed powerfully clear, but the ball fell invitingly in front of DANNY TRENKEL, who hammered it first time into the net for a spectacular goal.

It is said that the away support is worth a goal to the Urchins, and this was proved only a minute later, when Paul Golby’s throw in was headed out of play by Hull. With Ramblers taking their time to get into position a quick return of the ball by an Urchins supporter (thank you to Jay for racing after the ball) to Glen Golby, and he threw the ball into the middle, where STEVE KING chipped it over a defender and then neatly and precisely chipped the keeper as well for the second goal, which was greeted jubilantly by the hundred plus away following in the crowd of 158. It could have been three when Nicky Cowley found King, who raced through. Everett did well to tackle but his half clearance was intercepted by Tiffin, who was thwarted by Small. Danny Heale followed up, but Small saved again. Nicky Cowley was again the victim of a late tackle, Trenkel escaping with a lecture, and Paul Golby’s free kick found Tiffin, whose cross reached Danny Cowley but Everett was able to block the shot. And then it was three, Nicky Cowley and Holland combining for DANNY HEALE to finish off the move.

Two Ramblers went into the book in quick succession, to the delight of the away following, who had by now given up hope of a card of any colour, but the match was about to take on a new perspective. Steve Portway came on, and the difference was immediate, with play being opened up along both wings, and with Urchins letting the midfield slip out of their control. But not before Tiffin’s cross had been headed out by Shaves for a corner, and King had headed narrowly over from Nicky Cowley’s centre. But Ramblers pulled a goal back, Portway setting the play up Yusuf finding space on the right and TIM O’REILLY heading home.

Urchins regained control briefly, Paul Golby sending Tiffin clear. Greg’s shot was touched onto the post and out of play by Small, who was denied the excellent save by the award of a goal kick. Less than a minute later Small was in action again, diving in vain when Tiffin’s pass reached Holland, whose shot rebounded from the other post. But then Ramblers took command, thanks to Portway’s dominance. Dear cleared from Portway, and Yusuf shot first time as the ball ran loose, and Collier saved well, tipping the ball away, and then Collier a minute later this time from Portway, who had powered through the middle. Everett’s free kick into a packed goalmouth looked likely to spell danger, but an offside flag halted the play. But with time running out, Urchins began to push forward again, and Heale twice went close, whilst Holland shot perhaps a fraction too hurriedly, the ball skimming the bar. Heale locked the play up in the corner, which led to two incidents in quick succession as Ramblers let their frustration get the better of them. Nicky Cowley, ever dangerous in midfield, was then the victim of yet another tackle, with the resultant free kick finding Heale who hit his shot inches wide.

At the finish, Urchins had done more than enough to take the three points, whilst Ramblers had created ample openings to argue that they were perhaps somewhat unfortunate not to have taken one point. And where were the home supporters, who were conspicuous by their absence? Surely Burnham Ramblers deserve better support than they are getting.

Video Highlights by Rob Monger

- 24mins. Billy Holland opens the scoring (630KB)
- 54mins. Dan Trenkel pulls the home side level (5560KB)
- 55mins. Steve King restores our lead (650KB)
- 61mins. Danny Heale puts us further in front (650KB)
- 74mins. Tim O'Reilly pulls a goal back for Burnham (490KB)
- Post match interview with Danny Heale  (2.6MB)

  Teams

Burnham Ramblers Rob Small Lee Cable Frankie Everett Gerry Lyons Jamie Gray Paul Shaves Erkan Yousef Sean Hull Tim O'Reilly Danny Jones Danny Trenkel SUBS Martin Winters Steve Portway Carl Read James Redwood Chris Bill

- - 1 1 17 2 18 3 14 4 6 5 16 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 19 11 * 4 12 11 14 3 15 GK 16 5 17

AFC Hornchurch Michael Collier Greg Tiffin Paul Golby Glen Golby Steve King Jordan Bostock (c) Danny Cowley Lee Perry Billy Holland Danny Heale Nicky Cowley SUBS Sean Dear Charlie Bull Gareth Thomas Billy Drake Rhys Madden (GK)

Man of the Match Nominated by ...

Match Officials: Steve Chittock with Gordon Moores and Roger Nubrown
Weather Conditions:  15 degrees and sunny
Match Duration: First half 45mins 34secs. Second half 49mins 12secs.
 

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