A Friday night trip to Hertfordshire for an Essex Alliance clash.
Deciding on a Friday night game that required tackling the M25, albeit only a short stretch, was a risky decision. However, the asphalt gods were smiling down and, somewhat surprisingly, the traffic was pretty good, allowing me to make the 70 mile trip in good time.
My destination was Wodson Park and, more specifically, Ware FC. The game in question, however, did not feature the landlords. Instead, tenants Ongar Town were taking on Chadwell Heath Spartans in an Essex Alliance League fixture. There were a lot of first for me in this game. I'd never seen either team play before. I'd never been to Wodson Park and I'd never watched an Essex Alliance game.
Prior to this evening's game, both Ongar and Chadwell had played one league game. Ongar suffered a heavy home defeat to Ryan, going down 5-2 last Friday. On Saturday, Spartans fought out a 1-1 draw at Old Barkabbeyans.
Last season only five points separated the sides in the league. Spartans finished in fifth spot, Ongar in eighth
Thanks to Ongar for posting their team sheet on X and to one of their coaching staff for sharing the other team sheet with me prior to kick-off.
My destination was Wodson Park and, more specifically, Ware FC. The game in question, however, did not feature the landlords. Instead, tenants Ongar Town were taking on Chadwell Heath Spartans in an Essex Alliance League fixture. There were a lot of first for me in this game. I'd never seen either team play before. I'd never been to Wodson Park and I'd never watched an Essex Alliance game.
Prior to this evening's game, both Ongar and Chadwell had played one league game. Ongar suffered a heavy home defeat to Ryan, going down 5-2 last Friday. On Saturday, Spartans fought out a 1-1 draw at Old Barkabbeyans.
Last season only five points separated the sides in the league. Spartans finished in fifth spot, Ongar in eighth
Thanks to Ongar for posting their team sheet on X and to one of their coaching staff for sharing the other team sheet with me prior to kick-off.
Chadwell Heath almost got off to a blistering start when the pace of Jason Thanni, on the right, looked to have got him clear of the defence. However, some good covering from the defence resulted in the ball been blocked.
That early chance aside, neither defence was unduly flustered for the opening 15 minutes, but Ongar were beginning to knock the ball around well whilst still being a little vulnerable to the ball over the top of their defence which Thanni and Drey Johnson were more than happy to hunt down.
It was the home right-back, Jacey Emmanuel, who created the next opening, breaking quickly from the back before slipping the ball into the path of Teddy Hogger, who couldn't quite apply the finishing touch. A few minutes later, Hogger saw his shot deflected out for a corner, as Ongar began to ramp things up.
Having said that, Heath's direct style was still creating opportunities, no more so than in the 21st minute when Aaron Hunwicks got forward down the left. His cross was a good one, but no-one had matched his run and the ball cleared the back post before being recycled for Johnson, who glanced his header just wide of the post.
Just before the half-hour, Milan Trotman was quick to latch onto a loose ball inside the Spartans half, just failing to keep his effort below the bar. A few minutes later Jacob Byerley, in the Spartans goal, was tested as Freddie Miller's low shot came through a sea of legs, forcing the keeper to throw himself to his right to make a good stop.
Up the other end, Spartans captain Enoch Salami found the ball at his feet some 12 yards out, but was thwarted by a great last ditch block from Mackenzie Clouston.
Closing in on the half-time whistle, it appeared that we would be going into the break all-square and goalless. That was until the 41st minute when Chadwell gave the ball away inside their own half. Ongar pounced in the form of Nana Aboagye, who then fed Milan Trotman to apply a calm finish. 1-0. The goal prompted some vociferous complaints from Chadwell, which led to Aaron Hunwicks being sin-binned
The goal prompted a late response from Spartans. In the final minute of normal time, Johnson planted an unmarked header into the arms of Hasekilerden from 10 yards out before, with the last action of the half, Thanni glanced another header inches wide of Hasekilerden's right-hand post.
HT Ongar Town 1 Chadwell Heath Spartans 0. A competitive half of football with both teams creating chances. Ongar probably had the edge in terms of possession, but Spartans got in behind their defence a few times to cause problems.
That early chance aside, neither defence was unduly flustered for the opening 15 minutes, but Ongar were beginning to knock the ball around well whilst still being a little vulnerable to the ball over the top of their defence which Thanni and Drey Johnson were more than happy to hunt down.
It was the home right-back, Jacey Emmanuel, who created the next opening, breaking quickly from the back before slipping the ball into the path of Teddy Hogger, who couldn't quite apply the finishing touch. A few minutes later, Hogger saw his shot deflected out for a corner, as Ongar began to ramp things up.
Having said that, Heath's direct style was still creating opportunities, no more so than in the 21st minute when Aaron Hunwicks got forward down the left. His cross was a good one, but no-one had matched his run and the ball cleared the back post before being recycled for Johnson, who glanced his header just wide of the post.
Just before the half-hour, Milan Trotman was quick to latch onto a loose ball inside the Spartans half, just failing to keep his effort below the bar. A few minutes later Jacob Byerley, in the Spartans goal, was tested as Freddie Miller's low shot came through a sea of legs, forcing the keeper to throw himself to his right to make a good stop.
Up the other end, Spartans captain Enoch Salami found the ball at his feet some 12 yards out, but was thwarted by a great last ditch block from Mackenzie Clouston.
Closing in on the half-time whistle, it appeared that we would be going into the break all-square and goalless. That was until the 41st minute when Chadwell gave the ball away inside their own half. Ongar pounced in the form of Nana Aboagye, who then fed Milan Trotman to apply a calm finish. 1-0. The goal prompted some vociferous complaints from Chadwell, which led to Aaron Hunwicks being sin-binned
The goal prompted a late response from Spartans. In the final minute of normal time, Johnson planted an unmarked header into the arms of Hasekilerden from 10 yards out before, with the last action of the half, Thanni glanced another header inches wide of Hasekilerden's right-hand post.
HT Ongar Town 1 Chadwell Heath Spartans 0. A competitive half of football with both teams creating chances. Ongar probably had the edge in terms of possession, but Spartans got in behind their defence a few times to cause problems.
Penalty miss Spartans, despite being down to 10, had the first opportunity of the second half, winning a freekick which was then deflected wide for a corner and, even a player down, looked the more dangerous. Hunwicks returned to the fray in the 51st minute, only for Ongar to double their advantage a minute later. Ten players or eleven, it would have made no difference. Substitute Endrit Abazi got the ball some 22 yards out, took aim, and sent a screamer in off the inside of Byerley's left-hand post. Lovely strike! 2-0
The home side had their tails up now and that was typified by Thomas Jacobi's burst from midfield in the 54th minute. Riding a couple of challengers and surviving a hand-ball call, the midfielder drove at the heart of the defence before sending his shot wide of the mark.
Back came Spartans. Jonathan Kadazi brought the best out of Hasekilerden, who had to throw himself to his left to keep out a goal-bound effort. However, just before the hour, the Ongar stopper was helpless to prevent the visitors pulling a goal back. A freekick from the left was sent into the mix where it was nudged over the line by a defender for an own goal. 2-1
Ongar responded to the goal with an attack of their own culminating in Freddie Miller fizzing a strike just over the bar. Then, with 20 minutes remaining, they restored their two-goal margin. Milan Trotman was the instigator, doing brilliantly down the left to get in a low cross that found substitute Luke O'Connor who slammed the ball past Byerley at the second attempt. 3-1
Spartans were not about to throw in the towel just yet though. In the 82nd minute Thomas Callagher, on as a substitute, controlled a diagonal ball on his chest to open up a shooting opportunity, only to see Hasekilerden make a vey good stop. With two minutes of normal time left on the clock, the visitors were handed a late chance to get back into the game when the ball was adjudged to have struck a Town hand inside the box. Joseph Butcher stepped up but sent the spot kick ballooning over the bar.
FT Ongar Town 3 Chadwell Heath Spartans 1. A very enjoyable and entertaining first taste of the Essex Alliance League. A hard-earned three pints on the board for Ongar Town, but it's fair to say that Chadwell were never out of the game, until the missed penalty with two minutes to go.
Next up for Ongar Town is a trip to Waltham Forest Borough next Friday. Chadwell Heath Spartans make the trip to CSM London the following day.
Ongar Town: Hasekilerden, Emmanuel, Clouston, Geraghty, Manley, Costache, Miller, Jacobi, Trotman, Aboagye, Hogger. Subs: O'Connor, Housden, Fusco, Abazi, Allen
Chadwell Heath Spartans: Byerley, Lawal, Amire, Harrison, Handley, A.Hunwicks, R.Hunwicks, Salami(c), Johnson, Bunton, Thanni. Subs: Moroney, Kadazi, Chosen, Calagher, Butcher
Ground Number: 494
Att: 30 (ish)
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: N/A
The home side had their tails up now and that was typified by Thomas Jacobi's burst from midfield in the 54th minute. Riding a couple of challengers and surviving a hand-ball call, the midfielder drove at the heart of the defence before sending his shot wide of the mark.
Back came Spartans. Jonathan Kadazi brought the best out of Hasekilerden, who had to throw himself to his left to keep out a goal-bound effort. However, just before the hour, the Ongar stopper was helpless to prevent the visitors pulling a goal back. A freekick from the left was sent into the mix where it was nudged over the line by a defender for an own goal. 2-1
Ongar responded to the goal with an attack of their own culminating in Freddie Miller fizzing a strike just over the bar. Then, with 20 minutes remaining, they restored their two-goal margin. Milan Trotman was the instigator, doing brilliantly down the left to get in a low cross that found substitute Luke O'Connor who slammed the ball past Byerley at the second attempt. 3-1
Spartans were not about to throw in the towel just yet though. In the 82nd minute Thomas Callagher, on as a substitute, controlled a diagonal ball on his chest to open up a shooting opportunity, only to see Hasekilerden make a vey good stop. With two minutes of normal time left on the clock, the visitors were handed a late chance to get back into the game when the ball was adjudged to have struck a Town hand inside the box. Joseph Butcher stepped up but sent the spot kick ballooning over the bar.
FT Ongar Town 3 Chadwell Heath Spartans 1. A very enjoyable and entertaining first taste of the Essex Alliance League. A hard-earned three pints on the board for Ongar Town, but it's fair to say that Chadwell were never out of the game, until the missed penalty with two minutes to go.
Next up for Ongar Town is a trip to Waltham Forest Borough next Friday. Chadwell Heath Spartans make the trip to CSM London the following day.
Ongar Town: Hasekilerden, Emmanuel, Clouston, Geraghty, Manley, Costache, Miller, Jacobi, Trotman, Aboagye, Hogger. Subs: O'Connor, Housden, Fusco, Abazi, Allen
Chadwell Heath Spartans: Byerley, Lawal, Amire, Harrison, Handley, A.Hunwicks, R.Hunwicks, Salami(c), Johnson, Bunton, Thanni. Subs: Moroney, Kadazi, Chosen, Calagher, Butcher
Ground Number: 494
Att: 30 (ish)
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: N/A
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