Congratulations to Neil and the u16s Echo League team who are are now Echo League A Division CHAMPIONS. Well Done!
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Ridgeway Rovers Lions U11 2 v Buckhurst Hill White U11 0 This top of the table clash took on added significance with Byron Red Star having lost to Hutton the day before making this a battle for the title, with Hill needing to win this and the subsequent two games to clinch the Premier league title. After the caretaker manger’s appearance last week, Russell was back at the helm and the boys started brightly having been fired up by the prematch talk. Ridgeway started with some crisp passing straight from the kick off but once Hill won the ball they started to show the determination and work rate that has been evident in their best performances this year and started to dominate the early passages of play pinning Ridgeway in their own half. On 9 minutes some sharp interplay between G JOHNSON, ISBEL and REDHEAD saw BROOKES given the opportunity to shoot and his looping effort saw the Ridgeway keeper make a great save pushing the ball wide. HILL continued to dominate the play pressing in midfield with SIMBA and G Johnson having a fabulous game in midfield and their emerging partnership looking more effective with every game. Our back four held a high line with STRANGE and EVE disciplined in the middle of defence allowing FITCH and H BARRETT to push up squeezing the game and penning Ridgeway in their own half. Ridgeway only needed a draw and they sat deep watching for the opportunity to break. HILL kept battering the ROVERS defensive barricade and with 10 minutes gone ROVERS had hardly stepped in the Buckhurst Hill half. But like all good side ROVERS took their opportunity when it came and on 11 minutes their first attack of the game saw ROVERS break with speed down the middle S BARRET came out to clear the ball off his legs but it broke to ROVERS and they took the opportunity to move into the lead 1-0. Despite going behind HILL continued to play with believe commitment and spirit and the game fell back into the same scenario as before the goal with HILL winning the battles all over the pitch and dominating for large passages of play with 70 – 80% of the play being in Rovers half. On 21 minutes HILL won a free kick on the right halfway inside the Rovers half. G Johnson played the ball into the box which fell to BROOKES who volleyed the ball just wide. Two minutes latter HILL’s relentless pressure saw the ball fall to BROOKES in the box but under a strong challenge he was unable to get enough power on his shot and it was saved by the keeper. On 25 minutes SIMBA picked up the ball and went on a powerful run from midfield sliding a pass out to REDHEAD on the right wing who played a great cross to the far post but the HILL forwards where unable to get on the end of it. Wins for u10s Red, u12s White, u15s RED, u15s WHITE, u16 ECHO, SENIORS, RESERVES Draw u16 EJA Well done everyone. With the manager serving an enforced touchline ban in Hawaii, post the battle of Hutton Mount, and Jose Mourinho on duty with Real Madrid, Davey Watford was drafted in to take the boys in the first of a 4 game winner takes all run in. Arguably the easiest of these 4 games Hill were facing a Billericay side devoid of goals, points and confidence after a tough indoctrination to the Echo Prem. However, they showed very little of a side lacking in determination and made Hill go all out to win the game. In the shrewd words of one observer Hill first had to win the battle before they earned the right to win the game. Although in the end the scoreline made it look like a case of smooth sailing. The first half was an uncomfortably tight one for the Hill fans with good possession and some decent chances but it looked like being a “one of those days” kind of days as chances went wide and the fans were nervous that the title challenge would run aground at the first passage. On 3 minutes, good interplay down the right between Dackombe and G. Johnson created a chance in the box which fell to Joel and Redhead, but some strong defending forced the ball for hill first corner. Then on 5 minutes Dackombe played a good cross in to Redhead whose well struck shot was saved. 3 Minutes later and Hill were creating again after some good work on the right by Dackombe, having his best game for a few weeks, who delivered a good cross flicked on to the far pios by Joel and Will finished neatly to put the visitors in front. 1-0. O the 15 minute mark a sublime piece of play by Simba in the middle who turned two bus skilfully and played a classy reverse ball to Joel who took the shot on early with his left foot but it flashed by the post. The rest of the half continued in this pattern, with Hill dominating obsession and creating more chances but being frustrated. The nearest they came to adding to the slender lead followed a lovely piece of interplay between King, Dackombe and Redhead which created a chance for Joel whose flick bounced of the angle of bar and post. Half time came, Hill in a tight 1-0 advantage and the ship on the right tack, but sailing into a headwind. The half time break saw a concerned call from the manager, who was clearly still up pacing the deck whilst downing the Pina Collada’s somewhere in the Pacific. He could have slept soundly in his bunk however as Davey Watford gave some clear and game changing instructions for the second half. We made the pitch much smaller, closed down a lot tighter in midfield and as soon as the second half started to dominate even more. The first chance coming 2 minutes after the restart when Redhead was put through, stretched to reach the chance and pushed the shot narrowly wide. Then after 6 minutes of the half Redhead was finally rewarded for his determination. The ball was lobbed into the box and he kept going, the ball eluding the keeper and he finished well to make it 2-0. The white horses gave way to a smooth milk pond after that, the engines went to full steam ahead and the manager eased the deckchair back a notch deep in the south pacific. 5 minutes later and it was 3-0. Simba won a god header in the middle, played in Redhead down the left whose angled run into the box payed off with a well struck shot into the far corner. Aya Aye captain. Then 15 minutes into the second half it was 4-0 and Redhead had his hat trick. Simba, who along with G. Johnson were now running midfield after the coaches half time talk, won the ball in the middle and played a neat bal through to Redhead who finished calmly. 5-0 quickly followed as the home team heads were dropping fast. G. Johnson won the ball in the middle well and played in Dackombe down the right whose early ball int the box found Simba who smashed a good shot in at the near pos from 15 yards. Dackombe was rewarded for a fabulous run from box to box 5 minutes from the end as the breakaway following the Billericay attack found Redhead down the left, he carried the ball well toward the opposing box and layer a lovely cross ball which Dackombe finished neatly after sprinting 70 yards to make it 6-0. Then with 2 minutes t go Zak played a great clearance forward which fond redhead clear and calmly lobbed the keeper. 7-0. The scoreline was complete wit the last kick of the game after a well worked move down the right and some god passing between Dackombe and redhead played in Cam who finished very coolly to make it 8-0. So 1 down 3 to go and Hills destiny still lies in their own hands. After setting off smoothly in August, meeting a patch of rough water mid crossing the ship is righted once again, and the stage is set for 180 minutes of cup final football to finish the season in glory. Pipe that one aboard Mr Christian. U12 White cruise to 6-1 win over Cobra by Andrew Colman Buckhurst Hill were back to winning ways in their fight for promotion with a convincing win at home to Cobra. It was all Hill in the opening stages, with the Cobra keeper being forced into a double save from Anamole and Page before making a flying stop from a Cooper effort. Oliver was denied by the crossbar after good work by Page, and then Anamole came close after good work by Oliver and an unselfish lay-back by Page. It was totally against the run of play when a long clearance by the Cobra keeper created a chance on the break - Dennis appeared to have made a fine stop and Lawrence to have cleared, but the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line and the visitors found themselves 1-0 to the good. This was the sign for the midfield of Corlis, Risby, Anamole and Lawrence to really take a grip of the game, and chance after chance went begging. Corlis had his shot well saved, and then Page's header from an Anamole free-kick flew just wide. Corlis crossed for Oliver to head goalwards only to see his effort cleared off the line, and Risby shot just wide from the rebound. Eventually Buckhurst Hill drew level after a fine ball by Dermibala set Page free on the left, and his fine cross was hammered home first time by Oliver. Risby had a goal-bound effort tipped onto the bar, but Hill soon deservedly took the lead when Risby's quick throw set Oliver free on the right, and his fine cross was met by Page to make it 2-1. Bruns came on as a replacement and his first touch was a well-struck shot which was well saved just on the stroke of half time. The second half saw Buckhurst Hill really start to turn the screw with some fine flowing football. It was soon 3-1 as Corlis burst clear on the left before squaring for Page to tap home. Oliver, Risby and Anamole all came close before Risby found Oliver free on the right again, and his cross was converted well by Page for a fine hat-trick and 4-1. Dennis had to make a fine save diving acrobatically to his right, but he was largely a spectator as Creasey and Colman both put in solid performances at the back. Dermibala played another fine through ball for Corlis to make a powerful driving run in the inside left channel, but his shot hit the outside of the near post. Hill scored again as Cooper made a fine headed clearance which played Oliver through and he coolly lobbed the keeper for his second and Buckhurst Hill's fifth. Anamole sewed up the victory with a fine finish after some neat footwork in the box to make it 6-1. Man of the match went to Corlis for a commanding performance on the left side of midfield. On a personal note this will be my last match report as we move on to different things after 5 seasons at BHFC. I would like to say what a pleasure it has been to see the boys develop as people and as players, and wish them all the very best for the future. U12 White bought down to earth by high flying Falcons by Andrew Colman This was arguably one of the boys' best performances of the season in parts, during which they provided stern opposition for the runaway league leaders only to end up losing 3-0. The opening exchanges were even, with the Buckhurst Hill defensive four of Colman, Nicholls, Creasey and Corlis all equitting themselves well against a fast and strong Falcons attack. Slowly Risby, Anamole and Lawrence began to exert more influence in midfield, and it was from a fine Risby pass that Hill's first chance fell to London but his shot went wide. At the other end Dennis had to make a brave save at the feet of a Falcons forward, and then was again called into action to save after Colman had cleared off the line. There was nothing he could do however as the ball was given away cheaply and Falcons took the lead. Buckhurst Hill came right back at the league leaders however, first Oliver having a goal-bound effort blocked and then Colman laying an inch-perfect ball into Page only to see his touch take the ball wide. Risby's fine pass to London put him in the clear, but his effort was just not decisive enough and the ball was cleared off the line. On the stroke of half time Risby had a shot well saved but an evenly contested half meant the game could still go either way. The second half saw Buckhurst Hill start brightly. Oliver playing a fine ball into London whose shot was well saved, and then Bruns having a speculative effort from distance comfortably gathered by the Falcons keeper as well. Dermibala twice had to come to the rescue in defence heading well off the line to save goalbound efforts, and both Cooper and Creasey had to make last ditch tackles as the visitors pressed. At the other end Oliver came close after a fine pass by Bruns, but it was soon 2-0 to the visitors when the ball was given away cheaply in the final third and a simple goal ensued. Page and Oliver both had shots saved in the dying minutes. Man of the match went to Colman for a decisive and authoratative display at right back. Essex County Cup Semi Final/Dagenham 0 Buckhurst Hill 8
Hill have won this prestigious trophy twice and been losing semi-finalists once in the past 3 years of this cup – a fantastic record.
We travelled the short distance to Dagenham to play another semi-final – and what a match it proved to be.
The first 20 minutes saw a see saw match with each team testing the oppositions defence. James & Ryan had to be on their toes against a quick Daggers forward line that posed a number of threats. Ladyman and Camara Taylor assisted and Husaj made sure he played the sweeper role very well.
Ryan , in particular had to make a number of interceptions and passes out of defence. Something he did expertly time and time again throughout this match. Allied to this is his expert passing and forages forward and he has had an outstanding season.
Husaj was called upon to stop a 30 yard free kick whilst at the other end a flowing move involving Burgess , Kemp & Maltese led to a rasping 30 yard shot just going wide from a vibrant Modeste.
Further Hill pressure saw Fuller find Osmond on the edge of the box for a low flying shot to nestle in the bottom corner of the net. Lovely lay off from Fuller and perfect shot. 1-0 to the Hill.
James then put his body in the way to block a shot on the Hill 6 yard line- great stop from our towering centre back.
The Hill then had a goal disallowed for offside but this was only a temporary respite as a Burgess pass found Maltese who expertly shot in to the top of the net . 2-0 to the Hill.
A superb Fuller pass (who had a tip top game) found Kemp whose shot was blocked but the 2 midfielders were putting in some outstanding tackles in the middle of the park.
Modeste had two 25 yard shots fly just wide but then Kemp was found just on the edge of the penalty box and he ghosted past the defender to smash the ball in to the back of the net and make it 3-0. A thunderous shot.
H/T 3-0
One thing about this team- defenders can score goals and attackers defend. Maltese put in some sterling work blocking a couple of Daggers free kicks which allowed Meade to move towards goal and just hit the ball wide.
A tantalising free kick from Fuller saw James force the ball over the line to make it 4-0. A goal made out of determination.
O’Connor was starting to lubricate the midfield with his intelligent passing- bringing in players around him and being at the centre of some lovely passing moves. A Fuller tap in made it 5-0 and then a close ranger header made it 6-0. Dagenham were being taken apart by great passing and movement. Down the right – Ladyman, Casey & O’Connor were superb whilst on the left Camara Taylor and O’Connor and Meade were retaliating with their own great passing and moves. Breath-taking stuff to watch.
Modeste was simply too quick & strong for his opponents and had another outstanding game leading the attack.
From one of these classy moves Casey then beat his defender to shoot with the outside of his boot from 20 yards in to the top corner to make it 7-0. Top notch goal.
A Modeste drive to the by line and drag back for O’Connor saw a simple tap in to make it 8-0.
Full time came and the score was 8-0.
2 Essex County Cup trophies , 3 finals and one semi-final in 4 consecutive years is a fantastic achievement.
The final against Barca will be a very hard game but this was a fantastic result. Very well done boys.
Our quote comes from Ladyman who played with technical mastery throughout the game- an object lesson in how to control a ball on an uneven pitch. ‘’everyone pulled together and it’s a great result’’. Sums it up better than my words- this is a team that plays for each other and therein lies the secret of its success.
A final well done to Messer’s Maltese & Fuller senior who are to this team what Clough and Taylor were. If any of the boys are reading this then ask your Dads- they will tell you who they were and what they did J
BHFC White U11 V Dagenham Utd After a disappointing performance against Westward Boys saw Hill loose their first league game of the season, a couple of weeks rest saw them facing Dagenham Utd at home with nothing less than a win needed if they were to keep their title chances alive. The manager was calling for a win but also wanted the boys to show him the kind of high quality football that he knows they are capable of. A glorious spring day saw the Hill start brightly with the manager changing the system from the last few games switching to 4-4-2 with the two big men SWANN and FOSTER up front and pace down both wings. Buckurst Hill started brightly competing for the ball and showing some crisp passing. On 5 minutes REDHEAD played the ball past the fullback but his touch looked too heavy to catch to all but the player himself who used his blistering pace to great effect not only getting to the ball but delivering a quality cross which found FOSTER free on the penalty spot but his first time shot was cleared by the defender. A minute later KING played a great ball down the line and REDHEAD delivered a fabulous cross, SWANN made a great run to the near post pulling the defender with him, and leaving FOSTER free this time he made no mistake to volley home 1-0 after 6 minutes. Hill started to play some nice football and were dominating the game but on 9 minutes DAGENHAM broke with speed down the right hand side but were met by the solid defensive wall with EVE and STRANGE cleaning up nicely, together with FITCH and KING the back four looked very strong throughout the first period. On 12 minutes BROOKES used his pace to terrify the Dagenham back division streaking into the area only to be thwarted by a very well timed challenge from the Dagenham defender. Four minutes later Dagenham delivered a dangerous bouncing ball into the area which S BARRETT held well. On 18 minutes REDHEAD outstripped the defender for pace and delivered a great deep cross to the far post, Brookes picked the ball up and rode a strong challenge but was then felled by the defender, there was no doubt it was a foul and the referee pointed to the spot. REDHEAD stepped up an smashed th ball into the bottom corner giving the keeper no chance 2-0. On 21 minutes Hill won a corner which was delivered with pace and accuracy by BROOKES, FOSTER made a run to the near post and got the faintest of touches with his head, which hit the DAGENHAM defender and went in. FOSTER claimed it, and Hill moved into a 3-0 lead. Hill were showing good movement and some crisp passing with G Johnson showing good vision in the middle of the park and H Barrett breaking up the play alongside him. Hill won a free kick on the edge of their own area which was accurately played forward to FOSTER who controlled the ball with his chest and flicked a lovely pass into the path of REDHEAD. REDHEAD again showed impressive athletic ability to lose the ful back and burst into the DAGENHAM area from the byline to bury the ball past the keeper, 23 minutes saw Hill leading 4-0. The end of the1ist half saw a dominant performance by Hill who won their personal battles all over the pitch and passed the ball well with accuracy and intelligence. The second half saw some changes and a chance for a debut by new signing SIMBA who took up a role iin the middle of the park and showed some good movement and passing, playing with his head up and playing some intelligent balls with Dackombe sitting alongside. Two minutes into to the second half saw a ball delivered into the box, finding BROOKES free whose left footed volley sailed over the bar. A bit of alchemy by the manager saw Hill getting players to take up some unfamiliar positions, this gave Dagenham the chance to get back in the game, but some resolute defending by the back four which now included the industrious ISBEL kept them at bay. On 15 minutes Dagenham played a ball down the right for the attacker to chase, EVE was aware of the danger came across and thunderously cleared the ball which connected with the linesman BROOKES Snr who was unable to avoid it, nearly knocking him off his feet and showing that his sons swift footwork comes from his Swedish genes. On 16 minutes FITCH broke from defence into the middle of the park and again showed that there is more to his game than defending, playing a fabulous through ball to find REDHEAD who played a great early pass across to STRANGE, now at centre forward, whose shot was well saved by the Dagenham keeper. Dagenham continued to fight hard and with two minutes to go they broke down the left and delivered a good cross which the attacker met with a header but S BARRETT showed good hands to hold it. After the strong opening half of fantastic football the second period proved a little disappointing, with substitutions on and off like a revolving door in the second period and the diminutive winger BROOKES ending the game at centre back it was no surprise when the manager laid the blame at his own door for” too many changes in the second half” resulting in our foot coming off the gas. Still the very strong first half performance and a great debut from ort new signing give us a lot to be optimistic about in the run in to the end of the season. U12 White Routed as Rampant Rippleway Run Riot by Andrew Colman For the first five minutes all went swimmingly, as Buckhurst Hill started brightly and took the lead when Page tapped home from a fine cross by Anamole. After that, however, it was downhill all the way, as defensive and midfield lapse after lapse allowed the visitors to score three times unanswered in each half, seeing the boys slump to a 6-1 defeat in what was surely their worst performance in the last couple of years. I have been racking my brains for 24 hours to think of how to fill this report with an uplifting spin on the day, but all I can think of is how beautiful the weather was, so we'll just leave it at that. Buckhurst Hill U15’s hold nerve to win in Essex County Cup Quarter finals
Buckhurst Hill 2 Billericay 2 (5-4 after penalties)
This was a titanic game against two evenly matched teams Hill had been inactive for 4 weeks and it showed in the early exchanges with Billericay just having the edge. James had to be on his best form with 2 great headed clearances whilst under pressure whilst Husaj made some excellent punched clearances from dangerous crosses –something he was to do throughout the match.
A Ryan interception (how many times has it been said – playing masterly at the back) fed Modeste who used his speed and strength to go past 2 and whip in a cross that Maltese just prodded wide – a classy move).
A 20 yard flying shot from Taylor Camara was expertly tipped wide of the post by the Billericay keeper and it was Hill who were now starting to get back in to the game.
A Burgess tackle released Kemp who passed on to Modeste to shoot but another good save was made.
Then a Billericay through ball was flicked on and the attacker lofted the ball over Husaj but just wide. A golden opportunity wasted.
Modeste & Osmond then played a great one two with Osmond striking a lovely cross for Maltese to just put wide whilst under pressure.
Burgess shot over from 20 yards out & Osmond had a shot tipped on to the bar.
Then a Maltese free kick – swung under the goal – saw everyone miss the ball to go in to the back of the net and make it 1-0. Slightly fortuitous but if you do the right things then you become more lucky.
Half time came and the score was 1-0
Within 2 minutes of the 2nd half Billericay had equalised. The Hill failed to clear a cross adequately and the ball was fired in from close range to make it 1-1.
Meads & Casey both had shots saved superbly and then Meade twisted and turned in the penalty box to calmly slot the ball in to the corner of the net. Meade made it look simple to score – it wasn’t. Top goal poachers goal and it was 2-1.
Then Billericay equalised from a close range header to make it 2-2 and there was all to play for.
The Hill injury count was mounting with Fuller and Burgess and Camara Taylor all off due to some very unpleasant tackles but- true to form – the Hill team spirit came to the fore. Fuller went back on and, despite being injured, made a nuisance of himself (in a good way). O’Connor slotted in at right back very well and Ladyman moved over to left back and completely stopped the increasing number of Billericay attacks down the left flank. Tip top defensive work. Kemp played a captains game- geeing his team on and giving all and James & Ryan were outstanding at the back with Husaj playing his best game in a Hill top.
F/T 2-2
Extra time saw both teams go at each other as though it was the start of the game but neither team could break the deadlock. Hill had a couple of chances but
Just failed to score.
After extra time 2-2
And on the to the dreaded penalty shot out. No dread here though.
Billericay went first and scored their 1st 4 penalties- all expertly taken. Hill responded to a man and it was 4-4.
Then Billericay missed and up stepped O’Connor for the Hill. As spectators we knew O’Connor would score. He is unflappable with great football technique. He placed the ball, took 4 steps back and as cool as a cucumber put the ball in to the corner of the net. The goalie had no chance and Hill were through 5-4 on penalties.
Ryan – our majestic sweeper – said in his under stated way ‘ a quite hard game and I feel a bit tired’’.
I’ve said a lot of good things about this team this season and I’m running out of words to describe them, their team attitude and never say die approach. Basically – all the parents, grandparents and assorted supporters are very very proud of them. Well done boys.
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 Buckhurst Hill FC, Roding Lane, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, IG9 6BJ. Home Kit:
Blue & Black Striped Shirt; Black Shorts; Black Socks. Away Kit: Black & White Striped Shirt; Black Shorts; Black Socks.
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