Buckhurst Hill FC 0-1 Great Wakering FC
25th April 2024 | Essex Senior Premier League | Att: 87
By Harry Biggs.
A chance for Buckhurst Hill to secure back-to-back wins against the two teams in the Essex Senior League, heading to Wembley, faded as Great Wakering picked up the three points at Myrak Park on a cold and rainy Thursday night. With Mark Williams absent from the touchline, Adam Connolly took charge and named a similar starting 11 to that which played against Romford on Saturday.
The visitors started strong, and within just three minutes, they had their first attack of the game, but it was intercepted by defensively styled Henry Clark, who started at the back for The Stags on the night. Wakering had another chance after seven minutes on the clock, but the cross that was delivered was too high for a Wakering head and sailed high over the bar. Buckhurst Hill went on to dominate possession but gave the ball away in silly areas, and after 16 minutes, Deruishaj was forced into making his first save of many as a powerful Wakering shot was fired at The Stags’ keeper.
The Stags then started to attack, and three efforts, including one from Youcef Yacine, were brilliantly saved by the visitors’ keeper. Just before the break, Wakering had a dangerous corner which was headed towards goal, but a brilliant goal-line clearance from Harris prevented a certain Wakering goal. The visitors had one more chance before the break as a dangerous counter-attack started, and out of nowhere, Qamil Deruishaj was there to pull off an incredible save to stop Great Wakering again.
The second half now, and just like the first, Wakering started well with only six minutes on the clock, and Deruishaj was already under pressure as he was forced into making a good save. However, the ball wasn’t cleared quickly enough, and the visitors scored the first and only goal of the game to make it 0-1. Connolly was quick to react to the setback and made three changes, including Moncur & Nicholson, who were brought on to try and disrupt Wakering’s playoff hopes.
Approaching the last ten minutes of the game, the visitors had nothing left in them attacking wise, so they had to defend by holding the ball in the corner, hoping a Buckhurst Hill player would give away a foul. Before the full-time whistle, The Stags had a few efforts from Wray and Samuels, which were still not enough to beat the commanding Great Wakering keeper. It ended 0-1, and Mark & Adam’s side look to finish the 23/24 season on a high with their last game of the season this Saturday at Myrak Park.
