Saturday 12th October, 2024 | Buckhurst Hill 1-2 Stanway Rovers | Essex Senior League Premier | Attendance : 55
By Harry Biggs
The Stags are faced with defeat for the first time in over a month after a 2-1 loss at home to top of the league Stanway Rovers. An interesting game for Rovers who were troubled by The Stags and Buckhurst Hill definitely deserved a point from a Stanway team who have only been beaten once, on the first game of the season to Romford.
Mark made a few changes to our 1-0 cup win against Barking in midweek after Toby Smith returned between the sticks after missing out on our cup clash. Ollie Williams could come back to captain the side and Dan Jones would come in to replace Lucas Willison who would drop to the bench alongside Alife Harris. Khadean Campbell would start for The Stags after scoring our only goal against Barking and Jimi Feeley would be on the bench for Buckhurst Hill after his injury which made him out of action since our cup clash with Ilford earlier this month.
Onto the 90 minutes now and there was not much action to report up until the 18th minute mark after Stanway Rovers took the lead from an effort just inside Smith’s box when an effort trickled into his goal on the wet surface. There would be not many chances for either side in the first half after most of the action happening in the middle of the pitch where the referee was whistle friendly and booked 5 players in the first half after some unbelievable challenges from Stanway were flying in and one was clearly missed on the 33rd minute mark after a disgusting tackle was made on Hammond right in front of the assistant who waved away the claims.
Campbell would have a chance for The Stags a few minutes later after a pass was played through to him with a few minutes of the first period still to go and unfortunately the pass was just too heavy for ‘Khads’ to reach. Stanway Rovers would have the last chance of the half after a successful counter attack nearly turned out into a goal as Frempong tried to head the effort back to The Stags keeper Smith but missed the header and the loose ball was luckily picked up by The Buckhurst Hill keeper as a Stanway player looked to follow up the stray ball.
The second half now and Smith was called into action in the first few minutes after he made a brilliant low save to deny Stanway Rovers a second. The second goal did come for the visitors after 56 minutes as Tom Maycock fired a shot into the side netting of The Stags’ net and extended the deficit to 2 goals now. The Stags would make a quick response 3 minutes later after super sub Alfie Padington would score his first goal for Buckhurst Hill after a corner was swung in by Jones and the set piece was headered away by a Stanway defender only for the ball to find Padington on the edge of the box who would fire a shot into the top corner with a first time finish to get The Stags back in this one.
The Stags looked to build on this goal and for the remainder of the game were all over top of the table Stanway who were just holding on at the back. Robertson would go close for The Stags after his shot was blocked and the following effort was deflected wide.
Two minutes later and another chance would go astray for The Stags after the visitors keeper made a brilliant save to deny Stags defender Foyewa who’s shot was definitely going in. Stanway could’ve run away with the game after they missed a golden opportunity to wrap the game up after a shot was fired over the bar from a clear effort to finish the game for The Rovers.
The Stags would keep pushing for an equalizer and would have 7 minutes of extra time now to find it. 3 minutes into the added period and Frempong should’ve grabbed a point for Buckhurst Hill after a set piece was swung in by Hammond and it would eventually reach Emmanuel Frempong, who to be fair didn’t expect the ball to come to him and he would swing at the ball at his feet from point blank range which would go miles over the bar.
In the dying seconds of the game The Stags thought they’d rescued a point after a ball was crossed to the back post and flicked of the head of Foyewa, the ball ended up in the net and limbs were certain but the linesman had his flag up to ruin Stags hearts after the suposid touch of Foyewa was apparently offside to Stanway Rovers would take all 3 points back to The Hawthorns.
TEAM :
Smith 🧤, Foyewa, Buchanan 🟨, Warner, Ogunsanya 🟨, Frempong, Campbell, Williams ©️, Jones, Hammond, Robertson
SUBS :
Willison (67’ – Williams), Padington ⚽ (53’ – Campbell), Long, Harris, Feeley
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AND THEN AFTER