Saturday 16th November, 2024 | Frenford 2-3 Buckhurst Hill | Essex Senior League Premier League | Attendance : 71
By Harry Biggs
Wow, what a game between Frenford and The Stags! Mark Williams’ side returned to winning ways after a challenging month of fixtures on Saturday afternoon. Buckhurst Hill battled through adversity, playing with 10 men and a defender in goal for the last half hour, to grab a late goal and secure 3 points, bringing them back to Myrak Park ahead of Saturday’s home game against Stansted.
Team Line-up
Mark Williams made three changes from the recent cup defeat against Woodford Town. Toby Smith returned between the sticks, replacing Muhammed Otuyo, who covered in Smith’s midweek absence. The defence remained unchanged, with Jonah Gregory retaining his spot. Ollie Williams, back from suspension, captained the side, taking over from Lucas Willison, who started on the bench. The final change saw Youcef Tacine replace Dan Jones, with the latter joining Willison, Padington, Pullen, and Torsiello among the substitutes.
Match Action
The Stags started strong, with early excitement on the audio commentary just 8 minutes in. A corner from Hammond found Bradley Ismaili, who not only scored his first goal for The Stags but also delivered an unforgettable performance later in the match as an emergency goalkeeper (more on that soon). Just two minutes later, Ismaili nearly had a second but was flagged offside after outpacing former Buckhurst Hill player Henry Day.
Frenford equalised in the 26th minute after a poorly defended set piece. In the crowded penalty area, the ball deflected off Ollie Williams, resulting in an own goal.
The Stags had a chance to retake the lead when Hammond’s powerful shot was saved. Frenford responded with a close attempt of their own, firing into the side netting.
In the 44th minute, Frenford took the lead with a well-placed shot from Corey Hewlett. However, the Stags responded instantly, with Suley Zuhdu curling a precision shot into the top corner from the edge of the box to level the score at 2-2 just before halftime.
Second Half Drama
The Stags came out strong after the break, with Zuhdu heading just over the bar within the first 8 minutes. He had two more golden chances soon after but couldn’t quite convert, with one shot saved by the keeper and another blocked by a Frenford defender.
The game took a dramatic turn when goalkeeper Toby Smith was shown a red card after handling the ball outside the box, denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. With no backup keeper on the bench, 18-year-old defender Bradley Ismaili stepped in to guard the net for the remaining 25 minutes plus injury time.
Despite being down to 10 men, The Stags continued to fight. In the 80th minute, they took the lead again through a well-executed set piece. A clever combination between Zuhdu and Gregory led to Hammond’s shot being saved, but the attack was recycled, and Jude Carolan’s pass found Robertson, who fired home from close range.
With just minutes to go, The Stags were under siege as Frenford pushed for an equaliser. But Ismaili, now dubbed the “Great Wall of Buckhurst,” pulled off a series of miraculous saves, including a last-minute stop that left the Frenford fans in disbelief.
In an extraordinary finale with 13 minutes of added time, The Stags held on to secure a crucial win and reclaim 8th spot in the league table. It was a day of goalkeeper drama across the Essex Senior League, with three red cards for keepers, but only Buckhurst Hill managed to emerge victorious under such challenging circumstances.
Final Score: Frenford FC 2 – 3 Buckhurst Hill FC
A fantastic team effort, especially from the young hero Bradley Ismaili, who stepped up when his team needed him most. Onwards to the next challenge at Myrak Park as The Stags take on Stansted at home!
TEAM :
Smith 🧤, Ismaili ⚽, Carolan, Warner, Harris, Gregory, Hammond, Williams ©️, Racine, Zuhdu ⚽, Robertson ⚽
SUBS :
Padington, Willison, Pullen, Torseillo (65’ – Tacine), Jones (58’ – Warner)
UPCOMING GAMES :
Saturday 23rd November 2024 – Stansted (H) – ESL Premier
Saturday 30th November 2024 – Halstead Town (A) – ESL Premier – Live Audio Commentary Available 🎙️
Saturday 7th December 2024 – Athletic Newham (H) – ESL Premier
