Saturday 30th November, 2024 | Halstead Town 0-1 Buckhurst Hill | Essex Senior League Premier | Attendance : 292
By Harry Biggs
The Stags earned another massive three points away from home with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Halstead Town at a packed Milbank Stadium.
New player-coach Ted Buchanan took charge for this clash against The Humbugs due to the unavailability of manager Mark. This marked Buchanan’s first game at the helm, giving him an early taste of life as Buckhurst Hill’s player-coach.
Team News
There were two changes to the starting XI that defeated Stansted. Chama Torsiello earned his first start, replacing Jude Carolan, while new goalkeeper Christian North stepped in for Muhammed Otuyo. The bench welcomed back George Thompson, returning from an injury sustained earlier this month against Canvey Island, alongside Lucas Willison, Quincy Warner, Joe Padington and Jonathan Ogunsanya.
Match Action
Both sides started brightly, keeping possession well but struggling to create clear chances. The first notable moment came in the 7th minute, with Suley Zuhdu receiving a booking for kicking the ball away after being flagged offside.
The Stags had a chance to open the scoring with a free kick on the edge of the area, but Zuhdu’s effort struck the wall. Nine minutes later, a defensive error by Halstead gifted Tyreece Robertson a chance, but his shot went narrowly wide.
At the 20-minute mark, Halstead earned a free kick, but their attempt was poor and easily cleared. Shortly after, Christian North made his first save in a Buckhurst Hill shirt, comfortably stopping a long-range effort.
Controversy followed as The Stags’ bench appealed for a penalty after a challenge in the box, but the referee waved play on. Moments later, Halstead nearly capitalised on a defensive mix-up, but the resulting shot was skewed wide. Dan Jones then came close at the other end, with his effort also missing the target.
North was called into action again, claiming a dangerous ball into the box and later denying Halstead’s Ager with a strong save.
Just before half-time, Buckhurst Hill broke the deadlock. Zuhdu drove into the box and delivered a pinpoint cutback for Tyreece Robertson, who finished in style to send The Stags into the interval with a 1-0 lead.
Second Half
Halstead came out strongly after the break, forcing North into several early saves to preserve The Stags’ lead. Two minutes in, Halstead had a golden chance to equalise, but North produced another crucial stop.
Shortly after, Buckhurst Hill were awarded a penalty for a foul in the box. Reliable spot-kick taker Suley Zuhdu stepped up, but his effort sailed over the bar, letting the hosts off the hook.
Halstead sought to capitalise on the miss but struggled to create meaningful chances, with North making another straightforward save. The Stags nearly doubled their lead through a header that went just wide and a one-on-one opportunity for Jones that was skewed off target.
A dramatic goal-line clearance by Halstead denied Buckhurst Hill a second goal as the visitors piled on the pressure. With 10 minutes remaining, Halstead’s attacking efforts waned, and The Stags held firm.
In the dying moments, Halstead came agonisingly close to snatching a point. A long-range effort struck the outside of the post, leaving the home crowd holding their breath. Buckhurst Hill saw out the tense final moments to claim a valuable victory.
Post-Match Reaction
After the match, Ted Buchanan shared his thoughts:
“I’m very proud of how the team fought for the three points. The first half could’ve been better, but I was pleased with the intensity and improvement in the second half. The boys fully deserved the win, and I’m excited to continue my new role as player-coach, working with such an experienced group.”
Looking Ahead
The Stags’ 1-0 win keeps them in 8th place in the Essex Senior League, edging closer to the play-off spots. December promises to be a challenging month with fixtures against Athletic Newham, Takeley and Romford, culminating in a Christmas Roding Valley Derby that’s sure to deliver fireworks.
We look forward to your continued support at Myrak Park as Buckhurst Hill aims to climb the table.
TEAM :
North 🧤, Ismaili, Harris, Okuguni, Torsiello, Gregory, Hammond 🟨 , Williams ©️, Jones, Zuhdu 🟨 , Robertson ⚽️
SUBS :
Padington (81’ – Jones), Warner, Willison (70’ – Okuguni), Thompson (90+4’ – Zuhdu), Ogunsanya
REMAINING GAMES IN 2024 :
Saturday 7th December, 2024 – Athletic Newham (H) – Essex Senior League
Saturday 14th December, 2024 – Takeley (A) – Essex Senior League
Saturday 21st December, 2024 – Romford (H) – Essex Senior League
Friday 27th December, 2024 – Woodford Town (A) – Essex Senior League | CHRISTMAS RODING VALLEY DERBY
