Damage in the Box!: GREAT WAKERING ROVERS (Burroughs Park)

Today I found myself in deepest, darkest Essex as my travels took me to the outskirts of Southend (pronounced Sarrrfend by the locals) or more specifically, the tiny village of Great Wakering. Today, once again, the weather was the winner today as fixture list was decimated but an early call to the secretary confirmed that the game was going ahead, subject to the referee's confirmation at around 2pm.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained and I went for it, knowing full well that if was called off i'd have nowhere else to go. Luckily, my gamble was rewarded and Mr Oldershaw deemed the pitch playable. GAME ON!!!

Today, like Boxing Day is "derby day" and Rovers were up against their nearest and dearest from Canvey Island, Concord Rangers (aka the Beach Boys). Great Wakering were on the wrong end of a 3-1 deafeat at Thames Road a week ago, so were naturally seeking revenge.

Both teams are going well this season, Rovers are currently sitting in the play-off zone of Divison One (North) but they have played more games than any of the teams around them. Concord Rangers, meanwhile, are continuing where they left off last season (they lost out in the play-off final on penalties). A win for Concord today would indeed lift them two points clear of Rovers and they would still have four games in hand.

It was Concord who made all the early running and should been ahead in the opening minutes when Danny Heale shot wide when it was probably easier to score. However after being outplayed for the first twenty minutes, Rovers began to claw their way back into the game when they had a Ben Hudson goal ruled out (correctly) for handball and then hit the post from an Adam Dennis free-kick (see below). However on the half hour a (quite frankly crap) Lyle Taylor corner somehow ping-ponged its way to the feet of Michael Begg who made no mistake from a few yards out. The game opened up a little and was end-to-end but the final ball from both teams left a lot to be desired. Right on half time, another (crap) Taylor corner found its way through to Begg who bagged his second, after 'keeper Louis Goodwin-Green saved his initial effort. Shocking defending, as a well known Scottish cheat may say.

Rovers did have a chance in the opening moments of the second half but Dan Trenkel fired across the face of the goal. The half ultimately belonged to Concord as they picked off Great Wakering on the break. On the hour a fantastic cross from left back Dave Collins was buried by Steve King to seal the victory. The only surprise was that the Beach Boys never added more goals to the tally, Goodwin-Green making some fine saves to keep the score down.

On a bitterly cold day both teams contributed to an entertaining game and I must again give the thumbs up to the referee for letting the game go ahead. The frozen strip in front of the stand that was causing concern seemed to thaw as the game went on and both sets of players never did anything stupid that was likely to cause any injury.