London v Essex - Under 18's

[Ian_W]

London 1-4 Essex

 

Thursday 7th October 2010, Bridge Avenue, Kick-Off 7:30pm

 

Under 18s Representative Friendly.

By Mark Wallis

 

A Jack Gardner hat-trick inside the last four minutes sealed an impressive 4-1 victory for Essex over London as they finalised their preparation for their FA County Youth Cup opener with Huntingdonshire on Sunday 17th October at the same venue.

 

Gardner’s quick-fire treble earned what was a deserved victory for Essex, who had their first half lead, given to them by Ross Lamb, cancelled out before the interval. Following a bright start, Pele Salmon had already seen an effort well saved by London ‘keeper David Cain before Essex took the lead on 15 minutes, Lamb neatly chipping home from a tight angle.

 

Ryan Henshaw then watched his powerful header, from a Joe Bricknell corner, cleared off the line before London grabbed a leveller on 32 minutes. Abiola Balogun outpaced Essex’s defence prior to coolly taking the ball past ‘keeper Tim Pitman and slotting into an unguarded net.

 

Essex came close to re-establishing a lead before the break as Bradley Webb’s low shot bounced off a post and Salmon’s curling effort brought a fine save from Cain. They enjoyed further opportunities after the re-start, Gardner slipping a shot just wide of the target having been playing through by Glenn O’Hanlon. Meanwhile, chances also went begging for Ryan Smith, with a diving header, and Salmon after Smith had neatly pulled back Gardner’s cross.

 

The lead was finally reclaimed on 86 minutes, Gardner tidily side-footing home after being set-up by Webb. A minute later Gardner had his second, placing a terrific 15-yard shot into the top corner after receiving a ball from Bricknell and Gardner’s hat-trick was completed a minute from time, cutting inside the area and finishing impressively from an acute angle.

 

Essex: Tim Pitman (Brentwood Town), Bradley Webb (Brentwood Athletic), Billy Whitcomb (Brentwood Town), Ryan Batchford (Chelmsford City), Danny Johnson (Witham Town), Glenn O’Hanlon (Barking Abbey), Joe Bricknell (Barking Abbey), Ryan Henshaw (AFC Sudbury), Pele Salmon (Barking Abbey), Jacob Cleaver (Hullbridge Sports), Ross Lamb (Chelmsford City). Substitutes (repeated): Jack Gardner (Brentwood Town), Ryan Smith (Brentwood Town), James Regis (Barking Abbey), Jaimie Bush (Brentwood Town), Joe Fowler (Heybridge Swifts).

 

London: David Cain (VCD Athletic), Joe Bilton (AFC Hornchurch), Jonjo Walsh (LOASS), Danny Ford (Thurrock), Rob Clarke (AFC Hornchurch), George McMahon (VCD Athletic), Jay Smale (VCD Athletic), Kew Moore (AFC Hornchurch), Joe Borland (Long Lane), Daniel Brantuo (Harrow Borough), Sam Bradley (Thurrock). Substitutes (repeated): Scott Hill (LOASS), Abiola Balogun (LOASS), Jason Canon-Cody (Beckenham Town), Steadman Callender (Long Lane).

 

Bookings: None.

 

Referee: Jeff Lancaster (Epping).

 

Assistant Referees: Grant Moody (Dagenham) and Joseph Carew (London).

[paokman]

Do London have grounds for an appeal, what with one of their lads coming from Sudbury, which I thought was in Suffolk?t

[Hornchurch "O"]

Why were our lads from ESSEX playing for London?

[Eastside Urchin]

think its all done on the borough you live,so london borough of havering you play for london.

The bloke who plays for sudbury must obviously live/been born in essex blud

 

 

[C.A.A.]

think its all done on the borough you live,so london borough of havering you play for london.

The bloke who plays for sudbury must obviously live/been born in essex blud

 

 

 

You can represent any county as long as you are signed for a team who is affiliated to that county

You can always play for the county of your birth, wherever you live