Harlow Town 4 AFC Hornchurch 4

[Kel]

Manager Allan Pearce took his first-year U18s over to table-topping Harlow Town to represent us in the Capital League last night. The squad was bolstered by the inclusion of Coach Nathan Philip and 19 year-old Joe Patterson.

 

Harlow also fielded a side with very little first team experience, but included first-team squad Goalkeeper Michael Dumoulin and Manager Kevin Warren.

 

From the outset it was clear that both sides were comfortable on the ball and intent on playing football. Disaster struck for the young Urchins in the 9th minute, when a defensive mix-up led to a handball and a penalty, which was firmly dispatched by MICHAEL RYAN. 1-0 to the Hawks.

 

The Urchins soon settled down after this setback and showed a good deal of craft when going forward. Harlow were also contributing to a thoroughly entertaining game.

 

Just when it looked as though the Urchins were gaining the upper hand, a ball into the box from the right after 34 minutes was not cleared effectively and fell to HENDRIX EMANUEL, who smashed home a drive from the edge of the area. Hawks 2-0 up.

 

From the restart the Urchins continued to press, and eventually began to dominate possession. On 43 minutes good work from the Urchins on the right flank led to a low cross into the box and, from the resulting scramble, the ball broke to Captain Joe Bilton who gleefully knocked it home from close range. 2-1 to the Hawks at half-time.

 

The young Urchins began the second half as they finished the first, and more good work down the right led to a cross which MKHWANZI MUZI ghosted onto the end of to equalise after 47 minutes.

 

The lads now had their tails up and were looking dangerous virtually every time they had the ball. However, after 61 minutes a speculative long-range strike from DANIEL JOHNSON completely deceived Goalkeeper Sid Miller and flew in off the near post. 3-2 Hawks.

 

Curtley Yates replaced Mkhwanzi Muzi after 65 minutes and Cameron St Prix Mitchell replaced Frankie Williams after 72. Frankie had run his heart out, and had played 90 minutes for Basildon in the Essex Senior League the evening before (scoring twice).

 

After 75 minutes the Referee inexplicably gave a direct free kick to Harlow just outside the penalty area. From where I stood (albeit 90 yards away, but only 10 further than the Referee) the award was very harsh and should have been an indirect free kick for obstruction at the very most. Nevertheless, MARK COWLEY stepped up and struck a firm effort up and over the wall and into the bottom left-hand corner. 4-2 down.

 

From that moment on the Urchins showed real determination and completely dominated the action. On 80 minutes a ball into the box from the right broke for JOE PATTERSON, who took two touches before calmly passing the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal. 4-3 down.

 

Not long after the restart Cameron St Prix Mitchell weaved his way into the penalty area only to be brought down. Penalty. BILLY PEARCE smashed the ball home for the equaliser on 83 minutes. 4-4.

 

There was still time for Lew Moore to produce a sublime chip from 20 yards which struck the bar, and for Emmanuel Johnson to replace Nathan Philip after 85 minutes.

 

In the end it was clear that the lads were extremely disappointed with only a point at the home of the league leaders, despite coming back from two goals down twice. Well worth the effort of attending.

 

Urchins Line-Up:

 

20. Sid Miller

2. Nathan Philip (Johnson, 85)

3. Billy Pearce (Goal, 83)

4. Joe Patterson (Goal, 80)

5. Luke Dickens

6. Joe Bilton © (Goal, 43)

9. Frankie Williams (St Prix Mitchell, 72)

10. Lew Moore

11. Connor Fagan

12. Mkhwanzi Muzi (Goal, 47) (Yates, 65)

14. George Woodward

 

7. Cameron St Prix Mitchell

8. Emmanuel Johnson

15. Curtley Yates

Edited April 21, 2011 by blackballed
To help my old mate Kel .....

[Baron of Black Fen]

And i thought the spurs v arsenal game was good !!!!

[Eastside Urchin]

Would of actually gone to watch this last night had i known it had been on.I know we have stuff on the website but not every fan uses the website the same as not every fan uses the forum.Both are good sources of information but in my mind the forum needs to have just the same level of information on it as the website.This is not me having a go at anyone but it needs looking into for next season.I would like to see any topic on the forum that is pinned automatically placed onto the website and every topic that appears on the website put on the forum,even if its just a link to the web page,margate do this and it appears to be very successful as the two site work with each other.Comments from some people in previous weeks that the website is more important are garbage imo,they are both important as outlets of information.

[ProgEd]

Fair point: there's no such thing as too much publicity, especially for CapLeague games which can be moveable feasts. Still, the Harlow game hasn't moved very much: it's been listed in the last nine first-team programmes and the last six Capital League programmes!

[Kel]

There are a number of things that need looking into for next season, but before we get inundated with ideas, I feel it would be worthwhile making forum users aware of the "behind the scenes" situation with regard to staffing at the club.

 

To my knowledge, with the exception of some bar / catering staff on busy first team match days and for functions, everybody who "works" for the club does so on a purely voluntary basis. This means that most of them also have full-time jobs and, possibly, families to raise (as well as have some sort of life themselves!). Time is very much an issue for them.

 

It is great for supporters to have ideas, and they are always welcome, but it must be borne in mind that ideas can only come into fruition if there are people available and willing to implement them. By available and willing, I mean people who will commit to doing something and carry it through to it's conclusion.

 

There are a number of roles at the club that could be filled by supporters. Manual roles, administrative roles, matchday roles and roles that can be undertaken at other times. All of these roles, however, need to be undertaken by people who are prepared to commit to them, week in, week out, throughout the season and beyond.

 

If there is anyone out there who feels they fit the bill, please let me or Colin know. Then, perhaps, we can have some hope of keeping everybody happy.

 

Thank you.

 

Kel

[Kel]

Oh, and No 14 in the match report above should be George Woodward (who had an excellent game btw!)

[Eastside Urchin]

well said mr secretary you old git!

[Serious Sid]

Would of actually gone to watch this last night had i known it had been on.I know we have stuff on the website but not every fan uses the website the same as not every fan uses the forum.Both are good sources of information but in my mind the forum needs to have just the same level of information on it as the website.This is not me having a go at anyone but it needs looking into for next season.I would like to see any topic on the forum that is pinned automatically placed onto the website and every topic that appears on the website put on the forum,even if its just a link to the web page,margate do this and it appears to be very successful as the two site work with each other.Comments from some people in previous weeks that the website is more important are garbage imo,they are both important as outlets of information.

 

1. Why don't 'some fans' use the website?

2. All news items appear on the front page of the website. It doesn't take that much more effort to click on the website link in your 'favourites' as it would to click on a link if posted on the Forum.

3. How many people run the Margate site? Bet its more than 'one'.

 

BTW, I shall offer to run the website next season. if required, but that will definitely be my last. That will be a five year stint and it will probably then be time for new blood and new ideas.

[Eastside Urchin]

To be honest sid,I hardly use the website,only to check fixtures.Nothing against the website but I now only use my mobile for browsing and as I have said for no fault of anyones its too slow for phones.Some people use forums only some just use the website,either way both are just as important