West Essex FC 0 - 1 Arthurian League

​Match report from David Lederman

​​The Arthurian League Representative XI returned to action for the first time since July with a narrow but fully deserved 1-0 win away to Essex Senior League side West Essex FC. Jake Raine’s penalty with twenty-five minutes remaining, earned following a tricky run from substitute George Hockey, was sufficient to separate the sides, although the visitors will be kicking themselves they failed to score more. And they could have been made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal when keeper Johnny Bowers, who had been a spectator for much of the match, was forced to pull off a fine save in the dying embers of the game, diving full length to deflect a powerful volley onto the bar to ensure victory.
 
Although this was technically the second outing for the As this season, July’s trip to Wales to face Welsh Premier Division side Llanelli Town, followed by the subsequent Saturday night out in Swansea, felt a lifetime away when players and staff arrived at Wadham Lode on a freezing November Tuesday evening. The fifteen-man squad assembled by manager Billy Jenkins contained an encouraging mixture of old and new faces, with the support of several other injured players from the touchline indicating the determination to build towards a successful defence of the FA Inter League Cup, won in dramatic circumstances 18 months ago.
 
Two of the starting eleven were making their debuts, both Old Carthusians: centre-back Louis Ward and right winger Hector Platt, whilst Ardinians midfielder Jak Alcock’s last, and only, appearance to date came five years ago. Alcock was partnered by Old Chigwellian Josh Banfield in the middle, Johnians’ Craig Bonnar playing just ahead of them behind lone striker Jake Raine. Old Alleynian Sam Fetherston played left wing ahead of Forester Tayo Felstead – the As Man of the Match in the fixture against Llanelli. Conditions in northeast London were about as good as could be expected, with the pitch at Walthamstow Town FC, where West Essex play their home fixtures, soft but relatively even and little wind to speak of.
 
The usual frenetic opening saw both sides happy to play forwards at the earliest opportunity to start with, the As working the first effort on goal after ten minutes when a strong run down the right by Platt saw the ball cut back to Banfield just outside the box, his first-time shot sailed just past the post. The hosts responded with their own spell of pressure but the two As centre-backs, Ward and Kimboltonian Henry Langley, read the play well and mopped up any attacks with minimal fuss. Keeper Bowers remained untroubled, one tame shot well wide of goal the sum total of the hosts’ efforts to that point.
 
With just under twenty minutes played, and neither side in full control, the visitors then produced one of the best moves of the game, coming tantalisingly close to breaking the deadlock. Banfield collected in midfield and laid the ball back to Harry Darnell at right-back, Darnell fed Bonnar on the half-turn and he clipped a lovely ball over the top for Raine to run onto. The ball sat up begging to be hit and the Reptonian didn’t hesitate, connecting sweetly but sending his volley inches of the top of the bar.
 
This sparked the visitors into life and the white shirts quickly began to dominate possession, switching play across the back nicely, although wide men Fetherston and Platt could perhaps have been utilised more, the former forcing the Essex keeper into a decent save with a low effort from a fairly narrow angle. Craig Bonnar then hit a superb volley of his own from twenty-five yards out but this was also narrowly off target.
 
The final few minutes of the half saw chances at both ends. Essex finally threatened when their best move of the game saw the ball worked across the edge of the box but the subsequent shot was drilled just wide of the far post. A second effort, moments later, saw a well-struck volley fly a couple of yards wide of the near post. But with the last attack prior to the interval the As forced a corner and although Banfield’s delivery was headed clear, Langley had the chance to close out the half in spectacular fashion only to lash his half-volley high and wide of the target.
 
It had taken the men in white a while to get going – understandable given the conditions and the addition of several new faces to the team – but manager Billy Jenkins pronounced himself satisfied with what he’d seen so far and there was optimism a similar level of performance in the second half would bring its rewards. Three changes were made, all at the back, with the two centre-halves and right-back replaced. On came Tonbridgian Harry Balcombe for his debut, and two players who have featured in recent games, Matt Rutherford of Chigs and young Forester Oli Shaw.
 
Having seen Llanelli Town produce an entirely fresh XI for the second half of the pre-season friendly in Wales, and snatch a 2-1 victory in the final minute in the process, there were some fears that West Essex may adopt a similar tactic here. These concerns were soon allayed, however, with the Arthurians dominating the second half to earn a deserved win of their own.
 
Keeper Johnny Bowers was forced into one important save, thrusting out his right leg to block a low driven shot, but that aside, all the chances came at the other end. Indeed, by the time the visitors struck midway through the half, the result could have already been put beyond doubt. Jak Alcock produced a clever flick round the corner that sent Raine racing down the inside right but his fierce drive was well tipped over by the keeper. Five minutes later, a long ball over the top was superbly controlled by the forward only for the finish to lack the equivalent quality, the ball arrowing just past the far post.
 
With half an hour remaining Lancing’s George Hockey replaced Alcock and the As switched to a 4-4-2 formation, Hockey joining Raine up front. The move paid almost immediate dividends as the substitute benefitted from a storming run through the middle from Matt Rutherford, collecting the ball on the left edge of the penalty area before turning the full-back inside out. If the level of contact was debatable, and the delay in the referee’s whistle suggested he wasn’t certain if an offence had been committed, the quality of Hockey’s adroit change of direction deserved its reward. Raine stepped up and duly smashed the penalty straight down the middle, the As deservedly in front with just under twenty-five minutes remaining.
 
Further chances to extend the margin of victory followed but, rather disappointingly, none were taken. Hockey, who looked more than lively in his half-hour of involvement, fed Fetherston on the right but the winger fired rather tamely at the keeper’s legs as he narrowed the angle. Balcombe then delivered a fine pass over the top to Raine and what followed would have graced any ground in world football. The Repton man, hardly averse to the spectacular, especially if Andy Nunn’s camera happens to be present behind the goal, trapped the ball with a superb first touch before producing an instant, instinctive ‘rabona’ shot – driving his right instep onto the ball from behind his standing leg. The Essex keeper – arguably the Man of the Match – flung himself at full stretch low to his right to prevent the ball nestling in the bottom corner and Raine was denied what would surely go down as one of the finest goals ever scored in an Arthurian League Rep team game.
 
But for all the quality on display going forwards, the As were so nearly left to regret their lack of clinical finishing when the hosts came within inches of snatching an ill-deserved draw in the closing moments. Essex worked the ball down their left and, as the move broke down, there appeared little danger, only for a midfielder to chance his arm with a volley from fully thirty yards out. The ball dipped and bounced a yard in front of Bowers, who was alert enough to dive to his left and deflect the effort onto the top of the crossbar with his outstretched left arm. The resulting corner was safely cleared and the final whistle blew moments later.
 
A highly satisfying return to action for the As and there are now plenty of selection headaches for manager Billy Jenkins as he looks to assimilate a squad capable of defending the Inter League Cup in the new year. The draw for the first round has still to be made, but the League’s trip to Finland for the UEFA Regions Cup last summer as reward for winning the FA competition has shown others just what can be gained from taking the competition seriously. With a potential trip to the USA in June also mooted, an interesting 2026 awaits the best the Arthurian League has to offer.