Boreham began their Essex Junior Trophy campaign with the short trip to division 3 outfit Stock United. The Stock venue was renowned for having a nice pitch but a lack of basic amenities such as showers and toilets! The normally numbers heavy squad was looking a bit light for this encounter with Injury, Illness or work commitments ruling out the following 7 players – Charter, Rush, De Vito, Bigland, Carter, Chittock and Adam Dale. However, Ince was a welcome return to the squad and Parkhurst got the call up to partner Cowcher upfront. Mat Starling was called up late to be the only available sub.
The team still looked strong, Jay Dale taking up a central midfield role to partner Goodchild. Smith and Ince providing the midfield width and the back four unchanged other then Powell slotting in for the absent Charter.
The game started well, with nice flowing football being played by the visitors, despite the first 10 minutes being quite even, Boreham soon broke the deadlock. A simple pass out of defence from Simpson found Ince on the right, Ince then beat a couple of players before beating the keeper from inside the box. 1-0 quickly became 2-0 when a Smith corner was side-footed home by Powell. Powell then grabbed his second and Boreham’s third mid way through the first half when he headed home a Darran Ince corner. Goals really were coming think and fast for the visitors as Cowcher got on the act with a well placed header following great work and a cross from Parkhurst.
The fifth followed on the half hour mark, this time it was the lively Jay Dale who got to the by-line and dragged the ball back for Ince who was on hand to slot home his second. Borehams final goal of the half was arguably the best. Good work again form Parkhurst saw his cushioned lay off fall to Goodchild some 25 yards from goal, Gooders then rifled in an unstoppable shot in the right hand corner of the goal. 6-0 to Boreham and the result sewn up in the first half.
One defensive lack of concentration gifted the home side a goal back just before the break. A free kick was looped into the box and an unmarked Stock player headed in. The half time whistle blew, 6-1 to Boreham.
As is often the case in situations like this, with the game seemingly wrapped up, Boreham appeared to take their foot off the gas. Stock were still limited to only a few half chances, but Boreham did not play or create like they did in the first half. Boreham did manage one further goal 15 minutes from time, Smith poked home from close range after a Cowcher lay off.
Mat Starling came on for the last 10 minutes to replace Jay Dale and with no further action of any note, the ref blew the full time whistle. A comfortable 7-1 victory for Boreham who advance to the second round of the Essex Junior Trophy where they will face much stiffer opposition – CT 66 in fact have been drawn to visit... Can Boreham avenge their only defeat of the season when the CT 66 men show up on the 27th Oct?
Next week, Boreham travel to Stags head for the first round of the Division 2 league cup. Massive game, with the winners being just two games away from a cup final and an appearance at Witham Town FC!
