After three years of frustrating single goal defeats against a side who's best player would be lucky to have the privalidge of lacing Dales Boots, Boreham finally showed what they were really about in a one sided affair at the home of village class football.
The Clems were abundant in raw ability with Bigland, Joughin, Hawthorne and Wembley legend Parkhurst in reserve. Gaffa Dale felt his ankle was ripe for an outfield appearance and birthed himself between the recent orgasmic partnership of Ince and Jon Wright in midfield, allowing the switch back to the more favourable 4-3-3 formation. The back remains awesome and unpenetrable with Stammers and Tom Wright, between Coleman and Jay Dale. The in form Rush led the line with the potential chaos for the inform visiters coming from the wings with the blistering pace of Parks and the Dentists best buddy on the left.
The alien feeling midweek encounter started slowly with a rather tentative Boreham on top without penetrating (like Navatralova on Hingis post match in the mid 90's) but unlike the rug munching ball bashers, the Clems were looking beautiful and purposful in their approach, as they pushed and probed playing some Clem coloured, Dutch style sexy football.
Ince looked as though he'd had enough of losing to this lot and alongside the rather weighty but magnificent Dale in midfield, Boreham dominated with the back four looking water tight and Rush up top in determined mood again. It was only a matter of time before Dale's boys broke the deadlock, and although it was a while coming, it was worth the wait. A cross from the right found Geoff Horsfield himself to get his hefty frame off the deck to nod Boreham into the lead and having won every game this season after scoring first, things were looking good for the Clems.
Ince was in scintillating form and one of his many spell binding runs that included a one two with someone with fantastic nashers, saw him needing only to chip over the on rushing keeper for two nil, but in the only thing the MOM skipper did wrong in 90, he came away with nothing more than a well deserved corner. Tom Wright, during another stellar performance at the back was keen to venture forward for set pieces and more often than not found himself at the business end of a set piece but headerd close but no cigar on each occasion.
1-0 at the break and all still to play for...although in unbiased truth there was only one team in it. The second half was played in the same lop sided way as the first 45, with the Boreham back four wondering if it was time for a pint, as the ball was almost exlusively being whizzed about in the opposition's half. Gothard was looking his usual self and Coleman and J Dale were allowed to roam forward without concern with Stammers and T Wright looking assured and unthreatened by any counter attack from the unworthy visiters.
Boreham continued to play all the right football, but in an area where the seemingly starstruck Crondon back ten seemed relativly comfotable, and it wasn't until mid way through the second period when the Clems got the two goal cusion that would see the sizable crowd relax.
Rush found himself picking the ball up deep on the left, and decided it would be a nice idea to play an inch perfect ball between two defenders in to the path of the most devastating left winger you've seen scince Stuart Slater. Gothard looked up, waited for his favourite ever manager to find postion A at the peno spot and supplied a trademark pinpoint cross onto the bonce of the Gaffa who rose from the dead like Jesus to head home for 2-0 and 3 massive, crucial points at the top of the league...Get In!
Despite a late crack against our woodwork from a 40 yard freekick (Crondons only shot on goal in 90 minutes) The Clems continued to press in the closing stages, and completely stamped their authority at the top of the league. Need I say more people? The Crondon Jinx is over, and although it should have been more, We'll take the two nil score. Six points clear with agame in hand, and in our hand's it's in.
Another step towards the title can be taken this coming Sunday, when Bridge Street of Witham come to throw themselves in front of a high speed train...All aboard!
