A confident performance on a tricky surface saw Boreham safely through in the Essex County Trophey against EKB, who were yet to conceed a single goal this season. There were one or two prematch problems with no balls and no referee present five minutes before kickoff. Luckily, the pillar of Borehams footballing comunity, Matt Goodchild arrived with his pants on the outside of his trousers and cape to match to save the day, taking the wistle so the game could finally commence, after two previous postponements.
Having not played since the derby win three weeks earlier there were a few worries before the game as regular number one Dale was forced to demote himself to the bench picking up what looked to be a serious self pleasuring wrist injury the day before. It was infact a surprise the gaffa had the strength in his legs to walk having reportedly spent the entirity of saturday evening rewatching his absolute specky in yesterdays 4-3 win with disturbing enthusiasm. In came midfield meastro Jon Wright to keep goal behind the familier back four of Chittock, Stammers, T Wright & Coleman. The clems continue with the 4-3-3 formation with Ince and ansell being joined by J Dale in midfield with Joughin & new record signing Aaron Gothard either side of Rush up top. Another new member of the ever strengthening squad, Dan Raven joined the Gaffa on the bench.
It was a bright start for both teams on a sticky pitch with Boreham looking to take the initiative against their unbeaten Harlow league opposition. Dale, Ince and Ansell seemed to be winning the battle in midfield with Gothard making the EKB right fullback wish he'd been decapitated in an horriffic accident on the A414 enroute to the game, because it was a miserable 90 mintues for the lad as the lively Boreham winger introduced himself superbly in a Clematine shirt, twisting and turning at pace before an absolute plethora of pinpoint crosses from the left hand side early on. One such cross had the keeper flapping on the quater hour mark and the armbanded Ince was on hand to slot the ball confidently into the bottom corner from twelve yards for one nothing.
The first goal was a real settler for the homeside as they pressed on, taking control of the first half. Most of Borehams chances came from that man Gothard down the left, and another cute dink into Joughin sat up perfectly, but the diminutive foward, lacking confidence and match sharpness hit a tame volley straight at the greatful keeper. Just minutes later however, Borehams answer to Peter Beagrie, Gothard had the direct assist he deserved after a quick sharp passing move in the corner, and a dream pacey curler to the far post, met by the inform Jay Dale with unstoppable bullet header for two zip in under half an hour.
The only sniff at goal for the visiters in the first period came in the form of a Sally Gunnell of a shot from 20 yards which seemed to pose no real danger and going wide, until Wright in the Boreham goal seemed to palm the placid pea roller back towards goal. It was hearts in mouths as the stand in keeper gave us the first real clue that it would be his first and only turn in the sticks. Luckily at the other end Boreham were looking rampant, and captain fantastic, Ryan Ince apparently struggling with injury, momentarilly shrugged the pain off to smash a rasping drive out of nowhere from all of 25 yards leaving no keeper on the planet a realistic chance of smelling it on its way into the far corner. Ince then decided he had inflicted enough misery on the dejected looking opposition and was replaced by Ad Dale with a few minutes of the first half remaining. Deservedly three up at the break and cruising!
There was certainly no repeat of the Hanningfield half time teamtalk as Dale looked to fire up his troops and tighten the screw, reverting to a solid looking 4-4-1-1 formation with Joughin in behind Rush, Gothard and the boss himself playing as orthadox wingers. Unfortunatley despite the warcry at the break, Boreham once again stuttered and stumbled their way into the second half. Complacency continues to be an issue from a winning position and just 3 minutes post restart, Keeper J Wright had the opportunity to clear his lines but chose to do a Rene Huguita impression, and just like Roger Miller 1990, he got caught out as his tame ball up the line was intercepted, and he never recovered as EKB got themselves a timely shot in the arm, and a foothold in the match.
Frustratingly, Boreham continued to look shakey playing risky and hopeful passes out from the back and when Wright clearly handeled outside his area, it looked as though Boreham might be in trouble but the Boreham born and bred referee was apparently looking the other way saving the quirky keepers blushes. After twenty minutes of the second period Boreham resumed control of proceedings as Ansell and the Dale bros were once again dominating in the middle of the park. Raven replaced Joughin for the last 25 minutes and looked to impress in an increasingly stretched match, but it was his strike partner Rush who was having a stroming game as the main target man, showing great touch and strength with his back to goal, laying off simple passes into the advancing midfielders. With just over twenty to go Boreham restored their three goal advantage with Rush getting the goal his workrate deserved. The ball was played in towards him down the left and as he got entangled with the last defender, his strength got him past his man before a simple finish beyond the static stopper for 4-1. Boreham were back in business and just five minutes later it was five, as Jay Dale hit a cross come shot from the far edge of the penalty area, finding it's way past everyone in the box and sneeking in to the far bottom corner for his brace.
Game over now, surley, but once again the Clems took their foot off the gas, allowing a late surge from the spirited but very average visiters. Two further defensive lapses were an unfortunate note to end on as EKB made the scoreline a respectable 5-3 from their point of view. However, it probably flattered them as the Clems had dominated for most of the game, with plenty of firepower, and good football unfortunatley being let let down by some uncharacteristic sloppy defending and decision making. Round three beckons in a fortnights time against Elm Park Eagles, last season's undefeated champions of the Romford & District league. Next week it's back to the league away to Heybridge Athletic, who finished ahead of us last season in a must win if we are serious about winning the title this time round.
The big decision for the manager this week, will be whether he himself should continue with glove duty next week in a consistant and solid back five, or if he perhaps sends his scouts out to try and bring in another fulltime keeper, probably serching the local free transfer options, as the cash strapped Clems look to build on good early season form in their hunt for centenery glory.
