The Clems couldn't have wished for a more appertising fixture to begin life at the very pinnacle of Essex Sunday league football in the Pope & Smith's Premier Division, as local rivals, and boyhood school mates of many, Broomfield F.C played hosts for the curtain raiser in what was to become a memorable morning for Adam Dale and his Beloved Boreham boys.
After last years demolition of the Invitation league, dropping just 2 points in the entire league season, including a league double over a strong Maldon & Tiptree side, Boreham have stepped up a level into the P&S league this year. Expecting to be introduced into Div1 or maybe even Div2 as league new comers, Dale bravely jumped at the chance when he was surprisingly offered the chance to leap straight into the Premier Division to play some of the best teams around.
Followed into the league by old foe's Maldon & Tiptree, along side Priory Sports, officially the best Sunday team in Essex last year, and with the opportunity to lock horns with local rivals Broomfield and Hatfield Peveral Swan, it was just too big an opportunity for the optimstic Boreham manager to turn down, feeling that his Clementines were ripe, ready and reaching their peak at the right time.
When the fixture list was announced, there was an immediate sence of excitement at the prospect of laying down a marker in Broomfield's back yard, and that is exaxtly how it turned out at Mill Lane.
As we have seen all too often before, Boreham's preperation was not ideal, with a routine 7-0 win against a bunch of no hopers and a 4-4 draw against Trevor Baines' ever improving Reserve team, the only pre season preperation, there was a growing feeling that the side might be a little under cooked and in for a tough start to the season at this higher level.
Things were made all the more difficult due to a number of notable absentees including last years club captain Ryan Ince who will be a big miss for the majority of the season as he travels east to further his footballing experince. Jay Dale and Tom Wright were on a gay cruise together off the south coast somewhere, and Rush was serving a one match suspension for his untimely dissmissal during last season's League Cup final which the Clems lost one nil.
On the plus side, new arrival Rob West has been brought in to bolster the forward line, and when Dale got a late call from previous Clem Elliott Walker's agent late last week, anouncing a desired return home to where it all began, the Gaffa was rubbing his hands together at the prospect of a strike force to be reckoned with this coming season. Another late resigning Troy Hawthorne is also back as Dale puts together a healthy looking squad with competition for places hopefully bringing an end to the late night antics, punctuation and disciplinary issues that have been the only scourge on what have otherwise been a great couple of seasons in the last two years for his men.
Lining up in goal was stand in Keeper Louis Howe, who has been struggling with a knock recently. A late reshuffle saw John Wright drop back alongside Clems Legendry skipper Stammers. Darren Ince provided pace at right back with the versitile Coleman filling in on the left hanside. Dale lined himself up in the centre of the battle ground alongside Gothard, who's flamboyant lifestyle continues to raise concern for the management, after reporters spotted him in a boozy late night altercation once again. Troy Hawthorne came staright into the side after a 15 month absence playing in behind Walker who bravely got his boots on for the first time since Christmas, having enjured a 20 hour trip from the other side of the world and with even less sleep than Dicky had clearly managed. New Clem Rob West played down the left with the pacey Parks over on the right wing.
The game kicked off in gloomy conditions and the ball was really zipping around on a beautifully flat, slick surface still glistening with the excesive morning dew. Boreham, knowing they were going to have to play at their determined best to accomplish any kind of result, started very brightly. The back four which lacked pace centrally were playing deep but looked very solid from the off and the direct approach adopted early on seemed to be upsetting the Broomfield back line, especially outwide where the pacey West and Parks were finding space and getting in behind to create trouble for the home side.
The first 20 minutes was very encouraging for the visiting Clems but Broomfield were clearly a very capable outfit and the game was evenly poised, when West broke free once again down the left, he managed to outfox his marker reaching the byline, and kept his composure well to look up and pick out Parks at the penalty spot, JP took a punt with a first time shot and got the luck his clean strike deserved as the ball deflected off a defender and into the bottom corner. One nil and the Clems had struck the first blow in the Chelmer Valley derby!
As expected when playing a quality side, the opposition came back strongly from the restart and Boreham had to suck it in and dig deep for fifteen minutes. A number of crosses from wide positions were dealt with admirably by Stammers, Wright, Ince & Coleman in a back four willing to put their bodies on the line for the cause, although the Brooms were briefly celerbrating having the ball in the net on 35 minutes before the referee consulted flag happy Joughin and correctly ruled the goal offside much to the home sides disapointment.
That was a warning shot, and Boreham responded well creating two or three further chances in a late flurry at the end of the first half with Walker almost latching on to West's through pass, Hawthorne going close twice, Dale hitting a magnificent rasping drive from all of 35 yards that was parried wide by the very useful Finch in goal. Coleman perhaps with the best chance of the lot from the resulting corner, directed a bullet header at point plank range, unfortunately within the reach of the Broomfield No.1, who pulled out a cat like reactionary stop to deny his good friends going into the break with a two goal cusion.
The mood was good at half time, but Dale made it clear to his troops that the hard work remained ahead of them in the second period. As expected it was a tight affair early on, with few opemings at either end for quarter of an hour. The back four remained solid, and the pumped up player manager now had a midfield partner, as Gothard seemed to be sobering up and getting more involved through the middle. Parks' pace down the right was an asset on the break and with one particular attack he managed to beat two players with a good turn and mazy run before cutting the ball back to Gothard. Dicky jinked into the box, droppoed a shoulder, cut inside on to his favoured left foot and the rest is obvious... 2-0!
With half hour to play it was a massive score for Boreham who now really believed this could be the dream start they were hoping for. Parks was played through five minutes later but lacked composure for the first and only time all morning as he sliced his shot wide. Walker had a half chance as a high ball dropped in the box on the volley, and it seemed whilst defending as well as they were and creating chances, it was only a matter of time before the points were wrapped up.
Following a couple of scrappy half chances for Broomfield to get back in it, Boreham did indeed put the game to bed on 80 minutes when Walker found the energy to drive towards goal from the left handside of the penalty area before going to ground following a clumsy challenge and the referee pointed straight to the spot much to the disgust of the home contingent.
Coleman was given the repsonsability of making sure of the points from twelve yards, and he duely obliged, confidently putting the ball to the keeprs left for 3-0. Game set and match Clems!
Boreham saw out the last 10 minutes efficiently and the pure delight was there for all to see at the final whistle.
It was a great start to the season and exactly what the doctor ordered for Dale's blood pressure following a temprement teasting difficult week in the build up to the game. The player manager was voted the outstanding MOM performer who had led by example for 90 minutes, although he was keen to spread the praise to his troops who had collectively put a smile on his face that will probably see him right through the week until 2PM next saturday.
Goldhanger Argyle visit the recreation ground next week in what will be another tough test, but IF the Clems can play with the same hunger, desire & intensity all season, and with good players still to return to fight their way into a winning team, the future looks bright once again...The future's orange boys!
Until Next week,
Shag x
