News

ONE BETTER THIS WEEK

Borough increased on last weeks goal tally with a 6-2 win over visiting Southend Manor. A comfortable win in the end but it was not until Borough's fourth goal that the oucome began to look assured as Manor responded determinedly following every setback - firstly just two minutes after Anthony McDonald had nodded Borough ahead in the 4th minute as he followed up his shot which crashed back off the bar.   Aaron Baldwin then pounced when a cross shot struck a post and fell into his path.   McDonald had scored again in the 24th minute and Manor were within a whisker of an equaliser seconds into the second half but sheer persistence gave Rakim Richards the opportunity to increase Borough's lead  four minutes into the half.   But Abiola Tanimowo broke away to net a fine second for Manor a few minutes later before Borough finally siezed control and added further goals from Saleem Masri (making his debut) and Joseph O'Cearuill with an own goal completing the tally in stoppage time.

NORMAL SERVICE RESUMED

After the Vase disappointment Borough wasted no time in getting back to the vital gathering of League points and went one better than their average four goals a game haul with a 5-0 demolition of London Bari on Clapton's historic but less than perfect "Old Spotted Dog" pitch.  Dean Fenton opened the scoring sfter only 4 minutes and Dewayne Clarke doubled the lead by half time before Fenton completed his hat trick with two quick goals just after the hour mark.    A further bonus was the introduction as a late substitute of injury victim Anthony McDonald missing for  the previous ten games who celebrated by racing through to finish the scoring in the last minute.

PENALTY MISERY ENDS VASE DREAM

After 120 goal-less minutes Borough's Vase campaign ended at the first hurdle as Northampton Spencer put away 5 unstoppable penalties while Walid Matata's first kick for Borough crashed against the bar.     But in truth the hosts win was well deserved for they had played virtually the whole of extra time with 9 men  (an injury after all subs used and a second yellow dismissal) and Borough had not even managed to test their 'keeper in that period.   The determined  Spencer side should really have won in normal time as the framework saved Borough three times while Borough's efforts were fewer in number and not particularly threatening.  Probably the least said about Borough's performance the better but suffice it to say that no-one covered themselves in glory and many fell well below the standard of which they are known to be capable.

BOROUGH SURVIVE 90 MINUTES WITH TEN MEN

Borough preserved their right to appear in the draw for the 2nd Round of the FA Vase despite having to play 90 minutes (including extra time) after Dean Fenton was dismissed in the 29th minute for a tackle which divided opinion between "yellow would have ben enough" and "definite red".    By then Borough had conceded a somewhat easy goal in the 23rd minute when Paul Pickering glanced home a close range header and both Walid Matata and Dewayne Clarke had fired narrowly wide.    Borough stepped up the pace in the second half and Daniel Aristidou jinked himself into position for a close range equaliser in the 62nd minute.     Borough 'keeper Ashley Harris made a crucial stop in both periods of extrs time and Matata missed a golden opportunity to avoid a difficult trip to Northampton next Tuesday when his understruck penalty, following a trip on Aristidou, was well saved by visiting 'keeper Tom Cooke

VICTORY IN THE REPLAY WILL SEE BOROUGH VISITING LONDON COLNEY WHO ARE MID-TABLE IN THE SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE IN THE 2nd ROUND ON SATURDAY 22nd NOVEMBER

2 CLEAN SHEETS,  6 POINTS  and 7 GOALS

Borough consolidated their position at the top of the table with 2 more away wins at Eton Manor on Tuesday 21st and Sawbridheworth Town on Saturday 25th.   The Tuesday game was a comfortable run out with a Darrell Cox goal after 2 minutes being the precursor to a Walid Matata hat-trick and a Dean Fenton strike for the 5-0 win.            But it was a different story on Saturday as Borough's much changed, injury ravaged side struggled to find any rythm in the first half and were perhaps lucky to be ahead courtesy of a ferocious volley by Daniel Aristidou back across goal  into the far top corner as he met a fine cross from the left by Dewayne Clarke in the 26th minute.    But Borough sparkled right from the start of the second half and only some fine goalkeeping and desperate last ditch blocking resticted Borough to one more goal as Dean Fenton finished a sustained spell of pressure with a hard low drive from around 10 yards in the 60th minute.   

SEVEN UP FOR BOROUGH

Borough's home game with Ilford was not as one sided as the 7-1 score suggests.  Borough 'keeper Ashley Harris probably touched the ball more times than his opposite number but Borough's finishing was clinical while Ilford never really tested the 'keeper  and the 33rd minute shot which beat him took a wicked deflection.    Cedric Lakole had given Borough a 6th minute lead and Darrell Cox restored it three minutes after the equaliser  with Dean Fenton netting a crucial third seconds before the interval.   Walid Matata's penalty four minutes into the second half effectively sealed victory and Cox went on to add another in the 76th minute before substitute Oscar Williams weighed in with a late brace.        And to complete a fine weekend for the Club, the Womens team returned from their away trip to League leaders Billericay Town with a point from a 1-1 draw.  Jonea Peter, one of many new young players equalised for Borough in the second half

TEN MEN BOROUGH BATTLE THROUGH

Borough returned from second placed  Hullbridge Sports with three vital points despite playing for an hour with only ten men after Jorge Djassi-Sambu was red carded perhaps a little harshly as his mis-timed tackle appeared to have arisen through a slip as he went in for it rather than any malicious intent.     Fortunately Borough were 2-1 ahead by then  as Walid Matata had scored from close range in their first attack after only 2 minutes when Darrell Cox set him up.  A rocket shot equaliser from Michael Edgar after 27 minutes was followed by the winner two minutes later from Joe O'Cearuill who followed up to nod home a loose ball from close range after a superb stop by the home keeper.  After that it was mainly "all hands to the pump" defending with block after block maintaning the lead in some desperate situations.   Hullbridge played into Borough's hands by persistently launching a stream of high crosses into the goalmouth which were meat and drink to 'keeper Ashley Harris, probably misguidedly believing he was suspect as he had made a somewhat shaky start.