LEYTON 1 CHEHSUNT 1
Ryman League Division 1 North
Saturday 21st February 2009
Harry England reports.....
Cheshunt grabbed a last-gasp equaliser to secure a point against a scrappy Leyton side on Saturday afternoon. With the pitch in poor condition, it was obvious there would be no slick passing, and it was almost certain to be a long-ball game. Dave Pigden joined the first XI after he came on as a sub in midweek, whilst new signing Daryl Mitchell made his debut from the bench.
In the early minutes it became apparent long-ball tactics would be needed, with several pot-shots for both sides, none of which tested the opposing goalkeepers. Sonuga was looking very dangerous for the home side, hitting two efforts wide and over. The first saw him unmarked at the far post, and he miskicked the volley just wide of the post, before two minutes later the ball came in from a short corner, only for him to blaze his effort way over. Mervin Abraham had a golden opportunity on the quarter-of-an-hour mark, as he wriggled through the defence, only to see his shot saved by the foot of Justham. Ashley Harris had to make his first real save of the match ten minutes before the interval, as Edward's shot fizzed into his hands. Ashley Taylor-Forbes then put Abraham through on the stroke of half-time, but the skipper stumbled and hit a weak shot wide of the post.
The second-half was another scrappy affair, with neither side able to keep the mistakes out of their game. Fabio Jesus hammered a shot over from the edge of the area midway through the period, before a great backheel flick from Ambers debutant Darrell Mitchell almost led to a goal. Taylor-Forbes' cross from the left was far too powerful, but as the return came in from the right, Junior Luke very nearly turned the ball into his own net. Eleven minutes before the end of time though, the home side took the lead through Bakare. Mitchell's mistake led to the ball falling into the path of the grateful Bakare, who easily knocked the ball over Harris to put his side into the lead. But Cheshunt weren't going down without a fight, and a thunderbolt from the edge of the area by Mitchell two minutes into stoppage time rebounded off Abraham into the path of Bradley Harrison, who rolled the ball into the bottom corner, sending the Ambers players into raptures. Cheshunt continued to attack as the clock ticked away, and just as a throw-on was won in the final third of the pitch, the referee blew for full-time, sparking furious protests led by Michael Pelley that the game had been halted at an inappropriate time.
Leyton: Justham, Lockie, Kane, R. Edwards, Sonuga, C. Edwards (cpt), Jesus (Carter 73), Luke, Gabriel, Thomas, Bakare.
Not used: Phillipou, Lee, Skoniezki, Holt.
Cheshunt: Harris, Pelley, Parry, Thorogood, Johns, Boyce (Mitchell 61'), Taylor-Forbes, Harrison, Pigden (Churchouse 85'), Akinnawo (Tresadern 68'), Abraham (c)
Not used: McGowen, Goodchild
Attendance: 45