Single Goal Secures Under 18s Cup Victory
Herefordshire 0-1 Essex, Sunday 9th October 2016, Kick-Off 3:00pm, Delahay Meadow, FA County Youth Cup First Round.
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A goal eleven minutes from time by Harry Hart earned Essex a narrow passage through the First Round of the FA County Youth Cup as Herefordshire were beaten 1-0 at Bromyard Town FC.
Essex dominated much of the play in the first national cup meeting with the West Country county for 53 years, but they had to wait until the 79th minute before sealing a hard-working victory.
Herefordshire goalkeeper Liam Griffiths had pulled off a string of fine saves, including a first-half penalty from Essex skipper Toby Aromolaran. But he couldn’t quite reach Hart’s winner, which looked to be heading wide until it spun and looped inside the post and earning his side a Second Round date with neighbours Cambridgeshire.
The away side applied pressure from the start. With just seconds on the clock Godfrey Kambaza twisted his way through before seeing a shot deflected just wide. Still in the opening minutes, Aromolaran brought Griffiths’ first save of the afternoon prior to more good work from Griffiths saw the custodian race off his line to deny Kambaza.
Essex’s squandered spot kick arrived on 14 minutes. Ogunwomoju was clipped in the area by Harry Purrington, but Griffiths dived to his right to keep out Aromolaran’s kick. That might have opened the floodgates for an Essex side dominating possession, but Herefordshire responded well to the let-off and their first real opportunity followed moments later, Tom Nunn flashing a 15-yard shot just wide.
Essex were soon back on the front foot, though. Max Watters’ cross found Aromolaran, whose half-volley was well held by Griffiths. Watters then caused more problems as he found space and tested Griffiths once more.
After Herefordshire failed to clear Jayde Abraham’s cross, Ogunwomoju saw his scuffed effort drop inches wide while Essex ‘keeper Jai Lewis was called upon to push Greg Preece’s shot over the top following Sam Oxley’s pull back. There was time for another good stop from Griffiths in the build-up to the break, this time denying Abraham low at the near post after Watters had won the ball on the halfway line and surged forward.
Ten minutes into the second half, Essex were wondering how they hadn’t taken the lead. The ball bounced around the six-yard box before ultimately falling to Tom Dance, who fired inches over the top. A good chance for the hosts followed as a long ball forward found Wilf Munn, and he rifled an angled effort narrowly past the far post.
Essex continued to press. Kambaza found himself through on goal, but was brilliantly denied by Griffiths then another excellent save kept out Watters. The breakthrough finally arrived on 79 minutes. Abraham did well to get into a good position and cut the ball back for Hart, who slightly scuffed his effort but the spin on the ball saw it loop home just inside the far post.
Essex defended resolutely in the final minutes, but could’ve still added a second two minutes into added time as Kambaza went past Griffiths only to see his effort cleared off the line by Jay Richmond. It didn’t matter, because the visitors held on for a well-earned victory.
Essex: Jai Lewis (Rowhedge), Sam Adcock (Hullbridge Sports), Tom Dance (Hullbridge Sports), Olamiji Ayoola (Barking Abbey School), Kieran Gore (Thurrock), Toby Aromolaran (Tilbury), Jayde Abraham (Barking Abbey School), Harry Hart (Hullbridge Sports), Solomon Ogunwomoju (Aveley) (Afolabi Moronkeji [Thurrock], 74), Godfrey Kambaza (Barking Abbey School), Max Watters (Thurrock). Unused Substitutes: Reece Latimer (Hullbridge Sports), Ibrahim Ugradar (Barking Abbey School).
Herefordshire: Liam Griffiths (Hereford), Lewis Clarke (Hereford) (Alex Rosser [Hereford], 83), Dan Pugh (Hereford), Alex Lancett (Hereford) (Wilf Munn [Hereford], 54), Jay Richmond (Hereford), Harry Purrington (Hereford), George Hayes (Hereford), Harry Franklin (Hereford) (Ollie Smith [Hereford], 62), Greg Preece (Hereford), Tom Nunn (Hereford), Sam Oxley (Hereford).
Bookings: None.
Referee: Greg Rollason (Wolverhampton).
Assistant Referees: James Lunn (Wolverhampton) and John Woodhouse (Wolverhampton).
A goal eleven minutes from time by Harry Hart earned Essex a narrow passage through the First Round of the FA County Youth Cup as Herefordshire were beaten 1-0 at Bromyard Town FC.
Essex dominated much of the play in the first national cup meeting with the West Country county for 53 years, but they had to wait until the 79th minute before sealing a hard-working victory.
Herefordshire goalkeeper Liam Griffiths had pulled off a string of fine saves, including a first-half penalty from Essex skipper Toby Aromolaran. But he couldn’t quite reach Hart’s winner, which looked to be heading wide until it spun and looped inside the post and earning his side a Second Round date with neighbours Cambridgeshire.
The away side applied pressure from the start. With just seconds on the clock Godfrey Kambaza twisted his way through before seeing a shot deflected just wide. Still in the opening minutes, Aromolaran brought Griffiths’ first save of the afternoon prior to more good work from Griffiths saw the custodian race off his line to deny Kambaza.
Essex’s squandered spot kick arrived on 14 minutes. Ogunwomoju was clipped in the area by Harry Purrington, but Griffiths dived to his right to keep out Aromolaran’s kick. That might have opened the floodgates for an Essex side dominating possession, but Herefordshire responded well to the let-off and their first real opportunity followed moments later, Tom Nunn flashing a 15-yard shot just wide.
Essex were soon back on the front foot, though. Max Watters’ cross found Aromolaran, whose half-volley was well held by Griffiths. Watters then caused more problems as he found space and tested Griffiths once more.
After Herefordshire failed to clear Jayde Abraham’s cross, Ogunwomoju saw his scuffed effort drop inches wide while Essex ‘keeper Jai Lewis was called upon to push Greg Preece’s shot over the top following Sam Oxley’s pull back. There was time for another good stop from Griffiths in the build-up to the break, this time denying Abraham low at the near post after Watters had won the ball on the halfway line and surged forward.
Ten minutes into the second half, Essex were wondering how they hadn’t taken the lead. The ball bounced around the six-yard box before ultimately falling to Tom Dance, who fired inches over the top. A good chance for the hosts followed as a long ball forward found Wilf Munn, and he rifled an angled effort narrowly past the far post.
Essex continued to press. Kambaza found himself through on goal, but was brilliantly denied by Griffiths then another excellent save kept out Watters. The breakthrough finally arrived on 79 minutes. Abraham did well to get into a good position and cut the ball back for Hart, who slightly scuffed his effort but the spin on the ball saw it loop home just inside the far post.
Essex defended resolutely in the final minutes, but could’ve still added a second two minutes into added time as Kambaza went past Griffiths only to see his effort cleared off the line by Jay Richmond. It didn’t matter, because the visitors held on for a well-earned victory.
Essex: Jai Lewis (Rowhedge), Sam Adcock (Hullbridge Sports), Tom Dance (Hullbridge Sports), Olamiji Ayoola (Barking Abbey School), Kieran Gore (Thurrock), Toby Aromolaran (Tilbury), Jayde Abraham (Barking Abbey School), Harry Hart (Hullbridge Sports), Solomon Ogunwomoju (Aveley) (Afolabi Moronkeji [Thurrock], 74), Godfrey Kambaza (Barking Abbey School), Max Watters (Thurrock). Unused Substitutes: Reece Latimer (Hullbridge Sports), Ibrahim Ugradar (Barking Abbey School).
Herefordshire: Liam Griffiths (Hereford), Lewis Clarke (Hereford) (Alex Rosser [Hereford], 83), Dan Pugh (Hereford), Alex Lancett (Hereford) (Wilf Munn [Hereford], 54), Jay Richmond (Hereford), Harry Purrington (Hereford), George Hayes (Hereford), Harry Franklin (Hereford) (Ollie Smith [Hereford], 62), Greg Preece (Hereford), Tom Nunn (Hereford), Sam Oxley (Hereford).
Bookings: None.
Referee: Greg Rollason (Wolverhampton).
Assistant Referees: James Lunn (Wolverhampton) and John Woodhouse (Wolverhampton).
