Match Report, Coggeshall Town v Buckhurst Hill, 30thMarch 2024.
Essex Senior League, Premier Division.

Coggeshall kicked off and attacked straightaway. Qamil Dervishaj, in the Stags goal was soon in action, saving from Roy Stevens. Nathan Dennis had a cross-blocked, and Reggie Gregory put his shot over the bar. Elliott George cut in from the right and skied his shot in the Stags first attack. Lester Ward went wide with one shot and too high with another, Kyan Gulliver’s free kick was too long following a foul on James Pugsley, and from a corner, Pugsley’s shot was blocked, the rebound going to Gregory who put his shot wide. The Stags had efforts from George and Josh Samuels causing no damage.

Josh Samuels was quite a handful for the Coggeshall defence all game. The Stags came more into the match as the half wore on, with Terry Moncur, Billy Barr, Henry Clark, and Josh Samuels all having pops at goal, to no avail. Gregory fed Dennis on the left and his cross was wasted, as there was no one in the box to get on the end of it. Deadlock was broken two minutes into stoppage time when a harmless looking shot from Gregory was left by Dervishaj, struck the inside of the post, and nestled in the back of the net.

Half time: Coggeshall Town 1 Buckhurst Hill 0

The Stags started the second half as Coggeshall did the first, attacking, but the Coggeshall defence dealt with a cross shot from Clark, a cross from Harrison Lamb, cleared a shot from Barr, and watched an effort from Chandler Wray go wide. Both teams made substitutions, Coggeshall brought on Harry Lloyd to replace Gregory. Josh Samuels was through the defence but was offside and Dev Bhamra saved a Wray shot under the crossbar. For Coggeshall Ward had his shot blocked and in the 70th minute Stevens fed Pugsley on the overlap and Barr, giving Denvishaj no chance, sliced his low cross into his own net.

A tremendous shot from Stevens brought a good save from Dervishi, who could only deflect the ball for a corner and from that had to save under the bar from Jack Wilson. With 15 minutes remaining, the Stags pulled a goal back as Josh Samuels received a cross from the right, beat his defender and hit a fierce shot that Bhamra got a hand to, but could not prevent the goal being scored. Boosted by the goal the Stags pushed forward as Coggeshall dropped deeper. A free kick from Clark, following a foul, which earned a yellow card for Pugsley, was blocked in the defensive wall by Dennis, and Josh Samuels shot wide of the target. The Stags were reduced to 10 men temporarily when Wray was sin binned seven minutes from time. A Stags free kick about 25 yards out saw the wall do its job from Clark’s free kick, and on the 90 minutes a Stags shot, blocked by the defence, but found Josh Samuels who levelled the score. Reggie Pegrum replaced Jack Hauser as Coggeshall tried to retake the lead through Dennis, Pegrum and Stevens without success.

Four minutes into stoppage time a cross from Dennis was headed on by Pegrum, Alfie Harris tried to put it out for a corner, but only found the upright, Dennis got a foot to it but Dervishi stopped the ball on the floor with players and supporters thinking it was in. The ball came out to Pugsley who lobbed the ball back into the goal area and in amongst the defensive panic Harris could only put the ball in the air and Marcus Daniels headed past his keeper to put Coggeshall back in front. There was only time left for a Stags attack, which found josh Samuels in an offside position.

Full time: Coggeshall Town 3 Buckhurst Hill 2      
Attendance 62