Match Report, West Essex v Coggeshall Town, 13th April 2024.
Essex Senior League, Premier Division.

With the strong wind, blowing down the pitch this was literally a game of two halves, with five of the six goals scored by the team with the wind at their backs. It was Coggeshall that kicked off with the wind behind them, although it was West Essex that launched the first attack, as Darnell Bromfield’s shot was wide of the target. Lester Ward set up Reggie Gregory for Coggeshall’s first attack, but Gregory was tackled as he cut in from the left. Dev Bhamra saved an effort from Ike Okwusogu, who was a danger, all game. Ward nipped in on a West Essex back pass to the keeper, but a defender cleared up the threat. Gregory fired over the bar then at the other end Zak Oliver was too long with a cross/shot and had Bhamra saving a couple of his efforts. Bhamra’s diving save sent a shot from Greg Frederick for a corner and made a great save to thwart Okwusogu.

On 26 minutes, Gregory received the ball on the left and sent in a low cross for Roy Stevens Town the lead. Stevens then fired in a fierce low shot that keeper, Will Hunt, saved at the second attempt and Gregory tried to latch onto a back pass but Hunt beat him to it. A Ciaran Burke free kick, following a foul on Gregory, was, due to the wind too long went out for a goal kick and a West Essex corner was cleared by Nathan Dennis, the wind carrying it to Hunt.

Dennis was brought down in the penalty area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. As soon as the ball hit the back of the net from Gregory’s spot kick, the referee blew for half time.

Half time: West Essex 0 Coggeshall Town 2

Coggeshall attacked from the restart through Ward, but his cross went out for a goal kick, then Oliver fouled Gregory, to earn a yellow card, but the free kick came to nothing. In West Essex’s first attack six minutes in Okwusogu was brought down in the penalty area and took the spot kick himself putting the ball just out of reach of Bhamra’s dive, to reduce the arrears. Bhamra saved a shot from Okwusogu at the second attempt and both Ryan Ramsey and Jayden Alexander had shots parried within seconds of each other. The diving Hunt tipped a great shot from Gregory out for a corner. Demi Nicolaou made a last-ditch tackle to thwart Bromfield, but a low cross from their right gave Okwusogu an easy chance to equalise after 58 minutes.

Almost immediately, Coggeshall made a double change, replacing Pugsley and Jack Hauser with Finn Wilkes and Harry Lloyd. West Essex had a corner after 60 minutes which Bhamra couldn’t hold and Oliver was there to score and put the home side in front. Coggeshall made another double substitution, with Arthur Massingham and Conor Tyrrell replacing Jack Wilson and Stevens. Coggeshall had the better of the remaining time, although West Essex did have chances by Ryan Ramsey, and Fabio Nunes, which Bhamra diverted for a corner. Okwusogu was shown a yellow card for a foul on Nicolaou. Hunt saved shots from Dennis and Ward, Gregory hit the crossbar from a cross from Wilkes and Nicolaou headed a corner over the bar. Coggeshall made their final swop with ten minutes of normal time remaining, taking off Gregory for Lewis Francis. A Wilkes cross was cleared after a handball in the penalty area, which the referee ignored, and Bhamra had to dive at the feet of Okwusogu to prevent them extending their lead.

As the match entered stoppage time Coggeshall pushed forward for the equaliser, which came as a cross into the area to Alfie Gilbey saw him brought down as he was bearing down on goal. It was Gilbey that took the penalty to even up the score. Like the first half, as soon as the ball hit the back of the net, the referee blew for time.

Full time: West Essex 3 Coggeshall Town 3
Attendance 95

Coggeshall team:
Dev Bhamra, James Pugsley (Finn Wilkes 59mins), Ciaran Burke,  Jack Hauser (Harry Lloyd 59mins), Demmy Nicolaou, Jack Wilson (Conor Tyrrell 67mins), Lester Ward, Alfie Gilbey, Nathan Dennis, Reggie Gregory (Lewis Francis 80mins),                                                                                 Roy Stevens (Arthur Massingham 67mins)