Match 23. Basildon Town v Benfleet

Saturday 7^th February 2015 @2pm

Essex Olympian League Division 2

BASILDON TOWN 1-4 BENFLEET

Selex Sports Ground, Gardiners Way, Basildon

Admission: Nil

Programme: free

Attendance: 13 h/c

Refreshments: Guinness, £3.10. Coffee, £1

My original choice was the FA Vase match between Holbeach and Erith & Belvedere and I was on the Deres coach at 10.30 and we were on our way at 11.00 as the 1000 pitch inspection said that there was work to do in one goalmouth and down one side and so the ref would carry out another inspection by 12.00.  However we received a call at 11.40 as we approached the M11 that the match was off and we returned to the ground at 12.15. Luckily I was picked up and after receiving confirmation that the Selex Ground was playable I drove there in time for the 2pm kick off.

The ground entrance is 100 yards down the road from the KFC and McDonalds on the nearby retail park alongside the A127.  The club building and car park are found 100 yards up a track and there is ample parking spaces.  The building is quite large and houses several changing rooms, toilets and 2 bar areas.  Hot drinks and snacks are available but no hot food or rolls, but only a minute away from the 2 fast food outlets on the Mayflower Retail Park.  The club has its main pitch nearest the clubhouse with a further 2 pitches beyond. The pitch has permanent dugouts on the far touchline as well as being fully railed.  There is no hard standing but has a few bench tables to sit at along the nearest touchline to the clubhouse and this is where the 13 of us congregated.

Basildon had most of the early possession but went behind on 15 minutes when the visiting no6 ran into the left hand side of the area and squared the ball for no9 to tap in to score. The lead was doubled within a minute when a shot was parried by the keeper to the feet of no9 who hit the rebound first time into the net.  On 26 minutes the centre-forward wearing no25 was clipped just inside the area as he was about to shoot.  The resulting penalty was scored by no10 on the 2^nd spot kick as the first was saved but retaken due to player encroaching the area.  Each side had a good chance before half time. The home no10 hit the post from 5 yards in front of an open goal.  No9 was foiled by a point blank save from the goalkeeper.

The visitors lead was increase five minutes into the 2^nd half.  A corner was headed on by no10 and then returned to him to drive in from 8 yards. The match was safe when on 80 minutes a cross from the left was cushioned by no8 for no9 to score from 6 yards.

The crowd was made up of 6 or 7 older gents and half a dozen lads ages 18-21. The lads engaged in “Bullard banter“ with the visiting linesman/substitute regarding his rotund frame during the first half and he got an ironic cheer when he came on for the last 5 minutes in his skin tight kit and touched the ball once.