Hullbridge Sports 2 Stansted 1
Essex Senior League
Saturday 18th August
Report by Scott Lanza / Photo by Neil Hunwicks
Hullbridge Sports spent the close season strengthening behind the scenes, whilst on the pitch Darren Manning’s charges continued their good league opening with a battling performance that saw them claim all the points with a wonder goal from Andre Gumbs.
Both teams came into the game on the back of wins in the FA Cup last weekend and both sides tried to get the ball down and play it to their forwards straight from the off. But it was the hosts who took the lead with only nine minutes on the clock. The move started with a lovely ball from the right flank from the boot of Gumbs to Adebola Sotoyinbo, who then picked out Luke Hornsley with a lovely pass. The Hullbridge Captain then weaved his way through the Stansted defence before blasting the ball past Charlie Turner.
Having opened the scoring, Hornsley then went on another run soon afterwards but his pull back across the Stansted box went begging, then Daniel Okah turned and volleyed an effort narrowly wide. It certainly was a bright start from Hullbridge.
All Stansted could offer in return was a Paul Clayton header from a corner that was too near George Marsh and the Hullbridge stopper was able to catch the ball without too much trouble.
But in the 15th minute a defensive slip up between Marsh and his defence allowed Carl Mullings to slip in and steal the ball before rolling it into the empty net.
Both teams were now electing to play long balls, meaning it became end-to-end at times, but Hornsley and Mullings, having both breached their opponent’s defences now found themselves being kept under tight guard. Hullbridge’s defence stood firm to deny Billy Coyne who drilled in two free kicks which were both deflected away for corners.
On 35 minutes the pendulum then swung again in Hullbridge’s favour as Nathan Scarborough had a shot knocked away for a corner, with the resulting corner eventually being fired towards goal by Jamal Allen that was blocked by Leon Thomas, who came on to replace Paul Clayton in the 21st minute and then marshalled his defence once he was brought into the action.
Stansted, like Hullbridge struggled a bit last term, but they soaked up a bit of Hullbridge pressure before playing the ball out and launching a counter-attack, which needed a well-timed tackle from Allen to dispossess Callum Ibe who had made a threatening run into the Hullbridge box. The hosts returned fire, this time an Okah grasscutter was tipped around the post by Turner. And there was still enough time left in the half for the Airportmen to carve out another forward move that ended with Mullings having a shot parried by Marsh, who then denied Mullings again when he saved the rebound.
Sam Taylor thumped an early second half free kick over Stansted’s crossbar and then Nathan Scarborough showed great skill as he worked his way into Stansted’s box; but having ridden several challenges to get into a shooting position, then rushed his shot and ended up skewing it horribly wide.
The same could not be said for Andre Gumbs’ shot in the 61st minute that gave Bridge the lead for the second time in the contest. The damage came after a corner appeared to have been cleared by the Stansted defence; instead the ball was volleyed from outside the box by Gumbs which flew past Turner and crashed into the roof of the net. It was a superb goal, quite possibly an early contender for goal of the season, and it handed the advantage to Hullbridge who continued to buzz around Stansted’s box without creating anything too threatening.
The hosts certainly needed to find another goal to make sure of the points but Scarborough and Salako both placed chances wide. Stansted, who had been dangerous themselves going forward, mustered one final effort in the closing minutes of the game, as Sam West ghosted into the Hullbridge box and fired off a shot that was blocked.
Hullbridge probably did enough to take all the points, but Stansted were competitive right until the end, and both showed enough resolve and quality to suggest that they will be campaigning at the top end of the table this time around.
Hullbridge Sports: George Marsh, Sam Taylor, Matt Rose, Jamal Allen, Phillip Lawson, Daniel Okah, Adebola Sotoyinbo, Luke Hornsley (Capt), Nathan Scarborough (Matt Tapley 80’), Aundre Spencer (Michael Salako 73’), Andre Gumbs.
Scorers – Luke Hornsley (9’), Andre Gumbs (61’).
Stansted: Charlie Turner, Courtney Homans, Moses Carvalho, Sam West, Paul Clayton (Liam Thomas 21’), Billy Coyne (Capt)(Jordan Palmer 80’), Julien Lloyd (Connor Hammond 60’), Jack Folan, Carl Mullings, Jack Smith, Callum Ibe.
Scorer – Carl Mullings (15’).
