West Essex 8 Haverhill Borough 1
Buildbase FA Vase
Sunday 20th September
West Essex were simply sensational this afternoon at Mayesbrook Park as a Michael Mignot hat-trick, alongside goals from Cameron Gray, Emmanuel Oluwole, Joe Lefley, Hakim Medfai and Isaac Marfo-Jacobs saw them brush Haverhill Borough aside with a crushing 8-1 victory.
The Stags were on the front foot straight away and almost took the lead in the 3rd minute when a Sanchez Hardy cross was met by Marfo-Jacobs, the resulting shot being kept out by a quality save from James Young.
Three minutes later and Young was picking the ball out of his net. Brad Russell charged into the box, and initially it looked like Ryan Dewey had put in a solid enough tackle to end the move. Russell had other ideas however, he battled once more for the ball, managed to get to the to the byline and had an acute shot that clipped the post; but Cameron Gray made no mistake as the ball came to him and he had the whole goal to aim at and finished the job off.
West Essex continued to press, using the wings to get crosses into the box and this paid dividends as they won a corner in the 15th minute. The inswinger was met by the head of Emmanuel Oluwole whose towering header looped into the net.
Haverhill then managed a couple of attacks in quick succession themselves. Joshua Lowe had a shot blocked; a long range shot from Ryan Swallow was cut out by Jack Coker. The West Essex keeper had a pretty easy afternoon as the ball was soon up the other end with Young having to do some work to keep out Michael Mignot’s low shot.
Young and his defence were kept under the cosh as The Stags used the wings to devastating effect, cutting the Haverhill defence to shreds. Marfo-Jacobs steamed down the left flank, crossed to Gray, the Haverhill keeper diving low to his right to tips the ball away. Gray also went close with a shot after being fed from the right by Mignot. Another Mignot cross was almost turned into his own net by Dewey.
The goal that West Essex were threatening to score finally kept from the deftest of free kicks on 32 minutes. Joe Lefley supplied it, drilling a shot beyond Young that looked destined for the net the moment it had left Lefley’s boot!
Haverhill did manage a couple of shots as Ronnie Ledwith turned and volleyed straight at Coker; while Michael King drilled a shot across West Essex’s goal.
Mignot worked his way into the box and had a shot blocked on the line by Dewey on 43 minutes. Mignot was able to get his name on the score sheet in the final minute of the half when he against burst into the box, this time placing a shot past the keeper’s left hand side to give West Essex a 4-0 half time lead.
Haverhill Borough were able to reduce arrears two minutes into the second period. A well worked goal it was too, with the final shot from Ryan Swallow crashing into the roof of the net.
But it was not the start of a revival, more a blip from West Essex who were 5-1 up on 52 minutes after Mignot finished off coolly, having been picked up by a pinpoint Gray pass.
Moments later and Gray stung the fingertips of the Haverhill keeper and every time West Essex went forward they looked dangerous. In the 70th minute Mignot bagged his third of the game; latching onto a throughball, he then drew the keeper of his line before slotting the ball past him.
Hakim Medfai made it goal number seven when he rifled home a loose ball in the 78th minute.
But even then Young had to cut out a few crosses, and rush out of his box to end one attack. He was almost beaten by a Mignot chip in the 82nd minute. But the hosts were able to score once again in the 85th minute. Hat-trick man Mignot played provider this time, sending over an inch perfect diagonal pass that eluded Young, leaving Marfo-Jacobs with the easily task of poking the ball home.
Marfo-Jacobs almost scored again moments later. He worked his way through the Haverhill defence, but his chip over the keeper just landed the wrong side of the post. Haverhill were well and truly beaten by then, but did actually manage the final shot of the game. A good one it was too as Alex Martin got a powerful header on target, but Coker saved it. By then Haverhill had been well and truly ripped apart by West Essex’s potent attacking force, who looked like scoring every time they did go forward.
West Essex: Jack Coker, Sanchez Hardy, Sam McNally, Emmanuel Oluwole, Nick Walk, Michael Mignot (Capt), Brad Russell (Emmanuel Wazola 60′), Isaac Marfo-Jacobs, Joe Lefley, Cameron Gray, George Fairhead (Joel Lamb 74′).
Scorers – Cameron Gray (6′), Emmanuel Oluwole (15′), Joe Lefley (32′), Michael Mignot (42′, 52′, 70′), Hakim Medfai (78′), Isaac Marfo-Jacobs (85′).
Haverhill Borough: James Young, Tom Hardwick, Ronnie Ledwith, Ryan Dewey, Jamie Dicker (Alex Martin 86′), Coby Game, Ryan Kent, Michael King (Kieron Scanlon 55′), Joshua Lowe, Ryan Swallow (Capt), Finlay Fletcher (Joshua Lewis 55′).
Scorer – Ryan Swallow (46′).
