Hill proceed to the Semis of The Treasures Cup

EJA TREASURERS  CUP  QUARTER FINAL U14

CHELMSFORD CITY  1  - 6  BUCKHURST  HILL  

   Hill continue on on all four fronts having already reached the final of the London Cup, another quarter final this coming Wednesday away at Haverhill ,laying second in the league and a tough tie here today at Chelmsford.

The gaffer had the lads up from the start after not wanting a repeat of last week, they responded well in the warm up and took the positive attitude onto the pitch.

The first five minutes sees the lads move the ball well and close down the opposition early. Harris who played well throughout sends Brookes away down the left who doesn't need second invitation to shoot, cuts in on goal and flashes he's shot across goal narrowly going past the far post.

Hill again go down the left when Redhead finds King who plays in Brookes, he whips in a near post cross which Redhead after continuing his run meets on the volley but again just goes the wrong side on the post.

The gaffer who must have read a coaching manual  (or Scorcher and Billy's boots!!!)           on returning home from the hacks night yesterday spots that City who have five in midfield are vulnerable on the flanks and wants pace out wide to exploit it. With a shuffle of a few players and instructions to get the ball wide gets instant results. The home side come under pressure but still no way through for Hill,but it seems just a matter of time.

With Hill pushing forward in numbers the home side breakaway when the forward runs at the defence and let's fly from 25yds only for S Barrett diving at full stretch to push it around the post. 

Redhead from the left wing hit's a cross field pass to Ewing on the other wing who has a great first touch that takes him past the fullback and cracks it first time but again goes narrowly past the far post.

Hill with Johnson in the middle pulling the strings are moving the ball around well and the wide men are causing havoc whenever we get it out to them.

On 30 minutes Brookes running at the defence slips in Redhead who shows pace and determination breaking into the box which proves to much for the fullback who brings him down and a penalty awarded. Johnson steps up and coolly slides it into the bottom corner. 1-0

Hill are playing some quality football and H Barrett from fullback is running at will causing mayhem in the home defence. King playing further forward also finds himself breaking down the left and slipping in Redhead who again bears down on the keeper but his effort is smothered well by the keeper.

Hill for all their possession come in at halftime one up and just now need to turn so fine play into goals against a well organised City side that if allowed could be dangerous in the second half.

Five minutes into the second half Brookes hits a delightful cross field ball to Redhead who cuts in from wing and cracks a curling right foot shot into the bottom corner. 2-0

Hill now have the home side on the back foot and apply the pressure by moving the ball well around the pitch and closing down the home side early whenever they have possession. Harris picks the ball up and drives towards goal shooting from 20 yds but the keeper does well to save it.

Then on 50 minutes a special moment for King who after four years of playing for Hill has never scored a competitive goal. If you are going to open your account then this will be one for him to remember, the ball cleared out of the box a falls to a City player, King takes the ball of him and from 20 yds has one touch and sends it into the top right hand corner.
3-0

Hill now in full commend attack at will. Redhead picking the ball up on the halfway line runs straight at goal beating four players on the way only for the keeper to save what would have been a remarkable goal.

H Barrett who had a great game today then gets the reward which he's effort deserved. Running from just inside the opposition half he beats four men and slides past the keeper. A special moment enjoyed by the gaffer. 4-0

Time now for a change of tactics and Hill go three at the back as with games coming thick and fast it is good to be able to change formats with the lads being able to adapt. Hill do get a little caught pushing forward and the home side break away down the right, a deep cross sees Hill out numbered and the forward gives S Barrett little chance. 4-1 with 62 minutes played.

Harris who had come off complaining of pins and needles returned to the pitch with five minutes remaining and gets the goal that he's performance justified. A typical Harris drive towards goal with a 25 yd screamer finding the roof of the net 5-1 and time for another rest!

Redhead who comes on for him with two minutes remaining not to be out done makes a copy cat run and same result 6-1. Final score.

A good performance with the lads having to work hard in the first half to earn to right to play their football.

A big thank you to Chelmsford for their kind hospitality and we wish them luck for the rest of the season.

Buckhurst Back in League Action with a Win

Buckhurst Hill            3

 

Broxbourne               1

 

 

Starting formation 4-4-2

 

Firstly, I’m sure you will all agree that we should all spare a thought for the families of the 3 West Ham fans, who lost their lives traveling to West Bromwich Albion yesterday. This tragic event, for me, puts every type of sport and their loyal supporters into humbling perspective. 

 

Before the match the manager took me to one side and said to me that he thought that the boys ‘didn’t seem up for it today and it would take a wake up-call to spur them into action’. Unfortunately, this proved to be the case. 

 

On a mild but somewhat grey day Buckhurst Hill Football club was a very vibrant place with several important matches being played by before and after our encounter with Broxbourne FC. The first hint of an eventful match came when we noticed the referee walking towards our allotted pitch. He had assured several back room staff and coaches that he was indeed an ex-Essex league referee, in which era he failed to say!!

 

First Half

 

The game started with Broxbourne pressuring the midfield. Redhead won a quick free kick, which was easily dealt with by the keeper. Broxbourne play the ball out of defence and quickly play some neat passes down their right hand side and angle a swift ball into our 6-yard box, which is coolly met by their striker and neatly put into the net for a goal after only 3mins of play. 1-0

 

From the re-start Jessop intercepts a Broxbourne midfield player and neatly passes it to Redhead who glides past 3 players only to see his powerful low shot to the keepers left pushed past the post; a good save by their keeper. Which did his mum loudly praise.... :)

 

Broxbourne continue to dominate the midfield and this causes some panic within the Hill team resulting in some bad decision making, which the opposition seize on to take control of the game. 

 

In a slightly bizarre run of play BH give away a throw. The Broxbourne player makes a foul throw, only for our own player who retakes the throw in to make another foul throw. Which sums up the game so far. With BH chasing the game in midfield we are committing, (in the refs eyes), far too many needless free-kicks which thankfully are not capitalised on by the opposition.    

 

 

On 18mins the manger decides to change the line up of the BH team and in positive move brings two players off (Emerson and Bolton) replaces them with Swan and Brookes. This proves to be an inspired move as within 1min BH win a corner and Brookes delightful corner goes straight in without a single touch or deflection. 1-1

 

Straight from the resumption of play BH seem to have more pace and strength in their game especially from Swan. What a difference a goal makes to the overall confidence of the boys.

 

On 24mins Broxbourne give away a cheap free-kick on the half way line and Harris receives the ball and passes it to Swan who neatly controls it a and spins around to crack a half volley into the bottom left of the opposition goal. 2-1

 

The next 5mins see some great interplay with all the BH team playing out of their own half with great one touch football to feet creating space and opportunity and press Broxbourne back into their half. This pressure results in several corners being awarded to BH. The referee feels it necessary to talk to several players about the jostling and pushing in the goal area, but to me, this proves that BH have woken up to the fact that they are in a football match.

 

Broxbourne try to mount a succession of attacks into the BH half. But these were confidently handled in defence by Harrison (who had a great game today), Jessop (who was playing with an injury), Barrett H (solid) and King (who got better and better as the game progressed), together with the midfield of Johnson (who was increasingly making his presence felt) with Redhead and Harris making decisive forays into the oppositions half. 

 

  

Second Half

 

The second half saw BH come out quick, fast and determined, I’m sure the manager had a good team talk on the pitch with the boys. However the at times rather inconsistent referee was stopping the free flowing game our boys were trying to play.

 

On 50mins of play, a delightful passage saw a well taken goal kick from Barrett S reach Barrett B who made a run down the right hand side and passed it to Swan, he skipped passed a defender and laid it back to Barrett H who  had carried on his run and passed into the box towards their keeper, who uncharacteristically fumbled it. Swan managed to get the ball and again passed it to Barrett H who passed it to Harris miss-kicked his first shot, but regained composure to blast it past the goalkeeper. 3-1 

 

This brought some daylight between the two teams. However BH could not become complacent, as Broxbourne did not let this considerable change in their fortune dampen their attitude and continued to press forward at every opportunity. The tempo of the game dropped, but the tenacity of the defence and the continued interplay in the middle of the park and attack kept the supporters well entertained. 

 

On 68mins the manager decided on a further change of personnel in the team and bought Bolton and Emerson back on for Harris and Ewing. At the same time the sun came out but the temperature fell as well.

 

Broxbourne continue to press but BH are in control of the situation. With some good defence there is only one more shot on goal from Broxbourne. At the other end encouraging signs of good interplay between Midfield and Forwards retain the ball in the opposite end. On 72mins Harris replaces The impressive Harrison.

 

One scuffed shot from Swan and shots from Redhead and Brookes which both go wide see out the game with the final result of 3-1   

Hill Reach London County Cup Final

LONDON CUP  SEMI FINAL

ERITH & BELVEDERE FC   0      BUCKHURST HILL FC       1

  A late kick off on a glorious Sunday afternoon was not without incident as before a ball was kicked we had confusion as to whether the game would go ahead but Darren who probably knows the regulations better the the representative from the FA was soon pointing everyone in the right direction and we had, game on! 

 The gaffer often reminds us of a strong squad and today no truer word had been spoken, Basi ruled out early in the week and  Ewing not eligible, we had a late withdrawal on Saturday when Jethva dislocated his shoulder. 

He reminded the lads before kick off that we have a major advantage over our rivals in that we are not a team of individuals but we are are team,and that we play as a team and we work as a team, if we keep believing in that then we will progress in the competition. Today was no message more meaningful or carried out to direction.

 The game started and for the first few minutes the boys were a little nervous of the occasion but were soon into their stride when Brookes played into the feet of Harris who in turn played a one two with Swan and found himself behind the back four charging in on goal from an acute angle. His shot across goal was pushed past the post by the keeper. Hill from the resulting Brookes corner pressure the keeper and the ball is cleared off the line. This gives Hill confidence and all across the park you can see each lad grow and rally round knowing they are in this game.

On 8 minutes after some good Hill pressure Swan receives a throw in and helps it on to Dackombe. If Calsberg done winning cup semi final goals this would be it, he controls it on he's chest and from 20 yards hit's it on the half volley. It crashes in the top right hand corner off the underside of the bar. Two keepers wouldn't have saved that. The boy doesn't score tapins, just the spectacular...... 1-0 Hill 

The game after this become two teams slugging it out not wanting to give anything away. Both had possession but no clear cut chances created. The half draws to an end and Hill take in a slender advantage which they have worked their socks off to keep.

The gaffer sets out his game plan for the second half and big Sam would have been proud. Earlier in the season the boys took a little bit a stick for not competing but not today. The parents would have seen a different Hill today, not the free flowing football side that we know they can be but a side that dug in and refused to lose. The back four of H Barrett, Redhead,Jessop and King marshalled by coach Johnson were  magnificent. The midfield run their socks off with widemen Brookes, Emmerson and Proctor working overtime getting behind the ball. Johnson and Dackombe fought for every ball in the centre of the park and time and time again broke up the play. The combination of Swan, Harris and Bolton up front chased every ball and run tirelessly across the line often for little reward but playing their part in stopping the opposition playing from the back as they would have been used to in previous games.

There was little goalmouth action and the home side had only two chances one of which was a 20 yard shot that flew past the post and the second had everyone holding their breath when a cross from the left found the centre forward's who somehow put the header wide from six yards. 

S Barrett didn't have much to do in the way of shot stopping but he organised the back four superbly and his kicking was excellent often relieving the pressure from the back four.

Hill had their own chances and the best of which saw Harris have a twenty harder pushed by the post. The half had 5 minutes of injury but the bus done it's job and Hill go through to the final. 

Full time 1-0 

We would also like to mention Harrison today as although he didn't get on his attitude was first class and the gaffer made sure of mentioning this at the end of the game. 

As writing this I have just received hot off the press a quote from the gaffer which I will pass on.....

" Proud to see young men that I have been coaching since the age of 5 years put in a performance that was both professional and clinical. A true advertisement for maturity that will need to be matched, if not bettered in the final against Ryan FC. We will go to the final ready and in anticipation of the quality we expect to meet and I'm sure whatever the outcome we will play our full part in a great days celebration not just for two local rivals, but the EJA League, our club and the army of travelling supporters."

Congratulations Lads great win, you should all be very proud tonight.