The Trophy that all of Essex sets out to win at the start of the year, courtesy of the Dagenham & Redbridge quarter final programme
Round One
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The Trophy that all of Essex sets out to win at the start of the year, courtesy of the Dagenham & Redbridge quarter final programme |
Barkingside 0 Woodford Town 0 (after extra time; Barkingside won 4-3 on penalties)
Bowers United 3 Romford 2 (after extra time)
Concord Rangers 2 Burnham Ramblers 1
Hullbridge Sports 0 Brentwood 2
Southend Manor 3 Stanstead 1
Waltham Abbey 4 Saffron Walden Town 1
Only one Southend team took their place in the Essex Senior Cup right back at the First Round stage, but thankfully for United they had not sunk to the depths of the Essex Senior League, and it was Southend Manor who were in the inaugural part of the competition. And Manor progressed, defeating Stanstead 3-1 at Southchurch Park. Waltham Abbey were also comfortable winners, 4-1 over Scott Forbes’ old side, Saffron Walden Town, whilst Concord edged out Burnham Ramblers by two goals to one. Even closer was the tie in Bowers Gifford, where United defeated Romford, but only after extra time. In East London, Woodford Town took Barkingside all the way, but it was the home team that prevailed, 4-3 on penalties. Brentwood were the only away side to run out victors, 2-0 at Hullbridge Sports.
Round Two
Concord Rangers 2 Barkingside 5 (after extra time)
Ilford 3 Brentwood 0
Southend Manor 3 Bowers United 2 (after extra time)
Waltham Abbey 3 Basildon United 2
The match of the round came between Concord and Barkingside again. With the scores level after 90 minutes, a routine match could have been expected, but instead the visitors smashed three more goals than Rangers, and won 5-2. At Manor as well there was extra time, but just the solitary strike saw the Southend team continue. Waltham Abbey were also tight winners, ending Basildon’s interest with a 3-2 win whilst Ilford thrashed Brentwood 3-0.
Round Three
Barking & East Ham United 3 Maldon Town 4
Barkingside 0 Waltham Abbey 2
Billericay Town 5 Wivenhoe Town 0
East Thurrock United 2 Purfleet 1
Ford United 2 Tilbury 1
Grays Athletic 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 4 (after extra time)
Great Wakering Rovers 1 Southend United 2
Halstead Town 0 Chelmsford City 5
Harwich & Parkeston 1 Harlow Town 4
Heybridge Swifts 5 Clapton 2
Hornchurch 3 Southend Manor 1
Ilford 2 Aveley 3
Leyton Pennant 1 Clacton Town 2
Tiptree United 4 Stanway Rovers 0
Witham Town 3 Braintree Town 2
*Canvey Island given bye to Round Four
Just as in the F.A. Cup, Round Three is where the big boys arrive in the Essex Senior Cup, although with the exception of Colchester United, who still refuse to enter even a reserve team. The Shrimpers, however, were present, starting out at Ryman League Division One side Great Wakering Rovers. And in a physical encounter, Blues prevailed; thanks to firstly a penalty and then a second strike from captain Stuart Thurgood after falling a goal behind. Finalists Chelmsford started out with a 5-0 demolition of Halstead Town, two goals from ex-Luton Town Phil Gray wrapping up the win. Aveley just sneaked past Ilford in metropolitan Essex, triumphing 3-2 on the night. Hornchurch set up a match against Blues, and stopped a local derby as they beat Southend Manor 3-1.
Both Maldon Town (4-3 at Barking & East Ham United) and Heybridge Swifts (5-2 over Clapton) were high-scoring winners, and Harlow Town and Tiptree United both smashed four goals, against Harwich & Parkeston and Stanway Rovers respectively. Wivenhoe Town were easily deposed, 5-0 at Billericay Town, whilst it took extra time for Dagenham & Redbridge to beat Grays Athletic 4-2, Steve West scoring at the start of the additional period and then Mark Janney wrapping it up with just a couple of minutes to spare. East Thurrock United edged past nears neighbours Purfleet 2-1, with Waltham Abbey, Ford United, Clacton Town and Witham Town the other victors.
Round Four
Billericay Town 1 Harlow Town 0
Canvey Island 1 Chelmsford City 4
Clacton Town 0 East Thurrock United 1
Ford United 1 Aveley 3
Heybridge Swifts 4 Witham Town 2
Hornchurch 1 Southend United 2
Maldon Town 1 Dagenham & Redbridge 2
Waltham Abbey 1 Tiptree United 4 (played at Tiptree United)
As in Round Three, Southend United made life difficult for themselves, but eventually came through by two goals to one (at the time the fifth time in six matches that 2-1 was the scoreline in a Blues reserve team match). Phil Whelan had given United the lead, but a contentious penalty, converted by ex-Shrimper Steve Jones levelled things, and in a tense finale, it was Mark Salter that prodded past Russian international Dmitri Kharine to propel Southend into the quarter finals in stoppage time. In the match of the round, Chelmsford overcame 2001/2 winners Canvey Island at Park Lane. Canvey had been given a bye into the last 16, but Garry Cross, another former Blues man, and two goals from Danny Slatter, together with another from Tony Samuels, handed the Clarets a comfortable win. Aveley were also easy winners, 3-1 at Ford United.
Billericay Town nudged past Harlow Town by a single goal at New Lodge, setting up a quarter final against East Thurrock United, who came through by the same scoreline at Clacton Town. Goals from Jamie Window, John Pollard, Kevin Budge and Scott Lovett saw Heybridge defeat Witham Town 4-2 at Scraley Road, whilst Dagenham just crept past Maldon Town by two goals to one thanks to a Charlie Murray double inside four minutes. Tiptree United eventually beat Waltham Abbey 4-1 at the fifth time of asking, and after the tie had been switched to mid-Essex.
Quarter Finals
Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Southend United 4
East Thurrock United 0 Billericay Town 1
Heybridge Swifts 0 Chelmsford City 2
Tiptree United 1 Aveley 6
In the big game, it was the Shrimpers second-string who easily beat the Daggers reserve side at Victoria Road just a few days before the Conference side’s first team took First Division Norwich so close. Rob Newman opened the scoring with a sensational strike inside five minutes, and only seconds later Mark Salter notched a second. A brief fightback from Dagenham at the start of the second period saw one goal pulled back, but not enough to see off United, for whom Salter (again) and little Joe Ilett sealed the triumph.
In the mid-Essex derby, Chelmsford City overcame Heybridge Swifts 2-0 thanks to Dale Watkins, and that man Cross again, who at that stage had scored in every round of the tournament. Tiptree, who had fought so hard to get to the quarter final stage, took on Aveley, but in the end it was a massacre, Aveley running out 6-1 victors. Billericay Town would be the opposition for the south Essex team as they nudged past East Thurrock with a single strike.
Semi Finals
Aveley 1 Billericay Town 1 (after extra time; Aveley won 3-1 on penalties)
Chelmsford City 2 Southend United 0
With the final announced to take place at Roots Hall, it was an opportunity for Steve Tilson to run out victorious at the home of Essex football for the second year in succession. However, Tilly’s dream, in his testimonial year, was wrecked by one of the worst performances a side representing Southend United have put in, certainly in recent times, and definitely the poorest reserve team display of the season. Defensive frailties, unfortunately for the Wickford-born performer, emanating from his own position of left-back, left goalkeeper Danny Gay exposed, and Danny Slatter and Dale Watkins took advantage to put the Clarets two up inside ten minutes. From there on, Blues progress was a mere hope as the 200 or so travelling fans watched a pathetic and gutless performance from the majority of their team, with the notable exception of gaffer Rob Newman, at 39 years the easy choice as Shrimpers Man of the Match.
In the other semi, Aveley reached their first Essex Senior Cup final for 38 years when they beat Chelmsford’s landlords, Billericay Town, 3-1 on penalties at Mill Field. Paul Fewings gave Town the lead seven minutes before the break, but Steve Dickinson’s free-kick levelled matters ten minutes after the interval. Neither side could muster another goal in the remaining 35 minutes, plus an extra half-an-hour, when Aaron Wright missed a gilt-edged opportunity for the home side. So, it came down to spot-kicks, Billericay missed two of their first three, with Aveley holding a 100% record to that stage, leading 3-1. Ex-West Ham United player Mark Robson saw Jerome John save his penalty, but it fell to a former Shrimper, Danny Kerrigan, to put an end to Town’s run as he smashed the fourth kick against the crossbar.
Robert Craven