Maldon and Tiptree FC v Haringey Borough FC Bostik League One North Saturday 30 December 2017
The Jammers starting line up saw one change from Boxing Day with Chris Millar dropping out through injury and Oluwole Akinsanya coming in to take his place.
Haringey Borough made the better start with Kai Heather’s shot being deflected to Harrison Georgiou who shot wide then full back David Olufemi got forward to cut inside before shooting over from 20 metres. Haringey’s Anthony McDonald then hit a low 15 metre shot that home keeper Dominic Kurasik saved at his near post before The Jammers responded with Junior Ogedi–Uzokwe’s low shot from outside the penalty box not being held cleanly by visiting keeper Ashley Harris but he was just able to kick the loose ball away then Johnville Renee’s cross found Ogedi-Uzokwe who saw his shot just diverted wide before, from the resultant corner Josh Pollard headed over. The home sides Ryan Gondoh (pictured) was becoming more and more influential and his fine run put Oluwole Akinsanya through but his goal bound effort was just pushed away by Harris before a great fast and tricky run into the penalty area by Ogedi-Uzokwe ended with him seeing his shot just blocked by Harris. After the home sides Gondoh had gone on another mazy run before being forced wide to get a shot away that Harris saved the visitors took a surprise lead after 23 minutes when Ralston Gabriel took advantage of some hesitation in the home defence to win possession from a long ball forward to go clear and round Kurasik before firing home into an open net. Just two minutes later there was almost a repeat of the Haringey goal but this time Gabriel’s shot was saved by a brave block from Kurasik then Anthony McDonald’s shot from the rebound was blocked off the goal line by a defender. Maldon and Tiptree tried to respond with Gondoh putting a 25 metre free kick just wide then Gradi Milenge headed a Bailey corner just over. Kurasik came to his sides rescue with a fine save with his legs after a defensive clearance had been blocked and rebounded to McDonald who had a clear sight of goal then the visitors were denied what looked strong claims for a penalty kick after one of their forwards had been fouled in the penalty area. Maldon and Tiptree ended the first half strongly with Ogedi-Uzokwe and Akinsanya combining to give Clampin a shooting chance that he put wide then Gondoh just failed to connect with Clampin’s centre across the goal. Right on the half time whistle the home side came the closest to scoring that they had managed when another Gondoh dribble forward gave Bailey a shooting chance from 20 metres out but his firmly struck low effort beat Harris but smacked against the post before rebounding out.
Half Time Maldon and Tiptree FC 0 Haringey Borough FC 1
Maldon and Tiptree came out for the second half with a clear intention of putting the visitors defence under pressure with fast movement of both man and ball and soon created scoring chances when Baileys strong shot from a short corner was just cleared off the line with Harris beaten then Akinsanya hit over when well placed in front of goal. After Ogedi-Uzokwe saw his goal bound shot just turned away the home side made the breakthrough after 51 minutes when a throw in to Pollard down the left saw him release Clampin down the line and his pin point cross found the head of Akinsanya for him to put the ball firmly into the net. Renee and Gondoh then exchanged passes before the latter saw his shot saved by Harris before Gondoh sent in a 20 metre free kick that Harris just managed to put round his post then Gondoh picked up possession well inside his own half before racing forward round a couple of defenders before hitting a fine shot that again smacked against the post before coming out then Akinsanya hit the rebound straight at a defender standing on the goal line. Haringey responded immediately with what turned out to be a rare attacking move when substitute Derek Asamoah hit across the face of goal and just past the far post. The home sides pressure eventually paid off after 78 minutes when Bailey’s deep cross to the far post was met by Pollard’s brave diving header to force the ball home then Akinsanya headed just over from Ogedi-Uzokwe’s cross. The three points were virtually sealed after 82 minutes with a third goal for the Jammers when from a quick break home substitute Harvey Brown freed Clampin to get into the left side of the visitors penalty area from where he stroked in a low shot that found the far corner of Harris’s goal. Hunting more goals the home side continued to press home some good attacking moves but without the ultimate success as both Gondoh and Ogedi-Uzokwe saw goal bound shots blocked on the line then Pollard saw his shot diverted wide before Ogedi-Uzokwe was denied his customary goal when Harris blocked his close range effort with his legs.
Full Time Maldon and Tiptree FC 3 Haringey Borough FC 1
Maldon and Tiptree FC
Dominic Kurasik, Johnville Renee, Joe Claridge, Jush Pollard, Gradi Milenge, Dexter Peter, Kieran Bailey (Harvey Brown 81), Ryan Gondoh, Junior Ogedi-Uzowke, Oluwole Akinsanya (Ernest Okoh 84), Ryan Clampin
Unused Substitutes
Suliaman Bah, Oliver Kensdale, Nicholas Akoto
Haringey Borough FC
Ashley Harris, Lauran Luke, David Olufemi, Lawrence Yiga, Scott Mitchell, Ramil Sheriff, Lionel Stone, Kai Heather, Ralston Gabriel, Harrison Georgiou (Ryan Herval 62), Anthony McDonald (Derek Asamoah 61)
Unused Substitutes
Michael Ademiluyi, Joseph Benjamin, Curtis Jackson
Dave Garwood
