MATCH REPORT
7 October 2006
Essex Olympian Football League
Senior Division One
Epping 3 v Kelvedon Hatch 2
After losing their unbeaten record the previous weekend to Frenford Senior, Epping were looking to bounce back to winning ways against local rivals Kelvedon Hatch. However, it was the visitors who started stronger with the movement and pace of forwards Craig Gilliam and Chris Wolff causing problems for the home defence. It was Epping though who took the lead on the half hour, against the run of play, through a looping Danny Hopkins header that beat Hatch keeper Reiss Madden. The lead was short lived however, when Paul Barnes cut inside from the right and laid the ball into Gilliam who beat Epping’s Jon Thomas to level the scores. Epping manager Neil Whitbread made some subtle changes to the Epping formation at half-time and this paid dividends as the home team looked more threatening and began to boss the game. Dave Annobil notched his third goal of the season, ‘toepoking’ home after a goalmouth scramble to give Epping the lead. The game turned again when Kelvedon equalised through Stuart Cochrane, the visitors then taking the ascendancy and looking to snatch the winner. However, there was another twist in the tale when Leon Rolle received the ball just inside the Kelvedon half, he showed superb strength and pace to hold off a challenge from a Kelvedon defender, taking the ball to the edge of the penalty area before cutting inside and despatching a delightful curling shot past goalkeeper Madden into the top right corner for the goal of the game and one which proved to secure the points for Epping. Manager Whitbread said "It was important not to have a second defeat back-to-back after the Frenford defeat and this was a good win over opposition who will be in the shake-up at the end of the season. The boys showed great ‘bouncebackability’ after last weeks defeat and character and determination to grind out a winner after twice leading and then being pegged back. Leon's goal was top drawer, he has shown a great attitude since he has joined us and deserves the plaudits. I was also pleased with Danny Hopkins, who I hope is beginning to show the form that inidcates he is a class act, which we all know he is."
Team: Thomas, Bulled, Saunders, Hopkins, Costello, Taaffe, Connolly, Annobil, Rolle, Ellice, Bailey.
Subs: King, Tama, Wells.
Scorers: Hopkins, Annobil, Rolle.
Man of the Match: Leon Rolle.
EPPING FOOTBALL CLUB, STONARDS HILL, TIDYS LANE, EPPING