MATCH REPORT
11 November 2006
Essex Premier Cup
2nd Round
Epping 3 May & Baker Club 2
Epping faced a potential banana skin against lower league opposition when they faced M & B Club from the 3rd division last Saturday. A familiar face was returning to Epping in the shape of former player Danny Bates, who was captaining M & B. Epping started briskly and were 1-0 up after 10 minutes when Ashley Conlan crossed from the right and Leon Rolles header was palmed down into the path of Epping skipper Billy Saunders who tapped into the empty net. The home side doubled their lead 10 minutes later when an Adam Connolly corner was met by a glancing header from Ashley Conlan which flew into the net. The second half saw Epping let M & B back into the game with Danny Bates scoring two minutes into the half with a header. Epping then increased their lead on the hour mark when Danny Hopkins put Conlan through to chip over the advancing keeper. The home side then again sat back and allowed M & B to come at them and they scored their 2nd goal with 10 minutes to go through Gary Bessant. Epping managed to hold on for the win and progress into the next round where they will face Tilbury on the 9th December. Manager Neil Whitbread said "We started really well and were in full control of the game but we then took our foot off the gas and let them back into the game, giving us an anxious last 15 minutes or so. It wasn't our best performance overall and we must learn to kill teams off when we have the chance. However, we are still developing as a side and we're through to the next round which is the most important thing."
Team: Thomas, Bulled, Godwin, Godden, Costello, Taaffe, Connolly, Hopkins, Rolle, Saunders(c), Conlan. Subs: King, Geraghty, Ingall-Clark
Scorers: Conlan (2), Saunders
EPPING FOOTBALL CLUB, STONARDS HILL, TIDYS LANE, EPPING