MATCH REPORT
9 December 2006
Essex Premier Cup 3rd Round
Tilbury 1 Epping 4
After three weeks of postponements due to the weather, Epping were chomping at the bit to get back into action and an attractive away fixture at Ryman League One North Tilbury's reserves only whetted the appetite more. From the first blast of the referee's whistle it was Epping who looked the more hungrier side, with Nicky Godwin setting the tone with a typically committed tackle in the first minute. The visitors immediately put the home defence under pressure and an early corner was forced on the right. Olly King took the kick and after an aerial challenge the ball fell kindly to Adam Connolly who buried the ball into the Tilbury net with an emphatic left-foot volley. Epping did not let up and continued to take the game to their more illustrious opponents, with Connolly and the hard-working Ashley Conlan tormenting the Tilbury back line. Both players had further chances to increase Epping's lead with Tilbury only threatening in the last minute of the first half, only for the linesman's flag to come to Epping's rescue. Epping started the second half as they had the first, showing commitment all over the park, none more so than skipper Billy Saunders, fellow defenders Godwin, Phil Bulled and Kelvin Taaffe, together with midfielders Daryl Godden and Danny Hopkins who never lost a 50/50 tackle all game. King began to have more influence on the game and it was another quick corner from him that found Connolly unmarked on the Tilbury penalty spot and his sublime left-foot half-volley was clinically despatched past the Tilbury keeper to put Epping two-up. Tilbury refused to give up, despite Epping's dominance on the game and they nicked a goal back through a quality left foot free-kick. However, Epping and Connolly in particular weren't finished and following a left foot cross by Saunders, Connolly found space in the box to finish superbly for a hat-trick of the highest quality. Epping rounded off the scoring in style with an excellent right-foot shot from the influential King to progress into round four of the competition, much to the delight of manager Neil Whitbread, and the travelling club officials, Messers. Allen, Ray, Sly (and Jr.), Hernon and McGowan, whose support was very much appreciated by the team. The Gaffer said "This was arguably our best performance of the season against top quality opposition and I take my hat off to the boys for their display of commitment and the quality of their football on a treacherous surface. Adam Connolly was different class today and showed what a good player he can be when he wants to, he's just got to perform like that consistently now for us and I'll have no complaints. I was pleased to see Olly King put in his best performance of the season so far and he also needs to maintain that level of performance. Overall I couldn't find fault with any of the players performances, they moan a bit when they feel that I'm being too critical, but today they deserve to take the plaudits for a top-class display."
Men of the match (joint): Adam Connolly and Nick Godwin (for differing reasons!)
EPPING FOOTBALL CLUB, STONARDS HILL, TIDYS LANE, EPPING