The dressing room was positively heaving with players but there was just one change from the previous week with Lee Humphrey returning after illness to replace Chris Headon.

With gale force winds and a very bumpy pitch this was never going to be a footballing classic and true enough both teams struggled to settle and the opening 20 minutes of the game were quite dreadful. On the half hour mark Town took the lead when Polley floated in a free kick that Mark Neal met with a firm and determined header, 1-0. In keeping with the season so far, and for the umpteenth time, Town then allowed Sandon to equalise virtually straight from the resulting kick off, 1-1. Half time arrived with little other action to report.

The second half started and Town continued their lackadaisical ways giving the ball away with alarming regularity; in fact I doubt we strung 3 passes together all game and seemed incapable of raising our game out of the malaise we had got into. They carved out just one chance when Polley played in Nicky Evans, one on one with the keeper, but unfortunately the normally lethal “Evo” dragged his shot wide.  With 10 minutes left Sandon were awarded, possibly the harshest penalty I have ever seen when Jay Smith was adjudged to have handled a shot which was struck straight at him, with some venom, from just 2 yards. I could understand it is his hands were waving about away from his body but they weren’t, they hadn’t left his side as he just didn’t have time to do anything let alone raise his hands. This was a classic case of accidental hand ball. Anyway the penalty was put away with ease, 1-2. Town huffed and puffed for the final 10 minutes without ever looking seriously like getting an equaliser and in fact Sandon caught Town on the break a couple of times and maybe could have scored again. The final whistle went to bring Towns Essex cup hopes to an end. Good luck to Sandon who thoroughly deserved their victory and we wish them well in the competition.

Summary: After 2 excellent away performances to get this far, Town bowed out of the Essex cup with little more than a whimper in one of, if not, their worst performance of the season and threw away their most realistic chance of some silverware. Even taking into account the very harsh penalty award Town got what they deserved on the day "nothing". We now need to pick ourselves up for the league run in to see how high we can finish. 

Player of the match: Mark Neal who tried in vain to raise the team.

El Col