Town welcomed Canning Town (CT) to Love Lane on Saturday eager to build on last weeks battling 3 point performance and looking for more of the same. The management turned nasty and dropped “The Puma” despite his heroics the previous week and reinstated Chris Neal between the sticks. There were also 2 forced changes from the previous week; Ready was injured and Michael Hall was off doing his David Hasselhof impersonation by going surfing in Cornwall. Their replacements were Brad Merrick and Wiggy who were both lucky to start as it would have been an unchanged starting 11, except of course for the callous culling of “The Puma” who to rub salt in the wounds wasn’t even fit enough to take his usual place out on pitch.

For the opening 10 minutes Canning Town had the majority of the possession but after this Ongar settled down and the game became an even, end to end affair, with neither team really creating any clear cut chances of any note. Ongar’s attacks were often thwarted by failing to notice Canning Towns two giant 6 foot 6 inch centre half’s who both, strangely enough, coped quite comfortably with Ongar’s aerial attacks and took the opportunity to have some heading practice (think about it lads !!!!!!!!!!). Brad Merrick then played a superb through ball to Jeater who’s resulting lob drifted just wide of the goal with the keeper beaten. Jeater was then played in again a few minutes later by an inch perfect Polley through ball but this time the CT keeper was quick off his line and smothered his shot. After 25 minutes CT took the lead when Wiggy decided to go on a mazy on the edge of his own box to see how many players he could beat before he got tackled!!!! ; he did quite well, but having beaten 3 players he lost out to the fourth who promptly smashed the ball home from 20 yards, giving Chris Neal no chance – schoolboy error - 0-1. Canning Town were lifted by their goal and Ongar rocked a bit, but kicking against a stiff breeze Ongar would have taken 0-2 at half time but it wasn’t to be as ten minutes before the break a Canning Town player found acres of space out wide on the left and with more than ample time to have a pint and a fag, never mind get a cross in; the resulting cross found the CT striker, whom Ongar had very obligingly left completely unmarked, and he had the easiest of headers from 5 yards out 0-2 – second schoolboy error. Half time.

The chat at half time was optimistic as there hadn’t been anything to choose between the teams in the first half and Ongar now had the advantage of the breeze in their favour. It was also politely suggested that it might be a much better idea to “by pass” the 2 giant centre half’s down the sides and not continue to provide them with heading practice. The next goal was vital, but unfortunately after just 3 minutes CT scored again when Lodgey’s attempted clearance was charged down to a CT player who homed in on goal and finished superbly, 0-3, and effectively game over. Ongar made a triple substitution and threw on young Lewis Headon, Matt Macedo and Dan Mott in place of Lodgey, Wiggy and Andy Martin and within a minute they had scored when Polley and Jeater combined with a neat one-two on the edge of the box before Jeater finished superbly from 12 yards into the top corner - 1-3. Town now had the better of possession and exerted some pressure on the CT goal. With 4 minutes remaining a header from Mark Neal went agonisingly, an inch wide. The game, which had been played in great spirit then descended into a rather tedious finale as players from both teams got their handbags out and involved themselves needlessly in petty squabbles. The full time whistle went just before anyone stamped their feet or threw some toys out of a pram.

Summary: CT just edged it on the day and deserved their win but at this level its all about small margins as was summarised perfectly in the first half – Ongar had 2 or 3 very good chances and missed them all and CT had one good chance and one half chance and scored from both. It also has to be said that Ongar very sportingly presented CT with all 3 of their goals which hardly helps. The effort was definitely there, and cannot be criticised but it was one of those “flat” days and Town were sadly short of creativity and ball retention was poor. Player of the match this week is young Brad Merrick.

El Col