Great Wakering Rovers and Basildon United had an early opportunity to show off their championship credentials in this eagerly anticipated Essex Senior League clash at Burroughs Park.
Watched by a bumper crowd of 121, the two teams didn’t disappoint, playing out an intriguing match that was a lot closer than the final score suggests.
The Bees started brightly, bossing the early stages of the match. Isaac Aubynn had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring inside three minutes, but the striker hesitated and then scuffed his shot wide.
Experienced campaigner Berty Brayley then found himself clear, however, Louis Godwin-Green made a smart stop with his feet, then the Rovers custodian was scrambling across his goal as another Aubynn chance flashed wide.
Rovers started to get a foothold in the game. Jimmy Webb’s corner was half cleared by Bees keeper Steve Brown to Jay Nash, whose snap shot was brilliantly cleared by former Tottenham Hotspur defender Alton Thelwell.
Brown was soon in the action again, saving well from Ashley Hawkins, hooked shot, and then thwarting the Rovers number nine again after good flank play from Jake Gibson.
Just before the break, both sides missed a chance to gain the upper hand. Dan Trenkel volley flashed just wide, and then Godwin-Green raced clear of his goal to kick clear from the onrushing Brayley.
Basildon had the first chance of the second period, Sadiq Ishmael finding Godwin-Green’s midriff with a long-range effort. At the other end, Dean Smithshaw cleared after Webb’s surging run and cross.
There wasn’t much in it, but as the game reached its final third, Rovers fitness seemed to give them the upper hand.
After sixty-six minutes the home side broke the deadlock. Jimmy Webb wriggled free only for Smithshaw to haul him down, referee Adam Miller had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Webb took the responsibility and thumped the Rovers in front.
Basildon desperately tried to find a way back into the game. Aubynn shot across the goal with Godwin-Green at full stretch, and the impressive Greg Akpele caused several problems with his clever wing play.
However, in the games ascendancy, Rovers looked more likely to add to the scoring. Webb fired just over the Bees crossbar, but the home side didn’t have to wait too much longer.
After eighty-four minutes, substitute James Pugsley found himself in space twenty-five yards out and dispatched an inch perfect strike past Brown and into the top corner of the net.
Not satisfied with that, John Mbamarah then sealed the points in the final minute with an early contender for goal of the season, thundering his shot past Brown from fully thirty yards.
Rovers extended their unbeaten run in both the league and FA Cup, but both teams should take some credit, This was a high quality game that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Ryman League.

Rovers; Godwin-Green, Gibson, Drury, Mbamarah, Sparrow, Hepburn, Benjamin, Trenkel, Hawkins, Nash, Webb.

Subs; Keys, Frankis, Williams, Pugsley, Knott.

Basildon; Brown, Bill, Hind, Smithshaw, Smith, Thelwell, Renalds, Brayley, Aubynn, Ishmael, Akpele.

Subs; Mann, Wooder, Salmon, Hanness, Longden.

By Brian Jeeves