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Sat 25 Jan 2025  ·  Premier Division
Great Wakering Rovers FC
First Team
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Woodford Town
CLASH AT THE TOP ENDS IN STALEMATE

CLASH AT THE TOP ENDS IN STALEMATE

Steve Lovell27 Jan - 13:33

Rovers 0-0 Woodford Town

There was nothing to separate Great Wakering Rovers and Woodford Town as playoff rivals drew at Burroughs Park on Saturday afternoon.

Both goalkeepers were the heroes of the match as both George Martin and Eddie Allan pulled off several great saves to ensure their clean sheet bonuses.

Rovers came into the game unbeaten in all competitions in three and Woodford Town were in great form as well, unbeaten since November despite coming into the fixture battered and bruised before they had even kicked off the tie in Southend. Goalkeeper Manny Agboola, Miles Mitchell-Nelson and Nathan Sollosi all missing out and being replaced by Eddie Allan, Emmanuel Martins and Micah Jackson.

A fixture that would live up to it's expectation as both sides were going into the fixture for the win.

KICKOFF:

The first half was end to end action but Rovers had all the bigger chances.

Just before the half hour mark, Woodford Town were forced into aa change when Normand Kebi needed to leave the field of play with a suspected hamstring issue and was replaced by Max Harbrow.

Rovers then had an excellent opportunity when Alfie Whiteaker delivered a corner from the left and the cross was headed back across goal from Harry Talbot which forced Eddie Allan to tip the ball away from the foot of Bradley Bennett.

Woodford Town had a great opportunity to take the lead when Ernest Okoh laid the ball off to unmarked Josh Banfield on the edge of the box and he curled the shot past a blockage of bodies into the top right corner but the George Martin did really well to get across goal and pluck the ball out from the air.

The next bit of action saw rovers having the next chance, build up play through the middle found Max Gnandi who was then sent down the left wing and skipped past his man. Callum Boylan was running into the box unmarked but sadly Gray's cross was straight at Allan who comfortably held the ball.

With just over five minutes left of play, Rovers had another excellent opportunity when Max Gnandi beat the Woodford Town line but Eddie Allan managed to close down the shot and was then up again to pull off an excellent save at close range from Callum Boylan.

Just before halftime, Rovers almost broke the deadlock again when a corner by Alfie Whiteaker found Harry Talbot who rose highest to head the ball on target but Kirwan-Meade was on the line to head the ball away.

HALFTIME: Rovers 0-0 Woodford Town

The game started out as the first half with the same tempo but rovers just couldn't find the net due to the stoic and resilient defence of Woodford Town.

Woodford Town were forced into a double halftime substitution with players carrying injures.

After an hour of play, Marcus Bowers freshened things up by bringing on Raheem Gray, Igli Metalia and Ollie Jenkins

Callum Boylan had the best chance for the host's when Raheem Gray was sent running down the left and cut inside the box before laying the ball off to Boylan but Eddie Allan was quick off his line to shut the shot down.

Just after the halfway point of the second half, Woodford Town's Kirwan-Meade required treatment after he collided with the post following a corner but he was okay to continue.

With just under ten minutes of play left whilst the Rovers continued to press forward for a winner, Woodford Town thought they had scored the winner. Jayden Charles turned and struck an effort towards goal from 35-yards out, but it crashed off the crossbar before falling to David Gokou, George Martin was on the floor after back pedalling but was suddenly up do quickly to pull off an exceptional point black save by his foot from inside the six-yard box.

FULLTIME: Rovers 0-0 Woodford Town

Rovers are now unbeaten in three into the new year. They now have a big month to prepare for in February as they will be faced with eight matches in four weeks.

They'll start the month off next Saturday as they welcome local rivals Hullbridge Sports.

PS: Photos curtesy of Nicky Hayes

Match details

Match date

Sat 25 Jan 2025

Kickoff

15:00

Attendance

135

Competition

Premier Division

League position

3
Woodford Town
4
Great Wakering Rovers
Further reading