A late goal by Jamie Bennett condemned Great Wakering Rovers to be defeated by the league leaders Stanway Rovers.

The substitute scored the only goal of the game four minutes from time to end Great Wakering’s unbeaten run and their first defeat in seven games.

Marcus Bowers made six changes following their midweek cup win over Saffron Walden Town. Shaye La-Rose, Jack McQueen, Bradleigh Rowland, Harry Talbot and Ben Search returned into the starting eleven.

Stanway have been in fantastic form with only one defeat in eight and sit at the summit of the league table.

KICKOFF:

Wakering enjoyed the majority of the early stages and did well to hold their ground against Stanway.

Ben Search had the first effort of the game after ten minutes when he gained possession 30 yards from goal but he dragged his shot wide of the left right post.

After twenty minutes of play, Stanway had their first real attempt of the game when Tom Maycock was played down the right and his cross found Nathaniel Mardell in the box but shot was blocked by Harrison Topliss and the ball was cleared.

Great Wakering then went straight down the other end and Max Gnandi won back possession from George Okoye after losing possession but he dragged his shot wide of the goal.

With almost half an hour of the game played, Wakering had another good chance. Max Gnandi was played through on the left and managed to turn and skip past his defender and pass the ball across the area to Ben Search who saw his shot blocked. The resulting corner was delivered in and was just headed wide by Max.

The game was end to end action and in the closing stages of the game, Stanway’s Tom Maycock had a great opportunity when controlled a loose ball outside the area and volleyed the ball just wide of George Martin’s right post.

HALFTIME: Rovers 0-0 Stanway Rovers

The second half continued with the same temp and both sides went at each other.

Inside the first ten minutes, Great Wakering had two great opportunities. James White gained possession just outside the box and rifled a shot straight at Stanway’s custodian Callum Robinson who parried the shot straight to Max Gnandi but he blazed his shot over from three yards out.

For the next ten minutes, Stanway started to test the resilience of the Wakering defence. Tom Maycock delivered in a free kick from the left into the box which Milo Grimes rose highest to connect with but George Martin calmly held onto the ball. George Okoye was then played through on goal after some good build up play and timed his run well to run onto a pass from Tom Maycock and was one-on-one with George Martin. The Wakering keeper stood tall and rushed out to not only block the first attempt but was up again to push away the second attempt to keep the league leaders at bay. The resulting corner was delivered in but Okoye just headed the ball wide.

The closing stages of the game were starting to get intense.

With over fifteen minutes of play left, Callum Boylan entered the field and he charged through the pitch towards goal but only to be hacked down Milo Grimes who received a yellow card. Ben Search whipped the free kick in but the ball was dealt with by the stoic Stanway defence.

Great Wakering were pushing on and were testing the league leaders. They had a huge shout for a penalty when Bradley Bennett delivered a long throw to the front post from the right to Jack Dickinson and a raised arm saw the ball apparently punched away by a Stanway defender. The fans behind the goal protested for calls. The referee consulted his linesman to discuss it and the decision was no penalty.

Five minutes later, another long throw into the box by Bradley Bennett caused a scramble inside the Stanway box but Callum Robinson gathered.

With four minutes left of play, the visitors snatched a late goal.

Stanway substitute Jamie Bennett managed to beat past the Wakering defensive line and run on to a ball by Tom Maycock. He ran on and smashed the ball past George Martin to give the visitors a well deserved goal.

Wakering did what they could to salvage something from the game but Stanway soaked up the pressure and saw out the game.

FULLTIME: Rovers 0-1 Stanway Rovers

A tough defeat to take but Rovers must now regroup for the up coming week. They welcome Isthmian league side Basildon United on Tuesday for the semi final of the Essex Thameside trophy and then entertain White Ensign at Burroughs Park on Saturday.

Photos courtesy of Nicky Hayes.