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The
Supporters View
Division One North |
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Edgware The away game jinx struck Edgware again with a disappointing game against a completely re-vamped Ilford side. Only the goalkeeper remaining from the side we beat 5-0 at the White Lion earlier in the season. The only highlight of the game for Edgware’s traveling faithful was Richard Morton’s well battled consolation goal just past the hour.
The very stiff wind in our faces in the first half played an important part in the Foxes early success, a wind that died to a whimper in the second period when it would have favoured the Wares. The early substitution of ‘skipper’ Rory Smith and an obviously still recovering Jason Ferneé taking his place was not the best start to the match.
Ilford had set out their stall early with Elie Kayembe heading just over the visitors goal when Kasey Ashman crossed in from the right 3 minutes in. However, it was the Wares, a couple of minutes later, that had the best chance of taking an early lead when Paul Mark’s defense splitting pass found Adam Wallace, the big forward swung the ball across goal to Greg Ngoyi with the Foxes keeper, James Marrable stranded it was only the quick reaction of Ricky Simmons that stopped the ball from crossing the goal line.
Edgware were to rue the missed opportunity and it was 18 minutes in that a ball floated on the wind found Petric Elbi clear and his blistering shot beat Darren Bonfield and put Ilford 1-0 ahead.
Vince Rispoli did try his luck from 25 yards out but against the wind the ball sailed high and over the crossbar. Without Smith marshalling the defence the home side were breaking forward almost at will, Ben Jones set up Elbi again but he shot wide, however, almost on the half hour, Carl Bruce’s wind assisted shot from 20 yards giving Bonfield he big visitors keeper no chance and putting his side 2 ahead.
In less than a minute Bonfield was in action again when Earl Sterling gave Elbi the ball and the striker forced the keeper to stop the ball crossing the line after deflecting off the post.
Edgware’s ‘man of the match’ Rispoli’s untiring work on the left was rewarded with an opening 36 minutes in but he decided to cross for Richard Morton instead of taking a chance on goal and the opportunity was gone.
The second half started much as the first had ended with Fergus Moore, Chris Ingham, Rispoli and Ferneé trying to contain the rampant home attack. Just 3 minutes into the second half it was Elbi’s shot again that struck Bonfield and bounced up onto the crossbar and out for a corner.
Bonfield again saved the day when he stopped an effort from Jones just past the hour. It was then that Morton gave the visitors a ray of hope, winning the ball in midfield he battled through the home defenders and thrust the ball past Marrable to get one back and lift the Ware’s.
The lift was short lived as 5 minutes later Elbi left the defence in disarray turning past the usually dependable Ferneé to score his second and the Fox’s third. Afew minutes later Elbi hit the post when let through again. Elbi was not to be denied his hat trick and he duly scored his third on 75 minutes. With the game now effectively beyond them the Wares played out the final minutes without conviction. The managers now have the task of regrouping the team before facing Northwood on Easter Monday.
EDGWARE: Bonfield, F Moore, Valenti, Smith (Ferneé), Ingham,
Rispoli, Marks, Morton, Wallace, Ngoyi
It maybe that events at the Club are having an adverse effect on team moral at the moment and it is important that the supporters stay loyal to the players who have given us a marvelous three seasons of football as well as their commitment to the Managers and Edgware Town. |