11/10/2025 – Hedinghams United versus London East FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

AMATEUR FA CHALLENGE CUP – Preliminary Round

HEDINGHAMS UNITED FC.                2.         LONDON EAST FC.                  1.        

Date:   11/10/2025.                                      Venue: Lawn Meadow, Sible Hedingham.

            Now, its usual for me, not to report on Cup matches, whether they be County Cups or ESBFL Competition Cups until the later stages, however, with an invitation to visit Hedinghams United FC for the opening of their new facilities, this by football commentator, Chris “Kammy” Kamara, it was also an opportunity to stay and watch a game involving a team from a different competition. Hedinghams United have invested heavily in these new facilities with the help of the “Howdens” Game Changer Programme, which aims to improve facilities at grassroots football clubs. Their Ambassador, Chris Kamara, champions the program, which has provided new kitchen facilities to 450 clubs across the UK, helping them become hubs for their communities and creating new funding opportunities by enabling them to host events and serve food. A number of local businesses have also contributed, including “Pullinger Motorhomes”, who also sponsor the First Team. After a number of thanks to all those involved in running this Club, and with excuses if some were omitted, Chris Kamara, made a moving speech, detailing his recent speech problem, of which he is slowly recovering, he was passionate about “grassroots” football and felt the FA, Premier League and other EFL leagues should contribute more to football at these  “grassroots” level. Once the ribbon was cut, a photo opportunity was available, including me, and the visit included members of the Hedinghams Youth teams asking some very good questions of Chris Kamara.

            The visitors were London East FC from The Amateur Football Alliance, Division Two, usually ESBFL teams would compete in the Essex County Cups, this extensive competition, consisting of seven divisions, enables teams, who are apparently county-less, from around London to compete, looking at their website, travelling would be a major consideration, despite certain divisions appearing to be regionalised.

            Today’s Match Official was Graeme Wilson who had Ethan Pudner and John Stockman as appointed Assistant Referees, I’d not met these gentlemen before and contrary to what some people think, I don’t attend matches to review Match Official performance’s, today they were a good team, but to be fair neither side caused any problems and hopefully the match was enjoyed by a rather large crowd.

            On an autumnal afternoon, slightly chilly but no wind, Hedinghams United kicked off, up the pronounced slope, the home team looked to build from the back, their opposition were a total unknown outfit, so early caution was the watchword. A break down the right side saw a cross from Le Comber arrive just inside the penalty area, visiting keeper, Hunn was quickly out, defender Akrasi-Bonsu also arrived but Shaw was summarily flattened and a penalty kick was rightly awarded, THOMAS BUCKINGHAM despatched the ball into the left hand side of the net, the home team were ahead with just two minutes on the clock! Pullinger committed a foul, this was on Saint-Gyamfi, twenty-five yards out from goal but the free kick as poor and a goal kick followed, Thompson for the home team embarked on a dribble forward but his shot on the run was well wide, as London East regrouped, they won a throw-in off Young, Akrasi-Bonsu launched a long throw-in which was successfully defended. Hedinghams United, so far, had most of the ball possession and London East struggled to get the ball forward with a number, of mis-kicked clearances causing more problems for their own team. Goal-scorer Buckingham almost had a second goal, this time it was Thompson who made the run and from his cross down by the corner flag, the header struck the top of the crossbar and went behind for a goal kick.

            With fifteen minutes played, Brown (Ri) fouled Loe, the free kick taken by Turner was high and wide, a poor goal kick from keeper Hunn was picked up in midfield, Turner, played wide to the right side and from a fine cross from Le Comber, there was THOMAS BUCKINGHAM to score with a fine header. Thorpe and Young both recovered one thunderous fifty-fifty challenge, no quarter given there, another free kick taken by Turner found Lewis, whose drifting cross almost found Buckingham but keeper, Hunn was quickest to the loose, bouncing ball. When Le Comber found space down the right side his shot was saved at the near post by keeper, Hunn, Tyson clattered into Saint-Gyamfi, but from the free kick Brown (Ri) slammed the ball into the side netting without troubling vociferous, keeper, Glynn! Buckingham forced another corner, this was headed goalwards by Lewis with Dapaah clearing out of defence. Shaw made a dribble forward but Brown (Je) with only a last ditch left-footed challenge stopped the promising attack. Then out of the blue, London East scored, a fine curling ball from the right side by Akrasi-Bonsu found PRINCE SAINT-GYAMFI in space between two defenders and he scored with a fine header, local support suggested he was offside, no flag was raised, and the visitors were perhaps, back in this game!

            Buckingham had been holding the ball up well for the home team and it took three London East, defenders to get the ball off him inside the penalty area, the visitors were much more prominent as we headed towards half-time, trying to make best use of the slope, Thompson fouled Brown (Jo) inside the centre-circle but keeper, Glynn made a good catch near the penalty spot. Keeper, Glynn, was nearly caught out when a cross from Brown (Jo) had him back-pedalling, the ball fell between Dapaah and Saint-Gyamfi but keeper, Glynn dived on the loose ball on the six-yard line. A poor pass out of defence by Brown (Ri) fell to Buckingham who played in Thompson who shot left-footed but well wide of the goal. On the stroke of half-time Brown (Je) fouled Shaw, Loe took the free kick finding Thompson who volleyed wide, but London East had shored up their defence and on occasions caused a few problems when getting over the half-way line.

HALF-TIME:    2 – 1.

            Before London East could restart this match there was a substitution, off went Smith with Quereshi taking his place, substitutions become a bit of a lottery in these cup matches as they operate the “Roll-On / Roll-Off” rule, but it does gives managers the opportunity to play all five substitutes. In the opening attack Lewis scythed down Brown (Je), Akrasi-Bonsu took the free kick shooting straight to keeper, Glynn, a Hedinghams United corner followed and with play stopped, the home team exchanged Archer and Belton for Shaw and Tyson, with five minutes of the second half had been played. The persistence of Buckingham forced a corner, again cleared, Brown (Jo) fouled Belton and the home team looked to score a third goal, as currently the scoreline was too close for comfort. Another attack from midfield saw Loe head the ball on to Thompson but keeper, Hunn was equal to the shot and held the ball on his goal-line. Another double substitution for the home team, followed on fifty-seven minutes, off went Loe and Thompson with Mills and Willsher entering play.

            On sixty minutes, the game had, in my opinion, become scrappy, plenty of effort but no end result, London East made a change removing Saint-Gyamfi and sending on Gomesh, a player I later recognised as having played for Brightlingsea Town last season. Defender, Turner made a fine challenge on Thorpe, then a poor goal kick from keeper, Hunn fell to Mills who shafted his volley wide with the goal wide open, another cross from Young fell kindly to keeper, Hunn. When Willsher and Mills linked up to press forward, keeper Hunn seemingly impeded Archer, no penalty was awarded as the match official allowed play to continue with Hedinghams United in possession, defender Cox did get back to clear in front of the goal. Akrasi-Bonsu, one of the visitors, better players did well to stop Buckingham and Le Comber forced a corner, taken short to Le Comber whose cross found Lewis who headed over the crossbar from six yards out. London East had been patient this half, perhaps tiring after the journey and now playing up the slope, however, Gomesh worked an angle and from the space created saw his low shot turned aside by keeper, Glynn, a decent save considering his lack of real action so far.

            With fifteen minutes remining, Hedinghams United, sent on previously substituted Thompson, for Buckingham, Willsher picked up a caution for a clumsy foul on Dapaah, who himself had been cautioned minutes earlier. A corner taken by Akrasi-Bonsu fell to Gomesh whose under-hit shot fell into the arms of keeper, Glynn, who minutes later had to advance well outside his penalty area to clear as his defence was caught up field. Thompson fired goalwards and the deflected ball went out for a corner, and as the minutes ticked away Pullinger was fortunate not to concede a penalty as Gomesh went to ground, and with play breaking to the other end Brown (Jo) made a fine tackle on Belton and the game finished.

FULL TIME:     2 – 1.

            It was hard to judge how this match would pan out, neither team had played each other before, three excellent match officials which was strange for a preliminary round, cup tie, but the game was certainly not a classic, honest endeavour and taking of chances won the day for hedinghams United whose their next opponents are Queen Mary College Old Boys First, from the Southern Amateur League, Intermediate North, who play at Fairlop Oaks Sports Ground, Barkingside, so a day out with a 13:30pm kick-off in late November!

Turning to my choice of Star player, I’m not going to name everyone, for Hedinghams United this was a team effort, Buckingham scored twice and led the front line well, there is no “I” in team, neither is there in Roman Young, a young player who is quite distinctive on the pitch, which made him more obvious to pick out, solid in defence, pushing through midfield and never shirked a tackle, so well done to him.

Teams:

HEDINGHAMS UNITED FC:

Colours:                        Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Lee Glynn., James Tyson., Roman Young., Joe Lewis., Charlie Turner., Barrie Pullinger (C)., Christopher Le Comber., Harry Loe., Thomas Buckingham., Ashley Shaw., Stanley Thompson.

Manager:                      Chris Cannon

Used Substitutes:          Ashley Taylor., Callum Mills., Thomas Archer., Brady Belton., Kyzer Willsher.

LONDON EAST FC      

Colours:                        Sky Blue Shirts, Sky Blue Shorts and Sky Blue Socks.

Team:

Tony Hunn., Dean Cox., Ricky Brown., Tommy Akrasi-Bonsu., Vandyke Dapaah (C)., Jordan Brown., Jesse Brown., Ralford Thorpe., Ricardo Brown., Prince Saint-Gyamfi., Tomy Smith.

Manager:                      Darren Jikiemi.

Used Substitutes:          Carl Blake., Sidorel Bokciu., Lee Gomesh., Rohan Quereshi.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee:                       Graeme Wilson.

Assistant Referees:       Ethan Pudner.

                        and      John Stockman.

STAR PLAYERS:          Roman YOUNG                       (HEDINGHAMS UNITED FC)