Non-League and Academy football writer

Lymore Gardens’ first home fixture for quite a while took place on Friday night, at The Techsoc Stadium (Redbridge FC), when they faced Basildon Town in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South. Lymore Gardens were looking to respond to a 3-2 defeat to Brimsdown, in their last league match. Lymore Gardens (they started this match in fourth match in the table, after 17 league matches played), faced a Basildon Town side who started this game in 12th place in the league table, after 16 league matches played. This step 6 match was won 1-0 by Basildon Town.

Basildon Town started this game the better of the two sides, on a bitterly cold night in east London. The visitors were aggressive in their pressing, and they would go on to create two good early goalscoring chances. Their first chance of the game saw John Elongo get to a good pass across the floor, down the left-hand side of the Lymore penalty area. However, the Basildon Town forward’s resulting side-footed effort would go wide, across Sidhant Nayar’s goal. However, soon after that chance for the club from Essex, they would take an early lead. 

For their early goal, a good, whipped corner-kick delivery into the centre of the Lymore box (by Charlie Jarvis) was powerfully headed into the goal by Basildon’s captain, Grant Cumming, who got up well to meet the ball, 0-1. Around five minutes later, with Basildon Town continuing to play well, they would come close to making it 2-0. A looping cross from out on the right-hand side of the pitch, by Jack Jones, was met by Lucas Polyblank, inside the Lymore penalty area. And the Basildon player’s powerful header seemed destined for the back of the net, but for a superb reflex save from Sidhant Nayar, to keep the ball out of his goal.

Lymore Gardens did start to find their rhythm before half-time, and first of all Malik Donaldson’s powerful effort from 20 yards out, was held by Basildon’s goalkeeper, Joe Durrant. And then just before half-time a nicely weighted through-ball pass from influential Lymore captain Ryo Brown, would find Wisley Baltazar just in behind of the Basildon defence, following some good movement from the Lymore forward. Down the right-hand side of the penalty area and one v one with the outrushing goalkeeper, Wisley Baltazar would lift the ball over Joe Durrant, with his effort bouncing just wide of his right-hand post.

Lymore Gardens would improve further during the early stages of the second half. A powerful early effort from Wisley Baltazar, on the left-hand side of the Basildon box, was well saved and gathered by Joe Durrant. Soon after that chance for Lymore, and a nice pass from Ryo Brown to Malik Donaldson would see the Lymore player skilfully progress the ball just inside of the Basildon penalty area, before seeing his low effort towards the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, be well pushed away by Joe Durrant. This came a couple of moments before Lymore had a goal ruled out for offside.

Lymore continued to create some good chances, as the second half went on. Matt Knight’s very well organised Basildon Town side were making it very difficult for Lymore Gardens, however. The next effort of this game came from Dylan Roberts, whose powerful first time effort from the edge of the Basildon box, was well turned behind by Joe Durrant. From Dylan Roberts’ resulting corner-kick, the ball was headed powerfully on goal by Papa Ndiaye, whose header was well tipped over by  Joe Durrant. 

There was enough time for one more late Lymore chance to be created as Ryo Brown played a short pass towards James Smith on the edge of the Basildon box, and he then played the ball onto Tyrique Peters, who one v one with the goalkeeper, he would see his low effort on goal be excellently saved by Joe Durrant. Basildon Town would go on to see out the remaining minutes of the game. This was a very well organised and effective performance from Basildon Town, who after taking the lead against a very good Lymore Gardens side, they were very good defensively, but they also managed the game well, as well as using the ball well. Overall and collectively as a team, they deserved their win on Friday, I thought.

For my Lymore Gardens player of the match award, it goes to Ryo Brown (a mention must also go to Lymore defender John-Jay Mooney, for his performance), who was very good in midfield. And for my overall player of the match award, I could have given it to every single player from the Basildon Town defence. Grant Cumming, Jack Hurley, Jack Jones, and Mack Polyblank were all outstanding, but personally I thought that Basildon’s goalkeeper (Joe Durrant) was the player of the match. He made countless important saves, to help his side record the three points. In doing so, Basildon Town became the first side this season to beat Lymore Gardens at their home ground.