Stambridge united 6 - 3 SHENFIELD AFC 27/08/11

The countdown to the new season was finally over and all eyes turned to a Shenners team taking the field against a Stambridge side that haven’t conceded more than 2 goals in a single game in over 2 years and achieving back to back promotions along the way. This therefore was always going to a tricky start to the season and with Shenfield also having a revamped side, a good opportunity to see how well prepared they are for the new campaign….not very as it turns out with the opening 30 minutes showing that the boys in blue still need time to gel.

Some players started quicker than others however, and an early ball from the left was met by Kyle at the near post and the left back picked out the top corner with a fierce header past the goal keeper.  Unfortunately the goal keeper was in the Shenfield goal and Paul Bolton found his team one down early on.

One soon became two with some tracking back David Ginola would be proud of by Jack Denham, left Kyle exposed down the left and a low cross was met by the Stambridge forward who’s miss hit found the roof of the net.

As the first half continued Shenfield started to find their feet and began forcing their way back into the game, no one more so than Kyle trying to make amends for the early own goal. He took a speculative shot from a free kick just inside the Stambridge half, and the medley of people running in front of the keeper causing him taking his eye off the ball and it bouncing in off the post. Shenfield went in at half time 2-1 down.

Some inspiring words from the management team including Robin Lynn’s tactic of going out and “f*cking them,” meant that Anthony Harrington seemed really up the second half.

And the half didn’t disappoint as some sloppy defending lead to goals flying in at both ends. Stambridge were kept frustrated as they looked to secure the 3 points, a hopeful dive from an over run one on one chance by Bill Tex,  and some masterful trickery on the edge of the box from Ben Raven, gifted Shenfield two penalties. Both were slotted home with ease by the former Shenners captain cancelling out the two goals scored by Stamfbridge in the second half keeping them in the game.

However, the referee couldn’t keep rescuing the blue army with more penalties as Stamford began to really turn it on up top. More goals from their front men lead to the final score ending 6 – 3 to the home side. A disappointing day out for Shenfield as they lost their first competitive game of the season against a hillbilly team consisting of more relatives than Ben raven has posters of JLS.

Despite the result some positives can be taken from game including a battling performance from Tom in the middle of the park (just don’t let him shoot), Kyle loves a near post header, Billy Tex clearly showing he knows how to take a spot kick, and Jack Denham has stolen Cristiano Ronaldo’s boots.

Shenfield now have to look to next week’s game against Newham untied who finished in sixth place last year, and the fans are hoping Greg English is back in action so Ben Raven isn’t handed the captain’s armband again.

Burnham Ramblers Reserves vs SHENFIELD AFC 13/08/11

In a game that shouldn’t be remembered for the amount of times the right back got nut-megged in the first half, or the pitch being dryer than a nun’s c…. The new look Shenfield AFC team produced a solid display against an short but organised Burnham Ramblers reserve team away from home.

Shenners with a fantastic showing of support from the rest of the squad, thought luck was on their side in the opening twenty minutes when two 30 yard screamers smashed against the cross bar and into safety. However despite battling hard they were undone by a corner whipped in from the right that got taken in by the wind and cruelly over the new keepers head.

Not shaken by this Paul Bolton’s blue army picked themselves up and started taking the game to the home side and with some good play down the left hand side, saw a number of crosses attacking the Burnham penalty box. Continuing the short spell of dominance before the break Shenfield were unlucky to go in 1 down as they had a number of chances around the area, only for the Burnham defence to continuingly close down the space and prevent Denham, Frost, Texeria and Hammond from getting a yard for a clear effort on goal.

The second half saw a few changes made most notably the newly instated first team captain Gregg English, moving into the middle of the park and given the freedom to drive on producing some strong runs. What you want from your captain is commitment and Gregg didn’t disappoint when he took a right hook Ricky Hatton would have been proud of to the face, only for Paul Dewhurst to miss with the follow up header sent wide with an empty net glaring back at him for 4 yards out.

As the second half went on Burnham were beginning to look dangerous with lots of space in midfield letting them spray passes around, but it was Shenners that finally converted a chance and got back into the game with some sloppy defending from Burnham gifted texeria the ball on the edge of the area which was slotted home with ease. The Boys in Blue then went on to level out the statistics with a few efforts hitting the woodwork which further highlighted the need for shooting practise ahead of the new season.

Sensing the game getting away from them the Burnham team started looking for other questionable means of attacking with some strong challenges, with Ryan McCarthy taking the worst with a high kick from the centre forward going dangerously near his temple. However, looking like Gerard Butler from 300, Ryan was unmoved while his would be assailant was hurled to the floor. The new shenner’s keeper then wanted to display a level of commitment on par with the new captain by saving a good shot with his boat race from close range.

Overall Shenfield can be happy with their performance against a team that were never superior to their lower league opponents. These early displays are good indicators of how successful this group of players are to be as the season goes on, and sure enough we will at some point obtain the answers to the questions on everyone lips; Is Kyle ever going to find a Shenfield player with a pass? Is Ben Raven actually ever going to Australia? Just how many girlfriends is Jack Denham going to Steel from team mates this year? We can only wait and see…..