Report
Tommy Lee’s campaign to keep Leyton Pennant in Division Two gained pace today when, despite some poor refereeing and a withering wind, the boys from Wadham Lodge pulled off another away win at East Thurrock where gaining a point is normally as difficult as coming up with a cunning plan that will work.
The referee, Mr O’Keefe spoiled the match terribly as a spectacle by awarding free kicks for the most innocuous of tackles, consequently the game had no flow or shape to it. This did, however play into the Lilywhites’ hand. In a second half where there were more free kicks than open play, East Thurrock, for some inexplicable reason, chose to keep on crossing high balls into the Lilywhites’ penalty area. Six months ago this would have meant a hatful of goals for the opposition but since Terry Scotchmer, Neil Morgan and Simon Tickner have come together in defence, the high ball just does not get through.
The game was very quiet for most of the first half, indeed the Lilywhites had the better of all opening exchanges because they were able to draw East Thurrock into their (Leyton Pennant’s) own half, snuff out the effect of any attack with blanket defending, then show danger on the attack. It was on one of these marauders forward that Spencer Fletcher won yet another corner on the left. The ball was flighted to the near post where Simon Tickner rose to head home scoring his second goal in successive games.
Right from the kick off the ball East Thurrock took the ball down the Lilywhites’ right flank and crossed in. A penalty was awarded for a reason few could see or understand. Justice was seen to be done when Mark Cox shot wide. Not to be out done, on 46 minutes, Mr O’Keefe awarded a penalty against Neil Morgan who had bent forward to chest the ball down. Mr O’Keefe saw the chest trap as a hand ball and awarded a penalty. This time the ball found its home.
The second half saw the commencement of the aerial bombardment of the Lilywhites’ penalty area. Wave after wave of free kicks, co-ordinated by referee Wing Commander O’Keefe who seemed bent on giving a free kick against any tackle enacted or breath taken, by a Leyton Pennant player. If the Luftwaffe were as good as clearing the skies as the Lilywhites defence were at heading every ball out, Dresden would have come through the end of the war without a mark.
Once again, it was the Lilywhites who always looked like scoring on the break. This time Mr O’Keefe enacted his first piece of really sensible refereeing. On 79 minutes, Jamie Reilly got into the East Thurrock penalty area and wriggled past two defenders. When in a shooting position his shirt was pulled by Garyburn. Mr O’Keefe allowed Reilly to see if he could score but the chance was closed down. Mr O’Keefe awarded a penalty which Reilly slotted home.
The Lilywhites lived on their nerves as the game went into 5 minutes of injury time. Terry Scotchmer was sent off, God knows why, then Jermain Hughes broke free of the East Thurrock defence only to shoot wide with the ’keeper to beat. To add insult to injury, Mr O’Keefe “booked” Leyton Pennant because two players were not seated in the technical area. This is the same Mr O’Keefe who sent Tommy Lee (Snr.) from the bench and reported Amin Levitt when he refereed us against Barking. As a Club official I can make no comment on this. Just thank him for breaking today’s game up so much that it probably helped us to three points.