Two in a row for Rovers!

The sun was shining on Stanway, and on our Pitching In Isthmian North Promotion Final, defying- for now at least- the predictions of the long range weather forecasters. Perhaps the gods of football were looking down on us and smiling. The home club, and visitors Redbridge, hoped to be smiling themselves at five o’clock.

At the start of this season anyone suggesting a Rovers versus Motormen Final would have, at the very least, received a quizzical look. After all, Rovers had just been promoted- Essex Senior League winners- whilst Redbridge were always a solid, consistent unit capable of surprising one of the ‘big boys’ but were hardly fancied to make another step up. And yet, here we were, to the delight of two fine sets of fans. 

Alfie, the Rovers media man, was pinching himself a couple of hours before kick off. He was waxing lyrical about the confirmed ‘club record attendance’ expected and explaining how nobody at the club would have really believed this possible earlier in the season. On the Blue side of the discussion the Motormen’s top scorer, Malachi Napa- fresh from celebrating Maldon and Tiptree’s title win- was here to support his old club, and full of praise for their work ethic and the strength of character they had shown. They typified the delight found at both ends of the ground. 

Non league is blessed with fine people. It isn’t a place normally blessed with money; instead it is run on goodwill and hard work, and both characteristics were present in abundance for both sides before the match. You may never have been to Stanway- indeed, before this season you might never have heard of Stanway- but you really must visit, not only because the football is fabulous but because the folks who enable the football are very much the same. They’ll be pleased to see you, and you’ll be pleased you came. 

What a season it had been for Rovers. Indeed, following their title last season newcomers to the club will have known nothing but glory. Their first Isthmian campaign had seen them finish in fourth place, six points clear of their fifth place visitors. They headed into today’s game having won their last four matches, the most recent of those victories coming at Waltham Abbey in Tuesday’s Semi-Final.

The travelling Motormen had also won four in a row, their victory over Felixstowe and Walton United on Tuesday- a side who finished twenty six points ahead of them in the table and who had defeated them the previous six times they had met- ensuring that they hit the road full of confidence. The two sides had met three times already this season, the last of those as recently as Easter Saturday, when the Motormen came from three goals behind at the break to take a point in a three-three draw. They knew each other well. 

The hosts were favourites, perhaps, due to their home advantage and the four league points they took from their visitors, but that needed to be tempered by the knowledge that both sides were far more successful on the road than on their own patch this season. It was too close to call. All we could hope for was some fantastic football. 

An hour before kick off we already had noise in abundance. Behind the goal a large collection of teenagers- we believe the collective noun for such a gathering is a “cacophony”- were banging a drum and promoting the hosts chances. Some of them were dressed as bananas. Half an hour later many of them made a procession to the refreshment kiosk, with a drum accompaniment, singing “let’s all get some burgers.” You had to admire their commitment to their art even when queuing.

By the way, the burgers, sausages and sausage rolls looked superb. Not that this knowledge was useful to those of us who had bought a sandwich from Tesco. Anyway, was time to move away from burger regret, and on to the actual football.

The players emerged at five to three to the strains of ‘Welcome to the Jungle.’ Luckily the only animal present was a six foot dog, and he didn’t seem all that wild. Rovers were in yellow, Redbridge in blue, and after performing the worlds longest huddle the visitors got us underway, kicking towards the clubhouse end.

On two minutes the hosts were awarded the first corner of the match, and were unlucky not to get its first goal, a header coming back off the bar. Zack Littlejohn will count himself unlucky; and indeed he’ll be right. 

The opening stages passed without further incident. Indeed, the ball only infrequently made contact with the grass. Both sides were feeling their way into the contest, and there was little to shout about- although that didn’t stop our banana clad friends and their away counterparts at the other end from shouting. 

After a rather forgettable first twenty minutes the hosts found some attacking verve, encouraged forward by an energetic Alex Bolovan. It provided a little excitement, and the match needed it, but it was short lived. 

A rare Redbridge attack brought a free kick twenty five yards out. Jack Chawner beat the wall but not the keeper, Callum Robinson tipping his effort over. The resulting corner eventually came to the same player on the edge of the box, and his effort looked to be on target but was blocked. 

The first half came to an end without a goal, and, if we’re honest, without much to recommend it. There was no lack of effort from either side, but there was little else to remember. Hopefully the second half would be better.

Half time: Stanway Rovers 0 Redbridge 0

Rovers began the second half on the front foot, with ten minutes of pressure, but sadly didn’t particularly trouble Jake Anderson in the Redbridge goal, his defence working hard. In the fifty ninth minute the referee awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, and Bolovan beat the wall but curled his effort the wrong side of the post- but the hosts remained very much in the ascendancy. Another chance- a free kick from thirty yards out was floated to the back post, a corner the result, and from that a chance came to Mekhi McKenzie, but he could only direct it into the keepers arms.

Redbridge threatened at the other end, Karl Kayembe bringing a fine save from Robinson, and suddenly football had broken out at both ends. Bennett was the next to threaten for the hosts, and we moved into the last twenty minutes with hope we’d soon get a goal. Long throw, up went Bennett, goa…hit the post! 

Bolovan then shot wide, as Rovers kept up the pressure. At the other end a foul on Kayembe gave Redbridge a free kick in a dangerous position, but Chawner’s effort was deflected over. “We are going up,” sang the home fans, but at the moment the only place that anyone seemed sure to go was extra time.

And indeed we did.

Full time: Stanway Rovers 0 Redbridge 0. Extra time next.

Three minutes in, and Kayembe forced another full stretch save from Robinson as the visitors threatened. At this point the Motormen’s number eight looked the best player on the pitch, but his scuffed effort a minute later did a good job of undermining that statement.

Rovers applied pressure for most of the rest of the half, and yet at no point looked like scoring. That sentence summed up much of the previous one hundred and five minutes. 

Off we went again. A Redbridge corner was wasted, and then a Bennett break ended with a last-ditch tackle at the other end.

Into the last eight minutes, and Bennett managed to find space through the middle. Was this the time? No. Over the bar. At the other end Robinson was forced into action again, saving from Morrison. Three minutes to go, a quick free kick, and down went a Rovers forward, twelve yards out. The referee looked at his Assistant, the flag stayed down, play on was the result. 

Full time: Stanway Rovers 0 Redbridge 0. Penalties next.
 

The Motormen were up first. Goal! 1-0, although the keeper went the right way.

Rovers- 1-1.

Redbridge- so far over the bar we may never see it again. 1-1.

The hosts- into the corner- 2-1.

The visitors- down the middle. 2-2.

Rovers- 3-2.

Motormen- saved. 3-2!

Goal! Rovers win!

There is no point pretending this was a classic. It will not remain long in the memory of the neutral. But, of course, Rovers won’t care- and nor should they. 

Stanway Rovers FC. Coming to a top flight near you- in August