Back On Track...

Match Report – November 27th 2021. - Courtesy of Mark Bridges
Essex Senior League – League Match
Cockfosters (2) 4 (Beattie 32 mins, Agyemang 45+1, 58, Entwistle 85)
Sawbridgeworth Town (0) 1 (Barker 88)

Cockfosters put aside the recent cup exits, to Dartford and Tring Athletic respectively, by helping themselves to a fine victory over a gallant Sawbridgeworth Town side in a game played in very difficult wet and windy conditions.
A brace rom Freddie Agyemang, and one each for George Beattie and Joe Entwistle, meant that Cockfosters extended their unbeaten league run to five matches.
Sawbridgeworth had the strong wind at their backs in the first half and kept Cockfosters penned in their own half in the earlier exchanges. However, the first goalscoring opportunity went to the home side when an unmarked Beattie should have headed home from close range in the 11th minute. The same player was denied by visiting keeper Jimmy Parker in the 25th minute.
The visitors best chance of the half came in somewhat bizarre circumstances on the half-hour mark. Home keeper Bartosz Bilinski, whilst looking for options to play the ball out from the back, suddenly found himself in midfield and in front of his defenders. Bilinski’s attempted pass was then intercepted, leaving a Sawbridgeworth player with a free attempt on goal. Fortunately for the big keeper, the first-time shot was brilliantly headed away to safety by Zivonimir Lopes, preventing a certain goal.
Two minutes later and Cockfosters were in front. It was that man Beattie again, netting his 16th goal of the season from close range, with the assist coming from Agyemang.
After Beattie had been twice denied again by Parker, he repaid the complement to Agyemang by unselfishly squaring the ball to the big striker following a fine run by Reece Mosanya. Agyemang made no mistake, and the Reds went into the warmth of the changing rooms with a two-goal cushion.
With the wind advantage now in their favour, Cockfosters looked to quickly add to their tally – and a third goal nearly arrived just three minutes after the break. Parker struggled to deal with Beattie’s low, wind assisted, free kick and Agyemang’s follow up effort, under pressure from a brave challenge by Cory Rider, was to crash off the crossbar.
Just before the hour, Agyemang was to get his second of the afternoon when a deft chip over the Sawbridgeworth back line by Mosanya found the home striker - who neatly controlled the ball before smashing it past Parker. The visitors appealed in vain for offside, but the goal stood.
Agyemang soon left the field, to be replaced by the returning Carl Mullings.
It took until the 85th minute before Cockfosters got their fourth and Mosanya was again involved when his shot from the edge of the box was only parried by Parker and Joe Entwistle was the quickest to react to tuck home the rebound.
Sawbridgeworth, to their credit, didn’t stop trying with Cory Rider and Josh Bardouleau in particular putting in strong performances for the visitors.
They were rewarded for their efforts with just a couple of minutes to go when a shot from Arley Barker seemed to catch the wind and completely wrong-foot Bilinski. What was heading for the top left-hand corner of the home custodian’s goal suddenly swerved and ended up heading in the other direction.
This was an important win for the Reds – and it was achieved with a very good all-round team performance. In particular, Kaidyn Michael was his usual marauding self in midfield and Danny Haigh once again put in a solid shift at the back. Now to continue the ascent up the league table.

Cockfosters: Bilinski, Okafor, Madu, Lopes, Haigh, Brimah, Michael, Entwistle, Agyemang, Beattie, Mosanya.
Subs: Mullings (for Agyemang) 69 mins, Campbell (for Beattie) 73 mins, Wild (for Madu) 73 mins.
Not Used: Barrett, Wade.
Yellow Card: Mullings 78 mins.