In 1959 Little Oakley first entered the league and now some sixty-six years later they can proudly confirm promotion to Step 4 of the football league pyramid. Oakley started the day knowing a victory would guarantee top spot, but a draw would allow Soul Tower Hamlets who were two point and two goals behind the possibility of snatching the title.
Tower Hamlets took care of business and had an excellent victory away at Halstead Town. Both games were being played simultaneously with the Oakley supporter paying close attention to both results. Little Oakley calmed the supporters nerves with early and late goals from Jordi Papple and Joshua Mcfaull without reply providing Little Oakley a two-nil promotion winning result.
Oakley started the game showing desire and wanting to put this game to bed early. Rory Harman cleared his lines up field, but the clearance was headed back into the Oakley half where Mcfaull controlled a bouncing ball and played a defence splitting pass to Papple who showed his pace by getting to the ball first while taking a touch and placing a low drive passed the keeper putting the home side 1-0 up
United were playing with no pressure and looked very dangerous on the break. After a long ball from the united half into the Oakley midfield a free kick was awarded for pushing twenty-five yards out. The free kick was well struck and looked like James Askew was beaten, but he produced a fingertip save pushing the shot onto the bar which was cleared.
Basildon were showing that had come to win this game and a pass out to the wing found Mekhi Charles-Armstrong who started to run at Bobby Rea cutting in field getting his shot off hitting the post and going out of play.
Half Time: Little Oakley 1-0 Basildon United
United started strongly gaining a free kick in the Oakley half. The cross came to the back post where it was headed back across goal by passing the keeper but going just wide of the post.
The pitch was rock hard, and the players were having difficulty in controlling the ball. A thread pass to Sonny Dutton allowed him to move forward firing a shot which was deflected off for a corner. The corner came in and was knocked off for another corner. The corner came into the near post and was partially cleared to Mcfaull who controlled and shot in one movement, but the ball crashed against the bar and out of the box.
Both teams seemed to become nervous as the time went on. Half chances had come and gone. Hard working Kieran Williams battled to win a pass out of the Oakley defence while trying to spread the ball towards Mcfaull but the pass was intercepted however Mcfaull got a strong challenge in and won the ball back just outside the United area where he dropped his shoulder shooting pass the keeper putting Oakley 2-0. Oakley then managed the remaining time and finally achieved the clubs dreams of step 4 football.
The final whistle was greeted with a huge celebrations by the supporters, management and players who joined together in a club that is truly unified in their progression.
The cup was presented to the team after the game and the party began. Michael Good the Oakley chairman thanked the Management, players supporters and the vast amount of volunteers who all contributed to this season success.
Player of the Match: Jordi Papple who Settled early nerves with an early goal then ran every ball down. Was a constant threat throughout the game.