| Date | Report |
| November 15th |
ERHA Div 4SE: Opposition: East London 2s; Result: Won 5-0; Scorer(s):
M. Scrivener(4), G. Chiverton, M. Nutt Push back was generously delayed 15 minutes by Upminster on account of the opposition having only 9 men, but such generosity was extended no further as Upminster launched forward with wave after wave of fluid, expansive attacking moves. Utilizing the full width of the pitch and their numerical advantage to full effect, Upminster passed clinically and offered a range of movement to which the beleaguered opposition had no answer, soon duly going one-nil up when George Chiverton finished neatly at the far post. A tenth player then took the field for East London, but before long the lead was nevertheless extended to two, a surging run down the right flank from within his own half by wing-back Michael Rath sucking the defence out of position before he slipped a delightful ball back inside to Martin Nutt who neatly deflected the ball past the hapless keeper. At this point the game became a more even contest; the U's appearing to rest on their laurels somewhat, whilst the East London 10 discovered some fight. The home sides' cause was further hindered when influential skipper and playmaker Martin Nutt was consigned to the injury list when he lost his nose to a wayward stick. Fortunately the appendage was relocated up the other end of the pitch and a full recovery is expected by next week. As the game wore on, attrition was the key and Upminster held on to their lead through organized and efficient defence, led by everybody's favourite defender-of-the-match Nick Payne delivering an outstandingly reassured performance for such a young man even in spite of the absence of his beloved headband. Special note must be made of the contributions of old hands Daniel Shore (coincidentally playing his ten thousandth game for the club on his 49th birthday) and Kevin Denman, who ran Payne a close second for DOM but missed out due to his recent unreliable form in the bar. The performance of the back four nullified much of the attacking threat posed by the visitors to the point that not a single short corner was conceded. Before half time arrived, Scrivener added a further goal to take the good guys in up 3-0. The story of the second half is one of frustrated attacks by Upminster and resolute defence by East London. The visitors showed good discipline, forcing U's to continually - perhaps overly - pass the ball across the back four rather than seek the telling through balls to push home their advantage. Nonetheless it looked pretty and as the game wore on, the more incisive play of the home side told, and Scrivener added three more goals to his tally, interrupted only by a good counter-attacking strike by East London when Ali Stewart and Nick Payne contrived to get themselves in a pickle. Michael Scrivener picked up a well deserved man of the match award for his double brace, hinting that there's life in the old boy yet. MOM - Mike Scrivener, DOM: Nick Payne |
| November 8th |
ERHA Div 4SE: Opposition: Witham 2's; Result: Won 5-0; Scorer(s):
C. Knight, R. Bugeya, J. Duckett, G. Chiverton Upminster entertained fellow promotion contenders Witham this week in what promised to be a close game. Good early play was rewarded when the returning Chris Knight bagged his first of the game. Witham pushed on after the goal yet the defensive quartet of Martin Nutt, Nick Payne, Kevin Denman and Mike Rath were rarely troubled, decisively breaking down every attack. Man of the match Nick Payne combined well with defender of the match Kevin Denman, using the ball well to break from the back quickly. Upminster dominated possession and deservedly went two up when the formidable Knight rifled in his second with arguably the goal of the game, a reserve stick strike from the top of the D that the Witham keeper had no chance of stopping. The second half saw the U's get even stronger, Josh Duckett and George Chiverton preventing any Witham possession advancing further than the half-way line. Rob Bugeya further extended the U's lead, pouncing on a loose ball at the back post. Josh Duckett scored Upminster's 4th of the game, striking crisply through the crowd of Witham defenders that now seemed to be firmly camped inside their own D. George Chiverton made it 5 from a very acute angle when the Witham keeper, seemingly worried with the ferocity of the strike, jumped over the ball with 15 minutes of time left to play. The final whistle saw the home crowd applauding another fine team performance. Upminster could have run away with this tie but will go into next week's home fixture against East London with confidence at an all-time high. MOM - Nick Payne; DOM; Kevin Denman |
| November 1st |
ERHA Div 4SE:
Opposition: Old Southendians 2s; Result: Won 2-0; Scorer(s): A. Stewart, M.Pollock Upminster entered this away fixture at Old Southendians looking to bounce back from last week's disappointing result to London Metropolitan University, and get their promotional hopes back on track. They got off to a great start after only five minutes when man of the match Alistair Stewart pounced on a rebound from a Nigel Emes short corner sending a fantastic screaming reverse stick strike in to the net. With this early goal, Upminster's confidence soared and excellent work form defender of the match Kevin Denman and Rob Bugeya on the right hand side, ensured that Upminster continued to create chance after chance in the Southend D. They eventually got a much deserved second goal when good work from Steve Wyman found Mike Pollock who coolly slotted home giving the keeper no chance. During the second half Upminster's defence was rarely troubled as Sam Trusler was looking more like a frozen Yeti then a goalkeeper, not even getting a chance to warm his hands. Nick Payne took the opportunity to push further forward and demonstrate some of his superb aerial passing, often putting team mates in more danger than the opposition defence. Nigel Emes was unlucky not to score when a smart flick on the edge of the D nearly caught the keeper unaware and from the resulting short corner Upminster thought they had the match wrapped up, but his strike was mysteriously disallowed. With Alistair Stewart pulling the strings in midfield, Upminster looked to increase their lead, but as conditions worsened and the home team sat further back chances were hard to come by. Mike Pollock looked as though he'd sealed the result but his shot agonisingly looped wide. Shortly afterwards the Umpires called time on an excellent team performance which takes Upminster to 2nd place in the table. Upminster will look to take this form in to the crucial home match against fellow promotion challengers Witham on Saturday. MOM - Alistair Stewart; DOM - Kevin Denman |
| October 25th |
ERHA Div 4SE:
Opposition: London Metropolitan University 1s; Result: Lost 7-3; Scorer(s): M.Pollock(2),
M.Scrivener, G. Chiverton This week Upminster 2's were at home against the leagues top goal scorers London Metropolitan University. Upminster started well and within five minutes found themselves ahead with a brilliant strike from Mike Pollock. Upminster looked confident, and for the next fifteen minutes dominated midfield, denying the opposition any attacking procession which resulted in a further goal from Michael Scrivener to make it 2-0 to the home side and see London Met under pressure for the first time this season. For the remaining fifteen minutes of the half London Met gained more possession as Upminster struggled to maintain their early dominance. This proved fatal to the home side as three attacking moves resulted in three goals to turn the tables and see the away side go 3-2 in front at half time. During the second half Upminster struggled to hold possession and dominate the midfield like they had in the first half. Both sides had scoring chances, but the away side proved more decisive in their finishing, slotting away three successive goals against the run of play to extend their lead to 6-2. Even so Upminster continued to battle and Mike Pollock made it 6-3. The game finished 7-3 at full time with one further goal from the away team. Overall, a good performance from Upminster, who will be disappointed with the final score line. MOM - Josh Duckett, DOM - Kevin Denman |
| October 18th |
ERHA Div 4SE:
Opposition: Havering 3s; Result: Drew 2-2; Scorer(s): M.Pollock, G. Chiverton Upminster faced Havering 3's away looking to extend their lead at the top of the table. At the whistle Upminster were caught napping and conceded an early goal. Upminster came back, and within ten minutes were back level with a goal from Mike Pollock. For the remaining of the first half Upminster struggled to find the form they were accustomed to, and were punished by a second goal before half time. The second half saw a revived Upminster bounce back and totally outplay Havering, but struggled to convert chances; until George Chiverton scored from a fantastic strike from the top of the D to bring the scores level at 2-2. For the remaining fifteen minutes Upminster continued to dominate the play but were unable to convert and instead the game finished 2-2. Overall, a disappointing result for Upminster, who now need to find their early season form to remain top of this diverse league. MOM - Alistair Stewart; DOM - Daniel Shore |
| October 11th |
Div 4SE:
Opposition: Chelmsford 4s; Result: Won 9-0; Scorer(s): M.Scrivener(4),
M.Pollock(3),
G.Chiverton, A.Stewart Upminster 2's carried on their impressive early season form against last season division 5 champions Chelmsford 4's. Upminster looked strong from the whistle and within ten minutes were ahead with goals from Michael Scrivener and Mike Pollock. Upminster continued to dominate the first half, working hard as a team to quash any attacks from Chelmsford which ended with a further goal from Michael Scrivener just before half time. The second half started with Chelmsford throwing players forward in the hope of pulling back an early goal, but were unable to penetrate Upminster's well drilled defence. Instead, Upminster took full advantage of an open midfield and put together a string of passes to see George Chiverton slot the ball home to make it four within two minutes of the half. Fantastic individual runs from Steve Wyman and Rob Bugeya on the wings, gave Upminster a fifteen minute spell of well worked short corners which resulted in two further goals from Michael Scrivener, Mike Pollock and one from Alistair Stewart to make it nine. The closing minutes of the game saw a diving goal line clearance from Martin Nutt to deny Chelmsford a consolation goal and secure Upminster's first clean sheet of the season with an impressive nine nil win to make it three wins out of three. MOM - Steve Wyman, DOM - Mike Rath |
| September 27th |
Div 4SE:
Opposition: Crostyx 2; Result: Won 3-1; Scorer(s): C.Knight, S.Wyman,
G.Chiverton |
| September 13th |
Div 4SE:
Opposition: Upminster 3s; Result: Won |