Cranes United FC

United came from behind to book a place in the next round of the Essex Olympian league cup. . After 45 minutes the Cranes could not be separated from their premier league opponent Rayleigh Town FC.

click on the photo above to see the match photos

 The two teams were square 2-2, Cranes’ goals were scored by Mathew and Mbassas. Cranes suffered a blow as Eric Mbassa got injured and had to leave play at the half time interval to be replaced by Bruno Boris.

Just after the restart of the second half Mathew scored a wonder goal with a first time short by the left foot in to the top corner after a brilliant pass and control.

The game went on and there was increased pressure from the home side. Eventually this pressure paind off with less 15 minutes to go the home side equalised after a breath taking run from their right winger who got in to the Cranes box and played a one two before unleashing a dinking just past the Cranes keeper.

There was increased participation form one Mathias Ndawula whose tiresome effort and work ethic bridged all gaps and lifted everyone's mood just like the epic fenton cup final against Castle united.

A superb pass from Mathew released Ndawula down the left who used his pace n skill to go beyond the right and cut the ball back fro Bruno boris to tap into an empty net. Liner flagged offside and much to the disgrace of the decision the referee gave a free kick for hand ball and the goal was disallowed.

 3 - 3 the score was and there was a sense of urgency from cranes who had to with stand a set of continuity attacks as the home side pushed on for the much needed win. Fresh legs where needed to help with stand the attack and Jimmy aka black "iniesta" was introduced to replace the tiring Wahab Bright. There luck wasn't to be as the visistors managed to hold on until the final whistle of the 90 minutes.

After 90 minutes the games was still again square 3-3. Having with stood the last 10 minutes of normal time Cranes opted for fresh legs and Mubiru aka "omusimuzi" came on for tiring Carl powell. Cranes survived a first half injury time goal when Douglas cleared off the line to deny the home side the lead in extra time. Cranes also missed a glorious chance to put go into the lead when mubiru's whipped in ball went begging but no one was able to connect with the ball even if the keeper was already beaten.

 One could see the good neat combination of the 3M's (Mathias, Matthew, Mubiru) as there sublime touches and experience began to rip through the opposition leaving opponents in their trails.  However in the second half of the extra time, cranes united pull up another gear and it proved too much of Rayleigh FC, when Ndawula gave cranes a lead for the first time in the match after a combinations of passing between Mubiru and Matthew with the latter releasing Mathias with a superb through ball over the defender and God did he make the most of it. 4-3 to the visitors and the hosts never recovered from this after conceding a second goal from the penalty spot in a gap of two minutes. Kenneth cooly buried the penalty to amke 5-3 to Cranes who by this time where running the home team ragged. Matthew put the game beyond the visitors with his third of the evening to give Cranes the bragging rights. The score of 6-3 to the visitors at the end of extra time did not fully depict the story of the game.

Warm up and team talk before the match.

After the first half, team reaction to their performance and focus to correct mistakes.