Chigwell snatch dramatic late win

An injury time winner from Ryan Cole saw Chigwell dent NWN’s promotion hopes as the visitors returned to winning ways with a big three points, writes Sam Ellard.

MGBSFL Division One
North West Neasden 0 Chigwell Athletic 1
Sundy, 30 March, 2014

The game looked set to peter out for a draw until Ryan Cole, with the final kick of the game, slotted past Steven Nurad to give the East Londoners the win.

As the sun was shining first half chances were kept to a minimum, both sides struggled to keep the ball on the floor and it was a messy opening quarter to the game. Craig Pearl had the first chance of the morning when he was played in by star performer Ryan Cole, Perk beat the offside trap and was through on goal, a poor touch took him wide but he still forced Nurad to make a good stop at his near post. Chigwell started to control the game and Cole tried his luck from 25 yards out as his shot went narrowly wide. Perk was also proving a nuisance for the hosts and he won his side a free-kick after going on a mazy run down the right hand side. He took the resulting free-kick and bent his shot around the wall, Nurad saw it late and reacted quickly as he tipped the ball over the bar, another good save by Neasden’s number one.

At the start of the second half Jamie Kent had his first sight on goal as his snapshot was pushed away Robert Shepherdson. And moments later Stirling Kay’s side came close to the breakthrough, Jamie Cooper’s thunderous free kick cannoned off the post. At the other end the very impressive James Jaconelli found room on the edge of the box and his shot left Nurad rooted to the spot, the ball bounced off the bar and was scrambled away; it was a brilliant strike from Jackonelli.

Both teams pushed men forward as we entered stoppage time, and with the last kick off the game, Cole slotted home in the bottom corner to send him, his teammates and manager Richard Slater into hysterics. The race for promotion to the top division has been thrown right open.