Leigh Ramblers v ACD United - 29/10/2022 - Matchday eProgramme

Welcome back to Belfairs Park where the 1st team returns for the first time since the beginning of October, the first of four consecutive home games for them.

We extend a warm welcome to our visitors from ACD United that will be making the visit to Belfairs Park for the first time and for what is their first away fixture since the start of September

Rams will be keen to bounce back after last week's disappointing defeat to league leaders Hutton, whilst ACD will have a point to prove against Premier Division opposition They have a good record against Premier Division sides in this competition since joining the EOFL and Rams will need to be at their best to avoid an upset.

The Vets team will look to get their stuttering season back on track today against Fobs Peverel, with a chance to leapfrog them into fourth place with a victory today.

The A Team make the short journey down to Blenheim Park to take on neighbours, Catholic United A. With Catholic just 3 points behind and with a game in hand, the Rams will be looking to put some distance between them on the scoreboard and stay at the top end of the table

The Sunday side continue on their travels against Hawkwell Athletic tomorrow, as they look to return to winning ways after seeing their 100% record fall last Sunday

We wish the best of luck to all our Ladies and Youth sides tomorrow as always. Thanks, as ever, to our partners Corin, on behalf of I Fight for James, space282 and 5Physio for their continued support.

Today's Opposition

ACD UNITED

It's not quite clear from a simple Google search where ACD began life but prior to joining the Essex Olympian League they competed in the Essex Alliance League, where in their first season they placed runners up in Division 2, won the Division 2 cup and also finished up as runners up in the Fenton Cup

Chairman: Greg Knock

Secretary: Jack Munns

Manager: Greg Knock

Westlands Playing Fields, London Road, Romford RM7 9NU

They were promoted to the top, Senior Division, for the following season where they again finished in second place and were runners up once again in the Fenton Cup

They moved into the Essex Olympian League the following season, beginning in Division Three Although that 2019/20 season was curtailed due to the pandemic, ACD had actually completed 18 of their 22 fixtures, winning 13 and only losing once in the League all season

They unfortunately found themselves in Division Three for another season but this time they succeeded in achieving promotion, after they finished top on a PPG basis, having won 14 of their 16 completed fixtures.

Back to back promotions were achieved the following year as they topped Division Two with 53 points, having won 17 of their 22 matches in the league. They also managed to take a significant Premier Division scalp in the Essex Premier Cup, defeating Rayleigh Town 3 1 in Round 2 before they met defeat against Manford Way in Round 3

In the Senior League Cup last season, they defeated Rochford Town by a whopping 14 0 in Round 2, before they lost on penalties to Premier Division Hutton after a 1 1 draw in normal time

HEAD TO

TO

EAD TO

W 0 D 0 L 0

This will be

LEADING GOALSCORER 2022/23

Frank Markham Goals:

Home Away

ACD United is quite a new team, having been formed in 2013.

League Tables

ProKit Essex Olympian League Premier Division

ProKit Essex Olympian League - Division 4

Southend Borough & District Football Combination - Division One

Essex Veterans League Division Four East

Last time out...

Report by Paul Cannon

Rams were faced with their toughest game of the season to date, with a visit to current runaway league leaders Hutton who this season are playing their home games at the impressive playing facility of Tilbury FC as they prepare for a move up the pyramid ladder should they qualify at the end of the season

Rams went into this game with a strong squad and lined up as follows:

D Skinner, P Cannon, T Franks, R Lowe, G Moxon, S Clark, J Gardner, S Keys, M Brinklow, O Hunter, A.Webster

Subs: S Nagle, B Field, M Allum, J Hazell

Hoping to give a good account of themselves today the Rams got off to the worst possible start Inside two minutes Matt Brinklow gave away a free kick just inside the Rams' half which was well delivered into the danger zone and as Rams defenders hesitated the Hutton striker pounced to meet the delivery with a thumping volley from just 6 yards out which gave the keeper no chance at all

Rams were stunned and before they had a chance to recover, their problems were doubled when a ball over the top of the Rams' defence put skipper Ryan Lowe under pressure as he was challenged by the lively home striker This resulted in the skipper playing the ball back over the head of Rams' keeper Skinner who had raced out towards the edge of the box to help his skipper out and to Rams' dismay the ball nestled in the bottom corner of the net. Rams were reeling, two goals down inside 8 minutes against a side that had so far conceded only 2 goals all season.

Unfortunately for the Rams two became three before there were 15 minutes on the clock and again it was another own goal

Hutton had a corner on the Rams' left hand side and from the delivery, Rams centre forward Andrew Webster completely misjudged his header and the ball flew into the net again giving the keeper no chance

Suddenly the mountain to climb was that much bigger but Rams to their credit started to try to take the game to the home side and after winning a free kick following a rather cynical foul, another good delivery resulted in the skipper Ryan Lowe rising above all others to atone for his previous error with a powerful downward header that the keeper was unable to keep out.

However, any hope that this would be the flicker of light that would ignite a fightback for the Rams was swiftly extinguished when the home side pretty much sliced through the visitors almost directly from the kick off. Two missed challenged in the heart of midfield suddenly left the home player with time and space and although he was 25 yards out his execution was precise and the ball found its way into the bottom corner of the Rams' net

Rams did create some chances as they started to play some neater passages of play, with Webster coming the closest when he met a cross with a powerful header that just went wide of the top corner of the goal The half was not done yet though and Hutton further extended their lead when once again a home striker found himself in space just outside the six yard box and he was able to turn the ball home Whilst there certainly was a strong suspicion of offside the linesman ignored the Rams' protests and the game as a contest was over To add to the visitors problems, Rams keeper Skinner clearly had a problem with his foot and he was unable to continue after the break and this was added to with a problem for Scott Keys and also Matt Brinklow who vainly tried to continue after the break but lasted no more than two to three minutes before he too was forced to leave the field

Manager Mark Hunter clearly disappointed with the performance of the first half where Rams really were their own worst enemy was also faced with the problem of lifting the lads for a much needed

improvement in the second half, or face what could become a humiliating scoreline

Matt Allum replaced Keys, Andrew Webster went in goal in place of Skinner, Billy Field came in at left back whilst Sam Nagle came in at right back, with Pat Cannon and Tom Franks moving into midfield to raise the energy levels

Rams to their credit actually started to compete on a much more even footing, earning more possession and playing with a greater desire even though they realised that as a contest it was a lost cause The home keeper certainly was the busier of the two keepers although both of them displayed some impeccable handling from dangerous crosses Rams started to get some joy down the right hand flank and forced several corners

Justin Hazell replaced Scott Clark and he too added a focal point to the Rams attack Rams tested the home keeper on several occasions but each time he came out on top With the second half still goalless 20 minutes in, it was the home side that again troubled the scoreboard and what a goal it was It was definitely the goal of the game as the Hutton striker raced forward to anticipate a long ball over the top which had been the successful strategy throughout the first half and as he watched the ball came over his shoulder he superbly hit a thunderous volley from almost 30yards that flew over Webster into the far top corner of the net I would be surprised if we see a better strike all season.

Tom Franks was then dismissed from the field after an over zealous tackle that was largely borne out of frustration as well as being on the end of a similar tackle in the first half that on that occasion only drew a yellow card The fact that this occurred directly in front of the home bench obviously drew a greater degree of dissatisfaction and after consultation with the home linesman the referee issued a red card.

Rams could and probably should have reduced the deficit when Hazell superbly rolled his marker to create a great one on one opportunity with the keeper but despite hitting the ball well the keeper once again won that particular duel with a very good save

Rams kept going to the end and at least emerged with a much more improved second half performance even with the numerical disadvantage Good performances from all of the subs that had to come into a very difficult situation as well as a sharp increase in the desire and effort, which will at least have given the Rams a platform to build on for this week. How they bounce back from this defeat will give us an insight into the desire within the squad

Not going to give a man of the match this week as it seems unwarranted when the scoreline reflects a heavy defeat although there were some that did give a good account of themselves.