Witham Almost There - Witham Town vs. Barkingside

Interior of one of the stands at Spencer McColl Stadium.

I'm off work this week and this meant I could travel a little bit further then I normally would on a Tuesday evening. I've been meaning to visit Witham for a while but for one reason or another I've never actually made it. Witham are having a brilliant season in the Essex Senior League losing only once and scoring 106 goals in the process. In four league games this they had scored nine or more goals in one game including an 11-0 win against Clapton. I had visited Barkingside's Oakside Stadium to see Redbridge against Edgeware in my season in London. This was the fifth meeting of the sides this season (they had been drawn together in both the Essex Senior Cup and the League Cup) and Witham had won all of the previous four matches.

The two teams prepare to kick off. The clubhouse and covered standing are in the background.

As expected Witham dominate from the start and the Barkingside keeper is called in to action early on but he is soon beaten by a drilled effort from the edge of the box. He again makes a brilliant save from close range and the pacey Barkingside winger is looking like he can case a few problems for the hosts. Witham double their lead when a cross isn't cleared and the ball is smashed home. Barkingside put their first real chance just wide but Witham soon add to their tally when the Witham player chips the ball over the keeper when put clean through. Witham add a fourth just before half time with a header and Barkingside's evening is made worse when the striker is sent off for lashing out at one of the Witham players. 

View of the stand which holds the seated accommodation.

Witham look to make their numerical advantage count and they have a chance early on a when a ball over the top finds the striker in space but the keeper makes yet another save. They soon make it five when another cross isn't fully cleared and the ball is smashed home. They again come close after a Barkingside player slips but the effort goes just wide. However, it isn't long before it is six when the keeper allows a drilled from the right wing beat him at his near post. Barkingside get the consolation they deserve with a deflected effort from just outside the box. The seventh goal for Witham proves to be the best of the night as the Witham player powers a half volley past the keeper from just outside the box. Baring a freak set of results Witham will win the league and secure promotion back to the Ryman League. 

The Witham supporters cheer on their team in the second half.

Witham Station is around a twenty minute from the ground, although I took a detour in to the town centre before the ground. Before the game I went to The White Hotel on Newland Street which is just under ten minutes walk from the ground. There is also a Weatherspoons on Newland Street. Trains from Witham depart from Liverpool Street on a regular basis and the journey takes around forty minutes. The clubhouse is a decent size and has Sky Sports.

The Spencer McColl Stadium under lights.