It was a another derby day for Catholic United as the league leaders awaited the visit of the Essex Bhoys at Garon Park. Catholic, unbeaten in 5 games, were looking to defeat an Old Southendian side who were looking to go a full 365 days unbeaten in 90 minutes time.

Simon Thomas, missing 7 first team players at the start of the game, named a squad including newcomers Danny Hurford and Jack Leech, along with promising youngsters Dexter Humphries and midfielder Connor Brooks, making his debut for the club at just 16 years of age.
It would be the young guns who would eventually have a say in the game!!

United started the game the better, hunting down the ball and putting early pressure on the hosts who struggled to get out of their half in the opening ten minutes. The opener would come in the 19th minute, Dan Hurford, fouled as he got his shot away, the referee immediately pointing to the spot. James Warder was on hand to slot home to the keepers right.

Barely a minute later, Callum Matthews was played into the area and his ball across the face of goal was poked home by James Warder at the back post. Woody Wells was being kept busy picking balls from the air as United restricted the Old Boys to deep crosses into the box.

Aaron Clarks free kick with 5 minutes to play dipped in front of the keeper who spilled the ball but a superb toe poke by his defender nudged the ball out for a corner with Tom Elliott ready to pounce.

Half Time: Old Southendian 0-2 Catholic Utd

It was always on the cards that the hosts would come out after the break with a point to prove and the early pressure and shot count certainly showed this was case. The next goal in the game would be crucial, and it would be the visitors who grabbed it. In the 52nd minute Connor Brooks managed to gain control of the ball and just enter the box before a tackle came in for the referee to have no option than to award the penalty. With James Warder off the pitch nursing an achilles injury, Michael Clark stepped up and buried the ball powerfully past the keeper.

Old Southendian chalked up their first goal just a minute after the spot kick and the tide of the game suddenly turned, with the home side very much in the ascendency. As United tried not to drop too deep, the Old Boys scored their second with twenty minutes to go.

United put bodies on the line to defend well and as the stopwatch breached 90 minutes, substitute Dexter Humphreys driblled past three players to find himself one-on-one with the keeper and his placed shot slid over the line to finally give United breathing space. There was one final twist however, as a cross-come-shot drifted over Woody Wells to leave a frantic end of the game.

The referee blew two minutes later to the delight of manager Simon Thomas who sees his side end a superb Old Boys unbeaten run and take good form into a period of games which include the start of the cup competitions.