Dragons extinguish Fire

After getting back to winning ways in midweek, Wivenhoe faced a different kind of challenge against a Fire United side who were bottom of the league but had picked up their first point and scored their first league goals the previous weekend away at Harwich & Parkeston.

Wivenhoe were without Peter Maina, CJ Cabulo and Connor Smith who were all unavailable. In their place, Dan Williams, Tim Dennis and Robbie Asaro were all back in the starting eleven.

Ahead of the game Ben Gallifant was awarded September's player of the month award for a string of strong performances which had seen him claim the number one shirt.

Wivenhoe started the game moving the ball quickly as they had in the midweek win against Coggeshall United and were leading within three minutes. The ball was moved wide to Jack Mead who placed a pin point cross on to find the unmarked run of Dean Merrett who headed in from close range.

Fire United then created their first and only clear chance of the game when their striker beat the offside trap, closed on on Ben Gallifant's goal but chipped wide of the post.

On 15 minutes it was 2 - 0. A David Lopez corner was shipped into the back post where it was met by Tim Dennis and crossed the line. There was a debate amongst supporters about whether it had already crossed the line but it was eventually confirmed as Tim's first goal of the season.

The Dragons could have been further ahead by half time. The Fire United keeper made a great double save from close range efforts from Ross James and then Matt Tapley. Dan Williams hit a curling effort from outside the area which crashed back off the post. David Lopez also hit the woodwork when an inswinging freekick bounced off the cross bar and over.

The second half started with Dean Merrett being played in with a long straight ball which bypass the Fire defence but his shot was dinked past the post.

The third goal came when Wivenhoe shifted the ball wide to substitute Sam Holden, he whipped a cross to the far post where it Sam Mead met it and headed in past the visiting keeper.

Dean Merrett made it 4 - 0 with his tenth goal of the season. It was another header, this time from a Ross James cross from the opposite flank.

Further chances followed for Ross James and Tim Dennis before Wivenhoe were awarded a penalty for a foul on Jack Mead. Dean Merrett was offered the chance to complete his hattrick but declined in favour of Jack Mead who comfortably converted the spot kick.

Goal number six came from a low Angus Poole shot from outside the area which was deflected off a defender and into the bottom corner.

With Fire United having picked up their first point of the season this could have been a challenging game for Wivenhoe but they instead put in a strong performance to win. The three points and big goal difference improvement moved the Dragons into the fourth promotion spot.