Lonsdale 5-1 Eastside Athletic

Eastside Athletic’s unbeaten away record came to an end at Douglas Eyre Sports Centre, as leaders Lonsdale turned a finely balanced first half into a 5-1 win, showing exactly why they sit top of Division Five.

Matchday squad: Lewis Kinnie (GK), Tobi Omotosho, Bailey Hossack, Prince Bansende, Danny Fenn, Owen Oakford, Alfie Mason (C), Jay Tear, Daniel Kayode, Bruno Da Fonseca, Jack Hobbs, Mason Active, Kai O’Hare, Prince Daniels, Alfie Stacey, Matty Stacey.

It was a bizarre game: two completely different halves, and a first half that looked nothing like the final score.

Lonsdale were ahead inside the opening few minutes. A defensive miscommunication left their striker one on one with Lewis Kinnie, and he made no mistake. 1-0.

From there it was end-to-end football for the rest of the half, with chances at both ends. And late in the half, Eastside got the goal their play deserved. Kai O’Hare, on from the bench, got on the end of a beautiful move involving Alfie Mason and Bruno Da Fonseca, with Bruno providing the final ball, to make it 1-1. It was Kai’s fourth competitive goal of the season, making him the club’s outright top scorer.

It was 1-1 at half-time: the calm before the storm.

Eastside came within inches of taking the lead in the opening minutes of the second half, when Kai O’Hare hit the post. Ten minutes later, Lonsdale went back in front with a worldie. 2-1.

From there, the floodgates opened. Lonsdale scored three more in the next ten minutes, and before Eastside knew it, it was 5-1. The Eastenders had no answer to Lonsdale’s attack, and the league leaders showed all their quality.

It’s a tough day, but there’s no shame in losing to the best side in the division. For 55 minutes Eastside matched them, and there’s plenty to take from that first half.

Owen Oakford made his 10th competitive appearance for the club. He remains the only player to have featured in every competitive game this season.

Where we stand

The defeat sees Eastside drop to 4th in Division Five on 10 points from 8 games (3 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses), nine points behind Lonsdale, who are now on 19. It’s tight behind them:

• Barking Colts move up to 2nd on 11 points after winning 4-2 at Rainham.
• Ace Athletics are 3rd on 10 points with two games in hand.
• Young Royals sit 5th on 9 points with three games in hand.

Just two points separate 2nd from 7th.

Up next: Ridgeway Rovers Under 21s (H) in the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy 2nd Round, Sunday 15 November, 10:30 at Redbridge Sports & Leisure Centre. It’s the chance to bounce straight back, put the home form right, and keep the cup run going.

PRIDE OF THE EAST.