The Ridgeons League's rising star

Thursay, February 25

MARK my words – Josh Mayhew is a rising young star of the Ridgeons League.

How many 18-year-olds can you recall that have scored a hat-trick in the Ridgeons League Premier Division?

Well, on Wednesday evening Josh scored his second treble of the season for Woodbridge Town as they thumped relegation rivals Wivenhoe Town 6-0.

Regular readers of my musings will recall I was singing Josh’s praises (see my blog dated January 8) after he scored a hat-trick against Felixstowe and Walton at the beginning of the year.

And after seeing him net three more against the Dragons, I am predicting a rosy future for the young striker.

Just as I was singing the praises of Stanway’s hotshot Sam Newson last week, Josh more often than not hits the target and works the goalkeeper.

But it is not only his finishing ability that makes me believe he will develop into a top-quality striker at non-league level – Josh has got the ability to turn defenders as well as a good footballing brain.

What makes his achievements all the more noteworthy is that he only returned to first-team action at the beginning of October after dislocating his right knee 15 months ago.

By my reckoning he has now scored 12 goals this season in just 11 starts and five substitute appearances – and that in a side struggling to avoid relegation.

Josh is a level-headed lad, so I am sure my singing his praises won’t affect his future progress, as he has knows he has much to learn in order not to experience frustrating afternoons such as last Saturday when he got no change out of the experienced Newmarket centre back Andy Eady.

The only blot on the horizon for Josh at the moment is that if, as expected, Woodbridge are docked three points for allegedly fielding two ineligible players in that 5-1 win against Felixstowe at Dellwood Avenue, Josh’s first hat-trick at this level will be permanently erased from the records!

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WOODBRIDGE’S match against Wivenhoe was a relegation six-pointer if ever there was one.

It was a match that Woodbridge, four points ahead of their Essex rivals before kick-off but with the threat of losing three of them hanging over them, could ill-afford to lose.

Conversely, a win for Wivenhoe would have put the battle for the one relegation place firmly back in the melting pot.

I expect there were a few raised eyebrows on Thursday morning at the 6-0 scoreline in a fixture with so much at stake, especially as Woodbridge had not won at home all season.

They certainly got that particular monkey off their back as they put the Dragons firmly to the sword on a pitch that held up well considering it was virtually covered in water on Monday.

Wivenhoe had their chances early on, but two goals in four minutes settled the home side and left the visitors with a mountain to climb.

They never looked like turning the game around and a spurt of three goals in four minutes rubbed salt into their wounds as their young side were overwhelmed in the closing stages.

What this result will do for their confidence is anyone’s guess, but I think it will be hard for them to lift themselves off the foot of the table between now and the beginning of May.

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CRC may be top of the league, but they wouldn’t win any programme of the season competition on the evidence of last Saturday.

‘Good afternoon, welcome back to the Abbey, we hope our pals from Dereham have a pleasant afternoon and a safe trip back to Norfolk’ were the opening welcome words in the official match-day programme.

Nothing wrong in that you may think – the only problem was that Suffolk side Hadleigh United were the visitors!

A CRC official was very quick to apologise to the visiting Hadleigh officials, but on closer inspection that was not the only article that may have caused offence to the opposition. The pen pics page was literally that – one page featuring just six players!

It was a shame because the programme was otherwise very neatly and tidy – rather like the performance of the CRC side.

Only a couple of brilliant saves – how many times have I said that this season? – by Hadleigh United keeper Arron Benstead kept the Scholars at bay until 13 minutes from time.

Luke Berry, who for me was the pick of their players, opened the scoring and a second goal five minutes from time ensured a comfortable enough victory.

On the two occasions I have seen CRC – 2-0 home and away wins against Hadleigh – they have not looked to me like a title-winning team. Doubtless they will argue that they won both matches with something to spare, but they didn’t strike me as having that cutting edge that other top teams in the Premier Division possess.

However, they are top on merit – five points clear to be precise – and will take some catching considering they have still not lost since the opening day of the season.

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posted on 25 February 2010 17:36 byNick Garnham

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