01/02/2020 – REPORT – Tiptree Jobserve FC versus Colne Athletic FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE.

TIPTREE JOBSERVE FC: 1. COLNE ATHLETIC FC: 0.

Date: Saturday 1^st February 2020. Venue: Florence Park, Tiptree Jobserve.

“Plan A” became “Plan B” when the Sudbury Sports FC versus Stanway Pegasus FC Reserves match was postponed last night due to a saturated pitch, however another pitch that was similarly soft was at Florence Park, Tiptree where third placed Tiptree Jobserve FC were to play fifth placed Colne Athletic FC. Only two points separated these promotion chasing teams at start of play with the same number of matches played, a look at the table also showed that the home team, with only one league defeat, do not concede many goals, in fact only eleven in fifteen, now sixteen matches. Colne Athletic FC would be looking to avenge a three-goals, to two defeat back in November, a game they advised they should have won, so what would happen today!

The Match Official would be Richard Baker, it was the third time I’ve seen him officiate this season and no, I’m not stalking him, for this match he would be ably assisted by Club volunteers, I thought they all did an excellent job. Weather wise, it was very cold, a strong breeze was blowing straight down the pitch and the low sun might influence the game as the game wore on, the pitch was decidedly soft with several areas showing signs of cutting up, soon after kick-off.

Tiptree Jobserve kicked-off with the wind at their backs, that and the soft pitch might make control and passing a bit of a lottery, but both teams had what looked like strong teams on paper. Within a minute Wiggett had felled Brown with an unintentional high kick, both players had gone into the challenge with a high boot, Brown coming off the worst. Vaughan took the free kick which floated against the wind into the arms of keeper, Williams, some more hefty challenges followed, nothing sinister, but plenty of commitment from both teams. Colne Athletic defender Ellis sent a long raking ball out of defence to the left side where Goldie-McSorley gave chase but defender Pateman edged the ball out of play, then at the other end Goldie-McSorley and Homewood sandwiched Monk, just as he was about to shoot at goal in a central position outside the penalty area. Both teams were trying to play open football with the referee trying to allow play to continue at all times, when Connell was seemingly fouled, play continued and then brought back when possession was lost. The free-kick, taken by Vaughan found Yearling whose header flew to keeper, Williams, standing on his goal-line, a decent chance. On eleven minutes Brunt threaded the ball forward towards Flatts who was caught marginally off-side and minutes later Tiptree Jobserve had to replace Gregory, a pulled hamstring was the verdict, with Booty entering play in a forward position.

Such was the competitiveness of this match, that both teams were calling for every decision, Vaughan set Brown free but when the ball was played into Homewood, Irons was on hand to block any shooting chance. A Tiptree Jobserve corner taken by Barham found Booty with Ellis conceding a corner on the other side, then a free-kick taken by Flatts saw defender Wiggett time his run to perfection latching on to the ball with his head, the ball bounced goal-wards, keeper, Ringe was struggling leaving it to defender Baker, who knocked the ball out for a corner. This corner, taken by Flatts was over-hit for a goal-kick, Tiptree Jobserve kept up the pressure and Flatts was caught off-side from a pass by Brunt, Colne Athletic stepped up to attack themselves, a Vaughan throw-in was cleared by Irons to Bradley who found Watts in space, once again keeper, Williams was handily placed to catch the ball on his goal-line. The game switched again to the other end, Tiptree Jobserve on the attack with Flatts shooting into the side netting, that old campaigner, Barham picked up the ball on the half-way line, driving forward to the corner flag, Vaughan hacked the ball clear but only to Brunt who shot wide. On twenty-seven minutes, Colne Athletic should have scored, Goldie-McSorley sent a fine through ball between Irons and Wiggett, Yearling galloped away towards goal and as keeper, Williams advanced Yearling, placed his effort just over the crossbar, you’ve got to take those chances!

Colne Athletic put together another flowing move on thirty-two minutes Connell, Homewood then Goldie-McSorley linked up for the latter player to shoot straight at keeper, Williams, and from his throw-out Thompson (M), Flatts worked the ball to Booty, however, Ellis and Baker both challenged to get the ball away from a promising position. Flatts sent a long ball down the left side for Thompson (M) to chase but the wind won that battle and a goal-kick followed. Watts for Colne Athletic went down with what looked like a head injury, upon the restart, Homewood found Yearling who sent a left-footed shot straight to keeper, Williams. A long ball forward from Irons was missed by Baker with his keeper, Ringe alert to collect the ball just before Booty arrived on the edge of the penalty area. Tiptree Jobserve midfielder Griffin rode a challenge from Vaughan, but Homewood had read the danger and was covering behind, conceding a corner, taken by Flatts, in-swinging which forced a melee inside the six-yard box where Monk was flattened as players dived towards the loose ball.

HALF TIME: 0 – 0.

During the half-time break the wind speed had increased noticeably, and the sun was dropping low behind the goal at the clubhouse end, difficult conditions for players playing towards them, in other words Tiptree Jobserve. Colne Athletic kicked-off, Irons fouled Connell twenty yards out in a central position, Vaughan and Goldie-McSorley lined up to take the kick, Vaughan ran over the static ball and Goldie-McSorley placed the ball over the defensive wall only for the ball to strike the crossbar and rebound into play. Its somewhat ironic that from this chance, Tiptree Jobserve broke away to score, Griffin picked up the ball on the half-way line skipped the lunged challenge from Vaughan, rounded Ellis for pace before sending in a low driven cross to the far post where the unmarked TOBY BOOTY lashed the ball into the back of the net, talk about “smash and grab”. Colne Athletic pressed forward, a long throw-in from Vaughan was headed clear by Irons for a corner, taken by Vaughan, Booty was flattened when trying to clear the ball but with Tiptree Jobserve in possession play continued. Colne Athletic had raised their game, when Homewood was fouled, the free-kick from Vaughan was headed clear by Irons but only to Goldie-McSorley who blasted the ball over the goal. Colne Athletic followed this with a break by Yearling, Homewood was up in support but keeper, Williams made a fine save to deny the visiting captain. Another long through ball from Watts sent Yearling on goal-bound chase, keeper, Williams was quickly out of his area to fly-kick the ball away, it struck the advancing Yearling and curled high into the air, looping behind the keeper only to drop agonisingly wide of the vacant net. Griffin pressed forward beating Vaughan, both players thought the ball was going out of play, the wind held it up and Vaughan chased twenty yards to just reach the ball before Griffin, no lost cause here today!

Just before the hour mark, Colne Athletic should have scored, Flatts under pressure from Bradley, wide on the half-way line on the far side played the ball back fifty yards to his keeper, Williams, who have controlled the ball, looked up to pass the ball towards Irons who took his eye off the ball, Yearling, ever alert, was quickly onto the gift running forward and despite keeper, Williams regaining his ground, Yearling only managed to toe-poke the ball into the side netting, clearly not going to be his day! On sixty minutes Tiptree Jobserve replaced Thompson with Lindsay, and when play got under way again Barham dived into a challenge on Ellis to receive the first caution of the match, I did think he took that one for the team! Yearling almost got the better of the home defence, cutting in from the right side, his left footed effort was cleanly struck and remarkably Brunt managed to get his head to the goal bound effort and deflect the ball away for a corner, taken by Vaughan but punched away for another corner by keeper, Williams, now the busier of the two custodians. The resulting corner kick from Vaughan found the head of Baker who headed over the crossbar when well placed, and another chance goes begging! There were fouls a plenty, from both teams, this game remained competitive, one goal was not a sure-fire winner and chances were being created but not taken, will these two teams, rue those missed chances at the end! Griffin, Brunt and Barham had dictated a lot of what came through the home midfield, Barham and Homewood had a running battle down the left side, it looked like Barham had hold of the arm of Homewood, clever but unfair play as it was blind-side to the referee, Homewood stuck to his task though! Twenty minutes remained when keeper, Williams made an excellent save from Watts who had broken away from Lindsay to shoot at goal and when play everted to the other end two players, Ellis and Griffin went down injured, it was not an obvious head injury and play had rightly been allowed to continue.

Griffin could not continue and despite returning to the pitch was eventually helped off the pitch to be replaced by Page, Colne Athletic went on he attack again, Vaughan found Connell whose initial shot was played back by Irons to keeper, Williams who, unable to pick up the back-pass, attempted to hack the ball clear but only to Bradley who lashed the ball over the crossbar and another chance goes begging for the visitors, that’s at least four now! Another chance fell to Yearling who received the ball from Baker, cutting in from the left side to fire just over the crossbar from outside the penalty area. Vaughan made a rash tackle on Brunt who looked stricken before jumping back on his feet just as Vaughan received his caution! A feature of the second half, well all game I suppose, was the home defence, at least three tall defenders who complimented each other and who defended in numbers when required, even when keeper Williams failed to hold a high ball under pressure from Connell, the shot from Goldie-McSorley was goal-bound but Irons then Pateman put in a block to protect their goal. Bradley was cautioned for a challenge on Barham and from the free-kick the ball was played wide to the right side, Booty skipped past Vaughan and with keeper, Ringe, advancing, Booty curled the ball round him but only into the side netting, you have got to take those chances in tight matches! Barham was on a charge again with less than five minutes remaining, down the left side, along the goal-line before forcing keeper, Ringe to save low at his near post for a corner. Barham took the corner, himself, Booty headed the ball down to Flatts who fired over the crossbar, then with a minute left Thompson (J) replaced Homewood for Colne Athletic who ended the game deep in the Tiptree Jobserve half, still trying to find that elusive goal!

FULL TIME: 1 – 0.

A gritty top of Division One match, two evenly matched teams that could play football if conditions allowed, today the soft pitch with its uneven bounce and bumpy surface made ball control difficult, the wind was also a big factor, clearances out of defence especially against the wind often failed to get past half-way of the half, let alone reach the half-way line. None-the-less both teams had a right go, more clear cut chances fell to Colne Athletic who failed to capitalise whereas when Tiptree Jobserve broke with purpose they scored the only goal just after half-time, they did look for more but their defence had to stand firm as the visitors pressed forward time and time again.

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, the defences from both teams stood resolute apart from when the single goal was scored, both keepers did their bit, home keeper, Williams making the more telling saves whereas, Ringe was given no chance when Tiptree Jobserve scored. It was in midfield where the main play unfolded, neither team gave an inch or shirked any challenge however, for me it was Barham, the home captain who covered almost every blade of grass and led his team to a fortunate victory, in all fairness Colne Athletic should have won it on chances and would have settled for a draw if only they could score!

Teams:

TIPTREE JOBSERVE FC: Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Daniel Williams., Elliot Patemen., Matthew Thompson., Lewis Irons., Glenn Wiggett., Lee Monk., Mathew Griffin., Hayden Brunt., Tommy Gregory., Kevin Barham (C)., Perry Flatts.

Manager: Glenn Wiggett.

Used Substitutes: Josh Lindsay., Toby Booty., Harry Page.

COLNE ATHLETIC FC: Colours: Burgundy Shirts, Navy Blue Shorts and Burgundy Socks.

Elliot Ringe., Daniel Bradley., Joshua Vaughan., Conrad Baker., Jordan Ellis., Daniel Homewood (C)., harry Watts., Ryan Brown., Ben Connell., Luke Goldie-McSorley., Scott Yearling.

Manager: Ben Connell.

Assistant Manager: Scott Yearling.

Used Substitutes: Jamie Thompson.

Unused Substitutes: Jay Macklin., Ben Fowles., Joshua Saunders., Jamie Edwards.

Referee: Richard Baker.

Player of the Match: Kevin BARHAM (TIPTREE JOBSERVE FC)

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Additional Reporting:

YOU TUBE., FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

Once again, this season the ESBFL is widening its match-day reporting coverage, in addition to a full report written by Brian Reed, our other roving reporter, Spencer Hume, has once again made himself known during the friendlies season and he will also attend games reporting via You Tube, Facebook and Twitter to communicate up-to-date information and replicate other match reports. In addition, John Campany, Vice Chairman will continue to provide a weekly summary, published in The Gazette.

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Reminder to Club / Fixture Secretaries

Once again this season the fixtures, results, referees and “kick-off” times will be shown automatically on “The FA Full-Time / The Whole Game System” ( http://full-time.thefa.com ) but would all Club / Fixture Secretaries please advise any agreed changes, as required, to Alison Willmore ( mjw1947@sky.com ) especially for evening games and for those matches being played under floodlights etc.

KO is 2:30pm in: February

KO is 3:00pm from: March to end of season

Cup Matches:

Kick-Off times for ESBFL cup matches, are generally 30 minutes earlier than those shown above but check competition rules beforehand.

Kick-Off times for Essex County Football Association cup matches are published on the ECFA web-site.

( www.essexfa.com/competitions/county-cups )

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ESBFL “web-site”

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Clubs are reminded that the following documents are all available on this website under Clubs / Documents etc:

ESBFL Handbook,

Player Registration Sheet,