01/10/2022 – REPORT – Belle Vue Social FC versus Barnston AFC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
BELLE VUE SOCIAL FC 1. BARNSTON AFC 0.
Date: Saturday 01st October 2022. Venue: Garrison Ground “A”, Colchester.
Well, where did September go, sadly due to a local event in Wivenhoe and an overdue holiday of a life-time, I missed all games during the month, wi-fi was inaccessible for the second week, but last week, once at home I caught up with everything, at least I hope I have!
So, on a sunny but windy afternoon I ventured over to the Colchester Garrison, Pitch A, a new venue for me but well appointed all the same, to watch recently promoted Belle Vue Social FC play Barnston AFC in a Premier Division clash. Both mid-table teams clearly had injuries and player suspensions judging by the number of known players missing, the hosts have strengthened their squad after their Division One efforts last season.
For this afternoon’s match, the appointed Match Official was James Beal, a no-nonsense referee who was ably assisted by Philip Barham and young Kurtis Williams, one of many new officials on the ESBFL panel this season.
In the early exchanges, Harrington fouled Morgan., Coopersmith (M) checked upon taking his free-kick but only managed to find keeper, Clarke with the second attempt. O’Brien then fouled Nwankwo wide on the right side, Webb took the free-kick with Coopersmith (M) shanking the ball out for the first corner of the game and another silly foul followed with Francis going through the back of Coopersmith (O) and this game with only minutes played looked to be heading for a midfield stale-mate. Belle Vue Social FC were playing the long ball forward into the hands of the Barnston AFC defence which held a high line.
On seventeen minutes, and almost out of nothing, Belle Vue Social FC took the lead, a Barnston AFC attack broke down on their right side, defender Davis played an awkward ball forward which Nwankwo managed to control and set Bantala away down the left side, he ran on to send in a low cross which was rammed home by JASON SOWDEN from close range. Morgan for the visitors drove forward down the right side finding Coopersmith (O) whose sharp shot on the turn was saved by the outstretched leg of keeper, Clarke. Lucas linked up with Morgan who ran around Davis, but his cross was cleared up-field where Coopersmith (M) fouled Sowden. Davis then defended well against Sykes whose forward pass was destined for Coopersmith (O) running down the left side, keeper, Taylor, launched a long ball forward which Martyr headed clear under pressure from Sykes, then Davis clearly impeded Morgan who was physically pushed into touch as he chased a loose ball forward. However, the free-kick taken by O’Brien flew straight to keeper, Clarke. From the keeper’s clearance, Coopersmith (M) again fouled Sowden with Davis curling his free-kick across the face of the goal where the incoming Martyr really ought to have scored at the far post.
A potential game changing moment came of thirty-five minutes, Coopersmith (M) appeared to foul Sowden who clearly stamped on the prone defender, the on-the-spot referee had little hesitation in showing the red card with Lucas stupidly running back to get involved in the melee to earn a yellow card. The free-kick taken by Mercer found Lucas who headed down into the arms of keeper, Clarke, at the other end Nwankwo broke free to send in a cross, finding the centrally placed Martyr, whose first time, shot was punched over the cross-bar by keeper, Taylor. A feature of the home attack was the extremely long and high throw-ins taken by Martyr, these seemed to unsettle the visitors defence, fortunately no advantage was gained today. Morgan was guilty of a blatant miss for Barnston AFC, scuffing the cross-field ball from Coopersmith (O) just wide, the same player then evaded Davis latching onto a ball from Lucas but with a rush of blood to the head he smashed the ball over the cross-bar, and we had reached half-time
HALF-TIME: 1 – 0.
Belle Vue Social FC re-started this gritty affair, no real pattern of play, few goal-scoring chances, a well taken goal and the dismissal being the highlights, can this half improve! Coopersmith (M) set Morgan away with a cross-field pass but keeper, Clarke was quickly off his line to intercept, then Barbrook and Coopersmith (O) were crowded out by the home, midfield players who gave the visitors little chance to create attacks. Barnston AFC raised their game and Burton (D) fed Lucas whose knock-on to Morgan saw him round Francis, but keeper Clarke was first to the loose ball, Webb was then on hand to clear another attack at the expense of a corner. Belle Vue Social FC carved out a decent chance themselves, Hayes found Nwankwo whose pass found Harrington who scuffed the ball wide from outside the penalty area, he had to do better there though! Sykes fouled Harrington inside the centre-circle then Coopersmith (M) was adjudged to have fouled Harrington just outside the penalty area with Davis hitting the defensive wall with the free-kick with the follow-up shot from Bantala flying straight to keeper, Taylor. Barnston AFC gained a corner when a speculative shot from Coopersmith (O) was fumbled over the cross-bar by keeper, Clarke, the corner taken y O’Brien failed to cause problems and Hayes cleared up-field.
A break from Nwankwo saw his low effort saved by keeper, Taylor, albeit with his outstretched foot and really the home team should be two goals ahead, and on the hour mark Barnston AFC made two changes, Lucas and Mercer were replaced by Cole and Hardy. The midfield prompting of Coopersmith (O) saw Cole find O’Brien who only managed to scoop the ball to keeper, Clarke. Another forward ball from Coopersmith (O) found Sykes who was fouled by Martyr and with a stoppage in play Belle Vue Social FC replaced Harrington with Goodman. Martyr played an excellent ball into Bantala whose rasping shot struck one of his own players then Nwankwo fouled Barbrook, this game was still scrappy, to be honest.
With fifteen minutes remaining Barnston AFC tried to up their game, Barbrook fired over the cross-bar at one end then Martyr broke to the other end, sending in a low cross that eluded everyone with even keeper, Taylor with plenty of time, only managing to find touch with his clearance! On eighty minutes, a final player change, with Hart replacing Martyr, O’Brien played the ball wide to Hardy whose cross from a wide angle just eluded Morgan whose frustration was building. When Nwankwo fouled Morgan, the free-kick was played into Morgan who ducked in and out through the defence with Drennan making a fine interception to clear. Another long throw-in from the home team saw keeper, Taylor, punch the ball over the cross-bar for a succession of corners, the last of which was over-struck by Francis. The referee, when asked, indicated that eight minutes remained, I had three plus whatever was added for stoppages, Morgan embarked on a cross-field run but his final shot was weak and keeper, Clarke was untroubled. Drennan was again on hand to head clear when Cole crossed, Goodman gave chase to a forward ball, but Burton (A) coved for the visitors and the last action saw keeper, Taylor, intercept a pass from Nwankwo and dribble the ball out of his area, only to hear the final whistle.
FULL TIME: 1 – 0.
In my opinion, not a classic match, a gritty determined display from both teams in testing windy conditions and a hard pitch, the defences and midfield dominated what play there was of note, keepers were rarely called to make a crucial save.
Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player”, a difficult one really but without listing every player, one player did stand out, but then as a Team Captain you should lead from the front or in this case the back, defender Alex Drennan gets my nod for a crucial defensive display with lots of encouragement especially when his team was reduced to ten men.
Teams:
BELLE VUE SOCIAL FC:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Billy Clarke., Jack Webb., Alex Drennan (C)., Dylan Francis., Bradley Bantala., Freddie Hayes., Michael Nwankwo., Joe Davis., Jack Harrington., Jayson Sowden., Ryan Martyr.
Manager: Billy Clarke.
Assistant Manager: Jack Mitchell.
Used Substitutes: Dan Goodman., Ryan Hart.
Unused Substitutes: Conor Bolt
BARNSTON AFC
Colours: Green Shirts, Black Shorts and Green Socks.
Team:
Andrew Taylor., Daniel O’Brien (C)., Matt Coopersmith., Adam Burton., Daryl Burton., Billy Sykes., Oliver Coopersmith., Michael Morgan., Louis Barbrook., Tommy Mercer., Josh Lucas.,
Manager/s: Matt Coopersmith & Adam Burton
Used Substitutes: James Hardy., Rob Cole
Unused Substitutes: Tyler Byrne., Peter Monk
Referee: James Beal.
Assistant Referees: Philp Barham & Kurtis Williams
Star Player: Alex DRENNAN (BELLE VUE SOCIAL FC)
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