02/05/2022 – REPORT – COVID CUP – WORMINGFORD WANDERERS FC VERSUS BARNSTON AFC RESERVES
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
COVID CUP FINAL
WORMINGFORD WANDERERS FC 0. BARNSTON AFC RESERVES 1.
Date: Monday 02nd May 2022. Venue: War Memorial, Little Oakley.
Right, eyes down, this was the second of four ESBFL Cup Finals, the COVID Cup, introduced last season as one of two “filler” competitions in the second curtailed season, this for teams in Divisions Three, Four and Five. Last seasons winners were Dunmow Town FC who triumphed in the inaugural competition by eight goals to one over a plucky Stanway Rovers FC Reserves, both of those teams have now had excellent seasons in their respective divisions.
Today’s finalists are both from Division Three, Wormingford Wanderers FC are the Division champions, reached the semi-finals of the Essex Junior Cup, bowing out to the eventual winners, Catholic United FC Reserves, and this final so a very good season for them, stalwart Club Secretary, Brian Jones is pretty chuffed, I’m sure! For Barnston AFC, a very well-run Club, the Reserves probably under achieved by finishing seventh, however, this team was playing the Clubs first final for decades, I’m sure they will want to get some silver-ware to take home!
Once again, the venue for an ESBFL Cup Final was the well-appointed ground at Little Oakley FC, the ESBFL would like to thank the Club for allowing use of their facilities and for supplying the after-match refreshments.
The appointed match officials were Referee, Alfie Davidson, a promising young referee who was assisted by the experienced Dean Welham, M/s Wendy Townsend with M/s Elora Hardstaff acting as 4th Official, overall, with two well behaved teams there were no issues.
On a warm and slightly cloudy but warm afternoon, a decent crowd had assembled, both teams had hired coaches for the trip to this venue, at least you knew that both teams would arrive at the same time. Barnston kicked-off, lost possession and Barton sent in a testing cross that Foley headed over the cross-bar from about three yards out, and, yes, being “old school”, I’m still using “imperial” measurements! A clearance from Driscoll found Bolandi whose left footed pass up the left side saw Johnson (R) give chase and set up a trend, with keeper, Lloyd quicker to the ball as it entered the penalty area. The really long clearance from keeper, Lloyd fell to Jarvis-Brown whose pass to fellow defender Driscoll was scuffed away for a corner, taken by Angell with keeper, Johnson (L) punching clear. Waterfield and Armitage, for Barnston set up another left sided attack which ended when Fitzpatrick got across to cover and concede a throw-in, taken by Armitage, and this game started to open up with both teams looking to attack. Fitzpatrick did well to stop Johnson (R) who was chasing a ball from brother Johnson (K) from midfield, Wormingford, keeper, Lloyd, advanced to collect a high cross from Waterfield who had made a strong run down the right side. Bolandi sent the ball forward to Waterfield, Fitzpatrick again, read the danger before Bolandi fouled the defender, Angell took the free-kick and Armitage headed clear for a corner, taken by Moss with Sainsbury getting a free header at the far post but only into the side netting. On ten minutes, a fine flowing passing movement involving Westall, Johnson (K), Johnson (R) led to Jarvis-Brown crossing towards Waterfield until Sainsbury headed clear.
Moss and Driscoll clashed heads for an injury break and a chance for players to catch their breath after a frantic start, both players were able to continue. Johnson (R) worked hard to get behind the Wormingford defence, but Sainsbury was there to stop him in his tracks then at the other end keeper Johnson (L) was quickly out to the feet of Foley. When McLaughlin lost possession, the loose ball was picked up by Barton whose rising shot cleared the cross-bar and Fowler (J) sent a long, high ball towards the Barnston defence with keeper, Johnson (L) equal to the aerial challenge. Armitage found Johnson (R) in space with a left-footed shot flying just wide, a high foot from Johnson (K) led to a foul on Fowler (B) inside the centre-circle, the free-kick taken by keeper, Lloyd was driven long only for Johnson (K) and Sainsbury to clash heads and the game was again stopped the latter player recovering quickly as he had cause to defend as Johnson (R) threatened on a break, this from a quickly taken throw-in. Fitzpatrick has lost none of his keenness to get forward out of defence, a run from his own half, evading several tackles along the way saw him set up Foley whose wayward shot cleared the high fencing around the Astro-turf area. A long cross from Foley was almost too long for Moss, but Angell reacted to sweep the loose ball over the cross-bar, central defender Mclaughlin made two excellent blocks inside his penalty area as Barnston showed their defensive determination, this game was very competitive right across the pitch and was allowed to flow by a competent referee.
Johnson (K) and Johnson (R) persisted down the right side and just as the latter brother was going to shoot, in stepped Sainsbury to nudge the ball quickly back towards his keeper, Lloyd who could only deflect the ball out for a corner, an enforced error. Bolandi took the corner kick, but Moss cleared the ball far up field where keeper, Johnson (L) dived on the ball as Barton threatened on the break with the Barnston defence still retreating from the corner. Lamb fouled Jarvis-Brown inside the centre-circle, Driscoll took the free-kick with Kent conceding a throw-in which led to a free-kick taken by Driscoll to Johnson (R) with Armitage in support only for Fitzpatrick to clear. A clash between Foley and Armitage should, maybe, have been a free-kick to Wormingford but the referee waved play-on with Wormingford in possession but with Barnston, perhaps having the upper hand in possession and creativity. Jarvis-Brown sent another long ball forward to Johnson (R), once again giving chase, Fowler (J) cleared and set Barton away, finding Angell whose shot was blocked by Mclaughlin with Driscoll getting a goal-kick off Moss. The first half ended with a foul by Johnson (K) on Kent, Angell took the free-kick but McLaughlin headed clear, an interesting half, plenty of endeavour going forward with defences standing firm.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 0.
With no signs of the dead-lock being broken Wormingford started the second half, Moss fouled Archer inside his own penalty area, then Wormingford put together a number of promising attacks pushing the ball confidently around the pitch, out of defence with one attack thwarted when Barton was correctly adjudged to be off-side. Sainsbury covered when Waterfield strode through a static defence, a throw-in from Archer was headed on by Jarvis-Brown to Johnson (R) but his control let him down and a goal-kick followed. This game remained end-to-end, the persistence of captain, Westall who had shown good leadership in a young team, saw him lose the ball then back-track to regain possession, getting the ball to Armitage who was stopped by Kent. Fitzpatrick found Angell, received the return ball before Driscoll cleared and there followed some hefty challenges as both teams tried to dominate, Armitage made a good tackle on Fowler (J) but failed to find Waterfield outside the penalty area. Fitzpatrick, aka “Brillo” a stalwart player for Wormingford got forward again to feed Fowler (B) but upon receiving the return pass, shanked his shot wide, much to his frustration. For Barnston, McLaughlin and Bolandi linked up well defensively and clear the ball, then Jarvis-Brown and Driscoll did the same until he was clattered by Foley, six yards out from the defender’s corner flag.
Given another opportunity to give chase, Johnson (R) did just that, but his low cross was fielded by keeper, Lloyd and from his clearance a mistake by Driscoll almost cost his team, as Foley cut inside, running along the goal-line, playing the ball back to Barton who scooped the ball over the cross-bar and even at sixty minutes we had not seen a direct shot at goal that had forced either keeper into an actual save. Perhaps the teams were getting a bit edgy as after the Barnston error, Fitzpatrick played a poor back-pass towards his keeper, Lloyd, Waterfield gave chase but shot wide. Westall had to chase back when Angell made ground down the left side, unfortunately, when the cross came in, Moss handled the ball and with the game stopped, Barnston introduced Coopersmith for Jarvis-Brown, from the restart a volley from Bolandi flashed wide having received a pass from Johnson (R). On sixty-five minutes Wormingford replaced Fitzpatrick with Loran and from a Mclaughlin free-kick, Johnson (R) got in front of keeper, Lloyd, and in the resulting melee, Waterfield managed to scoop the ball over the cross-bar. Barnston opted to chance their arm with some long high balls into the Wormingford penalty area, they were certainly willing to chase anything played long and with twenty minutes remaining there was no sign of players tiring. Foley set off on a run forward, chasing down against Mclaughlin, only to force keeper, Johnson (L) into a fine save, when he tipped the rising ball over the cross-bar. With twenty minutes to go, Wormingford replaced Foley with Watts, and almost immediately Watts sent the ball narrowly wide as he latched onto a cross from Fowler (B).
Barnston keeper, Johnson (L) was quickly out of his penalty area to thwart Moss, who almost wrestled the keeper to the ground and Barnston needed to keep up their dogged perseverance in defence, Archer found Coopersmith who headed straight to keeper, Lloyd. Fowler (J) stopped a run by Armitage when there was only keeper, Lloyd to beat. When Angel handled the ball, the free-kick taken by McLaughlin, keeper, Lloyd caught the high ball and sent the ball long towards Moss, but Mclaughlin was back to defend, heading out for a throw-in. Angell, always in the thick of the Wormingford midfield passed to Moss and after finding Watts in space the substitute shot over the cross-bar. This game was far from over, albeit the lack of goals suggested any goal, from either side, might be a winner, if not a penalty shoot-out was scheduled with no extra-time being played this season. On eighty-six minutes Wormingford made their final change, bringing on Fairless for Barton, Bolani found Johnson (K) who naturally, almost telepathically, passed to Johnson (R) with Sainsbury for the “umpteenth” time just getting the better of the eager forward. Sainsbury, who had been a solid defender all game, this time as the last defender, headed away a cross from Johnson (K) and we entered the last minute of normal time when Bolandi headed out for a Wormingford corner, last chance saloon perhaps! Angell, sent in a testing corner, keeper, Johnson (L) flapped at the ball, but helped out by some desperate defending the ball was cleared up field, where the ball stayed. Whether both teams were now looking for penalty kicks to decide this match, I don’t know, but Wormingford had a momentary lapse, RYAN JOHNSON pounced on a poor pass, ran forward, and with ninety-two minutes on the clock, he sent a high lobbed ball towards the open goal, the ball seemed to drop in slow motion as keeper Lloyd made a desperate attempt to retrieve the situation but he could only help the ball into his own net and queue some wild Barnston celebrations over on the far side. Hardly had the ball been placed on the centre spot and played forward then the final whistle blew, game over, what drama!
FULL TIME: 0 – 1.
Credit goes to both teams who had worked hard all game to break down some stubborn resistance from the respective defences, there were few direct goal scoring chances, as the game wore on, that one goal winner scenario looked likely, together with that crucial defensive lapse that came in added time. Commiserations to the gallant losers who just missed out on a league and cup double, but Barnston stuck to their game plan, thwarting the opposition, and never giving up on any lost cause, getting just rewards for a fine team effort.
Now, let’s turn to my “Star Players, it’s a Cup Final so it is only fair that I pick a player from each team, I have to say that every player, played their part in a close match, to name everyone, might take some time but as it’s a cup final I’ve picked one from each team, for Wormingford Wanderers FC its central defender Will Sainsbury, who missed nothing all game either in the air or on the ground, whilst for Barnston AFC Reserves, its Ryan Johnson, who from the very first minutes was prepared to chase every ball and kept his composure to score that late match winning goal.
ESBFL, Chairman, John Campany thanked Little Oakley FC for their hospitality, making positive thanks to both teams for providing a gritty match, albeit devoid of goals, but plenty of effort, thanking the four match officials before asking League Secretary, Alison Stamford to hand out the medals and trophies to the losing team Captain, Lloyd, for Wormingford Wanderers FC and Westall, for Barnston AFC Reserves who sportingly had eighty-nine year-old, Club Chairman, Bob Tyler with him to lift the trophy and the continued their celebrations in front of the goal.
Teams:
WORMINGFORD WANDERERS FC:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue & White hooped Socks.
Team:
Ben Lloyd (C)., Luke Kent., Rob Fitzpatrick., Will Sainsbury., Ben Fowler., Joe Fowler., Elliott Lamb., Brett Angell., Will Foley., Sam Moss., Joel Barton.
Manager: Liam Meadows.
Used Substitutes: Steven Loran., Daniel Watts., Samuel Fairless.
Unused Substitutes: Keiran Farthing., Alfie Wilson-Davis.
BARNSTON AFC RESERVES
Colours: Orange Shirts, Orange Shorts and Orange Socks.
Team:
Luke Johnson., Frank Archer., Archie Driscoll., Lee Jarvis-Brown., Teddy Armitage., James McLaughlin., James Bolandi., Chay Westall (C)., Nathan Waterfield., Ryan Johnson., Kyle Johnson.
Manager: Gary Johnson.
Assistant Manager: Richard James.
Used Substitute: Matt Coopersmith.
Unused Substitutes: Tyler Byrne., Louis Barbrook., Larry Croxton.
Referee: Alfie Davidson.
Referee Assistants: Dean Welham & Wendy Townsend.
4th Official: Elora Hardstaff.
Star Player/s: Will SAINSBURY (WORMINGFORD WANDERERS FC)
Ryan JOHNSON (BARNSTON AFC RESERVES)
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