02/10/2021 – REPORT – Little Oakley FC Reserves versus Gas Recreation FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

LITLE OAKLEY FC RESERVES:           3.                 GAS RECREATION FC:   1.

Date:               Saturday 02^nd October 2021.            

Venue:             War Memorial Ground, Little Oakley.

            And the wind doth blow and the rain doth pour, yes, on Saturday we had both in bucket loads and after a treacherous journey to Little Oakley we got set for this ESBFL Premier Division match between perennial rivals. This season, I have to say, both teams have seen new management, an exodus of players, players hanging up their boots, new players signing up or coming through the ranks, on paper at least, from the starting eleven’s, I recognised just five from each team! The home team were sitting in twelfth place and the visitors, fourth, the latter of whom had a forward playing in goal, following the recent dismissal of their regular custodian, the competent replacement did his best and was only just edged out for Star Player!

            The referee for this match was the experienced Richard Oakes and he was assisted by Club Assistants, who, in my opinion did a grand job in testing conditions as did the referee who I thought had a fine game.

            The rain, assisted by the strong wind was blowing almost horizontally and literally end-to-end towards the Clubhouse, a few hardy supporters were standing in the “Bus Shelter” behind the goal and those who joined me in the main stand still got wet, not sure who won the toss of the coin, but Gas Recreation FC kicked off, playing with the elements behind them, this match had the making of that game of two halves scenario. In the first real attack the home side pushed forward with Reid pushing the ball wide to the left side where White set off only to be beaten to the ball by keeper, Willoughby. The long clearance, wind assisted found Kouassi who set Gregory up until Wrycraft stepped in for the first of many robust but fair tackles. The home team found clearing the ball a problem, goal-kicks took off, reared up and then almost doubled back, the driven clearance was better, but the short goal-kick was an even better choice, especially in these monsoon conditions. The game had a lively start, and this continued throughout, no quarter given and plenty of constructive play on an excellent pitch that would start to cut up as the match wore on. Hodgson fouled Culverhouse, who took the free-kick with Wrycraft heading clear and Little Oakley FC broke forward through Carmichael who fed the ball into Johnson overlapping down the right side, a corner followed off West (D), this was taken, left-footed by Green, into the six-yard box, nobody moved, and the ball squirmed through to White who missed the ball completely at the far post! On ten minutes home keeper, Weller made a great save from Giddings who struck a fine left footed effort goal-wards, looked a goal all the way until Weller stuck out a big hand to deflect the ball wide. When the ball reached the other end, keeper Willoughby was now playing sweeper as Reid broke through, fortunately West (D) had read the danger and was back to clear.

            Green for Little Oakley FC looked very comfortable on the ball, his free-kicks and corners caused problems and when he struck a left-footed shot goal-wards the ball cannoned off defender Hooper into the arms of keeper, Willoughby. Another long, driven ball forward from Dunningham saw the ball clear the visitors defence but keeper, Willoughby was outside his penalty area to head clear, and he was called into action soon after when Dunningham and Green set up White for a rasping shot, saved on the six-yard line. The wind and the rain had not let up, and on twenty minutes the home team, playing against the wind were probably the team who had more possession, White embarked on another run, by-passing West (D) but keeper, Willoughby saved with his feet, unorthodox perhaps but still effective! Gas Recreation FC had their own moments of positive possession, Taylor and Kouassi set up Culverhouse but keeper, Weller was again well placed to save on his six-yard line. From the resulting corner, taken by Laval-Chesterton, the ball found the head of Taylor who was denied by an outstanding point-blank save by keeper, Weller, and from the second corner, again taken by Laval-Chesterton, keeper, Weller punched clear. Taylor, for the visitors picked up the ball just inside the home half, ran forward, beating two players before unleashing a trade-mark left footed shot they flew narrowly over the cross-bar.

            Just past the half hour mark and Hooper was adjudged to have fouled White wide on the right side, Dunningham took the free-kick which caused confusion in the visitor’s defence, three home players missed the ball as it flew across goal until defender Hodgson arrived to crash the ball against the foot of the post, he really should have scored! A poor clearance from keeper, Weller saw the ball land with Gregory who snatched at his shot and a relieved, keeper, Weller was able to catch on his goal-line. This half had been played out well, both teams were having a go, despite the conditions, plenty of attacking play, some good defending and good goal-keeping too. A high wind assisted ball forward was headed skywards by Southee, keeper, Weller, under no real pressure tried to catch the ball, fumbled it, and conceded a corner, taken by Laval-Chesterton, finding West (D) whose flick-on fell to Hooper who dragged a chance wide. Right on half-time, a golden chance for the visitors, West (D) brought the ball out of defence finding Taylor and he threaded a fine forward pass into the path of Kouassi who raced on but inexplicitly dragged his effort wide of the goal with only the keeper to beat.

HALF-TIME:    0 – 0.

            Little Oakley FC Reserves restarted this finely poised match, Reid kept possession finding Green whose goal-bound shot forced keeper, Willoughby into a great save, more of the same please during this half. A clearance from keeper, Willoughby, now kicking against the wind, fell to Culverhouse who played in Gregory who was fouled by Wrycraft just outside the penalty area. Kouassi rolled the ball into the path of Taylor whose shot was blocked by the defensive wall but fell kindly to Kouassi who played the ball wide to the right side, JACK GREGORY controlled the ball, in space, before firing a rasping shot that beat keeper, Weller at his near post. Keeper, Willoughby, saved a low shot from Green that skipped off the wet surface, Taylor took out Dunningham to concede a free-kick and receive a yellow card, the free-kick was taken by Dunningham himself, but he watched as the ball curled agonisingly wide as keeper, Willoughby, scampered across his goal. On fifty-two minutes Little Oakley FC Reserves replaced White with Edwards, and his first action was to run at and past West (D) only for keeper, Willoughby to stop the run, literally blocking his path as the ball bounced forward, a corner was given, many thought it was an act of illegally blocking off a genuine attack, needless to say Edwards was not happy, and to be fair you do see those decisions given, however, given the conditions, I’d say the referee got it right! Keeper, Willoughby, made another unorthodox save to deny Reid, clean through, the keeper slipped but his momentum took the ball away from the feet of the eager forward and from his throw-out the visitors ventured forward, West (D) and Taylor found Laval-Chesterton down the right side and from his cross, defender, Wrycraft headed clear.

            Little Oakley FC Reserves had seen much possession but no end product and there was a tendency to over-hit the ball, especially with the wind at their backs, frustration was building perhaps! On sixty-five minutes Gas Recreation FC replaced Culverhouse with Hart, whose first action was to find Kouassi who ran around the back of the home defence before shooting over the cross-bar. When Gas, keeper, Willoughby dropped the ball whilst making a low save, he was quickest to react to smother the loose ball as Reid approached. Soton fouled Carmichael, Dunningham took the free-kick but Taylor volleyed the ball clear but was injured in the process colliding with Edwards, from the resulting free-kick Green fouled West (D) on the edge of the penalty area. Gas Recreation FC made another forward foray through Giddings who would win the chase for the ball with the advancing keeper, Weller, who having forced Giddings wide proceeded to impend him, rugby style wide on the left side, of course, a yellow card followed.

            On seventy-five minutes Little Oakley FC Reserves were awarded a penalty-kick, Green was upended by either West (D) or Taylor, or both, hard to tell through the player congestion and driving rain, the ball had run on, with keeper, Willoughby saving an effort from Green, however, the referee brought the game back for the spot kick, despatched with aplomb by CALLUM GREEN and the scores were level and there were fifteen minutes to play. Gas Recreation FC replaced Kouassi with Venner and Hart picked up a yellow card for a rash and high challenge that fortunately did not connect on Dunningham, who then scored a worldy of a goal! Keeper, Weller, threw the ball out to THOMAS DUNNINGHAM who clipped the ball up and over himself and an opponent, then as the ball ran on, he looked up and sent a forty-five, yard lob goal-wards, keeper, Willoughby, stranded on the edge of his penalty area could only watch as the ball bounced once going over his head to nestle in the back of the net. The home team replaced Reid with Sargent with five minutes to go, the visitors, well West (D) at least was spoken too at length by the referee and Mann, the home manager was also spoken too when he disagreed with an off-side decision against his team. Having seen a team-mate, launch a high speculative shot successfully at goal, keeper, Weller, tried to join the action launching a high ball from the edge of his penalty area, one bounce later and the ball just cleared the goal at the other end. In the final minute Green persisted down the right side, finding space along the goal-line before placing a pass between the keeper and his goal line with he ball reaching DANIEL EDWARDS who gleefully scored at the far post, that’s it game over.

FULL TIME:     3 – 1.

            Despite the inclement weather, I’d like to say well done to both teams and the match official and his assistants for making this game enjoyable, conditions were extremely poor and treacherous but credit to both teams for persevering, ninety minutes of action at both ends, not sure the groundsman will agree as the playing surface had noticeably deteriorated with some surface water laying, about.

            For my weekly “Star Player”, were do I start, both teams had committed players, I don’t think any player let their team down, for Gas Recreation FC, this was their fourth defeat in what appears to be a season of change and fortune. For the most part, West (D) and Hooper looked sound in defence with Gregory and Taylor the more experienced players at the forefront of most things happening through mid-field but if they had a star-player then step forward keeper, Willoughby, he made numerous saves throughout this match and certainly kept his team in the match until the second goal, not much he could do about that one! For Little Oakley FC Reserves, a big team effort from back to front, keeper, Weller, like his opposite number had made numerous saves with quick reactions and positioning. Defensively, Branson, Wrycraft and Southee stood their ground when required making some important tackles when needed, up front Reid and White then Edwards were full of running but in midfield Carmichael, Dunningham, who scored a great goal and Green, a goal provider and penalty scorer stood out and only just shaded the efforts of the visitors keeper.

Teams:

LITTLE OAKLEY FC RESERVES:         

Colours:            Blue & Black Striped Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team: Robert Weller., Zak Johnson., Gabriel Hodgson., Adam Wrycraft., Michael Southee., Lee Branson., Callum Green (C)., Thomas Dunningham., Jamie Reid., Harry Carmichael., Kamron White.

Manager:                      Gavin Mann.

Assistant Manager:        Jay Welham.

Used Substitutes:           Daniel Edwards., Niall Windred., Miles Sargeant.

Unused Substitutes:       Jamie Currie., Luke Jones.

GAS RECREATION FC:                       

Colours:            Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.

Team:

Harry Willoughby., Lewis Laval-Chesterton., Dylan Soton., Scott Trainer., Scott Hooper., Dean West., Mason Culverhouse., Jack Gregory., Emmanuel Kouassi., Luke Taylor (C)., Jay Giddings.

Manager:                      Jay West.

Assistant Manager:        Simon Hayward.

Used Substitutes:           Ryan Hart., Rooney Venner.

Unused Substitutes:       Harry Alison., Jay West.

Referee:                        Richard Oakes.

Star Player:                Callum GREEN                                    (LITTLE OAKLEY FC RESERVES)

REMINDERS:

MATCH NOTIFICATIONS

Clubs are required to notify all match details, date venue, kick-off time, colours etc, to their opposition and any appointed official/s, FIVE days before the match.

TEAM SHEETS

Team Sheets should be shown or sent to the Referee and the Opposition team either by text, email etc

The BLUE “League Copy” of the Team Sheet should be sent by First Class Post to reach Mick Willmore by the Thursday after a Saturday match, this is the ONLY item of correspondence that is required by post.

RESULTS REPORTING

Rule 21(B)

BOTH Clubs shall notify/SMS the result of each Competition Match to the Competition within 30 minutes of the finish of the match. This will include Football Association and County Football Association matches. The results of all League and Cup matches in the

Competition should be reported by the FA Full-Time “SMS” (text) System. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

FA FULL-TIME

The Referees marks, team, players, substitutes, goal scorers, red / yellow cards, and sin-bin, etc MUST be entered to FA Full-Time by the end of the Tuesday following a Saturday match (ie 48 hours after any match). Failure to complete FAFT correctly and on time WILL incur a League Fine/s.

DISCIPLINE

Since the start of the season there have been 30 players dismissed and over 400 cautions, there have also been several incidences of misconduct towards players, Match officials, members of the public and county officials. These are situations the ESBFL Management feel very strongly about, and the statistics make poor reading, the ECFA will deal with all these cases as deemed appropriate but bear in mind these actions can be very costly both for players and your, Clubs.