02/11/2019 – REPORT – Cavendish FC Reserves versus Hedinghams United FC Reserves

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION THREE.

CAVENDISH FC RESERVES: 2. HEDINGHAMS UNITED FC RESERVES: 4.

Date: Saturday 02^nd November 2019. Venue: Cavendish Sports Ground.

Last Saturday I travelled north, by north west to Cavendish, taking in the Division Three match between the respective Reserve teams of both Cavendish FC, sitting 13^th, and Hedinghams United FC, sitting 11th. Why Division Three and why Reserve teams, well why not, there is football played outside the top divisions and it was a chance to re-visit Cavendish, since their First team re-joined the ESBFL last season and their Reserves joining for this season whereas perennial strugglers Hedinghams United FC Reserves have started much better this season, I last saw them at Oyster FC the season before last.

The forecasted weather, wet with strong winds, had virtually passed through Suffolk by the time kick-off arrived but I still put on my glad rags to stand pitch-side, the pitch looked in extremely good condition considering the amount of rain we have seen lately. The Match Official was Richard Baker who would be assisted by Club Linesmen.

The home team kicked-off, it’s fair to say that their baptism to the ESBFL has been an eye-opener with only one victory to date, that said they started confidently pushing the ball around with ease. Bartram sent a long ball forward, but the ball skipped off the greasy surface for a goal-kick with Green giving up the chase very early on. Barton crossed from the left side with visiting keeper, Coyston catching the ball under his cross-bar then Rendall did likewise from the right side with keeper, Coyston back-pedalling to clutch the ball at the second attempt, again just under the cross-bar. Root for Hedinghams had the first direct shot at goal, Dagnall holding onto the ball on his goal-line then falling to the ground, bit early for time wasting! Five minutes into the match and Cavendish scored, a long ball forward from Leamey cleared the Hedinghams defence, THOMAS GREEN ran on to plant a shot past keeper, Coyston from wide on the right side of the pitch, the ball glanced off the underside of the cross-bar but I wasn’t expecting that to be honest! On ten minutes, Root for Hedinghams chanced his luck once again but keeper, Dagnall was equal to it but it showed that Hedinghams were getting back into this game. O’Brien fouled Sanders just as he was about to dribble past him following a clever flick over the same player, Hedinghams cleared the danger then Rendall and Wallace worked the ball forward, but visiting keeper, Coyston had read the danger and advanced out of his penalty area to clear the ball out for a throw-in.

Cavendish, buoyed by that early goal, pushed forward again and when Green threatened down the right side, keeper, Coyston was again running out of his penalty area to clear for a throw-in. A mid-field clash of legs between Burnham and Root saw the ball put out of play but both players got up seemingly un-injured! A right footed effort from Rendall tested keeper, Coyston, the space had been created as the visiting defence panicked, kicking the loose ball wildly anywhere just to clear it! Root had already shown his dribbling ability so when he waltzed around Rendall he was fouled wide on the left side, Root took the free-kick driving a rising ball, right across the goal-area with no-one prepared to stick a head on it, might have hurt though! A long clearance from keeper, Dagnall fell kindly to Hurst who controlled the ball, turning to strike the ball goal-wards where keeper, Coyston caught the ball high under his cross-bar. Coyston was again found running outside his penalty area, this time to tackle Barton who took a heavy knock off the pitch, limping away when play resumed with a throw-in. Leamey was forced to head a cross out for a corner to Hedinghams, taken by Harrison but headed well wide by defender Regan, and more desperate defending from the visitors followed with Mills and Regan combining to stop Burnham running through. A fine run and cross from Green should have seen Cavendish increase their lead, the Hedinghams defence dithered but neither Leamey or Barton could capitalise at the far post.

On thirty minutes, Hedinghams were awarded a penalty, Bartram lashed a foot towards the loose ball but only managed to clatter Root inside the penalty area, no arguments, clear as day and JONATHAN ROOT stepped up to hammer the ball past keeper, Dagnall who had dived the other way. Two minutes later and Hedinghams increased their lead, Root started the move on the right side, Harrison ran through to draw the keeper before passing inside to ARCHIE TREW who had the simplest of chances to score with his right foot, more of that later! With ten minutes to half-time, Cavendish seemed to have lost that early confidence and numerous passes went astray and frustration appeared, a shame because they had started so well. Root for Hedinghams was chief play-maker, dropping deep to pick up the ball then get forward to support and be a forward, in one such move his pass to Trew found the left winger in space but rather than use his left foot he opted for his right foot and the ball flew wide for a goal kick. As the half came to an end, keeper, Coyston, rushed his clearance hitting team-mate Mills with the ball bouncing out for a throw-in.

HALF TIME: 1 – 2

At the re-start, Cavendish replaced defender Neale with Elliot, Hedinghams would kick-off and here comes some rain, O’Brien struck a low shot that keeper Dagnall held low down, Leamey barged into the back of Root, bit obvious despite his protestations, Tarbin took the free-kick, finding Harrison who fired wide despite an off-side flag being waved. When Root burst through, keeper Dagnall denied him right on the edge of the penalty area, booting clear the loose ball. Mclaughlin defended well at the next Cavendish attack when Rendall and Wallace set up Leamey with a corner ensuing, from which a goal-mouth scramble followed with keeper, Coyston eventually falling on the loose ball. On sixty minutes, Root forced a corner on the far side, Harrison took the kick, curling the ball goal-wards and seemingly straight into the net, Harrison ran off to celebrate only for the referee to award a free-kick for an infringement near the goal-line, inside the six-yard box where a defender had been prevented from reaching the swirling ball.

Hedinghams won another corner, this time taken by O’Brien, but the driven kick skimmed off the head of Harrington for a goal-kick. Leamey blocked a shot from Root, another corner, another curling effort from Harrison that keeper, Dagnall punched against the cross-bar and when the ball fell to Trew his shot was saved by the dive of keeper, Dagnall, at the foot of the post. Another clearance from Leamey fell to Trew who volleyed the ball straight back, but just wide of the upright. As the visitors raised the tempo of this match, keeper, Dagnall, excelled again tipping a dipping shot on the volley from Harrison, just over the cross-bar. On sixty-seven minutes, Barton, the Cavendish Manager replaced himself with King and three minutes later Hedinghams replaced Trew with Dunglinson, these changes may have led to the next goal, players in different positions however, when Hedinghams played the ball forward, Cavendish defenders were caught square and FREDDIE O’BRIEN ran through from his own half to score past keeper, Dagnall.

With fifteen minutes remaining Cavendish should have scored and how they didn’t, remains a mystery, Hurst and Burnham ran through, keeper, Coyston advanced to parry the ball into space, then a combination of mis-hit shots and blocked shots from Rendall and Wallace eventually saw the ball cleared. On seventy-eight minutes Hedinghams replaced O’Brien with Howlett and two minutes later Hedinghams scored again. Leamey received a short goal-kick from keeper, Dagnall, Leamey played the ball on to Elliot who passed the ball back or so he thought but JONATHAN ROOT latched onto the ball to volley home number four. Harsh words were exchanged between Leamey and Elliot and despite Cavendish, kicking off and being in possession further up the field, the referee had kept an eye on proceeding behind him and witnessed Leamey raise an arm towards his team-mate Elliot, stopping the game to dismiss Leamey, who was probably Cavendish’s best player on the day! With five minutes left Cavendish scored a consolation second goal, Wallace broke from mid-field, linking up with King who set SAM WALLACE through to score. King was cautioned late on for tripping Howlett and in the last action of the game Logan ran through only to blast the ball wide of the goal.

FULL TIME: 2 – 4.

Was I expecting a classic game, no, did I see any good football, yes, at times both teams tried to play the ball around constructively, did I witness any good goals, yes but both teams were hard working and honest, no player had cause to be spoken too until that late, and unusual but correct dismissal?

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, another difficult choice this week, two honest Reserve teams finding their feet in Division Three, home keeper Dagnall was busy and made good save but standing no chance with any of the goals he conceded, defenders Bartram and Leamey battled all game but the home midfield faded after a bright start. For Hedinghams, some decent young players were on show but the older head of Root proved crucial, always in the thick of the action and scorer of two goals, one a penalty so he gets my vote this week.

Teams:

CAVENDISH FC RESERVES:

Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Daniel Dagnall., James Sanders., James Neale., Mark Leamey., Ryan Bartram., Thomas Green., James Rendall., Sam Wallace., James Hurst., Richard Burnham (C)., Adam Barton.

Manager: Adam Barton.

Used Substitutes: Jordan Elliot., Lewis King.

Unused Substitutes: Gary Chenery.

HEDINGHAMS UNITED FC RESERVES:

Colours: White & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black & Red Socks.

Chris Coyston., James Tarbin., Paul McLaughlin., Bradley Harrington., Daniel Regan., David Mills (C)., Archie Trew., Jordan Logan., Jonathan Root., Teddy Harrington., Freddie O’Brien.

Manager: David Mills.

Assistant Manager: Graham Cannon.

Used Substitutes: Sean Dunglinson., Jasper Howlett.

Referee: Richard Baker.

Player of the Match: Jonathan ROOT (HEDINGHAMS UNIYTED FC RESERVES)

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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 2:00pm in: November, December & January

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”

The web-site for the Essex & Suffolk Border Football League is: www.esblfootball.com

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

ESBFL Handbook,