02/01/2016 – Little Oakley FC versus Gas Recreation FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
LITTLE OAKLEY FC: 0. GAS RECREATION FC: 0.
Date: Saturday 02nd January 2016. Venue: War Memorial Ground, Little Oakley.
As I sat down to start writing this report on Sunday evening I learnt of the sudden passing of Richard Hewitt, a real gentleman and well respected former referee in local football particularly the ESBFL and CEEFL. I can’t quite believe that both before and after this game we exchanged our usual friendly banter and shared a joke or two at each other’s expense, and yesterday at Little Oakley whilst surrounded by numerous friends and colleagues he was his usual jovial self. The ESBFL send their condolences to his family at this sad time but his laughter and friendship over many decades will be sorely missed not just by me but by everyone involved in local football.
With this, the only scheduled fixture, there was a decent sized crowd assembling at the War Memorial Ground, at Little Oakley, a spectator standing near me counted a crowd of over one hundred before kick-off with many more arriving as the first half progressed and there was even a gentleman filming the match! At the start of play the home team sat seventh in the table whilst the visitors lay in second place albeit with a game in hand on top placed Coggeshall Town FC. However, the Gas not played since the goal-less draw against today’s opponents back in early December 2015 so another close game was forecast despite Little Oakley missing Wood, Harmon and Polley whereas the Gas seemed almost at full strength.
The Match Official for this match was John Watson and his Assistant Referee’s were Andrew French and Maison Urwin, the weather, or at least the rain, held off before kick-off but a heavy, but well prepared pitch, would soon cut up and players might easily have trouble keeping their feet.
Gas kicked off towards the clubhouse with the benefit of a strong breeze behind them, however using the wind is not always as easy as it seems and whilst defenders have trouble clearing the ball out of defence the long ball forward is often over-hit and attacks come to nothing. Gas, were awarded the first free-kick but as the ball was cleared Nunn fouled Palmer (Ma) who returned the compliment by fouling Dillon. Dillon got up and with the home defence switching off, he took the free-kick himself, passing to Taylor who laid the ball back to Dillon whose low bouncing effort deceived keeper, Morrison, to strike the left hand upright and bounce back into the arms of the relieved keeper. Minutes later a corner for the visitors was cleared outside the penalty area but when Nunn tried to play the ball forward it struck the raised arm of Palmer (Ma) with the referee awarding a penalty-kick. Braddon stepped up to drive the spot-kick low to the keepers right only for the agile Morrison to dive and save close to the ground, a great chance missed perhaps! Craig was warned for an over-zealous tackle through a crowd of players, right in front of the dug-outs on the half-way line.
With only fifteen minutes gone it was the visitors who held the upper hand, pinning Little Oakley inside their own half but failing to create more than the missed penalty, however the hosts began to claw their way back and started to play the ball around with more confidence. Taylor, ever an opportunist, tried a volley from thirty yards, with Morrison out near the edge of his area but the dipping ball cleared the cross-bar. Beecham and Palmer (Mi) at last worked the ball forward down the left flank and but for a well timed challenge from Dadds might have created a scoring chance as other players piled forward in support. A surging run from the half-way line by Dillon saw him get into the home penalty area and from his chipped cross Taylor headed goal-wards but straight into the open arms of Morrison. When Duly skipped through a high challenge from Nunn he collided with Dadds who appeared to be fouled however the referee brought the ball back for the first foul by Nunn from which a volley by Eades hit Wheeler who completed the clearance up-field. Kioussis and Marangou had a tussle down the left side and at the mid-half point honours remained even with sound defending at both ends with Gas perhaps guilty of failing to use the wind to their advantage.
Another break by Dillon saw his cross from the left side head towards Taylor and Nunn but Morrison advanced to punch clear and landing on the unfortunate Nunn who subsequently needed treatment. A long throw-in by Dadds fell to Taylor whose attempt at an overhead kick was rewarded with a free-kick to the home team, with Dobkin fouled. At the other end Little Oakley, through Palmer (Ma) then Palmer (Mi) forced Caley into action saving with his outstretched foot then gathering the second attempt on the rebound. When Little Oakley patiently built an attack against the wind the final long ball towards Palmer (Mi) forced Murray to defend and from his teams break forward Nunn was late into a challenge on Lewis to earn a verbal warning from the referee. Kioussis took the free-kick finding the head of Hammond who had ventured forward and from his header Eldridge forced Dillon to head over his own cross-bar only yards from the goal-line. A corner, taken by Eades found Palmer (Mi) whose lay-off fell to Kioussis who blasted the ball high and wide however the kicked clearances from keeper Caley were un-characteristically poor today! When Lewis and Craig dived into a full-blooded tackle the free-kick was awarded to Little Oakley, with Craig, having already been spoken too, earning the first caution of the game, this in the fortieth minute. The half finished with two free-kicks apiece but with no danger to either keeper.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 0
There were no player changes at the second half restart with Little Oakley to kick-off assisted by the wind and Palmer (Ma) soon found himself up-ended by Cant, Duly took the free-kick and Murray conceded a corner which was cleared up-field where Dillon set Marangou away past the last “ball-watching” defender however Morrison was alert and gathered the run-away ball. When Duly miss-placed a pass back to a colleague the ball again fell to Marangou however Morrison was quickly out to make a fine save low to his left side. On fifty minutes Murray was replaced by Dale when play had stopped for a foul on Palmer (Ma) by Nunn who again was lucky to avoid a caution! Wheeler made a fine block from a Duly volley and as the light began to fade then the home team looked the brighter side when in possession of the ball. Lewis got forward to meet a loose ball and played in Palmer (Mi) but his first time shot ricocheted off Wheeler to Caley then Eldridge whipped the ball just wide of the goal, this after a poor clearance against the wind by Caley.
As we approached the hour mark Dillon took up the running for the Gas only to be impeded twenty-five yards out by Dobkin, although the left foot of Taylor was probably the best option given the angle from goal, it was Dillon who played the ball short and wide to the unmarked Marangou but his cross was lofted over the cross-bar. Lewis was hard into a challenge on Dillon to concede a free-kick and the home team replaced Eades with Good, but when the free-kick was cleared wide to the right side, Dale ran straight into the back of Dobkin to earn the second caution of the game. Duly fouled Dillon thirty yards out but the high swirling free-kick from Dillon was caught comfortably by Morrison at the far post. When Little Oakley attacked again the ball was heading harmlessly towards Kioussis who suddenly fell to the ground and needed treatment for a sprained ankle which prematurely ended his game, allowing Eagle to enter play. A cross from Beecham was inches too high for the head of Palmer (Mi) and when play switched to the other end, a fine save by Morrison, diving to his left put paid to the goal-bound effort from Nunn, who had been set up by Dillon.
On seventy-seven minutes Duly was replaced by Stanford for Little Oakley whilst Gas replaced Nunn with Greenley with Morrison hitting a long ball down-field where Wheeler conceded a corner. Eldridge took the corner, a driven cross that found the head of Hammond who had stolen forward, eluded a defender to send a fine header, goal-wards from close to the penalty spot, only for Caley to make an outstanding save to keep his goal intact. From the resulting second corner Caley seemed to fumble the ball onto the near-post and in the ensuing scramble bodies dived in to both attack and defend the ball which was eventually cleared but this was probably the closest passage of play towards a goal being scored in the second half! Braddon and Palmer (Ma) exchanged free-kicks for their respective teams and Eldridge and Dillon wasted their kicks from these situations and just as the game started, it ended goal-less.
FULL TIME: 0 – 0
I suppose a draw was the most likely outcome given the recent history between these two teams, Gas missed a great opportunity to go back to the top of the table by not converting the penalty but both defences were otherwise in fine form and the midfield possession was fairly even with Gas having the balance of play in the first half and Little Oakley the second half.
For my Man-of-the Match choice this week I am selecting Benjamin Hammond for his solid central defensive play for a reshuffled Little Oakley FC back-line. Other home team players were in contention, keeper Morrison made numerous timely saves as well as saving the penalty, Dobkin led by example and despite being clattered on several occasions got up and played on, whereas several years ago he would have reacted, Palmer (Ma) played his usual support role sticking a foot in when needed to break up play, then set about getting forward. For Gas Recreation FC, Wheeler played well in central defence, Nunn looks a good acquisition for the midfield, Dillon always looks dangerous on the charge forward but Cant was in my opinion their best player offering space wide on the left and having shown good distribution throughout the game.
For those who made the effort to watch this game, they may not have seen any goals but they did witness a lot of committed football, and a draw was the fairest result with few complaints as to the outcome.
Given the sad news announced at the start of this report I trust that all games played in the ESBFL, next Saturday 9th January 2016, will be marked by a minutes silence in recognition of the service that Richard Hewitt gave not only to this league, but generally in local football.
Teams:
LITTLE OAKLEY FC Colours: Blue & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Blue Socks.
Glen Morrison., Trevor Lewis., Shaun Kioussis., Jamie Dobkin (C)., Benjamin Hammond., Liam Duly., Jamie Eades., Mark Palmer., Sam Eldridge., Michael Palmer., Jamie Beecham.
Manager: Paul Sadler
Assistant Manager: Sean Tynan.
Used Substitutes: Luke Good., Gary Stanford., Daryll Eagle.
GAS RECREATION FC: Colours: Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks.
Ryan Caley., Liam Dadds., Jack Murray., Lee Braddon (C)., Michael Wheeler., Adrian Cant., Eldon Craig., Luke Taylor., Josh Dillon., Sam Nunn., Reife Marangou.
Manager: Jay West.
Used Substitutes: Ryan Dale., Matthew Greenley.
Unused Substitutes: Jay Barker., Asten Firkins.
Referee: John Watson (Colchester).
Assistant Referees: Andrew French (Halstead)
Maison Urwin (Harwich)
Man of the Match: Benjamin HAMMOND (LITTLE OAKLEY FC)
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