02/04/2016 – Holland FC versus Weeley Athletic FC – (KOC-S/F)
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE KNOCK-OUT CUP – SEMI-FINAL.
HOLLAND FC: 5. WEELEY ATHLETIC FC: 1.
Date: Saturday 2nd April 2016. Venue: Rush Green Bowl, Clacton
It’s been cup-week this week, the Essex Premier Cup Final on Wednesday and now the ESBFL Knock-Out Cup semi-final between Premier Division, Holland FC and First Division promotion hopefuls, Weeley Athletic FC. Both team’s players will know each other extremely well and certainly this was a local derby that quite a few club supporters and neutral people turned out to watch with the game being played on a surprisingly firm, Rush Green Bowl.
The referee for this KOC Semi-Final game was Stuart Gillman who would be assisted by local referees Simon Lewis and Richard Lock.
Weeley kicked-off and East, already troubled by an injury was in the wars early when he tackled Poole but in the third minute, when Martin dived into a challenge on Heffer a free-kick was awarded just on the half-way line. Davis took the free-kick and Nash held the ball up well under pressure from Goldsworthy before laying the ball back to LOUIE NEWLAND who rifled the ball, low and hard past the static Holland keeper, now all Weeley had to do was defend for eighty-seven minutes! As the minutes ticked away Freeman pulled off a fine save when Eaton broke through to beat East and cross to the far post where Poole headed goal-wards only for the goal-keeper to dive and save low to his left, gathering the loose ball as it rebounded off the upright. After fifteen minutes the game was clearly going to continue to be competitive with tackles flying in, some legal, some not, another foul this time by Sorrell on Davis allowed Davis to find Nash but his snap-shot on the turn flew straight to keeper, Ball. When the ever dangerous Thorne gets a sight of goal and with a defence back-tracking, he will always chance his luck but Freeman denied him twice in succession diving low to his left then getting straight back up to block the rebound.
Mid-way through the half Martin dived into another challenge, missed the ball and the player but received a caution none-the-less having had two warnings already. Heffer barged into the back of Poole inside the centre-circle and from the ensuing scramble inside the Weeley six-yard box Heffer turned to clear the ball but only managed to strike Martin in the process with the Holland player requiring lengthy treatment behind the goal. Poole was becoming very frustrated when decisions from the Referee or his Assistants did not go his way, especially when he, like most spectators thought he had won a corner rather than a goal-kick being given. When McLean, who had been subdued so far ran at the Holland defence, Goldsworthy attempted a challenge, missed the ball and the player who tumbled over but the referee allowed play to continue and Holland cleared the ball away until Rawlinson tackled illegally on the centre-circle. Goldsworthy took the free-kick and East, under pressure from Eaton headed the ball out for a corner, Freeman punched the ball clear but when it was played back into the six-yard box every defender looked on as BRUCE POOLE pounced to stab the bouncing ball into the roof of the net for the equaliser.
When Eaton fouled East wide on the right side the Holland player received a caution, looked a bit harsh, which was probably why Thorne got involved and also received a caution for showing dissent towards those decisions. With Holland now beginning to play better football it was the turn of Weeley to defend with the unfortunate East having to be replaced by Westrip after only thirty five minutes. Thorne jinxed his was past Downes but fired over the cross-bar and the referee had to stop the game and talk to the Holland bench with skipper Chapman in attendance. A deep cross from Westrip found Rawlinson galloping down the left wing, leaving Minter in his wake but the cross was comfortably fielded by Ball then Nash was caught off-side trying to run onto a through ball from McLean. Five minutes before half-time and Holland took the lead, Goldsworthy pushed the ball forward to Martin who turned back into the pitch and laid a fine pass between Downes and Findlay which allowed STEVEN EATON to run on and slip the ball past the advancing Freeman. On forty-three minutes, Panrucker was cautioned for a poor attempt at a challenge on Davis who had to leave the pitch after treatment, Findlay played a long ball forward to Nash who fouled Goldsworthy and as the free-kick total mounted Martin and Sorrell combined to stop Newland who took the free-kick only for Findlay to foul Panrucker and the half ended.
HALF-TIME: 2 – 1
Holland restarted the match with Weeley looking rather lethargic as they defended their goal but without getting any meaningful ball possession which allowed Holland to keep, their momentum going. Eaton danced along the goal-line before lobbing the ball over the goal but when Thorne challenged Findlay and won the ball his cross struck Downes and eluded the flat-footed defender, Westrip, at the far post to allow STEVEN EATON to guide his header back over the stranded keeper for number three. Poole was cautioned for an extremely poor challenge on Andrews but when the free-kick taken by Davis was cleared by Goldsworthy, Thorne took the ball in his stride and was only denied when Freeman was quickly off his line to smother the ball at the feet of Thorne. On fifty-five minutes Holland replaced Sorrell, who continues to show his credentials, with Pittaway and Weeley won a throw-in off Bolton, taken by Westrip to Heffer whose cross fell to Newland who saw his shot blocked and when Nash hit the rebound Panrucker was in the way and the danger passed. A poor goal-kick by Ball was picked up by Newland who took on Chapman and Goldsworthy only for his lobbed effort to hit the top of the cross-bar and safety.
Minter put in a great tackle on Andrews when he found space down the left side after Nash and Newland had worked the ball in that direction and generally the Holland defence, in fact the whole team, marshalled as usual by the vociferous Chapman had stuck to their game plan and nullified the well known player threats of Weeley. Weeley replaced Davis with Clover and a mazy run from Newland from a pass by Clover ended when he over-ran the ball just outside the penalty area allowing Goldsworthy to send Thorne away from a long clearance but the Assistant Referees flag put a stop to that for off-side. A quick free-kick taken by Bolton almost had Eaton and Thorne through, that was, until Downes impeded the pair to concede a free-kick and receive a caution, with Thorne being treated by Newland for what looked like cramp. Poole took the free-kick with Freeman punching clear and twenty minutes remained however Heffer in trying to take on too many players inside the centre-circle, lost the ball, committed a foul, knocked the ball away and was cautioned. Holland replaced Martin with Kearney, another straight midfielder swap, McInnes replaced Bolton in defence, Newland shinned a shot wide from outside the penalty area and Minter was fortunate to escape any punishment for a poor challenge through the back of Rawlinson who had to be replaced by Law.
The pressure had continued from Holland with Chapman striking the cross-bar from a pass by Bolton and with Weeley dithering in defence STEVEN EATON slotted home his third goal as the visitors appealed for an earlier foul inside the six-yard box. This fourth goal probably sealed the victory for Holland but Weeley kept going forward with Heffer feeding Newland then Minter had to clear as Findlay joined the attack. A corner from Kearney was cleared by Findlay as far as Panrucker who lobbed the ball over the cross-bar from close range. Poole waltzed around Westrip but not Freeman who advanced to fling his frame at the feet of Poole to gather the ball and we entered the last few minutes of the game. Freeman caught a short cross from Kearney but in his haste to clear the ball up-field it cannoned off the back of one of his own players and fell invitingly to AARON KEARNEY who side footed home at the second attempt after Freemen had parried the first effort, a cruel end for the keeper who had made several notable saves in this game.
FULL TIME: 5 – 1
For Weeley Athletic FC, this defeat will come as a bitter blow having now lost a second semi-final, defensive frailties seemed evident and you cannot let a team like Holland FC any sniff of a chance, however on the day Holland FC showed their fighting spirit and footballing qualities and did more than enough to win this semi-final.
In selecting my Man-of-the Match, if it was to be a Weeley player then keeper Freeman excelled despite conceding five goals, however Holland had all the aces, Poole, Thorne and Eaton are an experienced strike trio with the later scoring a hat-trick but if one player epitomised the spirit of his team and continually drove them on it was captain, David Chapman, so well done to him.
In the second semi-final, also played on Saturday, Coggeshall Town FC won by two goals to one at Hedinghams United FC so they like Holland FC go forward to contest the Knock-Out Cup Final which is scheduled to be played on Tuesday 12th April 2016 at the Garrison Ground, Colchester, Kick-Off is 19:30pm, see you there.
Teams:
HOLLAND FC Colours: Orange Shirts, Orange Shorts and Orange Socks.
Alex Ball., Craig Minter., James Bolton., David Chapman (C)., Blake Panrucker., Neil Goldsworthy (C)., Keelan Sorrell., Joe Martin., Steven Eaton., Robert Thorne., Bruce Poole.
Manager: Rob Batten.
Assistant Manager: Glen Cowan
Used Substitutes: Scott Pittaway., Aaron Kearney., Alistair McInnes.
Unused Substitute: Harvey Cowler.
WEELEY ATHLETIC FC: Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Mitchell Freeman., Robert East., Keiran Andrews., Steven Downes (C)., Daniel Findlay., Tom Heffer., Louie Newland., Steven Davis., Ross Nash., Russell McLean., Scott Rawlinson.
Manager: Keiron Shelley.
Assistant Manager: Richard Downes.
Used Substitutes: Jarrad Clover., Matthew Westrip., James Law
Unused Substitutes: Lewis King
Referee: Stuart Gillman (Wivenhoe).
Assistant Referees: Simon Lewis (Clacton-on-sea)
And Richard Lock (Frinton-on-sea)
Man of the Match: David CHAPMAN (HOLLAND FC)
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