03/04/2026 – REPORT – RESERVE KNOCK-OUT CUP FINAL – Great Bentley FC Reserves {1} versus Silver End United FC Reserves {2}

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

RESERVE KNOCK-OUT CUP FINAL.

GREAT BENTLEY FC RESERVES.        1.         SILVER END UNITED FC RESERVES:             2.        

Date:   03^rd April 2026.                                              Venue: “The Crops”, West Street, Coggeshall.

            This was the first ESBFL Cup Final of the season, the Reserve Knock-Out Cup is normally played on Good Friday, in previous years with a morning kick-off, this year was an evening kick-off at “The Crops”, home of Thurlow Nunn Division One South, Coggeshall Town FC and the ESBFL extends a big thank you to Graeme Smith and his staff for providing the venue, facilities and hospitality on a very windy evening.

            This cup competition started with eighteen teams, First Division, Great Bentley FC Reserves beat West Bergholt FC Reserves, Wormingford Wanderers FC Reserves and Hatfield Peverel FC Reserves to reach the final, whilst Third Division, Silver End United FC Reserves beat Prettygate AFC Reserves, Bradfield Rovers FC Reserves and Hedinghams United FC Reserves to also reach the final. Pre-match expectations were that the higher placed league team would prevail, but this is the cup and surprises do happen. The match was watched by around three hundred spectators, probably one of the best attendances for the Reserve Knock-Out Cup Final many of whom, the late comers, had to queue to get in such was the interest in this match between two traditional village teams.

            On a blustery evening, under the floodlights on a flat pitch the Match Officials were the very experienced Carl Pearse who had Florin Grigoras and Jake Jenner as Assistant Referees with Fredrick Wynter as fourth Official.

            Silver End United Reserves kicked off against a stiff breeze, Foran, for Great Bentley Reserves, gained control and set off down the right side, his pass inside to Firkins was turned out for a corner by Ling, taken by Evans to Morton whose header went out for a goal kick. Rickard sprayed the ball wide for Morrison-Jones, but the player was too quick off the mark and was caught offside, but it was clear in these early stages that the lower ranked team, backed up by noisy supporters, were, as they say, up-for-it! When Silver End Reserves were awarded a free kick wide on the right side, Rickard took the kick and despite being against the wind, the ball went straight behind for a goal kick. Rickard was then fouled by Williams, Borein was already showing some good footwork and positional sense through midfield. Great Bentley Reserves were tending to overhit the forward pass giving Evans, Patrick and Firkins little chance to chase meaningfully. Evans was fouled by Williams, Rickard took the kick, Borein rose to head straight to keeper, Herron, Robinson got the ball forward to Morton down the left side, but Downes covered and sent the ball forward to Ribbans who gained throw-in off Foran. Foran and Patrick linked up, with the latter player shooting wide for a goal-kick, taken by keeper Smith from which Morton fouled both Borein and Ribbans.

            On fifteen minutes Patrick forced a corner off Riley, but Morton thumped the ball too hard towards the far post, Firkins regained possession and sent Patrick into the penalty area where Downes brought him down, LUKE PATRICK stepped up to score from the spot and Great Bentley Reserves were one goal ahead on seventeen minutes. A cross from Foran was headed away by Borein, Morton had a shot at goal, but Poulton conceded a corner, again taken by Morton and again overhit! On twenty-two minutes Craig flew into the back of Poulton on the half-way line, Riley took this free kick hanging a high ball up in the windy conditions, Borein rose above everyone, Robinson cleared but only to King who thrashed the ball over the crossbar. On twenty-five minutes, keeper, Herron, had make a smart save to deny Morrison-Jones who was sent through by Ribbans, he had been given the ball by Borein, realistically the scores should now be level! A corner taken by Downes into the six-yard box led to Morrison-Jones fouling keeper, Herron, then Morrison-Jones was caught off-side again from a pass from Rickard, but when Ribbans followed through on a challenge against McMillan he was rightly shown a yellow card.

            McMillan found Foran who gained corner off Quance, Foran took the corner kick, but Borein headed clear, chased the ball up field and sent an “up-and-under” kick deep into the Great Bentley Reserves half, where Rickard was caught off-side, to be honest, I thought the ball was being played in the air far too often, given the strength of the wind. Patrick tried a dribble inside the penalty area, but only got a throw in off Poulton, Robinson was too heavy into a tackle on Rickard and was shown a yellow card, Riley took the free kick from the half-way line, Borein attacked the ball with keeper, Herron who punched the ball out as far as Ling. At the other end, Silver End United Reserves almost put themselves in trouble, a poor back pass by Quance put his static keeper, Smith, in trouble and he was lucky his half-hit clearance went out of play. Patrick got back to foul Borein, from the free kick a long throw-in followed from Downes, Ribbans made a forceful run forward deep into the Great Bentley Reserves half to gain another throw-in which was defended well. As we entered the last few minutes of the half, Patrick got round Downes and only the frame of keeper, Smith stopped him scoring, a corner was given though, a further half dozen corners followed in quick succession as Great Bentley Reserves tried to increase their slender lead but half-time intervened.

HALF-TIME:    1 – 0.

            With no changes to playing personnel during the half-time break, it would be Great Bentley Reserves who kicked off, this time into the breeze which had strengthened as the first half had progressed, they were quick, to close-down any attempts by Silver End United Reserves to get forward. Ribbans scuffed a mis-hit effort straight to keeper, Herron, from his clearance Whiting, under pressure from Borein, sent the first of three balls over the catch fencing! When keeper, Smith launched a long high ball forward, King gave chase, got in front of trailing defender McMillan who fouled King from behind, a red card followed for denying a goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO), King took the free kick himself just clearing the crossbar with a dipping effort. The dismissal meant that Great Bentley Reserves had to re-shuffle and for a few minutes were at sixes and sevens, Borein shot wide from an acute angle, Morton fouled Poulton, Rickard under-hit the free kick which was cleared, but only out as far as Morrison-Jones who was stopped by Williams, Borein made a strong run down the left side, lost the ball to Whiting but Firkins was beaten to the ball by Riley. Borein sent the ball wide to Rickard, Robinson challenged but miscued his clearance out for a throw-in, then Rickard sent in a fine cross saw Robinson head the ball away for another throw-in, taken long by Downes to Poulton whose header was fielded by keeper, Herron, at the second attempt.

            An hour had now gone by, Great Bentley Reserves were still a goal ahead but down to ten players and were playing into the wind, could they hang on or go and score again, Silver End United Reserves, no doubt had other ideas, they are certainly not out of this match! Great Bentley Reserves withdrew Morton with Gooch taking his place, Borein drifted in from the left side, but his right-footed effort flew just over the goal, Firkins fouled Borein, Downes took the free kick finding Ling who hit a right footed effort over the crossbar, clearly, Silver End United Reserves sensed they could score. A fine effort by Rickard with the outside of his right boot tested keeper, Herron who was fouled by Ribbans as he followed up on the loose ball. A throw-in from Downes found Ribbans whose effort cannoned off Gooch and flew over the catch netting into the car park. When Quance challenged Patrick, running through there was a call for a foul but the referee waved play on indicating it was shoulder to shoulder, and play continued. With twenty minutes of normal time remaining, Silver End United Reserves sent on Ermetici for Riley, Borein sent the ball wide to Morrison-Jones, and whilst Great Bentley Reserves won possession they could not get forward or even out of their own half!

            On seventy-three minutes, Great Bentley Reserves replaced Patrick with Hunt and Silver End United Reserves took off Ling and sent on Keeble, from the restart, Rickard and Borein linked up to get the ball wide to Morrison-Jones whose great cross eluded everyone. Another substitution followed for Great Bentley Reserves, on went Powell, replacing Firkins, but within two minutes Silver End United Reserves scored through HARRY RIBBANS, these last few minutes will now be interesting. A cross from Poulton was headed out for a corner by Robinson, another ball goes over the netting, that’s the third, from the restart Ermetici turned and shot goalwards but keeper, Herron saved low down, turning the ball round the post for a corner. Rickard played a fine forward ball towards Morrison-Jones, his pace probably would have seen him clear of a flagging defence, but the ball hit the back of his heel and was cleared. Rickard sent a pass over to King who gave chase, Borein took up the chase and gained a corner off Williams, the corner was not cleared at the far post and in the scramble that followed SAM POULTON stabbed the ball home to queue some wild celebrations, especially as we were in the eighty-eighth minute. From the restart Silver End United Reserves were quite content to keep the ball, and the final flurry was set up by Rickard who showed some good footwork high up the pitch.

FULL TIME:     1 – 2.

            For a Reserve Knock-Out Cup Final this was one of the better ones I have witnessed since I started reporting on matches back in season 2011-2012, ironically, on that day Little Oakley FC Reserves beat Great Bentley FC Reserves! This evening the big crowd was in good voice, there were some committed players on both sides, the wind may have spoilt the game as a spectacle, but everyone likes an underdog and both teams should take credit for making it a final to remember.

Turning to my choice of Star player, for a Cup Final, I usually choose one from each team, numerous players were considered but for Great Bentley FC Reserves its Charlie Foran and for Silver End United FC Reserves its George Rickard.

Teams:

GREAT BENTLEY FC RESERVES.

Colours:                        Blue & White striped, Black Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Sam Herron., Jack Williams., James Whiting (C)., Elliot McMillan., Bradley Robinson., Luke Craig., Charlie Foran., Kurt Firkins., Luke Patrick., Adam Morton.

Management:               William Archilbald., Greg Wainer, Neil French.

Used Substitutes:          Daniel Rowell., Rowan Hunt., Ryan Gooch.

Unused Substitutes:      Jake Boley., Callum Durrell.

SILVER END UNITED FC RESERVES:

Colours:                        Orange Shirts, Blue Shorts and Orange Socks.

Team:

Hadley Smith., Danny Downes., James Riley., Robson Ling., Paul Quance (C)., Sam Poulton., James King., Joe Borein., George Rickard., Harry Ribbans., Joshua Morrison-Jones.

Manager:                      Colin Newman.

Used Substitutes:          Samual Ermetici., Jack Keeble.

Unused Substitutes:      Elliot Sadler, Kabir Soor, Robert Wood.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee:                       Carl Pearse.

Assistants:                    Florin Grigoras & Jake Jenner.

Fourth Official:              Fredrick Wynter

STAR PLAYER:            Charlie FORAN                       (GREAT BENTLEY FC RESERVES)

                                    George RICKARD                   (SILVER END UNITED FC RESERVES)