03/05/2022 – REPORT – KNOCK-OUT CUP – TIPTREE HEATH FC VERSUS STANWAY PEGASUS FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
KNOCK-OUT CUP FINAL
TIPTREE HEATH FC 0. STANWAY PEGASUS FC 1.
Date: Tuesday 03rd May 2022. Venue: War Memorial, Little Oakley.
Evening all, tonight’s match is the Knock-Out Cup Final between Tiptree Heath FC and Stanway Pegasus FC who last weekend, were crowned Champions of the Premier Division a feat achieved with no league defeats, just two draws, as they won the remaining thirty-two and so laid to rest the “the Invincibles” tag associated with Gas Recreation FC, how fortunes have changed over the years! Tiptree Heath FC also have a fine footballing pedigree and they will finish in sixth place in a competitive Division and, who like today’s opponents fell at the quarter-final stages, both to the eventual finalists, of the prestigious Essex Premier Cup.
For the third time this season, the venue for an ESBFL Cup Final was the well-appointed ground at Little Oakley FC, the ESBFL would like to thank the Club for allowing use of their facilities and for supplying the after-match refreshments.
On a warm but overcast evening, it got cold later, the floodlights were on early, the appointed officials for this match were Simon Lyons who would be assisted by Benjamin Ridge and David Feline with Michele Rinaldi acting as the 4th official and both teams had a good support at pitch side.
Stanway Pegasus FC kicked off, these teams had met just days before in the League, but Cup Finals tend to bring the better players to the fore and can be unpredictable when results matter! Booth was caught off-side as early as the first minute then Chapman forced a corner off Chester when the ball was played over the top, Ager took the corner kick, keeper Lee got a good hand to the ball which went out for throw-in, defended well, with keeper, Lee sending a long goal-kick deep into the “Pegasus” half where Clark headed out. Chesney, always an active midfield player for “Heath” turned the ball into the path of Ward who gave chase but again the positioning of Clark nullified any danger, striking the ball against Ward for a goal kick. At the other end Booth, tricked his way into getting a corner off Kensdale, once again “Heath” cleared their lines with Tollhurst prominent when heading away. Clark fouled Saccoh, again the “Pegasus” defence was sound and when the ball broke forward, Booth gave chase with Tollhurst in close attendance, sufficient enough to get the goal-kick. Saccoh was tackled from behind by Barron, that might liven things up, but the free-kick taken left-footed by Green just dipped too late, behind the goal. Green was in action soon after linking up with Ward in front of goal but when the ball was laid back to Chesney, he shanked the ball well wide, but this had been a positive start from both teams and no quarter was expected to be given for the rest of this match. Booth, once again on the ball in a wide position on the left side found Tollhurst a difficult obstacle to get around although he did gain a corner, with Pennick dealing with the corner kick under pressure from Dillon. The first ten minutes flew by, and this game was already end-to-end with defences dominating, Booth was caught off-side from a pass by Chapman, Chesney received a caution for “delaying the restart at a “Pegasus” free-kick and Green quickly followed into the referee’s notebook, for a crunching challenge on Barron, right in front of the “dug-outs”, plenty of noise following from that area!
When Hunt and Pennick both went for the same ball, and missed it, this left Booth with a volleyed chance whilst at the other end Ward chased a through ball but ran out of pitch, then Barker was adjudged to have handled the ball just wide of the penalty area, Green took the free-kick with Ward, in space, heading narrowly wide. An early feature of this match was the continuous chasing by the ”Heath” players, as they denied “Pegasus” players any time on the ball. Dillon almost set Booth away but once on the ball, Tollhurst was there to block his cross for a corner, taken by Ager, with Hunt clearing at the near post, more pressure from came “Pegasus” when Barker found Marangou running in behind the “Heath” defence, but he was baulked by Chesney who had read the danger. Tollhurst won a crucial header inside the centre-circle as any error would have let the pass from Dillon go through to Sabini running down the right side. A free-kick taken by Aves was cleared by Chesney, another corner, that tally was building up, Booth took the kick, but Tollhurst headed clear, then Booth picked up a loose ball wide on the left side, cut inside and flashed a cross right across the penalty area.
On thirty minutes, there had been no sign of a goal, both teams were giving it a right go but defences stood firm, when Ward was fouled, the free-kick taken by Green was poor, even by his standards, as the ball failed to clear the defensive wall, “Pegasus” remained dangerous when breaking forward with pace, Sabini found Booth whose shot was gathered low down by keeper, Lee. “Pegasus” defender, Clark was cautioned for a foul on Ward on the half-way line, which led to Ward fouling Clark, perhaps getting his own back, no comment! Ward tried to burrow through the “Pegasus” defence without success but when Booth tried the same at the other end, Tollhurst was cautioned for a foul. Marangou was replaced by Braddon on thirty-five minutes, then the best attack of the game came from young Morley of “Heath”, picking the ball up inside his own half, he raced down the right side leaving three defenders in his wake, but when cutting inside onto his left foot he only managed to fire a rising shot well over the cross-bar, great run, poor finish! When Morley fouled Dillon, Ager took the free-kick, Chapman turned to shoot, only to be denied by a fine reactive save from keeper, Lee, and from the corner the ball was laid deep to Booth who found Ager but his goal bound shot hit Dillon, his own player, and “Heath” cleared before the half-time whistle was blown
HALF-TIME: 0 – 0.
“Heath” restarted this close match and the pace of the game did not stop as two fit teams went into battle of the last forty-five minutes. Chapman almost set up Dillon, Chesney intercepted and with Tollhurst set “Heath” going up field, with Chester and Green giving chase finding Ward but Saccoh had strayed off-side, but “Heath” showed that they can play as well. Ager found Aves and from his right side cross, Hunt was well placed to defend but the ball fell to Booth who set up Sabini for a low shot that keeper, Lee saved. A corner taken by Ager found Clark whose header was easy for keeper, Lee, to catch, a chance though, Pennick fouled Sabini just outside the penalty area, again Hunt cleared from the six-yard box and Chesney gave chase only to be blocked off by Sabini. Ager fouled Morley and Saccoh went down injured, a muscle pull, or cramp, who knows, he carried on, Chapman embarked on a mazy dribble beating three players before losing control of the ball.
On sixty minutes, a big blow for “Heath” when Chester pulled up, it looked like he turned his ankle on the hard pitch and after a lengthy delay he hobbled off to be replaced by Michaels, upon the restart, Ager raced clear of Tollhurst and Pennick but keeper, Lee, was well positioned to force Ager wide and then push the goal bound effort wide for a corner, if I’m honest I thought he should have scored! Booth took the corner kick, Dillon missing the target from a decent position, then Ager used his pace and deft left foot to get forward, but Tollhurst stuck to his task well and the danger passed. Despite,” Pegasus” having more of the ball possession, “Heath” had stuck to their game plan well, never, overawed by “Pegasus” they did enough to warrant attention when also on the ball, a patient game maybe but nothing flash or reckless. The “Pegasus” combination of Ager and Booth almost provided a chance, but Booth fired wide, and with just under fifteen minutes remaining “Heath” replaced Ward with Knill-Jones and when he saw the ball for the first time, Clark, stood firm to clear with his head, just as his opposite number, Tollhurst, had done all game.
Tollhurst played the ball wide to Green, a look up and fine pass was played into the penalty area, just a shame it was behind Knill-Jones and with eighty minutes on the clock, “Pegasus” replaced Aves with Rahiti, who immediately took a corner on the right side, you can guess who cleared it, Tollhurst, of course and “Heath” built a promising attack with Chesney finding Green, but Clark was well positioned to defend. Dillon sent Hunt flying with a robust challenge, “Pegasus” regained possession through Ager who found Booth, he rounded keeper, Lee, but Pennick was well placed to clear off the goal-line. Normally, on eighty-five minutes, I’m looking to draw up a grid for penalty kicks as it did look a likely scenario, however, I kept an eye on events on the pitch and low and behold a goal, Chapman put in a low cross, laying the ball back to MAX BOOTH who sent a low shot past keeper, Lee, from just outside the penalty area. Oh dear, the “Heath” resistance had been broken, Hunt fouled Booth, a corner from Rahiti was cleared by Tollhurst, and time was running when “Heath” replaced Green with Hart, Chesney put Michaels away down the right side, a low cross flashed across the penalty area, Saccoh failed to get a touch in a central position and Knill-Jones, perhaps unawares the ball was there for the taking could only steer the ball wide of the goal, its fine margins that often win games, this time it was the opposite, chance gone, game over.
FULL TIME: 0 – 1.
I think its fair to say we witnessed a close fought game between two evenly matched teams, at least on this occasion, the result was never going to be a foregone conclusion and both teams should be congratulated for an entertaining match. Fine margins win games, goal-scoring chances during the game were at a premium, “Heath” keeper, Lee, had more saves to make whereas “Pegasus” keeper, Henly has not been mentioned!
Now, let’s turn to my “Star Players, it’s a Cup Final so it is only fair that I pick a player from each team, there are too many players to mention individually as everyone played their part so to pick a “Star Player” might have been difficult excepting that two central defenders stood out, Jack Tollhurst for “Heath” and Sam Clark for “Pegasus”.
Teams:
TIPTREE HEATH FC:
Colours: Green & Black Shirts, Green Shorts and Green Socks.
Team:
Robbie Lee., Ben Kensdale., Callum Hunt., Cameron Pennick., Jack Tollhurst (C)., Dialu Morley., Joe Chester., Jamie Chesney., Charlie Green., Cameron Ward, Tejan Saccoh.
Manager: Danny Hunt.
Assistant Manager: Noel Pennick.
Used Substitutes: Joe Hart., Ryan Knill-Jones., Kieran Michaels.
Unused Substitutes: Sununur Bah Bah., Ben Naughton
STANWAY PEGASUS FC:
Colours: Yellow & Black Shirts, Yellow Shorts and Yellow & Black Socks.
Team:
Will Henly., Elliott Aves., Gianni Sabini., Josh Dillon., George Barron., Sam Clark., Reife Marangou., Josh Chapman., Dean Ager., Max Booth., Jay Barker
Manager: Rosi Webb.
Assistant Manager: Ian Booth.
Assistant Manager: Lee Braddon.
Used Substitutes: Lee Braddon., Samir Rahiti.
Unused Substitute: Will Bray., Bradley Beevis-Buchanan., Callum Griffith.
Referee: Simon Lyons.
Referee Assistants: David Feline & Benjamin Ridge.
4th Official: Michele Rinaldi.
Star Player/s: Jack TOLLHURST (TIPTREE HEATH FC)
Sam CLARK (STANWAY PEGASUS FC)
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