04/01/2020 – REPORT – Little Oakley FC “A” versus Bures United FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE.

LITTLE OAKLEY FC “A”. 2. BURES UNITED FC: 1.

Date: Saturday 28^th December 2019. Venue: The Green, Great Bentley.

A Happy New Year to all readers, let us hope the inclement weather is behind us, we can always hope I suppose but back to an almost full League programme on Saturday, just three matches off, Clubs must despair when Councils call of matches a full day beforehand, seemingly protecting pitches, to name Mile End, that are hardly used! The home team took advantage of having a large squad of registered players and with no First Team game it was hardly surprising that their Reserves and “A” were strengthened, some clubs might whinge about this but within the rules it is allowed and especially given that the “A” team languished in fifteenth place. The visitors on the day were Bures United FC sitting mid-table in eighth place and who had not played for three weeks and judging by their display had probably not trained either!

Saturday was bright but cold, there was a slight breeze, the low sun might hamper the vision of some players and certainly the Club Linesman on the side of the houses! The match referee was Stuart Gillman and with the ESBFL having been requested by the ECFA that wherever possible, matches could be delayed by one minute, to observe a silence held in respect of the FA’s, Mental Health Campaign.

Little Oakley “A” a mostly young team kicked-off and looked lively going forward from the right side to the left side but no cross was forthcoming as Dolling defended, the first real shot, from Sullivan, was way off target. Bures tried to play the ball out of defence but all too often lost possession just over the half-way line thus putting pressure back on their defence, Roy (A) fouled Sullivan on the half-way line and the visitors cleared the ball forward through Hubbard who was clearly having trouble keeping his feet however his ball forward should have been collected by keeper, Rotchell, but Prince nipped in, running away from goal before turning to cross to the far post where Drew headed wide. The first corner of the match went the way of Bures, taken by Hubbard to Roy (A) who set up Hubbard for a shot which took a deflection off Smith for another corner. A long free-kick taken by Slater fell to Caudill who moved inside from the left side before hitting the ball too high, Bures continued their slow passing approach with Hubbard again putting in a teasing cross into the Little Oakley penalty area where keeper, Rotchell punched clear from an effort by Prince. With the soft pitch, the ball did not bounce in a true manner and seemed soft as players failed to connect properly when passing or clearing and Little Oakley almost capitalised following a poor goal-kick from keeper, Roy (D) as when the ball fell to Sullivan, twenty-five yards out, he released Sargent, but Wood just managed to get back to clear. A run, clear of the Bures defence by Sargent forced keeper, Roy (D) to dive and save at his near post, another corner which was headed clear by Wanmer and Bures broke down the left side through Prince who was caught by the raised elbow of Poole who was cautioned. Hubbard took the free-kick finding Roy (A) whose mis-hit shot bounced into the ground and then the keeper’s arms.

On sixteen minutes an error by Wood gifted the ball to Goldsmith, defender Melia gave chase, missed his first tackle but clumsily dumped Goldsmith on the ground with his second attempt, with a penalty kick being awarded, however, lady luck shone for the visitors as Slater stepped up to hammer the ball, high and wide. Drew for Bures hit a shot straight at keeper, Rotchell who minutes later was dispossessed by Prince as he ran wide of his area and Bures should have gained some confidence from this spluttering performance, one, as usual prompted by Hubbard through mid-field but in reality, they had little to show up top. Little Oakley continued to press, a corner from Poole was headed upwards by Roy (A) and the unmarked Poole scoped the ball over the cross bar from eighteen yards. Bures countered with a goal-kick, taken by keeper, Roy (D) finding Knebel who moved the ball forward to Roy (A) who exchanged passes with Prince before defender Slater intervened gaining a goal-kick. On twenty-seven minutes another stone-wall penalty award, Poole rode the first challenge from Dolling who, when chasing back, clattered into the back of Poole, TYLER SULLIVAN took responsibility this time driving the spot-kick home, this should have been a wake-up call for the visitors!

Despite being a goal behind, Bures still tried to play the ball out of defence but Wanmer had to put in a decisive tackle when the ball was lost and found its way to McDonald, then Caudill ran down the left side, cut inside Dolling to unleash a shot that cleared the cross-bar with yards to spare. Prince made good ground down the left side before turning to run right the way across the pitch to the right side from where a cross was delivered, after an interchange with Dolling, the ball being headed clear by Slater to Finch whose shot was narrowly wide. As we approached half-time keeper, Rotchell, made a smart save, low down from Finch, standing six yards out, Prince shot narrowly wide and Bures keeper, Roy (D) was almost deceived by the bounce of the ball when Caudill threatened with a shot from the left side.

HALF TIME: 1 – 0.

There were no changes in personnel at the half-time break, although, when I asked Bures Manager, Denis Handley he jokingly said he could have changed all his team, I sympathised of course, theirs had been a lethargic display, so far. This did not improve as in the first minute of the second half Little Oakley scored their second goal, Hubbard once again lost his footing, Sullivan pushed forward to set up JOSH CAUDILL whose shot entered the net off the leg of either Dolling or Wanmer. This prompted the first substitution of the match with Roy (A) for Bures being replaced by Tucker, a corner taken by Hubbard was punched clear by keeper, Rotchell, Wanmer executed an over-head kick to get the ball back into the home penalty area but Smith was fouled by Drew and when play resumed Slater fouled Prince. The half time break saw the home team commence the second half in better shape, that second goal should have steadied some nerves especially as they had been created by errors from the visitors. Wanmer made a fine recovery tackle on McDonald after he broke from the half-way line and the same player stroked a great pass towards Prince who was slightly slow to read the speed of the ball and keeper, Rotchell reached the ball first. Keeper, Roy (D) made a fine full-stretch save to deny McDonald who once again was seen running through the Bures defence retreating as the home team attacked with pace.

When Bures, through Drew, found space down the right side, his cross was cleared from the six-yard by central defender Slater, a corner was awarded and cleared out to Sullivan who with no one in support made ground towards goal, turning Wanmer one way then the other before forcing a fine save from keeper, Roy (D). Little Oakley made their first change replacing McDonald with Wallace (C) and more no-nonsense defending by Slater kept the home goal intact and Slater was on hand again to deny firstly, Prince and then Finch when a penalty area scramble developed. A deep cross from Drew, from the right side saw Prince climb high to send a fine looping header goal-wards only for keeper, Rotchell, to make an excellent save, hanging in the air to clutch the dipping ball close to the goal-line. Buoyed by this phase of the game, Bures attacked again, Drew and Finch worked the ball back to Hubbard, standing on the edge of the penalty area however the ball was on his left foot rather than his favoured right foot and his shot flew narrowly wide. Hubbard took a free-kick near the half-way line, a shout for off-side went up but no decision was given and from the corner taken by Hubbard, Wood headed over the cross-bar and with play stopped Bures replaced Finch with Fairless.

Prince was denied any space by Slater whose turn of pace proved crucial, then a shot from Drew from outside the penalty area was gathered by keeper, Rotchell, whose throw-out to Wallace (M) saw the ball move forward to Wallace (C) then Caudill whose tame shot was gathered by keeper, Roy (D). On seventy minutes Bures replaced Knebel with Thraves and when an offside decision was not upheld, a rash challenge by Drew, apparently out of frustration, felled Harte leading to a caution. Harte could not continue and was replaced by Brown, a long clearance from Roy (D) fell to Prince who fouled Slater, Prince then became instigator, finding Drew, then Hubbard whose cross found the head of Fairless who could not direct the ball goal-wards. Slater was again on hand to defend when Hubbard tried to find Prince with Smith sweeping up but conceding a corner. Hubbard floated the ball over from the corner, Melia met the ball at the near post heading the ball upwards off the back of his head and in the resulting melee JORDAN MELIA somehow managed to push the ball into the back of the net. Little Oakley countered and keeper Roy (D) punched clear from Sargent and Wallace (C) drifted through, running right to left before sending in a left footed shot that was cleared by Wood for a corner, with keeper, Roy (D) well beaten. Bures had one last foray in time added-on, Drew and Hubbard worked the ball to Tucker who fired over the cross-bar.

FULL TIME: 2 – 1.

Was I expecting a classic game, no, I suppose I was not, many teams have stood idle over the last few weeks, this clearly showed as players tired in heavy conditions, Little Oakley deserved to win but they were helped by basic mistakes by Bures, the home team even missing a penalty in the first, half. These three, much needed points have lifted the home team up to fourteenth with games in hand.

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, a couple of players did stand out but overall, despite his first half penalty miss, Little Oakley “A” team captain and defender Jordan Slater dominated throughout.

Teams:

LITLE OAKLEY FC “A”: Colours: Blue & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Harvey Rotchell., Miles Wallace., Reece Harte., Mitchell Smith., Jordan Slater (C)., Thomas Goldsmith., Tyler Sullivan., Samuel Poole., Max McDonald., Miles Sargent., Josh Caudill.

Manager: Gavin Mann.

Used Substitutes: Cameron Wallace., Keenan Brown

Unused Substitutes: Gavin Mann., Jack James., Mason Kernott

BURES UNITED FC: Colours: Black & White striped Shirts, Black Shorts and Purple Socks.

Deklyn Roy., Adam Dolling., Oscar Knebel., Shane Wanmer., Jake Wood., Jordan Melia (C)., Ashley Drew (C)., Jack Hubbard., Addy Roy., Courtney Prince., Lloyd Finch.

Manager: Denis Handley.

Used Substitutes: Connor Tucker., Samuel Fairless., Harry Thraves.

Referee: Stuart Gillman.

Player of the Match: Jordan SLATER (LITTLE OAKLEY FC “A”)

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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: 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 Handbook,