04/08/2021 – REPORT – AV Lee Memorial Trophy

AV LEE MEMORIAL TROPHY – SEASON 2020 / 2021.

COLNE ATHLETIC FC:              5.                 LAWFORD LADS FC:               0.

Date:   Wednesday 4^th August 2021.             Venue:             War Memorial Ground, Little Oakley.

            Welcome back, hopefully the 2021 / 2022 Season will start now and continue through to May 2022, let us be mindful that COVID-19 is still with us and we should all heed the advice and guidance given, it will be strange, and it is clear that some participants may feel reluctant to restart a contact sport, we should all hope that some sort of normality resumes but it may well take time.

            It is normal that the ESBFL season commences with the AV Lee Memorial Trophy played between the winners of the Premier Division and the Knock-Out Cup Winners, however with no Divisional winner for two seasons the ESBFL Management Committee decided to invite the Knock-Out Cup Winners from the delayed 2019/2020 season, being Lawford Lads FC to play the 2020/2021 winners, being Colne Athletic FC.

            On a bright sunny evening the match started without floodlights and was watched by a crowd approaching one hundred. The referee Richard Oakes was assisted by Stuart Gillman and Matthew Webb with Simon Lyons acting as Fourth Official, a competent display was given by them throughout.

            On a perfect pitch, Lawford Lads FC kicked off and attacked down the left side with Allam just failing to control the ball conceding a throw-in, quickly taken, with Bradley sending the ball long for Daly to chase but defender Perry matched his pace and used his strength to fairly gain possession outside the penalty area then Vaughan (Jo) sent another long ball forward this time down the left side where Price chased forward, keeper, Long advanced, stumbled and was thankful that Ellis could not take advantage of the loose ball which was cleared by Scott. The first free-kick, on four minutes, was taken left-footed by Vaughan (Jo) but his low, well struck free-kick failed to threaten the Lawford Lads FC defence, the first corner followed on six minutes, Lawford Lads FC getting forward with Flack conceding, Stocker took the kick, but Brough headed away unchallenged inside the six-yard box. Primus made a forceful run to connect with a cross from Thompson but Brough was there again to block his effort and clear the ball forward. A long throw-in by Vaughan (Jo) was flicked on by Ellis, keeper, Long attempted to punch clear under pressure from Price and Bolingbroke cleared the ball up field to relieve the mounting pressure. In this early stage of the game Colne Athletic FC had adopted a long ball approach, Vaughan (Jo) tried to get Ellis through but defender Perry read the danger and guided the ball back to his keeper with his head. Burch was guilty of a foul wide on the far touch-line, this was on Allam, Thompson took the free-kick, but Burch headed clear.

            Colne Athletic FC put together another flowing move on fifteen minutes, Vaughan (Jo) found Price in space and he found Ellis who turned to force keeper, Long, into the first real save of the match, a snatched shot maybe but a sign of things to come perhaps! Perry sent a long ball forward towards Thompson who won a corner off Brough, Allam took the kick but Brown (D) cleared at the far post, keeper, Long saved low down from Ellis just before the twenty-minute mark and that trusted route, Vaughan (Jo), Price and Ellis again threatened down the left side and when play switched to the right side, Daly was sent forward by Bradley with keeper, Long, clutching the eventual cross inside the six-yard box. Allam became the first player caught off-side, this after some decent approach work from Primus and Bolingbroke leading to the ball being played out to the left side. A long chase and cross from Stocker saw the ball comfortably held by keeper, Ringe and from his clearance Price gave chase, Scott headed clear, the ball being picked up by Vaughan (Jo) whose cross to the far post was met by Brown (D) who could only hit the side-netting, a close call. Ruth was called into defensive action to make a fine tackle on Ellis who was set up by Price, but it was not long before the dead-lock was broken, as on twenty-four minutes, Colne Athletic FC took the lead. Flack won possession and picked out the unmarked DALE BROWN who gleefully scored on his full Club debut and from being in this game the plight of Lawford Lads FC took a turn for the worse.

            On the half-hour mark Allam, having won the ball deep by the corner flag, drifted back inside to drive a left-footed effort just round the defensive cordon but just wide of the goal, best effort from his team so far. Moments later and Colne Athletic FC increased their lead, Daly sprinted away from Scott and sent in a low cross that was eagerly smashed home by RYAN ELLIS, in the right place at the right time and deserved by the player who was showing some promise going forward. Ellis was in action again soon after his goal, Vaughan (Jo) sent the ball down the left side, Ellis controlled and played in Price who took the ball on but struck the side-netting, even at this stage I wrote, game over, Colne Athletic FC were two goals up and calling all the shots as they say with Lawford Lads FC looking for some words of wisdom from the approaching half-time break! Allam smashed a shot at goal but Brough appeared from nowhere to make a block with keeper, Ringe able to pick up the loose ball and from his clearance, Vaughan (Jo) broke forward to cross with Perry forced to head out for a corner, taken by Shurvington but headed over the cross-bar by Ellis. At the other end Allam broke away only for Burch to time his tackle better this time and he came away with the ball to put more pressure on the Lawford Lads FC defence who thought they should have had a goal-kick rather than having to defend a corner with Perry spoken too for disputing the decision. Once again, Shurvington took the kick, keeper Long punched clear but as Lawford Lads FC tried to play the ball away they were forced into two errors, mid-half, losing possession, and rued those as DALE BROWN ran onto the ball and deftly chipped the ball into the back of the net from outside the penalty area, great finish, surely there is no coming back now!

HALF-TIME:    3 – 0.

            Eyes down, floodlights on, the second half began with Lawford Lads FC forcing the early pace with Burch guilty of a handball infringement mid-half as he failed to control the long ball from keeper, Long, Bolingbroke took the free-kick but Brown (D) headed clear from the defensive wall. Three minutes into the half and Perry, for Lawford Lads FC was forced off with an injury being replaced by Foakes and Shurvington was cautioned for pulling back Primus, having already been warned about a tackle earlier in the match. Brown (D) conceded a corner when back defending, Stocker took the kick, Primus challenged inside the penalty area and Thompson tried an over-head kick than flew harmlessly wide for a goal kick. On fifty-five minutes Colne Athletic FC scored their fourth goal, Vaughan (Jo), who else, threaded the ball to Daly, this time playing on the left side, cutting in, then out again he found the goal-line and crossed low into the six-yard box where DANIEL PRICE stooped to head home from a yard out. Allam had been the only real threat from Lawford Lads FC when they got forward, this time his free-kick was cleared by Burch who headed over the cross-bar for a corner, taken by Stocker with keeper, Ringe electing to punch clear, the ball reaching Bolingbroke who failed to gain control conceding a throw-in.

            On the hour mark a flurry of substitutions, for Colne Athletic FC, off went Shurvington and Ellis to be replaced by McCracken and Homewood and five minutes later Lawford Lads FC replaced Ruth and Thompson with Upton and Dines then Vaughan (Jo) limped off to be replaced by his brother Vaughan (Ja). Keeper, Ringe was quickly out to the feet of Lonergan, and defender Bradley received the second yellow card of the match after a scything challenge on Scott and despite having an equal share of possession at this stage, Lawford Lads FC could not break down a resolute Colne Athletic FC defence. That said Allam sent in a free-kick which was cleared to Bolingbroke who flashed a rising shot across the face of the goal, once again Colne Athletic FC worked the ball forward and gained a free-kick wide on eh right side.

            Bradley took a free-kick sending the ball high to the far post where JACK BURCH strode forward to plant a firm header into the back of the net. Keeper, Ringe, for much of the game a spectator, made a fine save to deny Dines, Burch then handled the ball again with Bolingbroke driving his free-kick into the defensive wall and to be honest the final ten minutes were relatively scrappy although Daly forced keeper, Long, to save low down to his left side and Colne Athletic FC ran out clear winners.

FULL TIME:     5 – 0.

            After the match had finished, John Campany, newly elected Chairman of the ESBFL made a short speech commending both teams for providing a decent game of football for the spectators and thanked Little Oakley FC for the use of their facilities and for their hospitality this evening. John Campany then introduced Eric Bowers who has been a match official in the ESBFL for over forty years, sadly Eric has had to hang up his whistle for health reasons but in recognition of this achievement Eric has been made a Life Member of the ESBFL for which he received an engraved plaque.

            The Match Officials were given a round of applause before accepting their mementoes’ then Alex Stocker, Captain of Lawford Lads, lifted the Runners-Up Trophy whilst Elliot Ringe, acting Captain, of victors Colne Athletic FC picked up the Winners’ Trophy to raucous celebrations.

            Now let me turn to my “Star Player” as it was a Charity Final, I usually choose a player from each team:

            For Lawford Lads FC this was a surprisingly under par performance, well beaten on the evening but it was clear numerous players were absent however the season starts for real on Saturday! Perry in central defence did well until he was forced to leave the field, experienced players, Stocker, Bolingbroke, Thompson and Primus tried to rally their team, Allam worked hard without reward up front, but young full back Finlay Scott looks a good prospect and he only turned sixteen recently, he never gave up and was a credit to his team.

            For Colne Athletic FC, they too have lost players or had players unavailable but the influx of new players during the summer has bolstered the depth of the playing squad, no one had a poor game, defensively sound, the midfield was dynamic, and they were lively in attack, however one player did stand out, Dale Brown who scored twice on his debut, his second a real gem.

Teams:

COLNE ATHLETIC FC:

Colours:                        Claret Shirts, Dark Blue Shorts and Dark Blue Socks.

Team:

Elliot Ringe., Daniel Bradley., Joshua Vaughan (C)., Jack Burch., Peter Brough., Dale Brown., Tim Flack., Joel Shurvinton., Daniel Price., Ryan Ellis., Quintin Daly.

Manager:                      Ben Connell.

Assistant Manager:        Jamie Thompson.

Used Substitutes:           Jake Vaughan., Joe McCracken., Daniel Homewood.

Unused Substitutes:       Billy White

LAWFORD LADS FC:

Colours:                        Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Jake Long., Alex Stocker (C)., Finley Scott., Jerome primus., Sam Perry., Thomas Ruth., Nicholas Bolingbroke., Macorley Watson., Dylan Lonergan., Adam Thompson., Jack Allam.

Manager:                      Andrew Young.

Used Substitutes:           Leo Dines., Ben Upton., Harry Foakes.

Unused Substitutes:       Christian Rayner., Josh Morgan

Referee:                        Richard Oakes.

Assistant Referees:        Stuart Gillman & Matthew Webb.

4^th Official:                    Simon Lyons.

Star Players:              Dale BROWN                           (COLNE ATHLETIC FC)

                                    Finley SCOTT                          (LAWFORD LADS FC)