04/08/2026 – REPORT – A V LEE TROPHY FINAL

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

A. V. LEE TROPHY FINAL.

GREAT BENTLEY FC.  0.         THORPE ATHLETIC FC.          3.

Date:   04^th August 2026.                  Venue: “The Crops”, Coggeshall Town FC.

            This “curtain opener” generally signals the start of a new football season, the ESBFL has seen may changes over the closed period, the merger with the Mid Essex Football League has been completed and over twenty Clubs have moved over and together with new ESBFL Clubs the competition will have seventy Clubs and ninety-four teams across the two counties in seven divisions. The competition, as well as a Premier Division which is within the National Feeder League System, will have Divisions One and Two but this season Division Three and Four are split into North and South. At the end of last season, third placed,  East Thurrock Community FC moved up to Step 6, to play in the Thurlow Nunn, Division One South, we wish them well and over the past two seasons were a credit to the ESBFL.

            This cup competition is usually played between the Premier Division, Champions and the Knock-Out Cup winners, last season, Great Bentley FC, attained a creditable double, winning both which allowed Premier Division, Runners-Up, Thorpe Athletic FC to participate in this season opener. Last season Great Bentley FC, not only had First Team success, their Reserve Team, were beaten finalists in the Reserve Knock-Out Cup, their “A” team finished second in Division Three and were beaten finalists in the Richard Degville Cup, so one questions why so many players have moved elsewhere to the extent that the “A” team has now been withdrawn! Tonight their team featured at least three players who played in that “A” team last season alongside some proven ad regular First teamers, its early days so their team strength is expected to improve. Thorpe Athletic FC have also recruited a new manager who has brought in at least four new players, a young competent goalkeeper and three defenders who all played tonight, so after their long unbeaten run at the end of last season, they are looking to go one step better and have also changed their home ground to Clacton Town FC.

            This evening’s game was to be played on a pitch that, like most others around the country, resembled a desert, the grass is burnt to a crisp, will recover if we ever get any rain, but the groundsman has clearly got his work cut out! Before kick-off, the teams carried out the “Respect” handshake and on another warm evening the Match Officials were Lewis Farthing, who had Simon Lyons and Andrew Chaplin as Assistant Referees with Adrian Arnot as the fourth Official.

            Thorpe Athletic kicked off playing towards the Coggeshall Town FC Clubhouse, a small crowd of around eighty was in attendance and it would be interesting to see how the new laws will be accepted, or even understood, especially after the World Cup highlighted many of those laws that will now apply at grassroots level! When Great Bentley restarted from a goal kick, Goody chased a ball down the left side but the pace beat him and a throw in followed, Hunt was hard into a challenge on Brown, from which Thorpe Athletic gained a throw in, McAndrews launched a long high delivery, Barnard seemed to have flicked the ball on to LEWIS COBDEN who reached the ball before keeper, Pickard and quick as a flash the ball was in the net. A further long throw in from near the halfway line reached the penalty spot, that is some throw and a potential potent weapon that defences will have to deal with again this season. Burch dived into a challenge on McAndrews, but the referee allowed play to continue with Thorpe Athletic, on top and in possession whilst defending well. A snapshot from outside the penalty area by Brown forced young keeper, Fairey to palm the ball wide for a corner, taken by Herbert (A) but overhit for a goal kick, taken long by keeper, Pickard finding Brown down the left side, his strong run was matched by Lamb who was fouled by Brown, just as keeper, Fairey was coming to claim the bouncing ball. Thompson fouled Greegan, the free kick was cleared and when Great Bentley pushed forward the long ball was just too far ahead of Herbert (O) who made a fine effort to gain possession.

            Morley, was the next player to chase a forward ball, this time gaining a corner, Goody took this corner but Stark headed clear, the ball hit a hand and a free kick followed, then a corner was taken by Herbert (A), with keeper, Fairey, palming the ball wide to the far side and another corner followed. A fine lofted pass from Tiffney, over the Great Bentley defence, almost found Barnard but the bounce deceived him and a goal kick followed. Burch, who was injured in an earlier tackle, limped off to be replaced by Wheeler, for this cup game the “Roll-On / Roll-Off” substitution rules applied, just as they will in all ESBFL cup ties. McAndrews was finding plenty of space and his control was always good and when he found Barnard, keeper, Pickard had to be alert as the shot came in. Thorpe Athletic were now playing some decent attacking football, Stark found McAndrews and he in turn found Cobden, whose dipping shot grazed the top of the crossbar, another effort from Barnard, who had eluded Peace, was saved by the feet of keeper, Pickard. Great Bentley, through Thompson, following some good footwork, almost opened a chance when his fine cross-field pass just eluded the willing runner, Goody. The next attack from Great Bentley started back on the edge of the penalty area when McMahon picked up a loose pass and embarked on a seventy-yard run before crossing, right footed towards goal, only for Lamb to rise and head the ball firmly clear from the penalty spot. McAndrews showed some neat footwork to free up some space, this time his final pass was a bit wayward, but when the ball was clipped over the defensive cover on the halfway line TAYLOR McANDREWS ran on, beat the challenge of Baker, before rifling the ball past keeper, Pickard, for a fine individual goal.

            With thirty minutes elapsed, Great Bentley needed to get back to basics, win the ball, keep possession and make the right pass, but not panic, when they did just that a solid shot from Brown was blocked by Harms, putting his body in the way, but as the ball ran loose, Thompson fouled Hunt. Stark defenced well against Goody and laid the ball back to keeper, Fairey from his clearance Cobden fouled Wheeler, Thorpe Athletic regained possession and this time it was defender Lamb running strongly forward down the left side, before Wheeler made a telling challenge to come away with the ball and then set up Herbert (A) whose shot from distance flew straight to keeper, Fairey. As the half drifted to a close, Thompson found Herbert (A) but he was flagged for offside, the pass was too slow and acknowledged by Thompson, in this half, Thorpe Athletic had been quicker to the ball and won most of the decisive challenges.

HALF-TIME:    0 – 2.

            Great Bentley kicked off the second half, and eventually the floodlights were turned on, an early substitution for Great Bentley followed when Herbert (A) was replaced by Morton, this restart was a bit disjointed though! A run and cross from Wheeler found Morton who gained a corner which was easily cleared up field to McAndrews whose attempt to move clear of the high sitting defence was stopped by Morley. When Thompson fouled Hunt, Stark took the free kick which just cleared the crossbar, Tiffney was adjudged to have raised a high foot against Brown and when the free kick was played forward, McAndrews was there to clear. These “Roll-On / Roll-off” substitutions, and I’m not a fan, began in earnest as we approached the hour mark, off went McMahon and on went Gray, Hunt fouled Goody, Brown took the free kick, just clearing the crossbar.

            The game had seen numerous fouls, which made the game a bit, stop, start, Harms fouled Brown, who got up to take the free kick, this time driven wide, Goody was caught offside from a pass from Thompson. Goody and Herbert (O) made way for Blanchett and Evans whilst Thorpe Athletic removed Tiffney with Pointer taking his place. McAndrews continued to be the provider for Thorpe Athletic, this time he beat substitute, Gray, before releasing Hunt who totally missed the target with his shot from outside the penalty area. Wheeler was cautioned for his rash challenge on Cobden, the pace of Cobden continued to be an issue to control, minutes later Lamb was also cautioned, this time for a foul on Brown.

            Herbert (A) had rejoined the match then Evans limped off to be replaced by Herbert (O), it was clear that Thorpe Athletic wanted this early season victory, when Hunt chased down a long ball, his cross toward Barnard was headed clear by Baker. Not sure what happened for the third goal for Thorpe Athletic, I checked my watch, heard a roar go up and saw LEWIS COBDEN was wheeling away after apparently latching on to a defensive mix-up”, I thought, he will want a third before the end of this match! Thorpe made other changes on seventy-eight minutes, Spencer, Humpries and Richardson entered play in place of McAndrews, Stark and Harms. I was right about Cobden, back in his own half to defend he took aim from fifty-five yards, although keeper, Pickard had it covered the ball drifted wide for a goal kick. Thorpe Athletic made one final change, removing Barnard whose place was taken by Hulstrom, and Cobden was denied again when keeper, Pickard, way out of his penalty area, reached the ball first to clear.

FULL TIME:     0 – 3.

            On the balance of play and the goals scored, Thorpe Athletic FC deserved this victory, on paper they look to have strengthened their squad, the season is a marathon, the league starts mid-week so lets see how new teams, in new divisions fare in the early weeks           

            After the match ended, Andrew Chaplin, ESBFL, Vice-Chairman gave a short speech congratulating both teams on their efforts during the match, thereafter he presented the mementoes and cups to the match officials and both the runners-up and winning teams.

Turning to my choice of Star player, for a Cup Final, I usually choose one from each team, for Great Bentley FC their team was a cross section of players from last season’s three teams, so amongst regular players, for me, one player Joseph Goody played his heart out, never afraid to get stuck in nor run with and chase the ball, Mikey Wheeler, also showed up well when he came on as a substitute. For Thorpe Athletic FC, another new player, Lewis Cobden, scored twice and was lively throughout but for me the standout player was Taylor McAndrews, normally a midfielder but up front tonight, his solo goal was superb.

Teams:

GREAT BENTLEY FC:

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

Team:

Sebastian Pickard., Ryan McMahon., Alfie Peace., Jack Burch., Conrad Baker (C)., Dale Brown., Charlie Thompson., Archie Herbert (C)., Joseph Goody., Rhys Morley., Oscar Herbert.

Management:               Jack Murray & Greg Taylor.

Used Substitutes:          Lewis Blanchett., Mikey Wheeler., Thomas Gray., Gareth Evans., Barnaby Morton.

THORPE ATHLETIC FC

Colours:                        Yellow & Black shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Toby Fairey., Lewis Stark., Harry Poskit., Toby Greegan., Oliver Lamb (C)., Frank Tiffney., Brandon Hunt., Taylor McAndrews., Luke Barnard., Lewis Cobden., Kalon Harms.

Manager:                      Pierce Anderson.

Used Substitutes:          Scott Humphries., Jake Richardson., Joshua Pointer., Harry Hulstrom., Nathanial Spencer.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee:                       Lewis Farthing.

Assistant Referees:       Simon Lyons and Andew Chaplin.

Fourth Official:              Adrian Arnot

STAR PLAYER:            Joseph GOODY                                   (GREAT BENTLEY FC)

                                    Taylor McANDREWS                          (THORPE ATHLETIC FC)