04/09/2019 – REPORT – Brantham Athletic FC Reserves versus Flitch United FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION.

BRANTHAM ATHLETIC FC RESERVES: 2. FLITCH UNITED FC: 6.

Date: Wednesday 4^th September 2019. Venue: Brantham Leisure Centre.

This was a meeting of two Premier Division teams who, until last Saturday, had not won any of their opening three games, that changed when they both had victories by four goals to three, so plenty of goals in either direction. Despite those respective victories, this game was in fact a meeting of the two bottom teams, would this game be a dull affair with neither side prepared to lose and shut-up-shop, so as to speak, or would we see expansive attacking play, the result indicates the latter and the goals tally could have been greater!

For this mid-week match, by the way, the Brantham pitch looked in excellent shape, and with the floodlights on, the match officials, Rhys Collins., who would be assisted by Richard Baker and Brian Forbes we were ready to get the game underway following the “Respect” handshake.

Flitch kicked-off down the slight slope but conceded the first free-kick after just a few minutes when Coopersmith (O) upended Lee (Jo) however the free-kick flew straight to visiting keeper, Taylor. The pace of Mott took him behind the Flitch defence but he was caught off-side and Flitch edged their way forward to the other end where keeper, Watkins was forced to palm the ball over from a long range shot from O’Brien, who also took the corner kick which Brantham sort of cleared to Oates whose first time shot was blocked for another corner. On five minutes Lee (Jo) burst through following a long defensive clearance, one-on-one with the advancing keeper, Taylor, surely, he should score, but no, the keeper made a block right on the edge of his penalty area. Flitch went straight down the other end, a free-kick, taken by Coopersmith (M), Pyne got in front of defender Jones to head the ball upwards towards keeper, Watkins however, Wickham had ventured off-side. Sykes (B) fouled Lee (Jo) and from the clearance by Sykes (B), Smith set Wickham away down the right side, this game with just ten minutes on the clock, was already end-to-end. Brantham took the lead on thirteen minutes, an error in controlling the ball properly in mid-half by Burton let JONATHAN LEE through and this time he beat the advancing keeper with ease. When is a team most vulnerable, its just after you have scored, so no surprise when Flitch equalised three minutes after going behind, Pyne set off on a run down the left side, Coopersmith (O) was up in support and when he played the ball in to STEPHEN SMITH he swivelled, to plant the ball past the despairing dive of keeper, Watkins.

Flitch took the lead on twenty-one minutes, Sykes (B) set the move going down the right side, Pyne again showed his pace to get round the back of the home defence and MATTHEW WICKHAM had a simple tap in job from four yards out. Sykes (B) fouled Cole mid-half, an apologetic handshake and play resumed with Mott running at pace down the left side, crossing towards the far post where keeper, Taylor palmed the ball away but only to Sykes (B) whose snatched effort only found the side netting. The visitors, two goals to one ahead were playing some neat passing football, Brantham were edgy and perhaps lacked confidence having been ahead and now found themselves behind, Mott caused problems again, but good defensive blocks came in from Coopersmith (M) and Burton, the former then fouling Lee (Jo). Another raid instigated by Coopersmith (O) with Coopersmith (M) in support saw the ball be returned to Coopersmith (O) whose shot on the run was blocked by Lee (Ja) who dived in to rescue the ball.

Brantham made a counter attack on the half-hour mark, Lee (Ja) found Lee (Jo) but Coopersmith (M) just nicked the ball away for a corner, taken by Gunn but this was cleared, then a rare error by Coopersmith (M) let in Lee (Jo) but once again keeper, Taylor came to his rescue, saving at the forwards feet. With ten minutes to half-time Flitch increased their lead, this was a fine flowing move, Coopersmith (O) ran forward finding Pyne and when the return pass was played behind the home defence OLIVER COOPERSMITH ran through to beat the keeper. Home keeper, Watkins, had to deal with a short back-pass and did a bit of “keepy-uppy” to avoid the impending challenge from Pyne who was quick to notice the chance, Lee (Ja) then committed a handball offence as Flitch piled forward but the free-kick taken by O’Brien dipped over the cross-bar. Brantham stirred themselves again as the half came to a close, Burton conceded a corner, taken by Gunn but straight to keeper, Taylor and the final chance of the half was a good one, to Brantham, with Sykes (B) caught up-field Mott exploited the space left down the left side, running forward and as keeper, Taylor advanced he lobbed the ball goal- wards and watched agonisingly as the ball bounced goal-wards, bounced again and drifted wide, a great chance and a bit unlucky as in this half the difference between the two teams was one team that had taken their chances against another who had not.

HALF TIME: 1 – 3

The next goal scored might prove crucial, a home goal might upset the rhythm of the visitor’s game whereas a goal for Brantham who kicked-off the second half would potentially put them back in game where they had shown promise but had un-converted chances. A shot from Gunn flew just over the cross-bar from twenty-five yards and as Flitch picked up the pace, Pyne raced away forcing keeper, Watkins to save and the end-to-end entertainment continued with Flitch keeper, Taylor saving with his feet from Lee (Jo) and once again the home teams passing often failed to find its intended destination thereby conceding possession to a confident Flitch team who were often quickest to the ball. Gunn used his feet to create a space for a shot, saved by keeper, Taylor and this contest continued when Gunn forced keeper, Taylor into another save low to his left side but at least the shot was on target. The persistence of Pyne gained a corner off Lee (Ja), O’Brien took the kick curling the ball into the six-yard box, the ball was cleared back to O’Brien who drove in a low shot that keeper, Watkins held on his crowded goal-line. With ten minutes of the second period played, a moment of controversy, well maybe, Gunn collected the ball and ran across the inside edge of the penalty area, seemingly fouled, he tumbled over and the referee gave what he saw by pointing to the spot only to be called over by the Assistant Referee who advised that Gunn had simulated a foul, or a dive, the spot kick decision was consequently overturned, Gunn was cautioned as was the home manager.

On the hour mark, and whether the non-penalty decision had any bearing on events, but Flitch scored their fourth goal, a free-kick from O’Brien should really have been caught by the home keeper but in the ensuing goalmouth scramble SHANE PYNE slotted home. Brantham made a double substitution replacing Sykes (G) and Jones with Smith and Read respectively. Worse followed three minutes later, OLIVER COOPERSMITH took the ball from his keeper, in his stride, just inside the Brantham half, drove forward beating Brown before curling a delightful effort past the stranded home keeper, game over! Flitch, keeper, Taylor came to his teams rescue once again as Mott just got the better of Coopersmith (O) back defending, saving twice in quick succession, once from Mott then Gunn. I have to say that the Flitch defence worked really hard, to restrict chances for Brantham, there always seemed to be a player back to make that timely challenge or throw a body in the way of a shot. Five goals against was perhaps cruel on Brantham, they are a young team and need to grow their confidence, Flitch have gained momentum lately and had scored some well taken goals tonight, its all about taking chances! Another break from Pyne saw home keeper, Watkins parry the goal-bound effort, but MATTHEW WICKHAM was on hand to steer the ball home for number six. Immediately Pyne for Flitch as replaced by McGuinness and Brantham made their third change with Hyde replacing Simpson, then Burton was replaced by Monk for the visitors.

Mott had led the Brantham attacks down the left side and when he moved inside then cut back outside Sykes (B) his cross found Gunn whose cross was too deep and was cleared, Mott and Coopersmith (O) clashed mid-half then a forceful run from deep by Lee (Ja) who let off a decent shot that keeper, Taylor saved low to his right side. Coopersmith (O) was again back defending and put in a telling challenge on Lee (Jo) just as he was about to enter the penalty area however, from the next attack Oates, I think, brought down Lee (Jo) and this time a legitimate penalty kick was awarded and converted by EDWARD SMITH, perhaps too little too late! Read for Brantham lost his cool over a decision and after a stern rebuke from the referee was cautioned, then from a cross by Read Mott headed wide when well placed.

FULL TIME: 2 – 6.

I thoroughly enjoyed this end-to-end match, Flitch won it by virtue of creating and scoring three goals in each half, Brantham often had to feed of scraps, they had chances and played some good approach work, un-done when it came to the final quarter where the visitors defence were resolute throughout.

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, for Brantham, under the cosh for much of the match, brothers Lee (Jo) & (Ja) with Mott and Gunn prompting were the pick of the home players. For Flitch numerous players shone in an impressive team display, keeper, Taylor made numerous saves, not always authentic but they did the job, defensively, Sykes, Stoneham, Coopersmith (M) and Burton were strong throughout, up-front Wickham led the line well with two goals whilst the midfield of Smith, with one goal, O’Brien, Pyne, with one goal, Oates and Coopersmith (O) with two goals always looked dangerous, it is the last mentioned player who gets my vote, a fine overall performance not just in attack, midfield but also in defence.

Teams:

BRANTHAM ATHLETIC FC RESERVES: Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

John Watkins., Oliver Brown., John Donnachie., Lloyd Jones., James Lee., Matthew Simpson., George Sykes., Sam Cole., Jonathan Lee., Samuel Gunn., Louis Mott.

Manager: James Long.

Used Substitutes: Edward Smith., Christopher Hyde., Charlie Read.

Unused Substitutes: Thomas Watkins.

FLITCH UNITED FC: Colours: Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Andrew Taylor., Billy Sykes., Dan O’Brien., Harry Stoneham., Oliver Coopersmith., Stephen Smith., Shane Payne., James Oates., Matthew Coopersmith., Adam Burton., Matthew Wickham.

Manager: Peter Monk.

Used Substitutes: Joe McGuinness., Pater Monk.

Referee: Rhys Collins.

Assistant Referees: Richard Baker & Brian Forbes

Player of the Match: Oliver COOPERSMITH (FLITCH UNITED FC)

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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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