04/10/2025 – REPORT – Roman Rovers FC versus Gosfield United FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE

ROMAN ROVERS FC.              1.         GOSFIELD UNITED FC.                      2.        

Date:   Saturday 04^th October 2025.                                     Venue: School Lane, Langham.

            On a very windy afternoon, I ventured the few miles from Wivenhoe to School Lane in Langham, here at the Community Centre, Division One, Roman Rovers FC, fifth in the table would play second placed Gosfield United FC. Before kick-off both teams had only lost once this season, these teams had met on the second Saturday of the season, back in August, on that day Roman Rovers prevailed by four goals to one so today’s visitors were looking to avenge that loss and keep the pressure on Division One leaders, The Rodings & Little Waltham FC.

            Today’s Match Official was Harrison Newley, another young match official who today would be assisted by Club Assistant Referees, commonly known as linesmen.

            Gosfield kicked-off  but Grey, in his haste to clear, only fouled Grant down by the corner flag, Grant took the free-kick himself but visiting keeper, Sanger (H) punched the ball clear and Gosfield United worked the ball up field to Pike who tried to chip the ball over keeper, Eles, who collected without too much fuss. The long throw-in might have reappeared in the professional game, but it’s been in grassroots games for years, Gilder launched the first of many such throw-ins, Pike laid the ball off, but defender Ouhachi swept the ball clear. Ouhachi then tripped Gilder, Pike took the free kick, Stevens headed the ball away but Gosfield United kept up the pressure with keeper, Eles having to save low down at his near post from a shot hit by Grey, then Pike set up Gale whose right-footed shot hit the outstretched foot of keeper, Eles, the keeper picking up the loose ball and this game had a fast start. On ten minutes, Rusu ran through, keeper Eles forced Rusu wide but the cross fell to Gale who passed to Pike and he in turn, to Rusu who lifted the ball over the crossbar from close range, best chance of the game so far.

            The pace of Rusu and Gale could be a telling factor as this game progressed, a raid by Rusu saw his cross to the far post headed back by Ouhachi towards his keeper, Eles, who had run towards Ouhachi and then had to scramble back across his goal and concede a corner from the defensive error. Grey took the corner, hitting the ball deep towards the far post where BOBBY PIKE rose (like a salmon) to head the ball home this first goal was on sixteen minutes. Roman Rovers hit back almost immediately, Oughton chased a long ball forward, his cross fell to Keeble who sent the ball over the crossbar, Baker, for the home team defended well against Gale and again his long forward pass sent Oughton away but Mills defended this attack however his clearance was picked up by SCOTT PLENDERLEITH who sent a harmless looking cross into the penalty area, keeper Sanger (H) should have collected this effort but inexplicably let it go through his hands, his arms and underneath his body to nestle in the back of the net for a rather fortunate equaliser. Sanger (H) made up for this error minutes later when Baker found space and shot goalwards, the keeper, diving to his left to deflect the goal bound shot away for a corner, which was cleared but we now had a close fought match. A free kick taken by Mills almost picked out Sanger (F) who got his head to the ball before keeper, Eles, arrived and a goal kick followed, Ouhachi dived through the back of Gilder on the half-way line, from the free kick taken by Grey, Gale fouled keeper, Eles. Gale and Rusu linked up outside the penalty area, but defender Rogers stuck to his task and came away with the ball only to concede a corner as Rusu recovered to challenge, Grey hit the corner, long, towards the far post, Gilder struck the bouncing ball but it cleared the cross bar.

            Central defender Mullins was forced to chase back against Pike, conceding a throw-in down by the corner flag, once again Gilder sent in a long throw towards the penalty spot, keeper, Eles opted to punch the ball clear, then Ouhachi pulled the shirt of Gilder, just outside the penalty area, Pike took the free kick, again Sanger (F) was nearly on the end of the free kick, he rose higher than Ouhachi but the ball drifted just wide. Oughton was trying to use his strength up front for Roman Rovers but Sanger (F), was thus far, equal to the task but he did concede a corner when Grant was involved down the left side. The strong wind had not abated and the VEO mast fell to the ground only to be cleaned up and secured once again, a shot from Grant flew wide when he had received a fine cross-field pass from Baker. Grant was involved in the next home team foray forward, he found Oughton whose left footed effort fell into the arms of keeper, Sanger (H) and as soon as the ball was kicked forward the half-time whistle was blown.

HALF-TIME:    1 – 1.

            Roman Rovers restarted this close game, conceded a throw-in, Gilder sent a low but long throw-in, the ball fell to Pike whose effort was blocked on the goal-line by Ouhachi but only to Rusu who thrashed the ball over the crossbar from six yards out! A long free kick taken by Rogers was headed out by Mills, but only to Oughton who lofted the ball straight to keeper, Sanger (H), and when play stopped on forty-eight minutes Grey was replaced by Catterwell for Gosfield United, Wilkes for Roman Rovers also returned to the field of play having limped off injured. Roman Rovers had tried to raise their game, Keeble and Gale exchanged words over on the far side as play continued through the middle of the park, then Keeble was caught offside from a pass by Oughton. When Roman Rovers tried to play the ball out from the back a misplaced pass fell to Gilder who was coming back from an off-side position except that the pass was from a defender, his first time shot hit Baker and went out for a corner, Catterwell took the corner, once again Sanger (F) was there but his header was wide. In the search for a winner, Gosfield United pushed forward, Gilder, once again to the fore, the home defence back-pedalled and Speller sent in a fine goal-bound shot that was blocked by Mullins and a corner followed when Gale closed down Baker, Gale took the corner but Mills was adjudged to have fouled Ouhachi and the home team had some respite.

            On the hour mark, Keeble did well to evade tackles from Mills, Sanger (F) and Matthews but then ran out of ground and a goal-kick followed, a free kick taken by Plenderleith flew straight to keeper, Sanger (H) who this time held the ball on his goal-line! Play was end-to-end, when Gilder launched a throw-in, keeper, Eles, caught the ball high in the air but on landing, crashed into Oughton, who required some treatment, Stevens was also required to change his shirt which now had blood on it! Mullins caught Speller, the free kick was defended well but as it was played forward, defender, Mills missed his attempt to clear, this let in Baker whose cross fell to Oughton who scooped the ball over the crossbar. On seventy minutes both teams made changes, off went Wilkes for Roman Rovers and on went Vicary, the Gosfield United change saw Rusu replaced by Davies. Baker rode a high challenge and pulled up as his momentum took him off the pitch, a short break allowed him to quickly return, a long throw-in from Ouhachi was headed down by Mills but straight the feet of Plenderleith who fired the ball over the crossbar. Defender, Ouhachi had played well for Roman Rovers, he did concede a corner when Gale threatened, Catterwell took the kick and keeper, Eles struggled to keep hold of the high ball as he back-pedalled under pressure, Mullins was there to clear his defence.

            Cannon wrapped up Baker with a challenge, the free kick was cleared up field, Gale gave chase but he could only head the bouncing ball on towards keeper, Eles, in a similar attack, Gale won a corner off Rogers, taken by Catterwell, you can probably guess who headed the ball over the crossbar, OK it was Sanger (F)! Gosfield United almost gave away a goal with ten minutes remaining, keeper, Sanger (H) tried to play the ball out of defence with Cannon, Oughton challenged but Cannon did manage to clear up field to find Gilder, once again Mullins put his body on the line to make a superb block just outside the penalty area. Keeper, Eles was out to the edge of his penalty area to collect the ball almost off the toes of Gale, who continued to chase everything, the next attack did yield a goal, Gilder set up the chance, keeper Eles was out of position and WILL GALE was quickest the loose ball to score into an empty net, a case of persistence eventually pays off! Grant, landed heavily after a challenge with Pike, slightly winded and with a knock to his head, Grant was replaced by team manager, Cross, Gosfield United made their third and last change with three minutes remaining, veteran, Spencer taking the place of Cannon. A long throw-in, this time from Cross, was thrashed clear by Mills, Gale ran on and was matched for pace by Baker who received a two-handed push in his back and Gale saw a yellow card brandished. In the dying minutes, Mills made another error, this allowed Oughton time and space to shoot goalwards but keeper, Sanger (H) made a fine save, in the aftermath, Keeble received a yellow card for a “sin-bin” offence and took no further part in the close game.

FULL TIME:     1 – 2.

            As I expected, this was a close match, Gosfield United did enough to win, but both teams will miss numerous chances that on another day might have resulted in goals, Gosfield United stay second but Roman Rovers drop one place as Prettygate won against FC Clacton Reserves, another match where both teams had already played each other this season.

Turning to my choice of Star player, Oughton worked hard for Roman Rovers, Ouhachi, for me was their stand-out player, always in the right place to defend and got forward on numerous occasions. For Gosfield United, pretty much a team effort, Gilder prompted through midfield, Pike held the ball up well whilst Rusu and Gale used their pace to expose the spaces down the flanks, but by scoring the winning goal and for a whole-hearted display, despite a late caution my choice in Will Gale, I hope you enjoyed the steaks!

Teams:

ROMAN ROVERS FC:

Colours:                        Purple Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Kane Eles., Djamel Ouhachi., Joe Rogers., Ben Mullins., Ben Wilkes., Jack Keeble., Joe Stevens (C)., Laiton Baker., Scott Grant., Konnor Oughton., Scott Plenderleith.

Manager:                      Jack Cross

Used Substitutes:          Leo Vicary., Jack Cross

GOSFIELD UNITED FC          

Colours:                        Green Shirts, Black Shorts and Green Socks.

Team:

Harrison Sanger., Stefan Grey., Hayden Matthews., Jonathan Speller., Alex Cannon., Will Gale., Dean Gilder (C)., Robert Rusu., Bobby Pike., Freddie Sanger., Harry Mills.

Manager:                      John Holland.

Used Substitutes:          Kevin Spencer., Kian Davis., Brady Catterwell.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee:                       Harrison Newley.

STAR PLAYERS:          Will GALE                    (GOSFIELD UNITED FC)