05/03/2022 – REPORT – Tiptree Heath FC versus Belle Vue Social FC (KOCup)
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
KNOCK OUT CUP – ROUND THREE
TIPTREE HEATH FC: 2. BELLE VUE SOCIAL FC: 0.
Date: Saturday 05th March 2022. Venue: Shrub End, Boadicea Way, Colchester.
After some awful weather this week it was no surprise when a dozen matches fell by the way-side, this left me with a reduced choice of matches to go and watch, in the end I chose a Knock-Out Cup, Round Three tie between Premier Division, Tiptree Heath FC and Division One, Belle Vue Social FC, I was not disappointed either.
I’m not sure if these teams have played each other before but this season the hosts sat fourth and had also had a fine run in the Essex Premier Cup, losing to Woodford East FC in the quarter-final, in fact, today, Woodford East FC reached the final and will play Catholic United FC who eliminated Stanway Pegasus FC also at the quarter-final stage. Belle Vue Social FC, who sat fifth, with numerous league games in hand, have also held the flag, for the ESBFL, along with Wormingford Wanderers FC in the Essex Junior Cup, “Worms” succumbed to a strong Catholic United FC Reserves at the semi-final stage, whereas Belle Vue Social FC made the final courtesy of an “extra-time” win over Hashtaq United FC Reserves, the final will be played on 6th April 2022, at Concord Rangers FC, we wish them well.
The weather was overcast, cold and damp but on the Shrub End 4G pitch, there was never any danger of a postponement, both teams supplied a Club Assistant to run the line for the match official, Simon Bird who for this game wore a red jersey.
The start of the game was preceded by a minute’s silence, in remembrance of James Lund a former player with both Gas Recreation FC and Rowhedge FC, with Tiptree Heath FC kicking off, playing away from the car park area, Abrehart-Briggs took a swing at the loose ball, fouling Cripps in the process, Webb took the free-kick, floating the ball to the far post where Green headed out for a corner, taken by Webb but hit far too long. Tiptree Heath FC moved the ball forward at pace, through Knill-Jones and Ward and when Green found space, keeper, Thorndike saved with his feet, the same attacking combination followed a minute later, this time Greens flick was easy picked up by the custodian. Knill-Jones flicked the ball up and over Willian, gave chase, but keeper, Thorndike reached the ball first on the edge of the penalty area, Cripps, clearly the focal point of any attacks from Belle Vue Social FC, did well with the ball at his feet, dragging it one way then the other past Tollhurst and Pennick but Hunt was on hand to clear. The visitors had started to show that they can play football and Tiptree Heath would have to be alert in what was becoming a fast and furious match, Henry found Urwin who ran in then out down the left side, but his cross was wide of the goal. Davis intercepted a forward ball from Chester, finding Cripps, thirty-five yards from goal, one look, up and the ball was sent goal-wards with keeper, Lee, back-pedalling and somewhat relieved when the ball hit the fencing high behind the goal. On seven minutes, Pennick, sent a long ball forward to Michaels who just failed to reach the ball due to Drennan stepping across to head back to his keeper, Thorndike, Ward, and Knill-Jones then forced an angle at goal, but the shot was high and wide. The contest between Tollhurst and Cripps was heating-up nicely, some mutual respect as well, the defender heading back to his keeper, Lee, when Cripps threatened. Hart set the next move going, finding Hunt whose driven cross found Knill-Jones at the far post where Debenham headed out for a corner which was cleared and led to Cripps being spoken too after a heavy challenge on Pennick.
Despite the concerted efforts of the visitors, it was the home team that had more possession, moving the ball swiftly to the feet of colleagues, Chester was spoken too for a poor challenge on Webb, the home team just had to be patient, use the ball wisely and see what happened. Hunt sent in a goal-bound shot that keeper, Thorndike fielded low down with Green, set to challenge if the ball was dropped. The keeper rolled the ball out to Willian and Belle Vue Social built an attack themselves, through Webb with Cripps eager to gain possession and run at the Tiptree Heath defence and one such run was eventually stopped by a perfect tackle from Pennick, inside his penalty area. Ward, like Cripps has the ability to run at a retreating defence but on this occasion his cross was headed back to his keeper by Drennan, Michaels skied a decent effort over the fencing after good approach work by Green, Hart and Ward, chances are coming though! Urwin, dived into a big tackle winning the ball and setting up Cripps whose rising shot flew straight to keeper, Lee, standing on his goal-line. At the other end, Webb hit a free-kick straight to keeper, Lee and from his clearance Chester felt the full force of a challenge from Urwin, a few minutes of treatment followed but it did have the effect of slowing up the home player.
Tollhurst, so far, had not missed a header or a tackle and from one up-field pass he found Ward galloping through, but Ward snatched at his shot which flew wide, then Hunt sent Knill-Jones away past Davis, setting up Ward who shot wide when pressurised by Willian. Tiptree Heath continued to have more possession, just no end product, despite creating chances, the visitors were still very much in this game though. Urwin did well to win a midfield tussle with Hart, Cripps received the ball but again the shot was straight at the keeper from distance, when play reverted to the other end a flowing move started by Green to Hunt whose driven cross eluded Willian, but Abrehart-Briggs could only volley the ball over the cross-bar. With the first half, coming, to a close, Ward and Knill-Jones set up Michaels whose shot found the keeper, almost the last action was a poor challenge on Debenham on Abrehart-Briggs, leading to the first caution of the match!
HALF-TIME: 0 – 0.
The earlier injury to Chester forced his retirement at half-time, with Turner being his replacement, and Belle Vue Social FC kicked off, so after a keenly fought first half, what could the next forty-five minutes bring before penalties are required, there is no extra-time in cup games this season. Urwin hit a long hopeful ball forward to keeper, Lee, Knill-Jones had a run on, goal but shot wide, Cripps worked his way out of a tight situation before receiving the ball wide on he left, a left-footed cross followed but after one bounce an attempted overhead kick from Urwin only found keeper, Lee, well placed. Somewhat frustrated, Cripps clipped the heels of Hart to get a caution, Belle Vue Social kept up the pressure and Webb found Henry who set up Cripps who was fouled by Tollhurst. The ball was eventually in the net on fifty minutes, Tollhurst played the ball wide out of defence, Michaels controlled, turned inside, to find Green who, despite being clattered by Henry, latched onto the ball which found the net, unfortunately the referee had already blown his whistle for the foul and the goal was disallowed, with Henry cautioned. On fifty-five minutes, Belle Vue replaced Halls with O’Donnell, Turner held the ball up well for Tiptree Heath waiting for Green to arrive down the left side, then a poor clearance from keeper, Thorndike fell to Ward who looked up but hammered a wayward shot to the left of the unguarded goal.
Knill-Jones received a talking too after a foul on O’Donnell, and with the ball played forward Davis struck a speculative shot towards keeper, Lee, once again Tollhurst brought the ball out of defence, finding Ward who was still finding his shooting boots, no danger this time. Turner set up Green, but he too shot wide, O’Donnell found Cripps, but Pennick intervened conceding a corner, taken by Webb but headed clear by Tollhurst. As the ball went past the half-way-line, Ward was fouled, Green and Urwin squared up, only one result here, a caution apiece, Tollhurst took the free-kick finding Knill-Jones deep on the far side, his pass inside found Green, but Drennan used his experience to put in a fine block. When Belle Vue Social were awarded a free-kick, thirty yards out, Webb, lined the ball up against a four-man defensive wall, striking a fine effort over that wall only for the ball to clip the top of the cross-bar with keeper, Lee, a spectator. Tiptree Heath replaced Hart with Kensdale on sixty-eight minutes, Pennick made another fine tackle on Cripps and set Knill-Jones away with Ward gaining a corner off Willian, taken by Michaels, and headed away by Davis.
Fifteen minutes now remained for the dead-lock to be broken, a rare error by Tollhurst almost let Cripps in, but keeper Lee was alert and reached the loose ball first, Cripps persisted in a forward position, a left footed cross flew wide with no team-mates present. Ward and Michaels sent Knill-Jones through but Belle Vue Social defended to clear into mid-field where at a stoppage, Green and Cripps were spoken too, both were on cautions so best behaviour from now on then! A cross from O’Donnell was headed clear by Pennick, Abrehart-Briggs pushed forward and played the ball wide to Michaels whose low cross was pushed out for a corner by Willian. Green took the corner, left-footed, in-swinging, towards the far post where CAMERON WARD gleefully headed home from about four yards out, a great corner though, one that is difficult to defend against. Buoyed by this goal, Tiptree Heath went in search of another to put this game to bed, as they say, Michaels, Green and Knill-Jones were still full of running with keeper, Thorndike forced to save with his feet. From the corner, taken by Green, Michaels found Ward, but Drennan cleared, Pennick picked up the ball and sent a fine cross-field ball to Michaels running wide on the right side, KEIRAN MICHAELS ran on, turned inside and curled a superb left-footed shot that gave keeper, Thorndike absolutely no chance to save, a fine goal, a certain winner at this late stage. Abrehart-Briggs was replaced by Martin for the last few eventful minutes as Urwin dived strongly into a challenge on Kensdale to receive his second caution and an early bath.
FULL TIME: 2 – 0.
Overall, a very competitive match, both teams showed why they have competed so well this season in both League and Cups, Belle Vue Social FC gave their all but gracefully bow out of the Knock-Out Cup, at least they have an Essex Junior Cup Final to look forward to, and if games in hand are won then a promotion to the Premier Division is realistic. Tiptree Heath FC move into Round Four where an away tie against fellow Premier Division Colne Athletic FC awaits.
Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player, Belle Vue Social FC may have been the under-dogs given that they play in Division One, but their performance would hold them in good stead in a higher Division. Defensively Debenham and the experienced Drennan held Tiptree at bay backed by good all-round defending, Webb, Halls and Urwin battled in midfield whilst the ever dangerous, Cripps, got little change out of the home defence, a good team effort though. For Tiptree Heath FC, I’ve seen most of these players before and as a team they rarely disappoint for the football played, their team approach and movement, is slick and quick, today, that final pass or shot was slightly off and there was only fifteen minutes remaining when they eventually scored. Keeper, Lee, really only had shots from distance to deal with, the forward line of Knill-Jones, Green and Ward give the team a variety of attacking options supplied from midfield by Hart, Michaels, and Chester. Defensively they looked sound pretty much all game, Abrehart-Briggs and Hunt played their part in getting forward because Tollhurst and Pennick commanded the central defensive positions, the latter is just seventeen years old but played like a player with ten years more experience, well played young man.
Teams:
TIPTREE HEATH FC:
Colours: Green & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Robbie Lee., Charlie Abrehart-Briggs., Callum Hunt., Cameron Pennick., Jack Tollhurst (C)., Joe Hart., Joe Chester., Keiran Michaels., Charlie Green., Cameron Ward., Ryan Knill-Jones.
Manager: Dan Hunt.
Used Substitute: Lee Martin., Ben Kensdale., Benjamin Turner.
Unused Substitutes: Sununur Bah Bah., John Eldridge.
BELLE VUE SOCIAL FC:
Colours: Yellow Shirts, Yellow Shorts and Yellow Socks.
Team:
Jack Thorndike., Joseph Davis., Aaron Willian., Ryan Debenham (C)., Tom Halls., Alex Drennan., Jack Webb., Wesley Henry., Sam Cripps., Jack Urwin., Daniel Goodman.
Manager: Jack Mitchell.
Used Substitutes: Stephen O’Donnell.
Unused Substitutes: Ryan Martyr., Liam Dadds.
Referee: Simon Bird.
Star Player: Cameron PENNICK (TIPTREE HEATH FC)
REMINDERS:
MATCH NOTIFICATIONS
Fixture Secretaries of Clubs are required to notify all match details, date, venue, kick-off time, colours etc, to their opposition and any appointed official/s, at least FIVE days before the match.
KICK-OFF TIMES
March, to end of season: 15:00pm
ESBFL CUP TIES: 30 minutes earlier, if necessary.
ECFA CUP TIES: Kick-Off as advertised
CUP TIES
There will be NO requirement for “Extra-Time” to be played in ESBFL Cup Matches, if scores are level at the end of “normal time” the match will proceed directly to penalty kicks.
SUBSTITUTES
The ESBFL continues to allow FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named before kick-off but only “THREE SUBSTITUTES” may be allowed to participate.
Note:
In Essex County Cups (Premier & Junior) the Rule allows FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named and those FIVE SUBSTITUTUES may be used on a “Roll-On / Roll-Off” basis.
TEAM SHEETS
Team Sheets should be shown or sent to the Referee and the Opposition team either by text, email etc
The BLUE “League Copy” of the Team Sheet should be sent by First Class Post to reach Mick Willmore by the Thursday after a Saturday match, this is the ONLY item of correspondence that is required by post.
RESULTS REPORTING
Rule 21(B)
BOTH Clubs shall notify/SMS the result of each Competition Match to the Competition within 30 minutes of the finish of the match. This will include Football Association and County Football Association matches. The results of all League and Cup matches in the Competition should be reported by the FA Full-Time “SMS” (text) System. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
FA FULL-TIME
The Referees marks, team, players, substitutes, goal scorers, red / yellow cards, and sin-bin, etc MUST be entered to FA Full-Time by the end of the Tuesday following a Saturday match (ie 48 hours after any match). Failure to complete FAFT correctly and on time WILL incur a League Fine/s.
DISCIPLINE
Since the start of the season there have been 45+ players dismissed and over 600 cautions, there have also been several incidences of misconduct towards players, Match officials, members of the public and county officials. These are situations the ESBFL Management feel very strongly about, and the statistics make poor reading, the ECFA will deal with all these cases as deemed appropriate but bear in mind these actions can be very costly both for players and your, Clubs.
WHOLE GAME SYSTEM (“WGS”)
All Club Secretaries should check “WGS” on a regular basis, if you don’t, the ECFA levy a fine (25%) for late acknowledgements and payments of fines and the Club could be put into a “SINE-DIE” situation meaning they cannot play until those debts are cleared.
Club Secretaries are also responsible for adding the matches missed by players who have been suspended.
Whilst the ESBFL regularly reviews the whole Club contents on “WGS” it is not their responsibility to monitor failures by Member Clubs to follow basic procedure/s.
REFRESHMENTS
Rule 20A
Refreshments for BOTH teams and Match Officials MUST be provided by the home Club at half time unless these are declined before the game. Clubs in default shall be fined.
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