05/04/2025 – REPORT – Sudbury Sports FC versus East Thurrock Community FC

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION.

SUDBURY SPORTS FC. 2. EAST THURROCK COMMUNITY FC. 2.

Date: Saturday 05^thApril 2025. Venue: Ford Lane, Alresford.

As we approach the end of the season, there was just one Premier Division team that I had not seen play, so when Sudbury Sports elected to play their last “home” match against East Thurrock Community at Alresford, it made my decision and eventual journey very easy. Sudbury Sports are an Academy team, most of the players are under eighteen but to play in the ESBFL, Premier Division, against physically stronger and experienced opposition is testament to the training and fitness regime of the parent club, AFC Sudbury. East Thurrock Community, in their first season in the competition, after a difficult start, have settled well and they also have a relatively young squad, they travel to every match on a coach and fill it with supporters, who not only enjoy the day out they also enjoyed the hospitality provided by todays hosts, at Alresford Colne Rangers FC.

The match officials for this match, on a cold but bright afternoon were Ben Martin, who would be assisted by Harrison Newley and Jake Jenner, both of whom were unfazed by passionate and vociferous supporters from the away team who congregated both along the touchline and behind the goals.

There was an early free kick conceded by Sudbury Sports as East Thurrock attacked, Prince took the free kick but keeper, Arnold held the ball high above his head before launching the ball long and high up field, defender Salter was caught in two minds, either head the ball away or let it bounce and then clear, the presence of Leeks left him flat-footed and in the chase towards goal Salter upended Leeks to concede a free kick, centrally, near the edge of the penalty area, after a discussion with his Assistant, the referee had little choice but to administer a red card to Salter, no question, no argument, but the right decision with less than two minutes on the clock! Leeks took the free kick and keeper Bruley made a fine save on his goal line and the visitors moved up field where a high looping cross from Miles eluded keeper, Arnold but Prince just failed to connect at the far post. Despite being down to ten players, East Thurrock took the lead, HARRY PRINCE gained possession on the left side, working his way across the edge of the penalty area before shooting, right-footed, past keeper, Arnold, somewhat exposed as his defence dithered, a well taken goal though. Francis fouled Dixie near the corner flag, a clumsy challenge but keeper, Arnold dominated his area to collect the ball, in fact, both keepers were tall, and with the stiff breeze used it to get their respective teams into forward positions, Snares for East Thurrock made a good challenge on Wilson when he threatened down the left side.

Barnes sent Morris away down the right side, a fine cross was delivered, but Dixie, probably the smallest player on the pitch was still at least a foot away from heading the ball at the far post, with keeper, Arnold out of position. For Sudbury Sports, a fine dribble by Percival was stopped by the feet of the advancing keeper, Bruley, on twenty minutes a long throw in from Barnes, fell to Miles whose right footed shot was straight at keeper, Arnold. Segemani made a fine tackle to block Leeks from a left sided cross, timing is everything, anything else there was probably a spot kick, another long throw in from Barnes, now the lone striker for East Thurrock, Prince used his strength to shield the ball but the shot from Dixie lacked power. From the keeper’s clearance, Snares shielded the ball back second bounce to his own keeper, Bruley, whose own long clearance was headed out for a throw in, taken by Barnes to Prince who laid the ball into the path of ROSS BARNES who took it on before thrashing the ball past keeper, Arnold, another well worked goal from the ten men, two shots, two goals, not a bad return so far! East Thurrock continued to press, Barnes found Dixie and with Miles forced a throw in, taken by Barnes but straight to keeper, Arnold.

With thirty minutes elapsed, the visitors remained two goals ahead, Sudbury Sports had tried hard when in possession, but the visitors defended well when required, I surmised the youngster’s fitness might be more telling in the second half on a warm afternoon and on a hard pitch that had been watered on Friday. A corner, taken by Prince flew into the keeper, Arnold’s arms and from his long clearance, Mallinson broke through, but overran the ball, a goal kick followed. John, probably a bit frustrated, for Sudbury Sports received a yellow card for a robust challenge on Miles down by the corner flag and every decision going the visitor’s way was cheered by their supporters. On thirty-seven minutes, a clearly disappointed, Dixie was replaced by Sharkey for East Thurrock, tactical perhaps but accepted, Miles put in a great tackle on Percival, then when George fouled Prince, he was spoken too by the referee and half time was reached.

HALF-TIME: 0 – 2

Sudbury Sports made a double change at the restart, on went Chubb and Fuller, off went John and Francis, with the captaincy moving to Percival and what a start we had as in the first minute, Sudbury Sports took a corner short, to ROCCO LEEKS who moved past a defender and struck a superb left-footed effort into the far, top corner, of the net, from the corner of the penalty area, no goalkeeper was going to save that shot, game on! Substitute, Fuller was quickly in action, he might be small in stature, but he has excellent pace which saw him run in from the left side only to drag his right footed shot just wide. Sudbury Sports pushed forward again, Chubb crossed from the right side, keeper, Bruley punched clear for a throw in whereupon Sudbury Sports made another change removing Wilson for Dove. With more possession and now finding the spaces against the ten men of East Thurrock, Sudbury Sports were looking for an equaliser, they certainly started to push the ball around and the visitors were chasing any player in possession of the ball. Chubb scuffed a decent opportunity wide from close range, having gained advantage from the ball hitting the back of defender Sharkey then Leeks stooped to head the ball into the hands of keeper, Bruley, this after Snares had missed a defensive header, a rare error.

On the hour mark, a cross from Roberts found the head of Leeks, as the ball was played out of defence by East Thurrock, Reeman dived through the back of Chubb, probably deserved a caution but was out of character for the way the match had been played. With twenty minutes to go, Sudbury Sports equalised, a left footed corner taken on the right side was headed home through a crowd of players by SUNNY PERCIVAL, now that should liven things up, from two goals adrift to back on level terms! East Thurrock were now looking tired, Sudbury Sports kept possession mainly in the opposition half which the visitors struggled to get out of. Another double substitution followed with Smith and Roberts being replaced by Gordon-Cocker and Prestney for Sudbury Sports and East Thurrock made changes themselves with Cowlbeck and Ikponmwosa-Ikuero replacing Segemani and Barnes who had run himself into the ground and from the restart a corner taken by Prince was headed wide for a goal-kick

As we entered the final fifteen minutes of normal time, it was Sudbury Sports who were dominant when in possession, there would be a good five minutes of added time as a certain amount of “time-wasting” had crept in! An incredibly poor back pass from Leeks, a lofted pass that beat his keeper and went out for a corner on the far side, it was probably easier to score an own goal from thirty yards out! Respective keepers, Arnold and Bruley exchanged kicks the latter being encouraged to use height rather than distance, Sudbury Sports always picked up the loose ball and moved it around the pitch trying to stretch the flagging visitors with Snares cautioned for a heavy challenge on Leeks. On eighty-two minutes East Thurrock changed Prince for Purdey, Prince had played very well just behind Barnes, the lone striker. Gordon-Cocker was given a yellow card for pulling back Ikponmwosa-Ikuero, who showed to be a willing runner as the visitors raised their game for the last few minutes where play had become scrappy. Dove missed an open goal opportunity for Sudbury Sports, from the goal kick, taken by Bruley a shot from Reeman was held by keeper, Arnold at the second attempt. A cross from Prestney was missed by Snares, the ball fell to Percival who struck the ball well but wide of the goal, and at the other end Purdey shot goalwards but straight at keeper Arnold, this was in the ninth minute of added time!

FULL TIME: 2 – 2.

The final result, a scoring draw, both teams would have settled for that result after the proverbial game of two halves, three good goals as well, Sudbury Sports have finished their season and sit in twelfth place, East Thurrock have one game left, an away match at Barnston next Saturday, hopefully they have been pre-warned that the bar will be busy!

Turning to my Star Player, not a great spectacle of a game, the early dismissal was crucial but credit to both teams for keeping the game fair and sportsmanlike! Percival and Leeks, both goalscorers for Sudbury Sports played well, for East Thurrock Community, Prince and Barnes, again both were goalscorers, stood out through midfield and up front but so did defender Snares who dealt with everything coming his way and he marshalled his rearranged defence throughout

Teams:

SUDBURY SPORTS FC

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

Team:

Calin Arnold., Matthew Francis (C1)., Toby John., Xavier Drake., Mason Smith., Luke Mallinson., Charlie George., Harry Wilson., Ben Roberts., Sunny Percival (C2)., Rocco Leeks.

Manager: Scott Egerton

Assistant Manager: Leeks.

Used Substitutes: Charlie Dove., Kian Chubb., Alex Gordon-Cocker., Teddy Fuller., Jacob Prestney.

EAST THURROCK COMMUNITY FC.

Colours: Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Tommy Bruley., Lewis Gardener., Ray Snares (C2)., Faith Segemani., Booby Reeman., Keiron Miles., Bailey Morris., Ross Barnes., Owen Dixie., Harry Prince., Harry Salter (C1).

Manager: John Coventry.

Assistant Manager: Kevin Scott.

Used Substitutes: Louis Sharkey., Joey Purdy., Iziengbe Ikponmwosa-Ikuero., Harry Cowlbeck.

Unused Substitutes: John Coventry.

Referee: Ben Martin.

Assistant Referee’s: Harrison Newley.

and Jake Jenner.

STAR PLAYER: Ray SNARES (EAST THURROCK COMMUNITY FC)