05/03/2016 – Barnston AFC versus West Bergholt FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE                  PREMIER DIVISION

 

BARNSTON AFC:   2.                            WEST BERGHOLT FC:     3.

 

Date:   Saturday 05^th March 2016.                           Venue: High Easter Road, Barnston

 

It was back to the Premier Division this week and I chose to travel to probably the furthest outpost of the ESBFL to take in lowly Barnston AFC who had fifth placed West Bergholt FC as their opponents and who had won handsomely in the alternative fixture back in mid-January.

 

Both teams sport relatively new managers, Glen Wilkinson for Barnston AFC where the playing personnel probably changed when the previous manager moved on, whereas Anthony White for West Bergholt FC has stepped up mid-season, to a player manager role, although for this match he was an unused substitute, but he has the guidance of the knowledgeable Bond, Wood and Farthing alongside him.

 

The Match Official for this fixture was Lewis Farthing, who despite being a West Bergholt resident, with strong family ties to the club, showed no favouritism and refereed neutrally at all times, sometimes it is the players who should take a look at their actions.

 

As the game kicked-off the threat of rain, sleet or snow was real and with an already soft playing surface it would not be long before players were sliding here and there. In the second minute a poor throw-out by Coomber left Wood flat-footed allowing Davison to gain possession, get to the goal-line and send in a long cross that Harrington just failed to reach at the far post but it showed that the visitors were intent on attacking. In fact Barnston were under the cosh for much of the first half as a perceived lack of confidence when near the ball let alone having possession was fairly evident amongst their younger players of whom there were a few. A ball forward from Gibson found Springett whose excellent cross was turned aside for a corner by Wood with the corner taken by Springett being hit far too long to cause problems. West Bergholt remained on top and scored after only eight minutes when defender Featherstone missed a clearance and JAKE BETHELL drove the loose ball hard and low to the right of Coomber who probably would have seem the ball late. Barnston reacted by attacking down their left side to gain a corner off Gibson but as the ball came over Featherstone fouled Reddick inside the six yard box.

On fifteen minutes a break by the home team through Hayward saw his cross fall kindly at the feet of Hawthorne who proceeded to totally miss his kick and Bethell (L) gratefully collected the ball a few yards behind. At the other end Davison galloped away and crossed to Harrington who headed wide and the visitors kept up the pressure. A foul by Reddick broke up a move between Frost and Hawthorne who was getting stuck into some challenges in his leading role upfront, however the free-kick was high and Gibson rose to head away and Gildea chased downfield, only to be pulled back for being off-side. Springett and Hawthorne went into a fifty/fifty challenge with the ball as a sandwich with Springett coming off worst, words were exchanged Springett limped off and play restarted. On twenty-three minutes a corner taken by Springett on the left side was firmly punched away by keeper Coomber but JAKE BETHELL running in at the edge of the penalty area lashed the ball through the assembled crowd of players and Coomber definitely did not see that shot as it flew past him for number two.

The heads of some Barnston players seemed to drop as another heavy defeat loomed at this early stage and after giving the ball away straight from the second restart West Bergholt went in search of further goals. Another strong run by Hayward forced a throw-in deep in the visitors half but the defence was strong and when the ball was cleared towards the centre-circle Molloy was guilty of taking Carvey down from behind. Carvey was in the wars again getting a cut to the head requiring a bandage to be applied off the pitch and whilst he received treatment the two goal lead should have been three when Harrington blazed over the cross-bar from close range after running onto a fine cross by Hodder, a recent new signing. Barnston had weathered another barrage of attacks and when a free-kick taken by Still, found the head of Hawthorne the ball flew straight to Bethell (L) who had so far had an easy afternoon.

Just as we passed the half-hour mark the sun came out and whenever West Bergholt played a long ball forward they looked dangerous as the home defence struggled to turn on the slippery surface, Hodder forced a corner off Still, Springett took the kick, Coomber flapped at the ball which skimmed off the forelock of Gibson to Carvey standing at the far post but somehow he headed the wrong side of the post, perhaps hampered by the head bandage! Three minutes later Wood fed Bezant and when the ball reached the unmarked Hawthorne his lobbed effort, with Bethell (L) off his goal-line, was slightly too high and just wide but a chance nevertheless. The combative Hawthorne clattered Gibson to rightly earn the first caution of the game and Webb was late into a challenge on Molloy and certain parts of the pitch were showing signs of cutting up. On thirty-eight minutes West Bergholt scored their third goal, Davison attacked down the left wing, Harrington turned on the ball, keeper Coomber, fumbled the bouncing ball allowing CALLUM GILDEA to place the ball into the unguarded net from inside the six-yard box. Another West Bergholt attack followed with Jones tracking back to a deep position to foul Springett with the free-kick cleared up field where Barnston won a rare free-kick as they had not ventured this far on many occasions in this half. Hayward took the free-kick to Hawthorne with Gibson getting a foot in first, diverting the ball back to Hayward who blasted the ball across the face of the goal and the half finished with teh visitors in a comfortable position!

 

HALF-TIME:       0 – 3

 

The second half started with no changes to playing personnel, with the sun now shining bright but low across the pitch which made viewing difficult from where I stood and with the hardly Barnston natives hoping for a much improved performance this half. Carvey was fouled by Molloy, good contest that but the free-kick failed to trouble the home defence and Hayward set Hawthorne up but after getting the better of Springett lobbed the ball wide with only Bethell (L) to negotiate. Hayward was guilty of a late challenge on Springett with Hawthorne and Carvey getting involved as the referee called Hayward aside to issue the second caution of the game, with Hawthorne warned not to get involved again, especially as he had already received a caution. Ten minutes into the half and Barnston scored, a total “to you – to me” mix-up between Bethell (L) and Reddick led to SAM JONES taking the ball on into the unguarded goal. Bethell (J) continued to cause problems with his quick running and ability to stop and turn on the soft ground leaving players in his wake and when he set Hodder away down the left side, Wood came across to tackle but only managed to foul Hodder with Wood getting a yellow card.

Ten minutes into the second half and Hawthorne gave chase to a long ball accompanied by Reddick who just managed to nick the ball off Hawthorne for a goal-kick but in this half the home side were tanking into challenges as if their lives depended on them, such a change to the first half when they stood off and allowed West Bergholt time and space to move the ball. Bethell (J) and Carvey were frustrated by this closer attention but their prompting saw Harrington ride one challenge then fall under the second leading to chance for Bethell (J) from the free-kick however the ball hit the four man defensive wall which led to another free-kick. Springett took the kick this time with the ball flying off the edge of the defensive wall for a corner. Springett took the corner, Coomber attempted to catch, dropping the ball at the feet of Harrington with Wood hacking the ball clear, then Featherstone blocked Harrington just as he was about to shoot. Gibson fouled Jones just past the half-way line as he turned to run past him to reach a pass from Hawthorne and West Bergholt should have scored again but Coomber denied Harrington with a classy save from a player standing suspiciously off-side! A corner from Davison found the head of Gibson with Coomber tipping the effort over the cross-bar and both teams were making more challenges this half and Barnston had certainly improved with Wood heading wide from a corner by Hayward.

West Bergholt replaced Gildea with Mucaj but Bezant and Hawthorne worked a chance that was fielded by Bethell (L) who when trying to clear allowed Hawthorne to close the gap and parry the clearance which bounced agonisingly wide. This renewed approach from Barnston had unsettled the West Bergholt team especially the defence who, on occasion, seemed at odds with each other, despite the teams, ability to string attacking moves together. Bethell (L) saved well from Jones and West Bergholt replaces Harrington with Shaw whilst Barnston replaced Bezant with Spencer. An overzealous, challenge by Mucaj on Barry earned him a caution wide by the corner flag whilst Carvey and Bethell (J) continued to pull the attacking strings for the visitors. A long ball from Springett fell into the stride of Shaw who took the ball on only for Coomber to make an excellent save when advancing to narrow the angle. Reddick chased back to defend a long forward ball and clearly clipped Hawthorne who had not given up on winning the ball, a caution for Reddick but as the low free-kick came in hesitant defending allowed COREY WOOD to steer the ball home and give Barnston a glimmer of hope. Still, who was injured in an earlier tackle was replaced by Robertson, a throw-in by Springett to Shaw who eased past Featherstone before passing to Bethell (J) but with an almost open goal struck the ball wide of the left hand upright. Reddick and Hawthorne renewed acquaintances in almost the same position as before, another free-kick but no further action this time, with the free-kick being cleared

 

FULL TIME:        2 – 3

 

The proverbial case of a game of two halves, West Bergholt strolled the first half and deserved their three goals to nil half-time lead, they did not perhaps expect Barnston to improve, score two goals, and have a real go at them in the second half but credit to them for making it a game worth chasing until the end.

 

This week for my selection for a Man-of-the Match was again a close call, home skipper and keeper Coomber kept his team in with a chance with some fine if somewhat desperate saves, the rugged Hawthorne ran everywhere chasing long balls and perhaps a few lost causes but he certainly tried. For West Bergholt their first half dominance was capped by two fine strikes by Jake Bethell who just edges out his midfield colleague Carvey.

 

Finally, it is so refreshing to always receive such a warm welcome from the Barnston AFC officials, most clubs know me by now but here there is always a cup of tea before the game, another at half-time and food served up after the game, not just to the home team but the match official and the visitors as well. This leads me to raise the point that it was also good to see the visitors stay and have a drink after the game, some clubs have those facilities, others do not, but if teams visit these establishments then surely it is courtesy to stay and have a drink, it does not have to be alcoholic, but any money that crosses the bar helps clubs like Barnston to survive!

 

No guesses as to where I intend to go next Saturday (12^th March) as Weeley Athletic FC travel to play Frenford Senior FC in the semi-final of the Essex Premier Cup. The winners of this semi-final will play Little Oakley FC in the final to be played at Thurrock FC on Wednesday 30^th March 2016.

 

Teams:

 

BARNSTON AFC:                                    Colours: Royal Blue Shirts, Royal Blue Shorts and Royal Blue Socks.

Eddie Coomber (C)., Daniel Still., Max Barry., Jack Frost., Troy Featherstone., Connor Molloy., Corey Wood., Andrew Bezant., Troy Hawthorne., Sam Jones., Benn Hayward.

 

Manager:                        Glen Wilkinson.

Used Substitutes:             Kevin Spencer., Jordan Robertson.

 

 

WEST BERGHOLT FC                              Colours: Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts and Yellow Socks.

Luke Bethell., Liam Springett (C)., Connor Davidson., Gareth Gibson., Stuart Reddick., Ryan Carvey., Jake Bethell., Kieron Webb., Jack Harrington., Sam Hodder., Callum Gildea.

 

Manager:                        Anthony White.

Used Substitutes:             Ermal Mucaj., Jamie Shaw.

Unused Substitute:           Anthony White

 

Referee:                        Lewis Farthing                 (West Bergholt).

 

Man of the Match:          Jake BETHELL                                (WEST BERGHOLT FC)