05/09/2015 – Weeley Athletic FC versus Barnston AFC (KOC-PR)

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

KNOCK-OUT CUP – PRELIMINARY ROUND

 

WEELEY ATHLETIC FC:  6.                 BARNSTON AFC:   1.

 

Date:   Saturday 05^th September 2015.                   Venue: Vista Road, Clacton-on-sea.

 

As I mentioned in last week’s report, I had decided to cover a Knock-Out Cup match this week so with the first match out of the hat being my old team, Weeley Athletic FC at home to Premier Division, Barnston AFC, I took the short trip to Vista Road, Clacton for what was the first match on a council pitch this season, the pitch therefore was in excellent condition but I’m sure the re-seeded goal mouths will suffer from now on as the public use them for kick-about games!

 

Weeley Athletic FC have designs on progressing again this year but getting out of Division One will not be easy and personally I see four or five teams challenging throughout the season with Manager, Keiron Shelley adding some experienced players to last year’s squad in an attempt to make that happen.

 

Barnston AFC were making the long trip to Clacton on the back of a heavy defeat the previous week but early season circumstances and injuries, despite some encouraging pre-season friendlies, were hampering their current plight and more injuries in this match gives their Manager, Luke Nash an additional headache.

 

The Match Official for this fixture was Richard Lock and generally I felt he had a good game in a fast game of attacking football with only one obvious caution being administered.

 

Weeley kicked-off playing into a stiff breeze that was blowing straight down the pitch but an optimistic ball wide towards McLean was picked up by Babet and from his cross-field ball Jones (S) was stopped by Westrip with the loose ball blasted wide by Jones (S). A quick Weeley break led to Rawlinson running the ball all the way to the keeper and another similar direct attack led to the ball from Heffer falling into the path of Nash who ran on but rather than shoot himself decided to pass inside towards Newland but the visiting defence cleared the danger. On twelve minutes the visitors mounted an attack themselves as Jones (S) and Simmons made ground down the left wing until East stepped across and set Newland free in midfield but from his pass to the right wing, McLean had made his run slightly early to be caught off-side. Keeper Coomber was probably already thinking he could have a busy afternoon when McLean used his pace to latch onto an astute pass from Nash with the keeper saving at his feet. Barnston almost capitalised when the home defence dithered in defence allowing Frances a chance to shoot, but over the cross-bar.

On fifteen minutes, when Rawlinson was up-ended the free-kick take by Davis was cleared by Babet and Westrip was guilty of a miss-timed challenge on Worrow. Newland and Nash started the next home attack with the pass wide to McLean saw him round his defender and cross towards Nash, who controlled the ball, rounded the keeper but hit the side netting. Five minutes later and that same attacking route became effective as McLean rode two tackles to get the ball to ROSS NASH who scored from close range. Home keeper Freeman then excelled himself with a fine save to deny Jones (B) who ran through to strike the ball on the volley after Hawthorne had lobbed it over the home defensive line from outside the penalty area. At the mid-half point Weeley just shaded proceeding with Barnston showing signs of being dangerous, if given the chance but it was Weeley who scored next. Westrip received the ball wide from Freeman, he found Newland who set Rawlinson galloping away down the left wing from the half-way line and when his cross-cum-shot was only pushed out by the diving keeper, ROSS NASH was at the far post to score his second goal.

Despite this set-back Barnston tried once again to get the ball forward only for Downes to handle the ball on the half way line and incur a caution and as the half progressed towards half-time Weeley had further chances, Nash being caught off-side from a break by McLean. Rawlinson, like McLean was using his pace to good effect and any ball coming in from the wing areas was causing trouble for a retreating defence. When Findlay headed the ball out for a corner-kick on the left, Simmons took the kick, high and long to the far post where Hawthorne leapt to head strongly goalwards but Freeman made a fine point blank reflex save to push the ball up from almost under the cross-bar gathering the loose ball as it came down again. Another Barnston corner, this time by Jones (J) was met by the head of Hawthorne once again but Findlay cleared the danger, two yards out, with Freeman caught out of position. Barnston defender Norris was forced to leave the field with a foot injury when he seemed to connect with the bottom of the boot of Findlay and he was eventually to be replaced by Munn. Last man Downes made an excellent timely tackle on Hawthorne as the home team pushed forward too far but when Davis fed Nash his through ball to Newland was matched by keeper Coomber getting to the ball first. Rawlinson crossed to McLean who forced Coomber to save low to his left and from his long clearance Simmons ran down the left side, cut back into the pitch but blasted his shot high and wide.

 

HALF-TIME:       2 – 0

 

Despite Barnston re-starting the game it was Weeley who continued to attack, Rawlinson played a long ball forward, Nash gave chase, Coomber advanced to narrow the angle and Nash could only steer the ball wide of goal. Newland and Nash linked up just outside the penalty area and then used the pace of McLean to good effect once again and after running past Babet saw Coomber saving with his chest as he came out with Nash scuffing the rolling ball past the left hand upright. Hawthorne tried his luck to get through a solid Weeley defence with Findlay forced to head clear, but only into the path of Simmons who skied his shot from outside the penalty area. Newland did likewise for Weeley before East fouled Hawthorne twenty-five yards out on the Barnston left side. Jones (J) struck an excellent free-kick which Freeman saved at full stretch before getting up to block the follow up from Jones (B) at the far post. These efforts seemed to have raised the spirits of the visitors and Weeley were forced to defend despite Jones (B) and Hawthorne being replaced by Norris (J)and Carney, in fact the first kick, a dipping volley, by Norris (J) forced Freeman into another fine save at the foot of the post. Newland was caught off-side from a Davis through ball whilst Westrip fouled Norris (J), the free-kick being cleared by Downes.

With East requiring treatment there was break in play but the visitors started again in better shape with a cross from Frances on the right finding both Simmons and Jones (J), both unmarked, trying to head the same ball with the end result being a wasted opportunity and a goal-kick to Weeley. On sixty-five minutes Heffer was replaced by Clover who slotted into midfield and Findlay playing the ball out of defence to Rawlinson who fed Newland and from his left wing cross Nash jumped with the keeper only for the ball to run out of play off the back of the attacker. Barnston had definitely raised their game in the opening twenty minutes of the second half and Findlay was forced to block a fierce shot from Norris (J) who reacted quickest to the loose ball following another fine save by Freeman from Simmons. Despite the Weeley manager’s orders to his team, to put a foot on the ball and slow things down it was Barnston who sensed a goal might come and on seventy minutes a poor pass back from Clover put Findlay in trouble with his challenge being punished by the award of a free-kick. Up stepped JOSEPH JONES to hammer home the free-kick from twenty-five yards this time giving Freeman little chance to save and for a few more minutes Weeley seemed to have lost their shape and not able to do the simple things!

Rawlinson and Newland set up Clover but his close range effort only found the outside of the net but Barnston had penned the home team back and could easily have scored again themselves but things changed when McLean raced down the right wing, cutting inside to find Nash in a central position and with a swivel of his body he pushed the ball wide to the left side where SCOTT RAWLINSON dribbled past three defenders before scoring past the defenceless keeper. East was replaced by Griffin and that third goal seemed to settle the Weeley nerves although Westrip once again fouled a player, this time Jones (S) was the unfortunate player who required lengthy treatment. With less than ten minutes to go Weeley scored again, with Newland pulling a defender out of a central position by running to the left, Nash played the ball through the gap where RUSSELL McLEAN ran through, dummied the keeper, ala Pele in the World Cup, running onto the loose ball to score from three yards. Westrip was replaced by Keeble for the last five or so minutes, Coomber saved from firstly Rawlinson then Mclean and once again when Rawlinson dribbled past two defenders before Coomber came to the rescue with a fine save at the foot of the post.

Weeley kept up the pressure and Newland sent Nash through but the keeper was equal to the challenge and when Barnston did get into the penalty area Findlay used his strength to ease Carney off the ball after another fine save by Freeman. They say that it is best to save the best till last, well almost, as when a poor clearance fell to LOUIE NEWLAND standing just on the centre-circle he lifted the ball high over the visitors defence and keeper the ball bouncing once before entering the unguarded net. Another goal did follow before the end, Newland used some neat footwork to get the ball out to Nash on the left side and from his teasing cross RUSSELL McLEAN ran in to stoop low and head home goal number six and complete a fine victory for the Division One team.

 

FULL TIME:        6 – 1

 

Perhaps forgetting about three late goals in this six goals to one margin of victory, both teams had tried and been allowed to play attacking football on a decent pitch with Weeley dominating most of the attacking play excepting a twenty minute spell just after half-time. In Round One proper Weeley will travel to Premier Division, University of Essex FC on a date to be arranged.

 

Contenders for this week’s Man-of-the Match choice could have gone to a number of players, notably Coomber the Barnston keeper who made numerous quality saves despite conceding six times. For the home team, Newland was not only an instigator of the attacking play but also a scorer of a fine goal, McLean, with two goals and Rawlinson, one goal, will give most defences a run for their money, excuse the pun, not forgetting Nash who scored two goals and set up three for his colleagues. However without the back-up of an inspired goal-keeper the score-line could have been so much different so my selection this week is Mitchell Freeman of Weeley Athletic FC, this, in only his first season as a football custodian.

 

Next week its back to a Premier Division game, but only after Tuesday evenings game, the A.V. Lee Memorial Trophy match between Little Oakley FC (Knock-Out Cup Winners) and West Bergholt FC (Premier Division champions). The game will be played at the Garrison Ground with kick-off at 19:30pm.

 

 

Teams:

 

WEELEY ATHLETIC FC:                          Colours: Orange Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Mitchell Freeman., Robert East., Matthew Westrip., Steven Downes (C)., Daniel Findlay., Steven Davis., Russell McLean., Tom Heffer., Ross Nash., Louie Newland., Scott Rawlinson.

 

Manager:                        Keiron Shelley.

Used Substitutes:             Hayden Keeble., Jimmy Griffin., Jarrad Clover.

Unused Substitutes:         Lewis Wilden.

 

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

Eddie Coomber., Connor Worrow., Curtis Babet., Paul Frances., Daniel Norris., Troy Featherstone., Bailey Jones., Sam Jones., Joseph Jones., Troy Hawthorne., Mitchell Simmons.

 

Manager:                        Luke Nash.

Used Substitutes:             James Norris., Adam Munn., Redmond Carney.

Unused Substitutes:         Tayla Hughes., Luke Nash.

 

 

Referee:                        Richard Lock                   (Frinton-on-sea).

 

 

Man of the Match:          Mitchell FREEMAN                         (WEELEY ATHLETIC FC)