06/05/2022 – REPORT – TOMMY THOMPSON CUP – GREAT BENTLEY FC VERSUS BRIGHTLINGSEA TOWN FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

TOMMY THOMPSON CUP FINAL

GREAT BENTLEY FC       1.       BRIGHTLINGSEA TOWN FC               1.

PENALTIES:         4 – 2

Date:   Friday 06^th May 2022.                        Venue:             War Memorial, Little Oakley.

            This is number four of four ESBFL Cup finals, this the Tommy Thompson Cup competed for by teams in the lower four Divisions, needless to say the top two teams in Division Two won through to set up a “local derby”. These teams played out their final League match the week before, with Brightlingsea Town FC emerging victors that evening, by three goals to nil which meant they had won all their twenty-four league games, quite an achievement. Tonight, Great Bentley FC, would be looking for some cup form to add to their divisional Runners-Up trophy, both teams had players missing, taking holidays in the football season, I ask you!

            For the last time this season, the venue for an ESBFL Cup Final was the well-appointed ground at Little Oakley FC, the ESBFL would once again like to thank the Club for allowing use of their facilities and for supplying the after-match refreshments.

            On a warm evening, under the floodlights which were on from the start it was Great Bentley FC who kicked off and within a minute Herbert was cautioned for a heavy challenge on Griggs wide on the left side and just a few yards away from the dug-outs. Burnett (P) took the free-kick left-footed but his delivery, was frankly, poor, by his standards but from the next free-kick, the delivery was excellent, the header by Stallan was good, but keeper, Allwood excelled, providing a blinding save from six yards out, a decent start. Keogh-Kedar picked the ball up on the right side and sent a ball over the top for Hurd who flicked the ball on with his head for Clifton to chase but keeper, Burnett, (S) was quickly out to collect on the edge of the penalty area. From the keeper’s long clearance Sauka gave chase, but Grace had got back to head out for a corner, taken by Burnett (P) and punched clear by keeper, Allwood. Once again, keeper Burnett (S) launched a long ball forward, finding Sauka who set Griggs away with Grace in too close attention and a foul was awarded. The first ten minutes of this game was a bit end-to-end, so almost without fail the next clearance from a keeper was from Allwood who got Hurd away with Morley conceding a corner, from which followed a verbal spat between Pringle and Stallan! A few more niggly fouls followed, as when a forward pass from Burnett (P) reached Hatch he was unceremoniously pushed in he back by McMahon who was correctly spoken too then Morley sent Keogh-Kedar flying to event things up.

            At fifteen minutes this game was evenly poised, not too much goal action but a good save from keeper, Allwood had kept the scores level, a corner taken by Herbert found the head of Grace, but the ball flew over the cross-bar for a goal-kick. Great Bentley had raised their game slightly and from a pass from Bowles, Hurd flicked the ball on again for Firkins to chase but the dependable Burnett (P) was sweeping up this time. Another free-kick taken by Herbert was struck too long and keeper, Burnett (S) easily fielded inside his penalty area, from his clearance Sauka pushed the ball forward for Hatch to chase, this he did but in his exuberance, he clattered keeper, Allwood and another caution was correctly administered. Keeper, Allwood sent the ball long again, Burnett (P) chested down, passing the ball to Wallis who was unfairly challenged by Keogh-Kedar, it’s getting tasty now. Burnett (P) who had a fine game in that last league fixture pushed forward with Herbert back-tracking to commit a foul just inside his own half then Firkins baulked Wallis on half-way. The free kick from Burnett (P) went straight to keeper, Allwood, once again commanding his area and showing some good calling before punching clear, then Hatch set Sauka away, but he was at least two yards off-side.

            The long ball tactic from Brightlingsea Town was again executed by Burnett (P) who tried to get through, but Pringle headed clear but only to Hatch who did find Sauka but despite beating keeper, Allwood, there was McMahon clearing off the goal-line. Herbert over-hit a long ball straight to keeper, Burnett (S) who collected on the edge of his penalty area, Sauka was stopped by a fine challenge from McMahon right on the edge the penalty area, to me a goal-kick should have been awarded but a corner followed, taken by Sauka, the ball was headed goal-wards by Stallan with the ball literally hitting keeper, Allwood to be cleared, the pressure is mounting! Morley and Clifton clashed wide on the right side but again the free-kick from Herbert fell kindly to keeper, Burnett (S) with nobody challenging, then Hurd scuffed the ball wide from a pass by Clifton who had linked up with Keogh-Kedar to work the ball forward from defence. When Firkins chased a speculative ball forward, he rounded the advancing keeper, Burnett (S) who was thankful that defender Stoneman had got back to clear off the goal-line, chances were now more evident. More fouls followed as each team tried to dominate in midfield, Firkins impeded Stallan who was not impressed, then to close the half a shot from Simmons was saved at the near post by keeper, Allwood, the busier of the two custodians.

HALF-TIME:    0 – 0.

            There were no changes to playing personnel at the second half restart, made by Brightlingsea Town, Hatch pushed forward with Grace defending then Morley got forward beating two defenders before being tackled by Bowles, Great Bentley were not to be out-done and Clifton sent Herbert away down the right side, but Drysdale (A) stood his ground to block, it’s end-to-end already. Hatch threatened down the right side, but his cross flew well wide, Morley found Simmons who played the ball into Sauka, again slightly too quick off the mark to be found off-side. Wallis fouled Herbert inside the centre-circle, but the free-kick taken by Keogh-Kedar failed to cause any problem, a clearance from keeper, Allwood fell to Hurd, but Stallan cleared, then a poor challenge by Stoneman on Herbert, probably warranted a caution but play restarted with Herbert for Great Bentley sending in a testing cross that Pringle and Stallan competed for. On fifty-seven minutes a long-awaited goal, Burnett (P) was chased down in defence, the Brightlingsea Town defence for once stuttered and failed to pick up AARON CLIFTON who poked the ball home. Griggs won a corner off Bowles, Burnett (P) took the kick but sent the ball too long and way past the far post, however, the game was still open and competitive.

            Hurd tried to get Herbert away, but the off-side flag was raised and with the match stopped this allowed Great Bentley to replace Firkins with Jones and soon after the referee allowed play to continue when Sauka was impeded by Pringle, but Sauka could only send a right-footed effort wide from that good position and he did the same again when Griggs found some space to attack. When Wallis played a poor back-pass towards his keeper, Burnett (S), his blushes were saved as Jones could only lob the keeper and the unguarded net. Hatch was hauled back by Grace in a wide position, Burnett (P) took the free-kick, the high ball caused problems inside the Great Bentley penalty area, Stallan was seen shielding the ball which, apparently, in the ensuing scramble, struck defender CHRISTOPHER BOWLES and crossed the goal-line, and the goal stood, so back to evens then! Cup Finals are always keenly fought matches so after a series of fouls throughout this competitive match it was perhaps inevitable that there would be a flare-up of some kind. Wallis and McMahon neither of whom give any quarter, clashed on the half-way line with both players being dismissed once the other players had dispersed, the free-kick had been awarded to Brightlingsea Town. Jones, won then lost the ball but chased back to dispossess Sauka and Great Bentley pushed forward with Burnett (P) twice, putting in huge blocks to shots on goal, from Herbert and Hurd, suffice to say the second one caused him the receive treatment.

            Right, fifteen minutes to play, who has the bigger goal threat, nothing much between these teams this evening, Great Bentley replaced Bowles and Ball allowing Britton and Gray to take part, Keogh-Kedar did well the thwart an attack set up by Griggs and Sauka then Griggs was adjudged to have used “excessive force” when tackling Keogh-Kedar, some might have called it “over enthusiasm”, or “pure frustration”! Great Bentley nullified another Brightlingsea Town attack from Morley with Griggs, this time unable to gain control, then Keogh-Kedar chased back to stop Sauka, but the ball fell to Hatch who set up Griggs whose dipping right-footed effort just cleared the cross-bar. As the game edged into the last minutes, a shot from Clifton, hit Burnett (P) who, having received treatment, had to leave the field of play and Brightlingsea Town made a last change getting Drysdale (L) on for Simmons, but he had little time left to have any impact and the referee blew for full-time and for the second time this season its straight to penalties.

FULL TIME:     1 – 1.

Great Bentley FC                                                           Brightlingsea Town FC

Blake Keogh-Kedar        Burnett (S) saves          0 – 0     Ashley Sauka     Scores                           0 – 1

Joe Hurd                       Scores                           1 – 1     Burnett (P)        Scores                           1 – 2

Toby Brittan                  Scores                           2 – 2     Scott Stallan      Allwood saves               2 – 2

Jake Allwood     (G/K)    Scores                           3 – 2     Ricky Griggs      Allwood saves               3 – 2

Connor Jones                 Scores                           4 – 2    

PENALTIES:     4 – 2

            Are penalty kicks the right way to end a match, that’s a question that will always be discussed, this season the ESBFL has adopted a now familiar system of Cup Finals going straight to those kicks, bearing in mind that these players have worked all day, then to play ninety minutes and then another thirty before penalty kicks is a big ask, it also leaves little time to enjoy food and a beer in the bar afterwards!

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Now, let’s turn to my “Star Players, it’s a Cup Final so it is only fair that I pick a player from each team, two committed teams, in more than one way, the league season saw Brightlingsea Town FC prevail but tonight’s League Runners-Up got their just reward for a gritty and determined display to win on penalties.

            As it’s a Cup Final I always chose a player from each team, once again both teams had players doing their jobs correctly all evening so I’m going to avoid listing everyone but for me and another learned spectator we felt Blake Keogh-Kedar was outstanding for Great Bentley FC, his non-stop display epitomised his teams desire to win, yes, he did have a spot-kick saved but he had the pluck to take one. For Brightlingsea Town FC, it’s a player that’s been causing defences problems for what seems like years, that player is Ashley Sauka, full of running, his positioning and ability to find space and use his pace has not waned, neither has his enthusiasm, well done to both players.          

After a few words from League Chairman, John Campany the medals and trophies were handed out by Alan Gould, ESBFL. Referees Appointment Secretary.

Teams:

GREAT BENTLEY FC: 

Colours:                        White Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Jake Allwood., Ryan McMahon., Christopher Bowles., Blake Keogh-Kedar., Jamie Pringle., Ryan Grace., Aaron Clifton., Steve ball., Joe Hurd., Kurt Firkins., Archie Herbert.

Management:                Jack Murray., Greg Taylor & Lee Barrett.

Used Substitutes:           Connor Jones., Toby Britton., Thomas Gray.

Unused Substitutes:       Charlie Dorling., Pacey Grimshaw.

BRIGHTLINGSEA TOWN FC:

Colours:                        Orange Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Steven Burnett., Jack Stoneman., Adam Drysdale., Darryl Wallis., Scott Stallan., Byron Hatch., Rhys Morley., Phillip Burnett., Ashley Sauka., Ricky Griggs., Matt Simmons

Manager:                      Ricky Griggs

Used Substitutes:           Luke Drysdale.

Unused Substitute:         Conrad Baker., Lee Gomesh., Mitchell Scott

Referee:                        Mariusz Buchan.

Referee Assistants:        Anthony Phillipps & James McMillan.

4^th Official:                    Daniel Axente.

Star Player/s:             Blake KEOGH-KEDAR             (GREAT BENTLEY FC)

                                    Ashley SAUKA                         (BRIGHTLINGSEA TOWN FC)