06/09/2025 – REPORT – Springfield FC versus AFC Pegasus Colchester

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

SPRINGFIELD FC.                  3.         AFC PEGASUS COLCHESTER.             0.        

Date:   Saturday 06th September 2025.      

Venue: Springfield FC, Arun Close, Chelmsford.

            A first chance to visit a new Club, a new venue and watch their First team who were elected to the ESBFL, Premier Division, this Club, Springfield FC, have also brought in their Reserve team into Division Two, we trust they enjoy playing in their new Saturday competition.

The Match Official was the experienced Dean Welham, today he had Grant Teasell and Danny Burch as Assistant Referees, both of whom are new to the ESBFL this season, and again we welcome their participation, the pitch looked in very good condition considering the dry and hot summer we have experienced this year.

            AFC Pegasus kicked off, but Springfield soon gained possession, AFC Pegasus regained it through Hayes who found Oliver whose low cross beat keeper, Bungaradu, then Carr AFC Pegasus crashed an effort against an upright, but Springfield broke away. Gannon made ground down the left side, beating his defender, towards the goal-line his low cross was dummied by Kirby and this allowed JERMAIN DA LUZ the easiest of chances to score with just three minutes played. Almost immediately Springfield scored a second goal, the unmarked BOBBY KIRBY struck an excellent effort goalwards, the ball beat keeper, Kendle, striking the underside of the cross bar and flew into the net. That’s two goals in the opening four minutes it looked like the writing was on the wall already for visitors as AFC Pegasus had hardly had a chance to get going. The first corner of the match fell to Springfield, Combes took this corner left-footed, a curling effort that landed on the top of the goal net but clearly a planned approach, AFC Pegasus gained a corner themselves when Hayes chased forward after being set through by Scott, keeper Bungaradu punched the ball clear and Kujinga ran after the long ball forward played by Peek. A poor back-headed clearance from Hayes almost played in Kitoko who blasted well wide of the goal. A mazy run by Da Luz was foiled by keeper, Kendle who saved with his feet at the near post, the resulting corner was cleared up field with Oliver just getting the better of Winyard, the referee had allowed play to continue but the final pass from Oliver was misplaced and AFC Pegasus were back on the defensive, especially when Oliver was spoken too after fouling Winyard.

            AFC Pegasus keeper, Kendle was quickly out, to clear when Taylor hit a short back-pass to the feet of Kujinga, a goal-kick followed, leading to a “handbags” situation between Winyard and Aldridge, over on the far touchline, quickly resolved though. Wraight struck a fine shot that hit the left hand upright with keeper, Kendle well beaten and the home team were on top at the halfway stage of the first half. A slick move involving Kitoko, Kujinga and Da Luz should have seen another goal for Springfield, but the rising shot troubled nobody. When AFC Pegasus threatened through Oliver, Farmer was quickly in thwart the danger posed as Oliver had picked up possession through midfield and ran forward beating two players in what was his teams first positive attack. Farmer again came out on top against Oliver, the AFC Pegasus approach was slow and had enabled Springfield defenders to get back and to be fair AFC Pegasus were chasing shadows due to the quick movement of the home team.

            Coombs played the ball into space for Kujinga, but the ball struck his knee and keeper, Kendle held the ball on his goal-line, a free kick followed, taken by Wraight but Hayes headed clear, when Hayes found space on the left side, the home team called for an offside decision, which was overruled and Oliver should have done better as played continued, but keeper Bungaradu was quickly out to field the ball. From the keeper’s clearance Da Luz raced down the right side, he beat Aldridge for pace, cut inside but was denied by keeper, Kendle who saved at the near post. Carr and Hosier combined with Aldridge down the left side, much more positive from the visitors though but defender Winyard did well to cover the break, the visitors need more attacks like this one had promised. Farmer fouled Booth, play continued until the referee rightly brought the ball back for a free kick, Carr took the free kick Gannon fouled Carr near the half-way line, Carr then went through the back of Da Luz, conceded a free-kick and when kicking the ball away received a yellow card. Just on half-time, Springfield scored a third, route one, goal, keeper, Bungaradu launched the ball forward DONNEL KUJINGA took the ball in his stride, beat Aldridge for pace and placed the ball past stranded keeper, Kendle and the first half, dominated by Springfield came to a close.

HALF-TIME:    3 – 0.

            Springfield kicked off the second half, the wind had increased and would probably cause a few problems and on a hard pitch, Kirby sent the ball wide to Peek whose low cross drifted past the post in front of two forwards who arrived just a fraction too late. Keeper, Kendle sent the ball long to Oliver and from his knock-on, Carr, whose first time cross flew well wide of the goal for a goal-kick. Wright, for AFC Pegasus was cautioned for a foul on Wraight, the free kick taken by Farmer was safely gathered by keeper, Kendle, and from his clearance, AFC Pegasus, through Booth moved forward and the visitors looked in better shape. Kujinga and Da Luz linked up down the right side, both have pace and close players down quickly, so much so, as when Hayes controlled a cross from Da Luz, Kujinga quickly blocked the attempted clearance by Hayes and ran goalwards, Caulfield attempted to cover his colleagues error but Da Luz inexplicably missed the goal with only keeper, Kendle to beat! AFC Pegasus made their first player change on fifty-two minutes replacing Scott with Burns, the pressure from Springfield continued and the visitors had trouble moving the ball to areas of safety. Four minutes later and the visitors replaced Booth with Rutter, they gained a corner through Carr, from which Oliver got his head to the ball, but a goal kick followed.

            On sixty minutes, Springfield made a triple substitution, off went Gannon, Peek and Kitoko with Martin, Smith and Boon entering play, Carr worked the ball down the right side, his low cross was controlled by Oliver but just as he was about to shoot, he lost his footing, and a decent chance went begging! More substitutions followed on sixty-two minutes, this time for AFC Pegasus with Wright and Carr making way for Burns and Payne, the introduction of these players seemed to lift the momentum of the visitors. A free kick taken by Smith was curling just inside the corner of post and crossbar until keeper, Kendle rose to palm the ball over the crossbar for a corner. Rutter picked up a driven pass from Cracknell, he beat Farmer on the outside but his low cross drifted wide for a goal kick, much better from the visitors though. With AFC Pegasus pushing forward, this left gaps at the back with keeper, Kendle, on more than one occasion having to advance up field to clear for his defence. Another long clearance from keeper, Kendle fell to Oliver, he passed to Rutter who beat two retreating defenders before crossing, left-footed, home keeper, Bungaradu palmed the ball away for a corner, taken by Payne. On seventy minutes, defender Farmer, made a great recovery tackle inside his own penalty area, this after being beaten by Oliver down the left side, and it showed the commitment of Springfield. Wraight, having been spoken too in the first half, again contested a decision, a challenge between Aldridge and Kujinga, deemed fair by the referee, and was shown a yellow card indicating a ten-minute spell in the “sin-bin, with about eighteen minutes left to play.

            AFC Pegasus were now on the front foot as Springfield seemed to sit back, were they protecting their lead, or waiting for mistakes from the visitors, only time would tell as they were now playing with ten players. Keeper, Bungaradu caught a cross from Aldridge, and sent the ball long and wide to Da Luz whose pace remained, even at this late stage of the game, from his cross Kitoko shot goalwards, keeper, Kendle made a fine save, the keeper then thwarted Kirby who had drifted past a couple of static defenders to shoot goalwards. A shot from Rutter, tested keeper, Bungaradu, a corner followed and Wraight returned to the fray, for the last five or so minutes, Boon fouled Payne just outside the penalty area, but Rutter blasted the ball high and wide, AFC Pegasus pressed forward again, a corner taken by Payne was headed goalwards by  Hayes, only for keeper, Bungaradu to make a fine flying reaction save at point black range. Cracknell, clearly had not heeded the warning about dissent and was shown a yellow card, meaning he would miss the rest of the match whilst sitting in the “sin-bin”. A fine direct run by Oliver was stopped by a timely challenge by Coombs, then Wraight committed a foul on the half-way line, a second yellow card was brandished, followed by a red card and soon after the referee brought the match to a halt.

FULL TIME:     3 – 0.

            Springfield came into this match with three wins and three daws which placed them second in the table, on this performance they will be a difficult team to beat, AFC Pegasus Colchester, on the other hand won their first three matches then suffered two heavy defeats to sit mid-table. Springfield started brightly and were two goals ahead after only five minutes, scoring again just on half time, the second half saw a much-improved performance by AFC Pegasus Colchester, but they couldn’t find the back of the net though!

Turning to my choice of Star player, for AFC Pegasus, keeper, Kendle made numerous saves but was well beaten for the three conceded, Oliver ploughed a lonely battle upfront but to be fair after going two goals down inside the first five minutes continued to battle and the young team did not drop their heads. This was a first chance to assess Springfield, clearly the pace of their forwards will cause problems, the midfield is solid and work hard, defensively they looked sound with Coombs and particularly Farmer in control.

Teams:

SPRINGFIELD FC:

Colours:                        Blue & White Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Ryan Bungaradu., Frederick Winyard., Nathan Combes (C)., Harvey Farmer., Frazer Wraight., Billy Gannon., Bode Peek., Bobby Kirby., Evaristo Kitoko., Donnel Kujinga., Jermaine Da Luz.

Manager:                      Jimmy Donald.

Used Substitutes:          Jesse Martin., Sydney Swift., Harry Stoneham., Harry Boon.

AFC PEGASUS COLCHESTER 

Colours:                        Lime Green Shirts, Lime Green Shorts and Lime Green Socks.

Team:

Samuel Kendle., Freddie Hayes., Joel Taylor., Alfie Wright., Cian Aldridge (C)., Taylor Hosier., Harry Scott., Max Caulfield., Charlie Carr., Ollie Booth., Liam Oliver.

Manager:                      Aaron Lyon.

Used Substitutes:          Jack Cracknell., Joseph Burns., Luke Payne., Joshua Rutter.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee:                       Dean Welham.

Assistant Referees:       Grant Teasell

                        and      Danny Burch.

STAR PLAYERS:          Harvey FARMER                                 (SPRINGFIELD FC)