06/12/2025 – REPORT – Brooklands FC versus Oyster FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION THREE
BROOKLANDS FC. 3. OYSTER FC. 0.
Date: 06th December 2025. Venue: Mile End Recreation Ground, Colchester.
Once again, I left my decision on where to go and watch a match till the last minute, I’d missed last Saturday, when I felt quite lucky, as that was another day with torrential rain, this week the rain during the week was expected to play havoc, however, in the ESBFL only four matches did not take place, two due to the weather, the other two, with Clubs unable to field a team, its clear Clubs are struggling for players, but what is the answer!
In the end I decided to go to Mile End for the Division Three match between eleventh placed, Brooklands FC and tenth placed, Oyster FC, the pitches there, looked in good condition, soft, but with plenty of grass, there was also a Veterans game being played but at least four other pitches were standing idle, although I understand that more matches are played there on Sunday’s, so is the cost more prohibitive there than other Council run facilities in Colchester!
Today’s Match Official was Jake Jenner, another young referee learning his trade, officiating in the lower divisions of the ESBFL, today, I thought he had a good match, always close to the play, issuing one nailed on caution, and only having cause to speak to a couple of players and to the respective captains during the second half, as the tempo increased.
Oyster kicked off but after playing the ball backwards, the ball was then launched forward and Brooklands took control and played their way forward, Youngs dived, late, into a challenge on Burgess and was quickly spoken too by the referee. From the restart, Toll was caught off-side from a forward pass from Smith, keeper, Symes launched the free kick, high and deep into the Oyster half, defenders, Shaw and Hoes got in each-others way when clearing, the ball bouncing off for the first corner of the match. The corner was not cleared and with the ball bouncing around on the edge of the six-yard box, there was MICHAEL CHALLINOR to ram the ball home through a crowd of players, with just five minutes on the clock! Borthwick was overzealous, in a challenge on Igbal and was spoken too, Igbal took the free kick himself but keeper, Humphrys held the ball under his crossbar, from another corner, the unmarked, Stanescu, headed over the goal, Smith put in a robust challenge on Read, this was defended well by Hoes.
The first fifteen minutes had been competitive, the experience of some of the Brooklands players was showing, as the youthful, Oyster players tried to put together their attacking moves, but they tended to overplay the ball, they needed to be patient, create slowly and not concede possession too cheaply, the visitors were also quick into any challenge as shown by captain, Burgess on his opposite number, Read. The long ball approach from Oyster was not going to work, their players had the pace, but the Brooklands defence marshalled by central defenders, Tye and Igbal, never looked in trouble, with Dunne and Hamblion blocking the attacks from the flanks, so much so that a tentative shot from Smith flew well wide from distance. Rule, for Brooklands missed a big chance to increase his teams lead, as with keeper, Humphrys well outside his penalty area, beaten by a stray back-pass from Shaw, he placed the ball wide of the gaping goal! A long throw-in from Burgess should have been better controlled by Mamadou who seemed to duck out of the way, this allowed Youngs to race away, but his final ball in a two-on-two situation, was well wide of his colleague, Sheriff! Tye defended well when Toll threatened, having run from well inside his own half, beating three retreating players along the way.
Brooklands increased their lead on thirty minutes, a long ball forward from keeper, Symes, was allowed to bounce, this beat both Warren and Hoes and there as MARIUS STANESCU to score with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. Burgess committed one too many tackles that led to fouls and he was spoken too near the half-way line, more out of frustration as his team were now up against a keen home team. A free kick, taken by Igbal, was collected after one bounce by keeper, Humphreys, and when the clearance went out of play, Brooklands replaced the injured Sheriff with Patterson, the home team remained positive but passes still went astray and Oyster were suffering likewise. Stanescu fouled Toll, from the quickly taken free kick Borthwick waltzed through four or five attempted tackles but ran out of space on the pitch, as the half came to an end, Challinor dived into a challenge to stop Toll and having been guilty of several similar challenges already, was shown a yellow card.
HALF-TIME: 2 – 0.
Oyster used their only substitute after the half-time break, off went Toll with Cowan taking his place, despite Brooklands restarting this match, Oyster forced a corner, taken by Dobson but delivered too close to the near post and was cleared by Dunne which led to an attack that forced a throw-in, delivered long towards the penalty spot by Challinor, as the ball was cleared a shot came in that keeper, Humphreys saved. Keeper, Humphreys was again in action, this time saving at the near post from Challinor and Brooklands continued by pushing the ball around comfortably. Challinor was never far away from any midfield action, a deft flick took the ball over the defensive line, which left keeper, Humphreys exposed but Cowan cleared with his first touch since entering play. Read fouled Burgess near the half-way line, Burgess played the free kick towards the edge of the penalty area, Tye and Iqbel dithered and it was left to Hamblion to clear the loose ball out of play, row “Z” in fact! When Iqbal tried to be clever inside his own penalty area, he was fortunate that Borthwick could not capitalise and keeper, Symes was there to collect the loose ball.
On fifty-eight minutes, Brooklands scored again, a poor clearance fell to BRANDON READ, who looked up and took aim at the goal thirty yards away, the ball cleared the heads of any defenders, keeper, Humphreys seemed to not only slip but could only help the ball into his own net. A free kick taken by Tye was sent straight to keeper, Humphreys, from his clearance, another free kick was given, from which Burgess, saw his high free kick headed away by Challinor, and at the next break in play, Brooklands replaced Rule with Brooks. Whilst Oyster players who often looked comfortable on the ball they were guilty of over playing the ball when it mattered, almost a case of beating themselves. A break by Borthwick, chasing onto a long forward pass from Hoes saw his promising run end with the ball going out of play for a goal kick. For Oyster, Mamadou and Borthwick forced a corner, taken by Burgess, the ball curled goalwards but struck the top of the crossbar and went out for a goal kick. With twenty minutes remaining Iqbal embarked on a run out of defence and as he approached the Oyster penalty area, he showed some good footwork and draw a foul from Cowan. Iqbal took the free kick himself but in the goalmouth melee a player was flagged for offside.
As we entered the final fifteen minutes, Brooklands should have been content with the scoreline but they kept pressing forward and a shot from Stanescu took a bounce and reared up in the face of keeper, Humphreys but the save was made. Challinor, having already been cautioned, dived into a challenge on Hoes, he really needed to be careful, even at this late stage of the match, seemingly already won! Hoes took the free kick but totally overhit the ball for a goal kick, when a high ball over the top of the retreating Oyster defence, Patterson cleverly took the ball in his stride and forced keeper, Humphreys to save low down. Oyster had not given up, so when Hoes sent in a fine cross into the path of Mamoudou, his goal effort was weak and keeper, Symes saved, a shame really as it was decent chance. A long clearance from keeper, Humphreys cleared the home defence, Borthwick gave chase but could not catch the ball which went out for a goal kick. In the final minutes, Oyster conceded a free kick following a handball infringement, Tye took the free kick but sent it straight to keeper, Humphreys, Hamblion fouled Burgess, and Brooks fouled Warren, neither free kick caused the home defence any problems and the match ended soon after.
FULL TIME: 3 – 0.
Brooklands deserved to win this bottom of the table match, this was only their second victory of the season, the last was back in September, since then they have been on the receiving end of some big defeats and currently have conceded more goals than any other team and only three teams have scored less themselves, so this was a welcome win that moves them closer to Oyster. For this young Oyster team, it was their fifth straight defeat, today they were up against more experienced players whose physicality was used to good effect when needed, playing grassroots football at this level can be a steep learning curve, their attitude was good throughout and heads did not drop.
Turning to my choice of Star player, this was going to be a difficult choice because the match was a mediocre affair, two honest, hardworking teams trying to play on a cold and damp afternoon so I’m unable to decide this week.
Teams:
BROOKLANDS FC:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Charley Symes., Daniel Dunne., Drew Hamblion., Marius Stanescu., Fayad Igbal., Brandon Read (C)., Michael Challinor., Rell Youngs., Aaron Rule., Joshua Sheriff., Bailey Tye.
Manager: Dan Lodge.
Used Substitutes: Alex Brooks., Jake Petterson.
Unused Substitutes: Alize Rollins., Shane Stephens.
OYSTER FC
Colours: Pink Shirts, Black Shorts and Pink Socks.
Team:
Ellis Humphreys., Joshua Hoes., Reuben Shaw., Leo Warren., Fletcher Burgess (C)., Kieron Mamoudou., Jaden Smith., Archie Dobson., Daniel Claxton., Freddie Toll., Charlie Borthwick.
Manager: Gordon (Robbie) Robertson.
Assistant Manager: John Ritchie.
Used Substitutes: Robbie Cowan.
Unused Substitute: Gordon Robertson.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Jake Jenner.
About Post Author
