07/03/2026 – REPORT – The Arthurian League (4) versus ESBFL (0) – FA Inter-League Cup – Round 2

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

FA INTER-LEAGUE CUP – Round Two.

THE ARTHURIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE (AFL):                       4.        

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE (ESBFL):              0.

Date:   07^th March 2026.                    Venue: Hanworth Villa FC, Feltham, Twickenham.

            Following their narrow one goal victory over the Southern Amateur League the ESBFL Representative team were drawn away to “The Arthurian Football League” a league that had won the previous competition a year ago. This match was clearly going to be a tough encounter and was to be played on the 3G pitch at the well-appointed, Hanworth Villa FC, in Feltham, near Twickenham, a coach took the available players and League Officials picking up the selected players along the way.

            Today’s Match Officials, all appointed by the FA, were Richard Alderton (L3), Daniel Harvey and Charles Walker who was a late replacement which caused the match to kick-off fifteen minutes late, once again they allowed play to flow, perhaps to the frustration of the ESBFL players who asked questions about decisions which did not get upheld!

Having had to start Barnes in place of Reeman who had pulled up in the warm-up period, the ESBFL kicked-off, The Arthurian League immediately gained possession, they looked a young and fit team with numerous players over six feet tall, and were quickly pushing the ball around, pass and move, to great effect with the ESBFL on the back-foot. When Prince was upended, no foul was given, but with the ball retrieved, Arnold burst down the left side where Darnell defended. When the Arthurian League gained a corner, the ball was played short and from the cross Bolcombe was caught offside near the far post and even after just four minutes the hosts were quicker to the ball. On six minutes, a fast raid by Platt down the right side saw his low driven cross met at the far post by Riley whose first time shot hit the side netting, from the goal-kick restart, Arnold made ground down the left side, from his cross, Prince forced a corner off Felstead, taken by Willoughby but this was fielded too easily by towering goalkeeper, Bowers. A free kick taken by Prince flew straight to keeper, Bowers, with Willoughby close by, from his clearance Platt tried to make ground down the right side but Bussell stuck to his task, delaying the low cross, which was hit, first time, by Alcock, however, keeper, Pickard fumbled the ball behind for a corner. On thirteen minutes, that corner was swung over to the far post, Langley latched onto the loose ball and pushed it back into the crowded six-yard box where HENRY BOLCOMBE forced the ball home, not the start the ESBFL wanted!

From the restart, Barnes sent a shot narrowly wide but the next attack by The Arthurian League led to a penalty kick, with Burch adjudged to have tripped Platt, just inside the penalty area and only yards from the on-the-spot referee! Riley stepped up to hammer the ball low to the right side of keeper, Pickard, who made an excellent diving save, but he was helpless as JOSHUA RILEY followed up to net the rebound with just seventeen minutes played. Davis sent a fine forward pass to Bussell, overlapping down the left side, his cross was comfortably headed back to his keeper, Bowers by central defender, Bolcombe with Prince just short of reaching the ball. Keeper, Pickard made a fine save from Riley, not only the Captain but clearly the orchestrator of The Arthurian League midfield, the hosts had now got a good hold of this match, their team is clearly well trained and have played together on numerous occasions such was the familiarity of the movement and play, someone even commented that their warm-up routines looked professional, by the way so was that of the ESBFL who had the very experienced Steve Dowman alongside Richard Elmes. When Prince pushed forward, Hynes was alongside and they got the ball wide to Barnes, but Felstead stood his ground when defending. Once again, The Arthurian League found space through midfield, Riley pushed the ball wide to Holland who calmly rolled the ball back to Riley who blasted the ball over the crossbar, that effort was not as good as the one from Platt, who hit an absolute screamer from thirty yards out, a joy to watch, the ball cannoned back off the right-hand upright with keeper, Pickard, who had no chance to save, a spectator!

Just before the half hour mark, Willoughby worked a corner over on the right side, the approach play had been more measured from Prince, Barnes and McAndrews, from the short corner, the ball reached Willoughby who fired the ball over the crossbar for a goal-kick. Platt ran forward onto a pass from Larke, his sideways pass was destined for Riley but keeper, Pickard was quickly out, to clear, then the delayed flag went up with Riley being offside near the penalty spot. A rising shot from Mitchell from outside the penalty area was tipped over his crossbar by keeper, Pickard, the resulting corner was cleared and the ESBFL needed to raise their confidence levels as at two goals down, there was always a chance a goal back might change the direction of the result. From a clearance from keeper, Pickard, Hynes headed on to Barnes who dragged a driven effort across the face of the goal from outside the penalty area, from the restart Platt, rolled around Burch on the half-way line, a free kick was awarded. When The Arthurian League made a strong run down the right side the eventual cross from Platt screamed low, across the crowded penalty area, reaching the unmarked JOSHUA RILEY who netted from close range at the far post. From the restart, a shot from McAndrews deflected off Bolcombe for a corner, taken by Willoughby, but the tall home defenders cleared easily and broke forward down the left side where Hynes was cautioned for a foul on Holland, from the free kick take by Riley, he fed Platt, whose shot cleared the goal. The final action of the half saw the ESBFL push forward but Barnes was adjudged to have fouled keeper, Bowers, who towered above everyone when catching the ball, there could be an interesting half-time team talk for the ESBFL who have been largely outplayed but still stuck manfully to the task!

HALF-TIME:    3 – 0.

            There were no changes to playing personnel on either side at the second half restart, which was to be by The Arthurian League, immediately it looked as though Hynes was struggling for the ESBFL, but he carried on to find Willoughby, who flicked the ball over his head to try to set Barnes away but defender Darnell shielded the ball out for a goal kick. McAndrews showed some neat footwork just outside the penalty area but ran out of pitch, another goal kick followed, from which Prince was seemingly pushed off the ball but no free kick was given, I have to say the referee was always on the spot, and as play broke forward, Mitchell for The Arthurian League gained a corner. Keeper, Pickard, was forced to play sweeper, five minutes into the half, advancing outside his penalty area to clear the ball to Willoughby, who fouled Darnell when he tried to turn goalwards. On fifty-three minutes, Burch was spoken too and issued a yellow card for persistent fouling, seemed fair, his immediate reaction was to make a great tackle to deny Alcock. When Willoughby was seemingly fouled, play proceeded with the ESBFL in possession, the game was then stopped and the ESBFL had a free kick, taken by Bussell whose effort failed to clear the tall defensive wall.

            On sixty minutes, Willoughby, held the ball up before setting up Barnes whose shot just missed the goal, and with play stopped The Arthurian League replaced both Darnell and Larke with Harvey and Nani, the latter player sent Platt away, but Bussell did well to catch up and tackle the pacy wide player. A feature of play in this half, as in the first was the ability to win headers, granted, most of The Arthurian players were genuinely very tall! McAndrews hit a fine swerving shot goalwards which forced keeper Bowers to parry the ball away, Bussell retrieved the loose ball to find Barnes at the far post, once again his shot narrowly missed, clipping the upright at the far post. On sixty-three minutes, The Arthurian League scored their fourth goal, this was a fine team goal, play started in their own half, Riley skipped past Hynes who had slipped over in trying to stop his own momentum, Riley ran on and squared the ball to CALLUM HOLLAND who smashed the ball past keeper, Pickard, who had little chance to move, let alone save the ball! The Arthurian League had changed Alcock for Kelly on sixty-four minutes then the injured Hynes was replaced by Harms, to their credit the ESBFL kept trying to play a pass and move game, when McAndrews was fouled thirty yards out, Willoughby placed the ball down and struck a fine dipping effort that crashed back off the middle of the crossbar with the keeper well beaten.

            With fifteen minutes remaining Barnes and Willoughby worked a short corner routine, but a goal kick followed and with play stopped the ESBFL took off Mountenay and Barnes and sent on Hunt and Barnacle, Arnold made a strong run down the left side to force a corner, taken by Willoughby and headed against the crossbar by McAndrews, so close, again! The Arthurian League made another substitution on seventy-eight minutes, off went Platt, an excellent player with pace and vision and sent on Hayman, Barnacle for the ESBFL was starting to use his pace and close control, prepared to run into any angle in search of the ball, he epitomised the spirit within the team that still remained despite being four goals behind. Barnes dribbled inside then went to the outside before trying to send over a cross which was headed out for a corner by Harvey, this corner was cleared and Bussell made fine covering tackle just as Hayman was about to shoot goalwards. A quick throw in from McAndrews fell into the path of Willoughby who snatched at his shot and a goal kick followed, then with three minutes remaining a shot from Barnacle hit the base of the right hand upright, the same player then chased a through ball from McAndrews who forced a corner, which was hit low and hard towards the near post, to be cleared up field where Hayman broke through only to be stopped by a fine save from Pickard, there was little time left now.          

FULL TIME:     4 – 0.

            Firstly, congratulations to The Arthurian League, on this performance they must fancy themselves to progress further, once again, in this FA Inter-League Cup competition, which is for League competitions that play at Step Seven, of the FA National Feeder League system, today they had all the answers to any threats made by the ESBFL. Secondly, the result, probably does not reflect the effort put in by the ESBFL whose players gave everything, it’s a common thought in any level of football, that if you make mistakes, you get punished, today two defensive errors and a penalty, conceded in the first half was probably their undoing but credit to all those players who took part! The ESBFL would also like to thank those Member Clubs whose players participated in any of the friendlies or the two cup matches, those players are a credit to both their Clubs and the ESBFL.

Turning to my choice of Star players, it was a cup match so I’ll nominate one from each team, for The Arthurian League it has to be Joshua Riley, their captain, who commanded midfield, scored two goals and had an assist in another, for the ESBFL, everyone deserves a mention but my choice is Zachary Bussell, a whole hearted display from start to finish.

Teams:

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE:

Colours:                        Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Jack Burch                   Great Bentley FC

Lewis Mounteney          Great Bentley FC

Sebastian Pickard         Great Bentley FC                      (GK)

Taylor McAndrews        Thorpe Athletic FC

Ross Barnes                 East Thurrock Community FC

Zachary Bussell            East Thurrock Community FC

Harry Prince                 East Thurrock Community FC    (Captain)

Harry Arnold                 Hatfield Peverel FC

Joseph Davis                Hatfield Peverel FC

Callum Hynes               Gas Recreation FC

Harry Willoughby          Gas Recreation FC

Management:               Richard Elmes & Steve Dowman.

Used Substitutes:          Tommy Barnacle           East Thurrock Community FC

                                    Kalon Harms                 Thorpe Athletic FC

                                    Brandon Hunt               Thorpe Athletic FC

Unused Substitutes:      Bobby Reeman            East Thurrock Community FC

THE ARTHURIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE:        

Colours:                        White Shirts, Blue Shorts and White Socks.

Team:

Johnnie Bowers             Kimbolton FC                (GK)

Harry Darnell                Kimbolton FC

Henry Langley               Kimbolton FC

Harry Bolcombe            Tonbridge FC

Tayo Felstead               Forest FC

Conor Mitchell               Forest FC

Harry Larke                   Brentwood FC

Hector Platt                  Charterhouse FC

Callum Holland              Epsom FC

Joshua Riley                 Repton FC                     (Captain)

Jack Alcock                   Ardinians FC

Management:               Billy Jenkins                  Manager

                                    Jonathan Hunter           Assistant Manager

                                    David Ledgeman           Coach

Used Substitutes:          Finn Harvey                  Tonbridge FC

                                    Charlie Kelly                  Ardinians FC

                                    Alex Nani                      Ardinians FC

                                    Louis Ward                    Charterhouse FC

                                    Tristan Hayman            Old Sennockians FC

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee:                       Richard Alderton

Assistant Referees:       Daniel Harvey & Charles Walker.

STAR PLAYER:            Zachary BUSSELL      (ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTALL LEAGUE)

                                    Joshua RILEY             (THE ARTHURIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE)