07/08/2021 – REPORT – Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves versus Belle Vue Social FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE
ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC RESERVES: 2. BELLE VUE SOCIAL FC: 6.
Date: Saturday 7th August 2021. Venue: Ford Lane, Alresford.
Welcome back, the season opener, the AV Lee Memorial Trophy was played last Wednesday evening with Colne Athletic FC beating Lawford Lads FC by five goals to nil. This season the ESBFL has gained seven new Clubs and five new Reserve teams but has lost eight Clubs and a total of eleven teams, COVID-19 aside, times are hard, players and managers perhaps have other priorities off the field, but one thing remains, that is the competitiveness of the ESBFL which now has eighty-four teams playing in six divisions.
Today, saw the first league matches in the Premier Division and Divisions One and Two, the remaining divisions will start in September and the season will continue through to May 2022. Let us be mindful that COVID-19 is still with us and we should all heed the advice and guidance given, it will be strange, and it is clear that some participants may feel reluctant to restart a contact sport, we should all hope that some sort of normality resumes but it may well take time.
I had originally intended to go to watch Stanway Pegasus FC play newly elevated Dunmow Town FC, but my circumstances changed early afternoon so a short trip down the road to Alresford was an easy option. Sadly, I was even late enough to have missed Brian Martin, a stalwart of Alresford Colne Rangers FC and a ESBFL Committee member, receive his fifty-year service award from ECFA, this was passed over by John Campany, the newly elected ESBFL Chairman. Fifty years is a remarkable period to be involved in local football, along with loyalty to the same club during much of that time, loyalty, now there is a word not often given to players these days!
Today, the referee was Carl Pearce who would be assisted by Club Assistants, the game started in sunshine, but heavy rain was forecast, and it did arrive before half-time.
Belle Vue Social FC kicked off and pushed forward looking to start this campaign in similar vein to the last where they topped the table before the second lockdown, Price committed the first foul and was indebted to his keeper, Sharman who tipped over a curling free-kick taken by midfielder Webb, at the expense of a corner, taken by Davis and headed home at the far post by new signing SAM CRIPPS, what a start! Three minutes later Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves gained a corner on the right side, the ball bounced around on the edge of the penalty area until Hazlewood committed a foul in the congested area, no complaints from anybody, and JAY MACKLIN stepped up to beat keeper, Thorndike low to his right side. Belle Vue Social FC countered and from a cross by Bantala, Cripps rose to head against the post then a corner taken by Webb was headed goal-wards by Cripps with keeper, Sharman saving on his goal-line and from his clearance Alresford worked the ball forward once again with Davis defending well against Morgan for a goal-kick.
On fifteen minutes the home team took the lead, when, from a corner, the visitors failed to clear the ball and another new signing TOMMY-LEE MORGAN rammed the ball home from close range. Parity was reached within a minute, Macklin played the ball out for a throw-in, Henry launched a long throw-in towards the near post, Cripps jumped but failed to connect but an unsighted defender was powerless as the ball hit his head and looped over his keeper for an OWN GOAL, that was four goals in sixteen minutes! These long throw-ins from Henry caused a problem again after twenty minutes with Reeve conceding a corner, taken by Davis but hit too long beyond the far post. At the mid-half stage this game had certainly been competitive, both teams looking for goals and neither team had disappointed so far. Marchant fouled Bantala, a tricky player with some neat touches, Webb took the free-kick but narrowly missed the goal twenty-five yards away.
The home team plugged away and Price tested keeper, Thorndike with a rising shot and the keeper cleared the ball, long, up-field to Cripps who ran on to shoot straight at keeper, Sharman who had advanced off his goal-line. On thirty-three minutes Cripps dived into a challenge with Marshall and was spoken too, Belle Vue Social FC regained possession and a long ball was played forward to SAM CRIPPS who turned Marchant one way then the other before turning to strike at goal and with keeper, Sharman in no-mans-land he could only get a slight touch on the ball before it entered the empty net. Belle Vue Social FC remained on top for much of the remainder of the half with Webb going close having been stopped with a block from Marchant.
HALF-TIME: 2 – 3.
When the rain had started just before half-time, I took shelter in a dug-out before having a welcome cup of tea, fortunately this rain eased off just after to the re-start which was taken by the home team. Marchant fouled Cripps who continued to cause problems with his running, his positional play and his often, competitive style. Belle Vue Social FC were stringing some good moves together, Webb setting up Grimes who shot wide when well placed, a desperate tackle by Macklin on Bantala led to a free-kick being taken by Webb who found the unmarked Cripps whose first shot was saved by keeper, Sharman, Cripps followed up and Marshall deflected the ball away for a corner. Then Francis worked the ball into space behind the home defence, Cripps looked set to pounce for his hat-trick but struck the right hand upright and then screwed the loose ball wide with his left foot! Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves were clearly at sixes and sevens when it came to defending in this match, a corner from the right was flapped at by keeper, Sharman with Hazlewood contriving to miss the target from close range. A long ball forward from Marchant set Merchant away but defender Debenham was on hand to concede a corner, taken by Macklin but this was cleared by Debenham just getting his head to the ball ahead of Marchant. On fifty-five minutes Marshall and Wilson were replaced by Cross and Smith whose first action was to head the ball home from a Macklin corner, this was ruled out due to a foul by Smith inside the penalty area.
At the hour mark both teams were playing end-to-end football, however Belle Vue Social increased their lead following a fine flowing move down the right side, Webb started it off finding Grimes and then Henry whose cross was met by the incoming SAM CRIPPS who made no mistake at the far post for his deserved hat-trick. On sixty-three minutes Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves used their last substitute replacing Morgan with Miller, Cross fouled Grimes, Webb took the free-kick and Marchant headed away for a corner. The visitors now had a firm grip on proceedings, the home team had not mustered a chance this half, at least not yet their best effort was a wasted free-kick from the half-way line, then Merchant did break through but struck a shot straight at the advancing keeper, Thorndike. Cripps crashed into Cross wide on the right side, the defender was not impressed, neither was the referee who gave a final warning to Cripps. Another goal came on seventy-two minutes, any guesses as to who scored, no you’re right, SAM CRIPPS who ran through and got the better of a weak defensive challenge before running on and score number five, game over, I think!
More defensive woes for the home team followed with fifteen minutes to go, another weak challenge allowed BRADLEY BANTALA to run on unchecked and score past the advancing keeper, Sharman. The visitors replaced Henry with O’Connell with twelve minutes remaining and Cripps stepped up to shoot at goal with keeper Sharman saving low down. More desperate defending came from the home team and the visitors made their final player changes with Hassan and Martyr replacing Cripps and Grimes and from this point the game failed to entertain however, Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves did muster a late chance, Merchant running clear, rounding the keeper only to place the ball into the side netting, this summed up their afternoon!
FULL TIME: 2 – 6.
This was an entertaining game, Belle Vue Social FC have put together what looks like decent squad and did have players missing for this match, the hosts were out of sorts defensively, this is the time to put those matters right for next week.
Now let me turn to my “Star Player” for Alresford defenders Marchant and Marshall really had their work cut-out, the mid-field lacked bite of the right type and probably lacked a forward who could hold the ball up, that said Belle Vue Social FC were on their game and gave the home team little chance to dwell on the ball. Turning now to the visitors, they held the upper hand from half-time onwards, defensively they looked strong despite conceding twice, only one from open play, the midfield was bossed by Webb and in Ajayi and Bantala they have some clever ball players, quick feet and pace that will cause many teams problems, in attack Grimes was a foil for Cripps who scored four, hit the post twice and generally was unplayable.
Teams:
ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC RESERVES:
Colours: Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Stuart Sharman., Samuel Reeve., Jay Macklin., Andrew Marchant., Chris Marshall., Sam Foley., Chris Price., Peter Wilson., Gary Merchant., Ruaidhri Kavanagh., Tommy-Lee Morgan.
Manager: Arrie Bygrave.
Used Substitutes: Roger Smith., Jake Miller., Jack Cross.
BELLE VUE SOCIAL FC:
Colours: Yellow Shirts, Yellow Shorts and Yellow Socks.
Team:
Jack Thorndike., Joseph Adams., Shaun Hazlewood (C)., Ryan Debenham., Jack Webb., Dylan Francis., Wesley Henry., Samuel Ajayi., Sam Cripps., Josh Grimes., Bradley Bantala.
Manager: Jack Mitchell.
Used Substitutes: Steven O’Connell., Dami Hassan., Ryan Martyr.
Unused Substitutes: Billy Clarke.
Referee: Carl Pearce.
Star Player: Sam CRIPPS (BELLE VUE SOCIAL FC)
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