07/09/2024 – REPORT – The Rodings FC versus Cressing United FC Reserves
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO
THE RODINGS FC. 2. CRESSING UNITED FC RESERVES. 0.
Date: Saturday 07th September 2024. Venue: Little Waltham Sports & Social Club.
When I visited Little Waltham on Saturday for the Division Two match between The Rodings FC and Cressing United FC Reserves, for me, it was a new ESBFL venue, a new Reserve Team and a new referee, the pitch looked in good condition, if somewhat hard.
The young referee for this match was Stuart Tredgett, overall, I thought he handled the game well, one caution and a “sin-bin” otherwise players made it relatively easy for him, when assisted by Club Assistants.
The Rodings kicked off down the slope, a poor clearance from keeper, Johnson (L) fell to Oben who hit the return high and wide, from the restart, The Rodings attacked, Johnson (R) chased forward to gain a corner, taken by Monk (A) which led to another corner which was this time cleared by Miller (T). On four minutes, Johnson (R) tried a speculative shot from twenty-five yards out, this led to a throw-in taken by Laird to Johnson (R) who once again gained a corner off Miller (T). Rosewell, for The Rodings showed some good footwork and turn of pace to beat three retreating defenders but his pass inside to Gold saw the ball fly high and wide but the home team were pushing forward whenever possible. Cressing United Reserves, keeper, White, made the first of many fine saves when he saved with his feet when Rosewell threatened, Gold, down the left side, beat Barnard and crossed, low into the penalty area where Swift cleared. Newlove started the next move for The Rodings, finding Monk (A) who was fouled by Prow, twenty yards out, Newlove took the free kick but placed the ball, right footed, over the cross bar.
The pace of Rosewell was already a real threat, this time Miller (T) matched him but with possession conceded too easily, Laird, Newlove, and Rosewell built another fine move with keeper, White clutching the eventual cross, from Johnson (R), out of the air with ease. With both defences pushing up, play was centred around the middle third of the pitch, a bit congested as both teams tried to spring a quick attack, Watson shielded the ball out from Assan (W), one of Cressing United Reserves attacks. Keeper, White, was quickly out to the edge of his penalty area when Rosewell broke through, the keeper then denied the same player when gathering a shot from outside the penalty area. When Assan picked up the loose ball in midfield he found Oben, Gold was back to cover when Miller (T) got the better of Rosewell. Any threat from Cressing United Reserves had been nullified by some stout defending by, The Rodings, where Laird and Watson were winning all aerial challenges and timing tackles perfectly with Monk (A) and Newlove in support. Keeper, White, again thwarted Rosewell in a one-on-one situation when he cut in from the right side breaking through the retreating visitors defensive line.
When Rosewell fouled Pugh there were some strong words spoken, quickly dealt with by the referee who was right on the spot, The Rodings were still in control of possession but despite numerous chances had yet to beat the visitors, keeper who had numerous saves to keep his team in the game. Gold sent Rosewell through, once again, keeper White was quickly out to the feet of Rosewell at the expense of a corner, Gibson took the corner but keeper, White, failed to hold the ball under pressure from Johnson (R) and Armitage, with defender Swift thumping the ball clear. On thirty-seven minutes a great cross field pass from Bolandi, fell to Rosewell whose first time effort to volley the ball ended with a scuffed effort, wide of the goal. The number of chances created by The Rodings kept rising, something, has to give, soon we thought, this time Rosewell was through, indecision about which foot to use gave keeper, White sufficient time to gather the ball. A free kick for Cressing United Reserves, taken by Swift, after a foul on Oben by Bolandi, saw keeper, Johnson (L) gather the ball high above any other player. Immediately at the other end, keeper, White had to advance out of his penalty area, not for the first time, to head clear, this time the ball fell to Gibson whose attempt to lob the ball goalwards was helped on by Swift, with a back-pedalling Prow completing the clearance. The Rodings took a deserved lead with just four minutes to half-time, a corner taken by Monk (A) was headed firmly home by JAMES LAIRD, a no-nonsense, old school defender, who had advanced forward for just such a chance.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 0.
Cressing Unites Reserves kicked-off the second half with the supposed advantage of the slope, Laird was caught late by Pugh with the outspoken defender, Miller (T) spoken too, Rosewell, once again gave chase to a long forward ball but just failed to reach the ball and a goal-kick followed. When Laird made a fine defensive interception, his pass forward found Rosewell, once again his footwork and pace took him through on goal, again, keeper, White excelled making a fine save. When Bolandi fouled Simmons, the free kick was comfortably cleared forward to Rosewell whose pass inside to Johnson (R), saw the first-time effort saved by the keeper, well positioned on his six-yard line. Gibson tried a left footed effort, but the ball flew wide, from the goal kick Koenick seemingly fouled Bolandi whose pass set Rosewell away, play continued with The Rodings in possession, once play was stopped the offender received a caution, good refereeing there. Home keeper, Johnson (L) had to rush to clear a miss-placed back-pass conceding a throw-in mid-half, the throw-in taken by Miller (T) to Oben whose shot was charged down by Watson.
An hour had now elapsed, thirty minutes for Cressing United Reserves to get back into this game where the home side had dominated play so far, The Rodings replaced Monk (A) with Elliott, a straight defensive change. On sixty-four minutes Cressing United Reserves made a double change, off went Pugh and Miller (T) to be replaced by Green and veteran Burton, substitute Elliott was the next player to find Rosewell, this time he rounded Burton, but his finishing shot was poor and off target. Johnson (R) back helping his defence fouled Miller (D), the free kick from Oben failed to trouble anyone and a goal kick followed. With twenty-five minutes remaining The Rodings took off Gold and sent on Curran, another Oben free kick was cleared by a combination of Laird and Watson, no change there then! Just before the seventy-minute mark, the Rodings increased their lead, Bolandi was impeded through midfield, the referee allowed play to continue as the ball was with Rosewell, he passed to Johnson (R) who laid it into the path of CAMERON GIBSON who scored with ease, giving keeper, White no chance to save. A corner taken by Gibson was heading towards Bolandi, he ducked out of the way allowing Rosewell to shoot high and wide, then Elliott found space, was fouled, again an advantage was played but Bolandi shot well wide.
On seventy-two minutes, Cressing United Reserves were reduced temporarily for ten minutes when Swift showed dissent following a foul, he had committed on Johnson (R), wide on the right side, Gibson took the free kick, but the visitors cleared out of defence, but lost possession when Miller (D) committed a foul inside the centre circle. Three minutes later and more substitutions were seen, Armitage was replaced by Monk (S) for The Rodings and for the visitors, Assan (J) and Leonard took over from Miller (D) and the injured Oben and finally Simmons was replaced by Seymour. Swift re-entered play from the “sin-bin” but The Rodings kept up their dominance, Cressing United Reserves did gain a corner but keeper Johnson (L) held the ball high in the air, a comfortable afternoon for the custodian as he had made no saves so far. Rosewell fouled Seymour in a fairly, central position twenty yards out, the free kick was taken left footed but flew agonisingly wide of the left hand upright, closest call so far for the visitors! Gibson, despite appearing to tire found Johnson (R) with Elliott forcing a corner off Burton, taken by Gibson, the ball fell to Rosewell but once again keeper, White was on hand to save. Home keeper, Johnson (L) did have to make a save on eighty-nine minutes, sadly Assan (J) was caught offside and from the restart the ball was moved quickly up field, keeper, White was again playing sweeper, heading clear but only to Gibson whose first time shot was saved by the over-worked keeper, White and the final whistle was blown.
FULL TIME: 2 – 0.
Another fully competitive match, dominated by The Rodings, Cressing United Reserves are a new team this season so are finding their feet under the management of Craig Copas and Sam White, the season is a long one so they will no doubt improve. The Rodings, after two draws in matches against teams higher in the division, which by all accounts, they probably should have won will be a useful team after their elevation last season.
Turning now to my weekly choice of a star player, The Rodings play as a team, they work hard for each other, today plenty of attacking play but only two goals, in defence Laird and Watson hardly put a foot wrong, Gibson, Gold, Newlove and Bolandi did the hard work, Johnson (R) and Rosewell were the main goal threats but missed chances this week. For Cressing United Reserves, they were always under pressure so despite conceding two goals, keeper, White was outstanding and without him the scoreline might have been as high as this week’s Division Two average of seven goals per game, so well done to him.
After the match the Club had laid on Chicken Curry and Chips, a nice touch from a Division two Club so this was enjoyed with a non-alcoholic drink watching England score twice in the first half, thereafter this nominated driver was acting a taxi service.
Teams:
THE RODINGS FC:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Luke Johnson., Jake Newlove., Alfie Monk., James Laird., James Watson., Jamie Rosewall., Cameron Gibson (C)., Ryan Johnson., Ryan Gold., James Bolandi., Edward Armitage.
Manager: Richard James.
Assistant Manager: Gary Johnson.
Used Substitutes: Lewis Curran., Sam Monk., Curtis Elliott.
CRESSING UNITED FC.
Colours: Claret Shirts, Claret Shorts and Claret Socks.
Team:
Ethan White., Bayley Barnard., Tristan Miller., Luke Prow., Aaron Swift., Tyler Simmons., Shay Koenick., Wesley Assan., Dan Miller (C)., Josh Oben., Connah Pugh.
Manager: Craig Copas and Sam White.
Used Substitutes: Franklin Burton., Joel Assan., Jacob Leonard., Finnan Seymour., Matthew Green.
Referee: Stuart Tredgett.
STAR PLAYER: Ethan WHITE (CRESSING UNITED FC RESERVES)
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