07/02/2016 – Jersey Combination FC versus ESBFL – Friendly

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE – FRIENDLY

JERSEY FOOTBALL COMBINATION: 5.

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE: 2.

Date: Saturday 07^th May 2016. Venue: Springfield Stadium, St Helier, Jersey.

For the last five years, the ESBFL Representative Team has been invited back by the Jersey Combination League having built up a great rapport with the island football community and become good friends. However, until last November the ESBFL had failed to register a win, so in what was their sixth attempt, on that memorable day the ESBFL triumphed to progress in the FA Inter League Cup, but last weekend it gave the islanders a chance to show how good they still are with numerous familiar faces in their extended squad.

This friendly encounter is normally held on the UK Bank Holiday Saturday but this year it was moved back a week to another Jersey Bank Holiday weekend where the island celebrate Liberation Day. This match also gave the islanders a chance to play against different opposition in advance of their annual Muratti Cup Competition where Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney compete for the coveted and prestigious cup.

With three officials appointed by the Jersey FA the teams shook hands and once again we witnessed a impeccable minutes silence in memory of Brian Lawrence, former ESBFL Authentication Officer, who had been an integral part of all previous trip’s committee support. Both teams had agreed to adopt the “Rolling Substitution” scenario which to be perfectly honest is a nightmare to manage when reporting on games like these.

Jersey kicked off working the ball from back to front using link-man Watson just as in May last year and Hinds was allowed an early sight of goal but put the ball over the cross-bar but after only three minutes Jersey opened the scoring when a rare error by Dobkin allowed CARL HINDS to advance and place the ball, low past the advancing Felgate. Not the start the ESBFL wanted as on a bright, sunny afternoon with the weather in complete contrast to that experienced last November, the 4G pitch would eventually play its part by wearing down any player not used to playing a full match on these pitches. A break from Geen from a Palmer (N) pass forced Van der Vliet to save not once but twice, the second at point blank range as the ESBFL tried to equalise and the ESBFL followed this up with a shot from Bethell who volleyed over the cross-bar. Essentially the ESBFL needed to get hold of and keep the ball and when that worked Geen was fouled by Weir (C) mid-way in the Jersey half with the free-kick taken by Dalziel finding Polley whose pass to Oldhampstead forced Van der Vliet to save with his feet. As the ESBFL held a high defensive line Hinds was caught off-side but when Jersey had possession they used the width of the pitch to patiently build attacks with Trotter side-footing wide when well placed.

The ESBFL got their equaliser on ten minutes when JOSH DALZIEL scored from six yards running into the penalty area to beat Van der Vliet passing the ball into the corner of the net and this move was certainly better from the ESBFL. At the other end Hinds tested Felgate and in another move involving Andre, Watson, Hinds and Baker the ball hit the side netting and Jersey tried to force the pace thereafter. Geen limped off to be replaced by Harmon, his debut for the ESBFL, but any ESBFL player was having, to come short to pick up any pass as Jersey pushed them back. When Dobkin did get forward and fire towards Van der Vliet but was flagged off-side in any case, Watson continued to dominate midfield for Jersey but Dobkin and Bethell worked a free-kick on the left side, taken by Bethell to Oldhampstead who headed wide. Another defensive error, this time by Palmer (N) who allowed the ball to travel behind him where Weir (M) took possession and crossed to CALVIN WEIR whose effort hit the left hand upright before bouncing across goal to hit the right hand upright and enter the net.

Once again the ESBFL would have to attack and a long ball from Dalziel found Polley prompting the return ball to Dalziel whose rising shot from long range cleared the cross-bar. Another free-kick taken by Polley found Oldhampstead and then the goal-keeper and Oldhampstead found Harmon who was eased off the ball for a goal-kick. Whilst here had not been too many goal-scoring chances to either team it was Jersey who scored again on forty minutes as when the ESBFL defence looked hesitant they were punished as Trotter fed Watson, who else, and his defence splitting pass found CARL HINDS who rounded Gibson to give Felgate little chance to save with Hinds being replaced by Wilson.

HALF-TIME: 3 – 1

The ESBFL would kick-off the second half but not before a plethora of substitutions was made, the ESBFL replaced Palmer with Kioussis, whereas Jersey replaced Andre, Mourant, and Baker with May, Scott and Romeril. Harmon shot wide from a narrow angle and Watson received the only caution of the game for dissent but it was his team that held the ball better and always looked threatening. Kioussis found Oldhampstead but Harmon was crowded out and Dobkin set Bethell up to find Oldhampstead who could only force a throw-in in an advanced position. Felgate saved well from Weir (M) with Kioussis completing the clearance with Jersey making more changes bringing on Lester and Buckley for Logue and Trotter whilst Watson was again spoken too by the patient referee. A long ball forward from Kioussis flew straight to Van der Vliet and to be honest the first ten minutes of the second half were a scrappy affair with too many balls going astray especially the ESBFL!

Just to prove me wrong the Jersey team scored again as once again the ESBFL defence stood back and DARYL WILSON skipped through to rifle home from close range with Oldhampstead being replaced by the returning Geen with Watson being replaced by the also returning Trotter. Wilson and Romeril worked the ball into space which allowed the latter player to rifle a shot straight to Felgate and during this move Kioussis was injured to be replaced by Palmer (N). A free-kick from May fell to Weir (C) who lobbed over the cross-bar, Palmer (M) replaced Reddick and Jersey changed their keeper, Van der Vliet with sixteen year old Birrell taking over the gloves. On sixty-three minutes Gibson was replaced Oldhampstead, this time in defence however a mix-up between Wood and Oldhampstead, neither of whom made the ball theirs allowed DARYL WILSON to run through for number five.

Geen was eased off the ball by Weir (C) whilst Geen and Dalziel were unlucky when the goal-bound shot cannoned off the heel of Weir (C) for a corner. Felgate saved low to his right from an effort by Lester and when Oldhampstead cleared up-field Geen was fouled by Weir (C) only for the ball to be played quickly to the other end where Wood had to put in a timely tackle on Romeril to earn a goal-kick. Wood was replaced by White, another debutee but even before he had a chance to touch the ball Trotter shot goal-wards with Felgate tipping the ball over the cross-bar. Felgate saved again from Buckley and the ESBFL were tiring in the conditions more inclined towards cricket than football on an artificial pitch. With ten minutes to go Harmon and Geen forced a corner taken by Polley who found the head of Oldhampstead with Jersey clearing the ball off the goal-line by Scott only for JOSH DALZIEL to rifle home the loose ball for a consolation second goal.

FULL TIME: 5 – 2

From an ESBFL perspective not a very good performance, various factors probably hampered their preparations at a stage of the season when many weekend and evening games take their toll, getting time off work, a modelling assignment for one player and perhaps inconvenient flight times but Manager Tony Armstrong had kept faith in many of the players who had been together throughout the two year period in the FA Inter-League Cup.

Those long term players should take credit for their efforts and their respective clubs are once again thanked for allowing them to take part, some players had even played on Saturday, Monday and Thursday before this match on Saturday.

Teams:

JERSEY FOOTBALL COMBINATION:

Colours: Red Shirts, White Shorts and Red Socks

Starting Eleven: