09/09/2023 – REPORT – Thorpe Athletic FC versus Dovercourt Rovers FC

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE

THORPE ATHLETIC FC.  6.       DOVERCOURT ROVERS FC.     2.

Date:   Saturday 09^th September 2023.        Venue:             Kirby Playing Fields, Kirby Cross.

            Saturday was recorded as being the hottest day of the year so far, being sensible was the order of the day with plenty of fluids available for scheduled drinks breaks before, during and after the match. As is my choice I thought a potentially interesting match would be down at Kirby Cross, home of Division One Thorpe Athletic FC who finished in the top half, who would be playing recently promoted Dovercourt Rovers FC. Recently, I’ve already been quoted as saying this Division will be one of the closest run competitions, it is also the hardest Division to get out of as the criteria to play in the Premier Division, a Step Seven, National Feeder System League, is quite stringent. Thorpe Athletic had won two and drawn one of their opening games whilst Dovercourt Rovers had started with a fine victory at Great Bentley last Saturday. As usual, both teams advised that certain “regular” players were unavailable, that said I thought both teams were well equipped and expected a competitive and enjoyable match as did the forty or so spectators.

            The man in the middle of this scorching afternoon was the experienced John Watson, he would be ably assisted by Club Assistants and generally the match was played in a good spirit, yes decisions were questioned, apparently it is a player’s right, or is it, decisions may be deemed to be wrong or unfair, but any incidences of verbal dissent were few and far between, how refreshing to witness that and for the second week in a row more than ten players were dismissed in ESBFL matches, that is clearly unacceptable, surely discipline starts at home.

            I have to say the pitch at Kirby Cross looked in excellent shape, plenty of grass that was green, unlike this time last year, when it was scorched earth, Dovercourt Rovers kicked off, lost possession to Hunt who ran round the back of the visitors defence, to send in a low cross which neither Gray nor Barnard could turn goalwards, a let off, but also a warning, with Goldsmith clearing the ball. Johnson, for Dovercourt Rovers gave chase on to a fine through ball from Selwyn, always their playmaker, keeper, Evenett was quickly out to the edge of his penalty area to collect the ball. McAndrews, for Thorpe, possesses the ability to launch long, flat throw-ins, a positive weapon if the right players can get on the end of them, these were causing a few aerial problems for the visitors’ defence. When the referee brought play back for an infringement, Selwyn lofted the ball into the penalty area where the fleet footed Johnson caused a nuisance and his header beat keeper, Evenett, but Shuttlewood was there to clear off the goal-line. Shuttlewood started the next home attack switching play from the left side to wide right where Hunt controlled before turning inside then out again, before crossing beyond the far post. Thorpe Athletic had started at a fast pace, their mix of youth and experience was beginning to show through, but Dovercourt Rovers were an equal match thus far. Webb sent in a deep cross, Hale, headed out but only to Bradley whose shot was still rising as it cleared the car park behind the goal. On eleven minutes, Goldsmith was adjudged to have handled the ball mid-half, McAndrews took the free-kick, flighting the ball into the penalty area where MATTHEW GRAY turned to score from close range, Immediately, from the restart, Gray won the ball back and embarked on a mazy run down the left side with Goldsmith eventually stopping the attack. Bradley sent Fay away down the right side and when he chipped the ball over Shuttlewood there was the unmarked Johnson, but his lobbed effort flew wide, but a decent chance.

            Brownsdon fouled Bradley mid-half, James took the free-kick but keeper, Evenett caught the well struck ball at the second attempt, another howitzer throw-in from McAndrews was headed clear by Bowler then Webb completed the clearance, conceding a corner. McAndrews took the corner on the far side, the visitors defence cleared the ball out as far as the edge of the penalty area, where JACK BROWNSDON struck a low shot that eluded everyone including the unsighted keeper, Sims, and the home team were two goals up. Another flowing move from Thorpe Athletic involved Hale, Barnard, Shuttlewood then McAndrews whose shot cleared the upright and crossbar. Two goals became three within minutes, Hunt, crossed from the right side, Bramhall controlled and laid the ball back to MATTHEW GRAY who turned the ball home from six yards. The first of the scheduled drinks breaks was held at this stoppage in play. Selwyn, for Dovercourt Rovers, also possesses a huge throw-in, these tend to have more height but equally effective, James drifted in and out in a dribble forward before being fouled just on the edge of the penalty area by Shuttlewood, James took the free-kick, keeper, Evenett, reacted by pushing the ball up in the air with Shuttlewood clearing out for a throw-in. Bramhall and Hunt made a fast attack down the right side, winning a throw-in, McAndrews delivered long and low as usual, Bowler headed out to Shuttlewood whose shot was way off target. Johnson was quick off the mark for a forward pass and Foley was adjudged to have fouled the player, just on the edge of eh penalty area, both players were spoken too, the foul was silly and perhaps petty. Selwyn took the free-kick driving the ball left-footed into the defensive wall, with the ball cleared, Thorpe Athletic got to the other end to win a corner kick.

            McAndrews found Brownsdon whose tame effort was fielded by keeper, Sims, Watkinson was caught off-side wide on the left side, Bramhall played the ball forward over the top of the defence where Shuttlewood had found space, but Watt was covering, Bradley was late into a challenge on Hale and received the first caution of the match. On forty-one minutes, Dovercourt Rovers scored, Selwyn sent over a cross from the left side and with some hesitancy inside the home penalty area, ELLIOT FAY, the games smallest player headed home from close range. When Palmer fouled Watkinson, Selwyn played the ball to Watkinson, but Palmer was there to defend, another throw-in followed from Selwyn, more confusion in the previously sound home defence but this time Fay was guilty of a glaring miss, scuffing the ball wide from close range. As the half drew to a close, Gray ran away down the left side, shielding the ball well and taking on Goldsmith who eventually conceded a corner, taken by McAndrews but driven too far past the far post and the half ended, a decent game so far.

HALF-TIME:    3 – 1.

            Dovercourt made a change at the restart, Webb was replaced by Brown in defence but Thorpe who had restarted the match pushed forward, Hunt, then Gray, to Bramhall led to a McAndrews throw-in which was caught by keeper, Sims. James pushed forward for Dovercourt only to be fouled by Brownsdon, Selwyn took the free-kick, left-footed and RHYS BOWLER rose to head firmly home past a flat-footed defence and bring his team back into contention. The visitors had raised their game and plugged away against a resolute Thorpe Athletic defence who had now received their overdue “wake-up” call, Shuttlewood ventured forward to find Bramhall, who with only the keeper to beat missed the ball completely! Home keeper, Evenett, launched a long ball forward, Gray, who had been a willing runner all game, gave chase but shot wide, there’s more goals in this game, me thinks! With ten minutes of the second half elapsed Thorpe Athletic replaced Brownsdon with Thompson, a recent addition from FC Clacton Reserves, and Dovercourt Rovers made their second change with Watt being replaced by Smith, Foley was heavy into a challenge on Johnson forcing him off the pitch. A fine pass out of defence by Shuttlewood set MATTHEW GRAY away and his control and pace allowed him to run on and score his third goal and a deserved hat-trick.

            Dovercourt Rovers as expected kept pushing forward, that second goal had given them some hope but the fourth goal for Thorpe Athletic could be decisive, a poor challenge by Bowler on Gray, almost out of desperation, led to his caution. McAndrews took the free-kick, substitute Thompson swivelled and buried the ball in the back of the net for his first touch, unfortunately he had strayed off-side and goal was chalked off. James fouled Hunt for a free-kick just outside the penalty area, McAndrews took the kick with keeper, Sims helping the ball over the goal with the aid of the cross-bar, for a corner. On sixty-five minutes, McAndrews took this corner, the ball fell inside the six-yard box and there was SAMUEL THOMPSON to legitimately score on his debut. Selwyn tried a shot from distance, Hale cleared as far as Gray who held the ball up on the half-way line, but Dovercourt Rovers defended the next phase well, Watkinson took on Palmer, the experienced player sticking to his task as usual. Visiting keeper, Sims, was alert to a bouncing shot that reared up late, with the keepers outstretched hand just diverting the ball out for a corner, McAndrews took the corner, playing the ball to the near post where the unmarked LYNDON BRAMHALL stabbed the ball home, again poor defending, just as with the previous goal.

            A drinks break was quickly held and Dovercourt Rovers replaced Johnson and James with Garwood and Howlett and three minutes later Harvey replaced Goldsmith and Thorpe Athletic replaced Bramhall with Hayes. Despite the intense heat, this game still had plenty of life in it, both teams had played controlled football at a fast pace, the home team were perhaps the quicker to the ball and were confident when in possession, a cross from Fay was heading towards Watkinson but Palmer read the danger and headed the ball back to keeper, Evenett. Thompson fouled Smith mid-way into his own half, Selwyn took the free-kick, but Thompson atoned by heading the ball out for a throw-in. McAndrews, who had been involved in at least four goals, was fouled by Selwyn, got up to take the free-kick then was substituted along with Gray allowing Power and Castle to enter play. A Selwyn throw-in fell to Foley who headed clear but only to Watkinson who shot wide, the next throw-in from Selwyn, bounced once before entering the net on the far side, that’s a goal-kick! Home keeper, Evenett, was forced to save a header, low down, from Howlett, this from a cross by Watkinson, Castle took on Smith only to be fouled, Brown had received a head injury in an earlier challenge and required treatment. Bowler made a fine tackle on Thompson to concede a corner, take by Hayes, eventually the ball reached Thompson, but he shot over from three yards out. As the game drew to a close, Hayes was adjudged to have impeded Howlett and received a caution, Selwyn took the free-kick and Bowler just missed out at the far post, game over.

FULL TIME:     6 – 2.

            In my opinion, this game was a very good example for Division One, in fact it would have graced the Premier Division on current form, or lack of it for certain teams, times appear to be hard, with five weeks of the season elapsed, matches are being postponed because of a lack of players, when the League already has more players registered than at the “end” of last season, so where are they all!

            Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player”, its hard in a competitive match to identify an individual player, Thorpe Athletic had the upper hand from very early on, sound in defence although questions will be asked about the two goals conceded, the midfield was strong but in Gray, they had a lively forward who did not stop running and by scoring a hat-trick he is an obvious choice this week, but remember, it’s a team game so well done to both teams on an entertaining match.

Teams:

THORPE ATHLETIC FC:         

Colours:                        Light Blue Shirts, Navy Shorts and Navy Socks.

Team:

George Evenett., Nicky Palmer., James Shuttlewood (C)., Oliver Hale., Samuel Foley., Jack Brownsdon., Lyndon Bramhall., Brandon Hunt., Matthew Gray., Taylor McAndrews., Luke Barnard.

Manager:                      Steven Davis.

Assistant Manager:        Nathanial Spencer.

Used Substitutes:           Joe Power., Sam Thompson., Alex Hayes., Harry Castle

Unused Substitutes:       Nathaniel Spencer.

DOVERCOURT ROVERS FC:

Colours:                        Green Shirts, Green Shorts and Green Socks.

Team:

Sam Sims., Thomas Goldsmith., Thys Bowler., Joseph Watt., Miles Webb., Franky Selwyn (C)., Harry Bradley., Jack James., Elliot Fay., Kieran Watkinson., Chris Johnson.

Manager:                      Jake Whittingham.

Used Substitutes:           Ross Garwood., Bailey Smith., Keenan Brown., Reece Howlett., Conor Harvey.

Referee:                        John Watson.

Star Player:                Matthew GRAY                       (THORPE ATHLETIC FC)