10/01/2020 – REPORT – Stanway Athletic FC versus Tiptree Heath FC Reserves

REPORT T

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION THREE.

STANWAY ATLETIC FC. 6. TIPTREE HEATH FC RESERVES: 1.

Date: Saturday 11^th January 2020. Venue: Philip Morant School, Colchester.

A few firsts on Saturday, a first visit to Philip Morant School and a first time watching both Stanway Athletic FC and Tiptree Heath FC Reserves who sat 6^th and 8^th respectively in Division Three, they had met on the first game of the season with Stanway Athletic prevailing that day by four goals to two. Last Season, the visitors suffered a torrid baptism to ESBFL football but this season, under new management and with numerous new players they have had a decent start. Stanway Athletic FC stepped up from the Colchester & East Essex Football League and after an indifferent start have steadied their club and on this, showing, could be a force to be reckoned with going forward.

Saturday was bright but cold, there was a stiff breeze down the 4G pitch, Stanway Athletic had played nine consecutive home games before the year end so from now on they should be on their travels to places anew and afar! Todays referee was Paul Sadler, more recognised locally for his long years of service, at Little Oakley FC as both player and latterly as Manager and although I’ve known Paul for decades this was the first time, I had seen him referee, I thought he put in a competent performance as well.

The home team were set to kick-off playing against the stiff breeze, I had witnessed two varied “warm-up” sessions with two very keen managers, but either way both teams started positively on the excellent playing surface. An early, accidental, facial injury on Opara led to a drop-ball and minutes later the first free-kick was awarded to Stanway, taken by Woods with keeper, Belton punching clear, then a run and driven cross from Tawse was diverted back to keeper, Belton off the knee of Cox. Hennessey (M) fouled Lewis, Woods took the free-kick, once again keeper, Belton elected to punch clear, this time to Molford whose driven shot was blocked by Cox. The first ten minutes had been end-to-end endeavour, at a quick pace as well, a throw-in from Lewis led to him getting the ball back before a shot at goal which was cleared from the six-yard line by Cox. Tiptree Heath had already put some decent passing moves together, so it was no surprise when Pelummy broke free to test keeper, Bolton who saved at his near post, an early test for him given that he normally plays in central defence! Left-sided player, Hocken fed the ball wide to the right side finding Tawse who has great pace but could not get the better of defender Hennessey (M) however a goal-mouth scramble followed with Molford leaning back to strike the ball against the cross-bar and safety. Dixon for Stanway Athletic gained a corner off Alexander which was well defended but Stanway Athletic kept up their period of pressure with Molford being felled from behind by Smith (A), a nailed on penalty kick, and then followed something you don’t see very often, keeper, Bolton ran the full length of the field to take the spot kick, a bold move was quoted by the manager, but he only managed to hammer the ball left-footed, high and wide, as I said earlier he is normally a defender, that kick resonated as a defenders clearance, Row Z, comes to mind! Stanway Athletic were prepared to play out from the back using both wings for their approaches with full-backs Frost and Lewis prepared to overlap in support. A cross from Dixon found the shoulder of Molford who failed to connect with his head, the ball bouncing once before being field by keeper, Belton. Tawse ran from the half-way line, beating two players before crossing into the penalty area where Cox headed away and the home team continued their slight dominance with some constructive passing and running, perhaps easier on an artificial pitch, and Tiptree Heath had to defend, regain possession and try to work forward themselves. Dixon, a forward with an eye for goal was thwarted by Cox who cut out a positive cross-field pass towards Tawse, Stanway Athletic won a corner when Tawse crossed, Dixon headed goal-wards forcing keeper, Belton to save at full stretch.

Keeper, Belton was again in action when a passing move involving Lewis and Molford found Smith (J) who was just pipped to the ball by the advancing keeper, and Lewis almost set Smith (J) through with a chipped pass over the defence but nobody else was there to capitalise. Tiptree Heath raised their game and Opara and Pelummy combined with the latter player dragging his eventual shot wide from outside the penalty area.

On thirty-four minutes, that first long-awaited goal materialised, an innocuous cross from Tawse was controlled by keeper, Belton, who pushed the ball on to defender Cox standing eight yards out, Cox dithered and lost control of the ball which allowed the alert PATRICK DIXON to nip in and nudge the ball goal-wards and over the line, a soft goal from a clear defensive lapse. Parity was restored after thirty-eight minutes, Spurgeon fouled Alexander, ten yards inside the visitors half, Cox took the free-kick driving a fine cross-field ball towards Pelummy standing on the corner of the penalty area, a fine piece of control killed the ball, a shift to his right opened up a space from where MARTIN PELUMMY fairly hammered the ball past keeper, Bolton, beaten at his near post. This goal raised the tempo a bit more and the visitors pushed forward again but this left space at the back which the quick home players could run into, especially Tawse who ran onto a clearance and found Spurgeon whose shot was blocked by Cross but only to Woods who fed the ball back to Spurgeon who struck the cross-bar. A rare error by Woods led to him fouling Pelummy just outside the penalty area, Cox stepped up to float a cross into the six-yard box where keeper, Bolton called for but dropped the ball and the ball was thrashed clear by Dees, this off Opara for a goal-kick. This entertaining half finished with Stanway Athletic once again getting forward, keeper, Bolton started the move, Lewis, Hocken moved the ball forward to Smith (J) who was stopped by keeper, Belton for a goal-kick, and the final action was Smith (J) drifting down the left side to find Spurgeon in support until defender Cross tackled to clear the danger.

HALF TIME: 1 – 1.

This had been a decent game so far so more of the same please, Tiptree Heath kicked-off, a foul led to a free-kick taken by Cox which was cleared by Spurgeon for Stanway Athletic and two minutes in, a goal, Tiptree Heath failed to defend just outside their penalty area so when Dixon played the ball wide to LIAM TAWSE he gratefully accepted the chance. Undeterred, Tiptree Heath hit back immediately working the ball into space and to the feet of Frost whose rising shot was destined for the top corner until keeper, Bolton, launched himself to finger-tip the ball away and to safety. Four minutes into the second half and Stanway Athletic scored another goal, Smith (J) and Tawse set up the simple chance for MICHAEL MOLFORD who scored from close range, game-over, maybe, but still a long way to go. Cox for Tiptree Heath made a foray forward, his shot being blocked by Dees and Stanway Athletic broke forward to gain a corner, taken by Tawse with keeper, Belton punching clear, then Spurgeon gained another corner off Smith (A). On fifty-seven minutes Stanway Athletic replaced Smith (J) with Hayter. Molford, Hayter, and Lewis combined to get the ball forward with the final cross being headed away by Hennessey (M) for a corner, taken by Tawse, from which a goal-mouth scramble ensued before the ball was hacked away from the goal-line.

Stanway Athletic attacked again, Tiptree Heath were either standing off too far or had lost their earlier promise and had, maybe conceded defeat, this allowed Stanway Athletic to line up for chances, Hocken set up Lewis whose driven shot was held by keeper, Belton who took the ball low down. Tawse forced keeper, Belton into another fine save diving to his left to concede a corner, whereupon Tiptree Heath replaced Kent with French, then along ball forward from Dees found the unmarked Hocken who headed wide. Tiptree Heath got forward through Alexander who played in Frost, but his instinctive header was saved by a fine reaction save by keeper, Bolton, who cleared up-field to Dixon and with keeper, Belton, a long way outside his penalty area the audacious long-range effort drifted wide. Lewis broke through, at pace but again keeper, Belton was quickly off his goal-line to save full length to divert the ball wide, Molford then drove a shot over the cross-bar and he was replaced on seventy minutes by Drysdale. Two minutes later and Tiptree Heath replaced Alexander with Biagioni whose was immediately caught cold when Lewis ran through only to chip the ball over the advancing keeper, and the goal and with the ball out of play Tiptree Heath made their third change with fifteen minutes remaining, Hennessey (R) replacing Smith (A).

Lewis had another chance saved by keeper, Belton, but then the goals kept coming in quick succession, firstly through a fine effort from PATRICK DIXON, and Stanway Athletic replaced Spurgeon with Rush. Tawse harassed Opara into conceding a throw-in and when the ball re-entered play a run at pace by Lewis saw the low cross thrashed into his own net, an OWN GOAL, by the unfortunate Biagioni who had little chance to clear properly. Stanway Athletic had not finished and when Rush was set free from the half-way line, this after good work by Lewis and Hocken, JAMIE RUSH held off two challenges in score a fine individual goal, slipping the ball past the advancing keeper. Stanway Athletic had been ruthless in this second half, aided by some poor defending, they maybe could have scored more goals, decent goal-keeping and missed chances stopping an absolute rout. With just a few minutes remaining the first and only poor tackle, of the match, Cox crashed into Lewis, a clear free-kick, Drysdale ran a few yards to get unnecessarily involved and once tempers and handbags were put away the referee calmly cautioned Cox for the foul and Drysdale for his reaction.

FULL TIME: 6 – 1.

Well, I must say I enjoyed this match, Division Three it may have been but as I’ve said already this season there are teams in the lower divisions who are quite capable of playing good football, I was also impressed with the overall attitude of the players, one unsavoury moment perhaps but otherwise the referee was largely untroubled.

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, for Tiptree Heath FC Reserves, keeper, Belton made numerous good saves but was generally exposed whenever Stanway Athletic FC scored. Captain, Cox, tried hard, but made an early error for the first goal, got a deserved caution late on but his general passing and distribution was very good, elsewhere Opara and Pelummy had to work from scraps the latter scoring a fine equalising goal. For Stanway Athletic FC numerous players stood out and bearing in mind I had seen none of them previously I was impressed with a good team ethic, they all wanted the ball, and all played to their strengths, their home pitch probably helps but away results have been decent as well. Stand-In keeper, Bolton made a couple of decent saves, but please don’t take penalties again, well not on this showing! Defensively, the home teams looked sound led by Woods and supported by Dees, Frost and the lively Lewis, in midfield the guile of Spurgeon and Molford plus the added effort of Hocken led to Dixon and Smith leading the front line well. That just leaves me to comment on Tawse, quick to the ball, quick with the ball, delivery of good effective crosses and corners and an eye for goal, two assists I believe but plenty of all-round constructive play and if I’m honest, what else would you say, he just shaded out Lewis this week.

Teams:

STANWAY ATHLETIC FC: Colours: Blue & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Sam Holland., Dean Frost., Ricky Woods., Craig Dees., Isaac Lewis., Michael Molford., Liam Tawse., John Spurgeon., Patrick Dixon., Jaden Smith., Jonathan Hocken.

Manager: Jordan Wheelans.

Used Substitutes: Brandon Drysdale., Thomas Hayter., Jamie Rush

TIPTREE HEATH FC RESERVES: Colours: Yellow Shirts, Yellow Shorts and Yellow Socks.

Joshua Belton., Anthony Alexander., Mark Hennessey., Harry Hennessey., Jack Cross., Charlie Cox (C)., Ben Frost., Alex Smith., Martin Pelummy., Isiah Opara., Luke Kent.

Manager: David Hennessey.

Used Substitutes: Jay Biagioni., Ricky Hennessey., Jack French.

Unused Substitutes: Luke Dock.

Referee: Paul Sadler.

Player of the Match: Liam TAWSE (STANWAY ATHLETIC FC)

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Additional Reporting:

YOU TUBE., FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

Once again, this season the ESBFL is widening its match-day reporting coverage, in addition to a full report written by Brian Reed, our other roving reporter, Spencer Hume, has once again made himself known during the friendlies season and he will also attend games reporting via You Tube, Facebook and Twitter to communicate up-to-date information and replicate other match reports. In addition, John Campany, Vice Chairman will continue to provide a weekly summary, published in The Gazette.

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Kick-Off times for Essex County Football Association cup matches are published on the ECFA web-site.

( www.essexfa.com/competitions/county-cups )

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ESBFL Handbook,