10/01/2026 – REPORT – Bradfield Rovers FC versus Silver End United FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION TWO

BRADFIELD ROVERS FC.       1.         SILVER END UNITED FC.                   1.        

Date:   10/01/2026.                          Venue: Harwich & Dovercourt High School, Dovercourt.

            On another bitterly cold, but dry Saturday afternoon, I took a trip to Dovercourt to watch the top two teams in Division Two, these being Bradfield Rovers FC and Silver End United FC respectively, the match being played on the 3G pitch at the school. The home team had suffered relegation after last season but have been consistent this season, they are the competitions second highest scorers, with top scorer Allington leading the line having scored thirty to date. The visitors on the other hand had been promoted from Division Three but have been near the top all season, so today I was expecting a close match.

            Today’s Match Official was Kurtis Williams who would be assisted by Club Assistants, this is never an easy task in close fought matches as this one turned out to be, my opinion of the match official was that he controlled the game well. That said, some players and supporters continually questioned decisions, some you win, some you do not, only two cautions, both deserved, but there could have been more as frustrations got the better of the players, however, both teams gave one hundred percent in effort.

            Silver End United kicked off with the low sun directly in their faces, their first foray down the right side was cleared forward, top scorer Coney (L) playing today in defence, retrieved the ball in a defensive position and sent the ball forward to Sopowski who failed to control the ball, Farmery latched onto the loose ball and sent a cross field pass towards BEN ALLINGTON who eluded the challenge from Coney (L) and ran on to pass the ball under the advancing keeper, Hill. Silver End United hit back and gained a corner, taken by Jackson but home keeper, Wilkinson took the ball high in the air at the far post and Bradfield Rovers stepped up their attacking play. Easey and Dixon got the ball forward to Allington, but Coney (L) used his experience to read the play and blocked any further advance of the goalscorer. Jackson fouled Scott, who got up to take the free kick, sending the ball into the penalty area where Fisher headed clear. A long forward ball from Jackson reached Coney (T) but Farmery was quickly into the challenge on the youngster, but he was stopped by a rash challenge from Hollocks, who was spoken too. Hollocks did gain a corner off Scott, but the clearance was swift and direct, finding Allington completely free and running goalwards, but when stepping on the ball it gave Whyton sufficient time to get back and clear up field.

            When another raking forward pass was sent forward, Allington was off quickly from half-way, but Coney (L) did well to get back and challenge and then get fouled as Allington tried to retrieve what should have been a decent goalscoring chance. Silver End United continued to use the long ball approach but anything in the air was comfortably dealt with by Griffin and Glasgow and any play down he flanks was dealt with by either Scott or Farmery, whose runs down the left side were causing problems for the visitor’s defenders. Whyton passed the ball forward to Hollocks who lobbed the ball into the arms of keeper, Wilkinson from a pass from Sopowski. Allington was pulled up for a high foot against the head of Coney (L), the home supporters voiced their disagreement, from the free kick, Tilley latched onto the loose ball and defender Griffin was forced to clear off his goal-line with keeper, Wilkinson beaten. Jackson blocked off the progress of Scott down the left side, but Scott showed some good dribbling skills to charge down the left side, he found Allington lurking just outside the penalty area, Allington rounded Fisher but keeper, Hill was quickly out to smother the ball at his feet. Thus far, the home team, backed by a robust defence and energetic midfield had shown more initiative going forward, they needed another goal, but the visitors were keeping them at bay, trying to play ball to feet when attacking, until they reached that home defensive line.

            Allington forced keeper, Hill to save at the foot of his near post, from his clearance Sopowski pushed forward down the left side to gain a corner off Glasgow, taken by Fisher but headed over the crossbar by Coney (L), running in from outside the penalty area. Fisher fouled Farmery, acknowledged his indiscretion to the referee and ran back to defend the free kick taken by Scott. Hollocks made a forceful run through midfield, but his lack of pace enabled three home players to get back and take the ball off Hollocks, Dixon had been quiet so far, but when he played a through ball into Scott the defenders shot was saved by the feet of keeper, Hill, at the near post. An in swinging corner from Allington was headed clear by Sopowski but only to Dixon whose pass to Allington was not controlled and Pirie cleared forward, possession was picked up by Easey who set up Allington whose shot was saved by keeper, Hill, then Coney fouled Easey and was spoken too, the free kick taken by Dixon was comfortably held by keeper, Hill and the half-time whistle was blown.

HALF-TIME:    1 – 0.

            There were no changes to playing personnel at the second half restart, the home team were to kick off, and a good move started by Scott, Easey, Allington and Farthing saw his cross reach Allington, but he was closed down, by Fisher. Papple, after an indifferent first half sent Sopowski away but keeper, Wilkinson was equal to the chance, a rare error by Scott almost set up Fisher for a forward run, his shot from outside the penalty area flew straight to keeper, Wilkinson, who fumbled the ball up and over his crossbar, but a positive start from the visitors. Allington, whenever in space, continued to cause problems, his pace and close control and perhaps a bit of selfishness, almost led to another goal but keeper, Hill was equal to the shot, then Allington chose to pass inside rather than take on a shot himself, Pirie was the defender in the way there. An error by Hollocks, trying to dribble the ball out of defence almost created a goal but as Purll hesitated, Hollocks got back to defend, Hollocks then became instigator, a fine pass to Tilley saw the ball passed on to Coney (T) who forced keeper, Wilkinson to save. Hollocks fouled Allam wide on the left side, Farmery found Scott whose shot was saved by keeper, Hill.

            The first fifteen minutes of the second half had seen much better play from Silver End United, they needed to keep this going and find a way to penetrate the home defence, the home team had seen less of the ball so far this half. Coney (L) fed a fine ball into the home penalty area, but Purll read the danger and cleared, and when play stopped, Silver End United replaced Fisher with Ellis. Both teams were guilty of making enforced errors, passes went astray and few chances were created over a ten-minute spell. A cross-cum-shot from Scott was turned over his crossbar by keeper, Hill, Allington used his left foot to curl in the corner kick, Glasgow rose at the far post but headed wide. On sixty-one minutes, Dixon and Purll were replaced by Stratton and Ball for Bradfield Rovers, then a minute later, Silver End United took off Coney (T) and Jackson with King and Cross entering play. Papple had a shot that flew wide, a free kick taken as usual by Scott drifted wide at the other end, then Ellis and Cross linked up to find Sopowski down the right side, his cross was low and hard but there was nobody there to capitalise. Sopowski was then put through but his lack of pace at this stage of the game allowed keeper, Wilkinson to reach the ball first. On sixty-eight minutes Bradfield Rovers replaced Francis with Davis, but it was the visitors that were the more threatening team.

            On seventy-five minutes, Silver End United drew level, Sopowski drifted down the left side, holding the ball up well then placing it into the path of HARRISON CROSS who side stepped Glasgow before shooting past keeper, Wilkinson, into the far corner of the net. Silver End United perhaps sensed they could get more from this match, a free kick taken by Cross was cleared, then a free kick taken, this time by Pirie, fell to Coney (L) whose volleyed effort produced a great save from keeper, Wilkinson. The visitors continued to push, the home team stood off and a rash challenge from Easey on Hollocks saw him cautioned, a right footed free kick taken by Farthing drifted wide and with the ball out of play, Bradfield Rovers brought on Simpson for Farthing. Another testing corner, taken by Allington found Glasgow but again his header was directed wide of the crowded goal mouth and into the side netting, Hollocks scythed down Farmery to earn a yellow card himself for persistent fouling. A long ball forward from keeper, Hill saw Sopowski give chase, gaining a corner off Scott, the home team defended well, and the ball was cleared forward to Allington, but through on goal he blasted the ball well wide under pressure from Coney (L).

FULL TIME:     1 – 1.

            Yes, a tight, gritty match, Bradfield Rovers bossed the first half but only managed that single, early goal, the second half was better for Silver End United, and they worked the ball well for the equaliser, a goal they deserved for their efforts.

Turning to my choice of Star player, a difficult choice again this week, for Bradfield Rovers, leading scorer, Allington will always cause problems, took his goal well but wasted numerous chances but he was not alone, both wing backs showed promise, Scott and particularly Farmery. For Silver End United, captain, Coney (L), marshalled his defence well, Whyton and Pirie, perhaps the shortest player on the pitch showed up well in defence as the game progressed, Sopowski and Hollocks worked hard in midfield where most of the play was found. Substitutes, King and Cross livened up the away team as time ran out, the latter scoring a fine goal but behind them was keeper, Hill, beaten once but throughout rest of the match did his job well, making numerous crucial saves.

Teams:

BRADFIELD ROVERS FC:

Colours:                        Claret Shirts, Claret Shorts and Claret Socks.

Team:

Harvey Wilkinson., Jevon Farmery., Sam Glasgow., Dylan Griffin., Tom Farthing., Finley Scott., Ross Easey., Jack Allam (C)., Patrick Dixon., Ross Purl., Ben Allington.

Manager:                      Ryan Dawson.

Assistant manager:       Sam Day.

Used Substitutes:          Oliver Davis., Christopher Stratton., Steven Ball., Thomas Simpson.

Unused Substitutes:      Sam Day.

SILVER END UNITED FC       

Colours:            Orange Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Bradley Hill., Liam Coney (C)., Brandon Whyton., James Pirie., Aaron Papple., Daniel Fisher., Ronnie Jackson., Sam Hollocks., Oliver Tilley., Tyler Coney., Sam Sopowski.

Manager:                      Robert Tilley.

Used Substitutes:          James King., Harrison Cross., Keelan Ellis..

Unused Substitutes:      Ross Catchpole., Robert Tilley.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee:                       Kurtis Williams.

STAR PLAYER:            Bradley HILL                          (SILVER END UNITED FC)