10/02/2024 – REPORT – Tiptree Jobserve FC Reserves versus Hatfield Peverel FC Reserves

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION TWO

TIPTREE JOBSERVE FC RESERVES.   2.       HATFIELD PEVEREL FC RESERVES  3.

Date:   Saturday 10^th February 2024.           Venue: Shrub End Recreation Ground, Colchester

            Its Saturday again, it’s been raining again, only fifteen matches out of thirty-three were played, this week a trip into Division Two, two teams surprisingly struggling, second bottom, Tiptree Jobserve FC Reserves against bottom team, Hatfield Peverel FC Reserves, both had recorded only two victories all season. The visitors had to call up the old guard to fulfil this fixture, led by Chipperfield, and supported in defence by Jay, playing his first game for several years, with Irvine, Garland and O’Brien also appearing this week!

            There was a new referee for this match, Paul Donaghy, new to the ESBFL this season and new to me, he commented that so far, he had been enjoying this level of grassroots football, he would be supported by two Club Assistants, personally I thought he had a very good game.

            Hatfield Peverel Reserves kicked-off, this match was being played on the 3G pitch, on three minutes, keeper, Fagg, made a fine save from Knights who struck a left-footed shot from twenty-five yards, the resulting corner, taken by Knights was headed over the goal by Spurgeon. Owalabi held back Dawson, but the free kick failed to trouble the home defence who pushed forward down their left side, Gill, O’Hare set up Leeks whose shot was saved at the near post by keeper, Fagg. The early play was end to end, Tiptree Jobserve Reserves had the chances but failed to convert, by now it was raining, that horrible drizzle that gets everywhere.

            On fifteen minutes, Hatfield Peverel Reserves took the lead, a break down the left side and a cross-cum-shot from CONNOR YOUNG beat keeper, Greenwood, all ends up, not quite against the run of play, but they all count! This young, keeper, is about to embark on a scholarship in the United States and with a camera set up behind his goal that’s one not to show in his career highlights, we wish him well anyway. Owalabi had to defend when Dawson bore down on goal, just nicking the ball off his toes as he was about to shoot from outside the penalty area. Leeder made a fine intercepting tackle on Kimber, again an older head, reading the game and not diving in on the edge of the penalty area. Smith-Lightfoot and Jay linked up to play the ball out of defence for the visitors, and when the ball was played forward to Young, he was fouled by Owalabi. Gill conceded a corner, taken by Young but cleared by Spurgeon to Chipperfield who sent Reading away, the cross was poor though and keeper, Greenwood collected. Knights sent a left-footed pass wide towards Kimber but keeper, Fagg was quickest to the ball, Chipperfield fouled Knights, thirty yards out, Knights stepped up to send a fine curling left-footed effort that forced keeper, Fagg to make an excellent flying save to his left side pushing the ball wide for a corner, which was cleared by Rogers.

            On the half hour mark, the visitors but together a good passing move, Leeder started it, Reading joined in and sent the ball forward for Leeder to chase, a goal-kick followed, the referee being further forward to judge that the ball had gone out of play. Tiptree Jobserve Reserves were pushing forward more at this point, the game definitely felt that more goals would come, defender Jay limped out of a strong tackle, Longman pumped a high ball into the penalty area towards, Longman but keeper, Fagg, anticipating the cross, rose higher to clutch the ball cleanly. Smith-Lightfoot, such a catchy surname, shielded the ball out of play when under pressure from Bedford who had been sent away by Leeks, and the same players dualled for the ball down by the corner flag, the young defender again coming out on top. In reply, Rogers drove forward, the defenders retreated, and a gap opened, Rogers took aim but hit Spurgeon and a corner followed. Leeder again, came out on top against O’Hare, then Chipperfield covered his defence when tackling Gill, who had charged forward on the overlap, another good battle there. As the half ended, Leeks, worked some space, the ball was on his left foot, but his shot crashed against the crossbar and the ball was cleared up field by Irvine, decent first half this had been, with plenty of commitment from both teams.

HALF-TIME:    0 – 1.

            The rain had not stopped, and it was Tiptree Jobserve Reserves who would kick-off and they forced Hatfield Peverel Reserves to defend almost immediately, Rodwell, took the ball away from Dawson and passed out of defence to Spurgeon with Owalabi in support. Defender, Leeder got forward for the visitors but keeper, Greenwood fielded the eventual cross, Rodwell, almost became provider for the home team, his pass forward struck Leeks and cannoned through to keeper, Fagg. Within three minutes of the restart, we had an injured player and another with cramp, I wasn’t going to mention their names, however Chipperfield was replaced by Knight with Irvine taking over Captains armband. Tiptree Jobserve Reserves tried again, Owalabi set up Leeks whose shot was saved by keeper, Fagg, and when the keepers clearance went out of play, Jay was replaced by Price-Dixon. The home team sensed a goal was imminent, their approach play had been fairly good just the finishing needed improving, so when Kimber broke down the left side his bouncing cross was met by JAKE LEEKS who scored, to level the scores. With their tails up, Tiptree Jobserve Reserves wanted more and only a fine goal-line clearance from Smith-Lightfoot stopped Kimber who had been allowed to almost walk through the changed defence of the visitors. Dawson was fouled on the edge of the penalty area by Owalabi, this after an error by Spurgeon, Garland took the free kick, but it flew over the goal with ease.

            On the hour mark, Captain, Rodwell and Leeks were replaced by Barron and Lewis, Young was forced to help out his defence when Kimber waltzed through again, Dawson and Spurgeon clashed over by the touch-line, a decent battle this had been, two big players involved, did Dawson raise a fist to the stomach, not according to the referee, close by as usual, did Spurgeon make more of the challenge, probably yes, both were spoken too though! Young was on hand again, at the other end, to intercept a pass from Knights, forcing Spurgeon to concede a corner, taken by Rogers but headed over the crossbar by Dawson. Dawson was involved again shortly afterwards, picking up a loose ball he fired goalwards only for keeper, Greenwood to save at the near post. Keeper, Greenwood was then in the wars, when he was clattered as he advanced to clear a corner, Spurgeon and Dawson exchanged words as did the referee, who had a good view of what happened. At the next corner, taken by Young, the ball fell loose, Dawson struck a low shot, Owalabi blocked it, but OWEN DAWSON reacted quickest to slam the loose ball into the roof of the net and the visitors led again. On seventy-one minutes Hatfield Peverel Reserves replaced Garland with KACPER BANAS, and with his first touch of the ball he scored, this followed a big error by defender Owalabi who gifted the goal scorer the ball, on the edge of the penalty area.

            Before the restart, Tiptree Jobserve Reserves replaced Bedford and Gill with Glew and Sykes, then following a corner taken by Price-Dixon, the ball travelled through to the far side, defender Barron appeared to control the bouncing ball with his hand, but the referee situated on the other side and looking through the crowded penalty area was clearly un-sited and play continued, a decision all players, bar one accepted. Tiptree Jobserve Reserves clawed a goal back with ten minutes remaining, Barron had played the ball forward, Glew gave chase and set up WILLIAM KIMBER who slotted home, do we now have a frantic, last few minutes! When, Smith-Lightfoot was deemed to have handled the ball, Knights struck a fine free kick which was well held by keeper, Fagg. When play stopped Spurgeon was substituted with Hart entering play, Kimber caused problems down the left side and from a return ball from Owalabi, now playing up front, keeper, Fagg was not tested, this time, from his clearance, his opposite number, Greenwood had to collect the ball on the edge of his penalty area as Dawson threatened. When Greenwood threw the ball out to new player Hart, he lost possession, but in his haste to retrieve the ball he flattened Reading to earn the first caution of the match. Smith-Lighfoot covered his defence again when Kimber had the ball and Knight handled in midfield, and with four minutes of normal time remaining, Hatfield Peverel Reserves made their last change with O’Brien taking the place of Leeder. The tempo did not change and after a great run by Owalabi, his cross was flicked away by the dependable Smith-Lightfoot, now playing in central defence, substitute Banus forced a corner for the visitors as play switched ends with regularity, Owalabi fouled Dawson, who needed treatment, and upon his return he received a caution, under the totting-up procedure, this for a foul on O’Hare. The last real action saw the home team in possession, Sykes and Kimber were involved with Barron firing over the crossbar, game over.

FULL TIME:     2 – 3.

            For two teams languishing in the lower reaches of the division this was a close fought, competitive game, very little dissent of note, only two, nailed on cautions and a game played in good spirit and well controlled by the match official. With this victory, Hatfield Peverel Reserves move up three places to ninth, the losers sadly move to the bottom.

            Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player”, for Tiptree Jobserve FC Reserves, defender Owalabi played well, however, a late mistake did gift the opposition a goal, Knights, goal scorers Kimber and Leeks always threatened when on the ball and all were denied by the keeper or the cross bar. For Hatfield Peverel FC Reserves, first team player, Dawson is always a handful, Young played well and scored a goal, or was it a cross but for me a young player with an unforgettable name, Miley Smith-Lightfoot, showed a lot of promise and defended very well throughout this despite changing positions at least three times, when asked.

Teams:

TIPTREE JOBSERVE FC RESERVES: 

Colours:                        Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Tyler Greenwood., Joshua Longman., John Spurgeon., Richard Owalabi., Matthew Gill., Nathan Knights., Jake Leeks., Ben Rodwell., Oliver O’Hare., William Kimber., Adam Bedford.

Manager:                      Jack Cross.

Used Substitutes:          Elijah Glew., Tommy Barron., Ben Hart., Charlie Sykes., Mervin Lewis.

HATFIELD PEVEREL FC RESERVES:

Colours:                        Yellow Shirts, Yellow Shorts and Yellow Socks.

Team:

James Fagg., John Leader., Miley Smith-Lightfoot., Andrew Chipperfield., Robbie Jay., George Garland., Woody Reading., Connor Young., Liam Rogers., Owen Dawson., James Irvine.

Manager:                      Steve Harding.

Used Substitutes:          Max Price-Dixon., Kacper Banas., Michael Knight., Grady O’Brien.

Unused Substitutes:      Simon Potter.

Referee:                       Paul Donaghy.

Star Player:                Miley SMITH-LIGHTFOOT                 (HATFIELD PEVEREL FC RESERVES)