10/05/2023 – REPORT – Dovercourt Rovers FC versus Gas Recreation FC – Tommy Thompson Cup Final

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

TOMMY THOMPSON CUP FINAL.

DOVERCOURT ROVERS FC. 3. GAS RECREATION FC. 2.

Date: Wednesday 10^th MAY 2023

Venue: Harwich & Parkeston FC, The Royal Oak, Main Road, Dovercourt, Harwich.

The second Cup Final of the season, the Tommy Thompson Cup, was played out on Wednesday evening at Harwich & Parkeston FC, this was on a superb pitch, which is a credit to the Groundsman, in front of one of the biggest crowds ever seen at an ESBFL final, and what a game they witnessed.

Division Two Champions, Dovercourt Rovers FC, were perhaps the favourites but Gas Recreation FC, who are on course to win, Division Three, would be a stern test, and is it clear that there is a commitment and determination from both Clubs to improve their current league status’. Both teams have a young player base, they have a mixture of experience, Dovercourt Rovers FC, less so, but most of their players have previously played elsewhere in the Premier Division, whereas Gas Recreation have an experienced backbone of West, Firkins, Bethell (D) and Craig, supported by some useful young players who are bringing the Club back to life.

The appointed Match Official for this contest was the experienced Richard Oakes, he was supported by Nathan Tansley and Philip Barham with Paul Sadler, acting as Fourth Official, these important people are known as the Third Team, and yes, they worked as a team throughout.

Dovercourt Rovers FC kicked off playing towards the changing rooms at the bottom of the ground, a ground, The Royal Oak, that has seen some major upgrades in recent seasons, with the Clubs First Team, now playing in the Thurlow Nunn competition, they have added new floodlights, new fencing surrounding the pitch, a new clock, camera gantry with an impressive advertising board at the entrance. Despite kicking off, possession was lost, and Gas Recreation FC pushed forward gaining at least five corners inside the first five minutes, defenders kept their calm and kept their goal intact, with substitute keeper, White proving his worth in the absence of the sadly suspended keeper Sims, who would have played had not his suspension been prolonged, owing to last weekends opposition failing to fulfil a fixture! The corners taken by either Bethell (F) or Harrison were very good, swinging in from both sides into the congested six-yard box, Bradley headed one clear, MacDonald another and Simpson headed one clear from the goal-line, with West and Craig in the goal-mouth mix. The Dovercourt Rovers response was positive getting the ball up-field via Selwyn to Fay whose cross forced Venner to head out for a corner and from the excellent corner, taken by Fay, HARRY BRADLEY rose to thump a fine header into the net, with just eight minutes on the clock. Dovercourt Rovers had weathered that early barrage from a determined Gas Recreation team, with their tails up they kept possession and began to look dangerous again, Selwyn, so often the provider, in chief, threaded the ball forward to MacDonald, received the ball back before shooting low and hard, only for West to stoop and head clear, being knocked off his feet in the process! Once again Fay took the corner with Craig heading clear then MacDonald set up the unmarked Bradley who leant back before striking the ball against the goal stanchion, that should have been two nil!

It was, two nil, just after fifteen minutes, MacDonald ran wide down the left side, again the pass was from Selwyn, West went across to defend but slipped over, giving MAX MacDONALD the chance to run on, and having stopped, he picked his spot driving the ball across the face of the goal and into the side netting, a fine goal, this capped fine period for the Division Two side, now in the ascendency. Firkins for Gas Recreation raised his side hopes with a number of trade-mark dribbles, turning defenders this way then that, one such dribble led to a shot on goal which was blocked by Webb, the ball ran loose, keeper, White ran out and collided with Hynes who was adjudged to have fouled the advancing keeper. Bethell (D) used his knowledge to push forward and when in space he sent a fine cross into the penalty area, keeper, White was quickly out but was clattered by Craig, never one to shirk a challenge! By now a decent crowd had gathered and numerous sections gave their vocal support and appreciation to the commitment and drive displayed by the players on the pitch. In my opinion, Gas Recreation were trying too hard, overplaying the ball when in possession and that old cliché, “the final ball” was heard from various onlookers. When, Maiden, went down under a challenge in the penalty area, the referee was ten yards away, had a good clear view and waved away any suggestion of a penalty. AS expected Dovercourt Rovers countered, Fay, found Johnson, a player who had been quiet so far, the return ball was to Fay who sent a cross flashing across the penalty area, as play switched to the other end Simpson fouled Firkins mid-half, Harrison took the free-kick but Simpson just got the better of West, conceding a corner, taken by Harrison to Hynes who headed wide but more intent again from Gas Recreation. On twenty-four minutes Maiden forced yet another corner, taken by Harrison but straight to keeper, White, then as the ball was cleared came a mistake by Fay, in midfield, for Dovercourt Rovers, Craig ran on before finding BROOKLYN MAIDEN who avoided one challenge before beating the keeper, showing great composure for a young player. Keeper, White had tried to vary his kicked clearances, one, a low bouncing effort was helped on by Selwyn to Watkinson but West put the ball into touch.

Bradley was cautioned for a robust challenge on Firkins, Bethell (F) took the free-kick, West headed back across goal, but Craig was inches away from connecting at the far post, clearly Gas Recreation were back in this game. On thirty-five minutes Craig was played in by Venner, his initial shot was blocked by Boyne, but the ball fell to ASTEN FIRKINS who sent a thirty-yard shot past everyone to bring the scores level, and that’s four quality goals so far, what next! Firkins sent the ball wide to Craig and when the cross came in, there was Firkins ghosting in to head just wide and these two players were proving to be an important element in their team’s style of play. A long clearance from keeper, White had Dadds scrambling back as the last defender, against the fleet-of-foot Johnson, who having got ahead proceeded to shaft the ball wide from a promising position. As his pulsating half came to an end, a corner taken by Harrison was headed on by Bethell (F) and Craig slipping ahead of a defender to head goalwards, hit the corner of the post and cross-bar with his header.

HALF – TIME: 2 – 2.

From the restart, Selwyn sent Johnson away, but West covered the threat, Venner was pulled up for a foul on MacDonald and was spoken too, then MacDonald gave chase and gained a throw-in off Harrison and with Craig injured in the build-up, he had treatment before returning, this game was still end-to-end. Fay was sent racing away down the right side, finding Johnson who fired just wide, a poor clearance from keeper, Bibby fell to Watkinson who ran forward and shot at goal only for team-mate Johnson to get in his way and block the goal bound effort. Simpson got the ball forward to Bradley who tried to lob keeper, Bibby, but the keeper recovered comfortably, Boyne fouled Bethell (F) right on the edge of the penalty area, Firkins tried an audacious lob into the penalty area finding Bethell (F) who snatched at his lobbed chance and the danger passed. Firkins was still chasing and providing the attacking platform for Gas Recreation, he chased down Boyne, but his cross was fielded by keeper, White, then Bradley fouled Firkins inside the centre-circle, Dadds played the ball wide to West, whose cross was headed against the cross-bar by Firkins, unfortunately he was flagged for off-side.

On sixty minutes Dovercourt Rovers replaced Brundle, with Lammas, straight from the restart, a long throw-in from Selwyn was cleared off the goal-line, there were too many players in the way to determine who! Selwyn linked up with Bowler and from his left-footed cross Johnson headed wide then Lammas sent MacDonald away down the left side. Hynes and Craig had to defend down the right side, against Fay whose low cross was cut out by keeper, Bibby, and on sixty-six minutes Bradley, the tallest player on show, who had done his job well and scored a fine headed goal was replaced by Bowler, the smallest, appearances are deceptive because Bowler adds a different attack / defensive approach. Craig found Maiden, sadly off-side and Firkins went down with cramp, hardly surprising given the amount of running he had done. Gas Recreation replaced Harrison with Dennis on seventy minutes, Selwyn gained a corner from his driven right wing cross, Dadds just steering the dangerous ball wide of the goal then Hynes and Bethell (D) put Watkinson in the proverbial sandwich challenge! Another Gas Recreation substitution followed on seventy-two minutes, with Craig being replaced by Cooper, this game was still very much up for grabs, players are by now tiring, a mistake or a touch of genius was all that was needed!

Selwyn struck a long free-kick straight to keeper Bibby, the clearance fell to Venner who was fouled by Boyne, in a central position, Cooper fouled Selwyn, Bowler set up Johnson, but the side-netting intervened in what was a decent chance. Firkins tried a shot from distance as he had seen keeper, White off his goal-line, Fay missed the target and another chance from close range, but the game remained open and competitive. On eighty-two minutes Firkins made way for Willmore and MacDonald did likewise for Garwood, Simpson had also been replaced by Smith. There were just five minutes of normal time remaining when Dovercourt Rovers took the lead, Selwyn launched a long throw-in from the right side, the ball was headed out to just outside the penalty area where KIERAN WATKINSON smashed a superb left-footed effort with the outside of his boot, the ball flashed past two defenders but keeper, Bibby would never have seen it, another fine goal. As play continued, keeper, Bibby sent the ball long to keeper, White, Johnson fouled Maiden, the free-kick from Dadds eluded everyone and the danger passed. When Watkinson gave chase to a long ball, keeper, Bibby advanced chipping the ball nonchalantly over Watkinson, but the bounce left him in trouble, as when Watkinson recovered, he gained possession and struck the ball goalwards towards an open goal, Dadds got back to defend and only managed to hit the right hand upright in his successful attempt to clear, a corner followed, could anything else happen in the match! When Gas Recreation gained a late corner every player, all twenty-two, were camped in or around the Dovercourt Rovers penalty area, the corner was cleared and when play broke away, Watkinson ran down the left side from the half-way line, cutting inside, taking on and beating two defenders along the goal-line before a goal-kick was given, from which clearance Johnson fouled Maiden on the half-way line to earn only the second caution of the match.

FULL TIME: 3 – 2.

As expected, this was a very competitive game, was it a spectacle, yes it was, and to me no matter who you had supported on the night, you should have enjoyed a very entertaining game, five excellent goals, loads of effort all round and both teams deserve credit for the way they played, special mention to the match officials who kept things moving, two cautions, nailed on and not disputed, such a refreshing change. A number of spectators commented that this was one of the best footballing finals seen in recent years, I concur and I’ve seen a few, lets have more of the same next week in he COVID Cup

The Match officials were awarded momento’s by ESBFL, Chairman, John Campany, who also did the Runners-Up Cup to Gas Recreation FC, Captain, Dadds, whilst ESBFL, President, Lt Col Peter Andrews. OBE, awarded the Winner’s Cup to Selwyn, Captain of jubilant Dovercourt Rovers FC, who would be celebrating long into the night.

Finally, turning to my “Star Player” choice, given the intensity and importance of this Tommy Thompson Cup final match, a lot of players stood out for various reasons, its always hard to name one player without naming everybody, as in games like this it becomes more difficult, it’s a team effort, which is why I choose a player from both teams. For Dovercourt Rovers FC that player is Kieran Watkinson, a fine goal for the winner, but plenty of other periods of good play and chances often created by the player himself, for Gas Recreation FC, its Brooklyn Maiden, another forward with plenty of skill and he took his goal really well.

Teams:

DOVERCOURT ROVERS FC.

Colours: Green Shirts, Green Shirts, Green Socks.

Team:

Ricky White., Bradley Simpson., Callum Boyne., Miles Webb., Harry Brundle.,

Frankie Selwyn (C)., Harry Bradley., Elliot Fay., Max MacDonald., Kieran Watkinson., Chris Johnson

Manager: Jake Whittingham.

Used Substitutes: Ross Garwood., Bailey Smith., Kieran Lammas., Leon Bowler.

GAS RECREATION FC:

Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Taylor Bibby., Fred Harrison., Callum Hynes., Dean West., Asten Firkins., Rooney Venner., Darren Bethell., Louis Dadds (C)., Freddie Bethell., Eldon Craig., Brooklyn Maiden.

Manager: Richard Elms.

Used Substitutes: Alex Cooper., Harry Willmore., Joshua Dennis.

Unused Substitutes: Sam Andrews., Rio King.

Referee: Richard Oakes.

Assistant Referees: Nathan Tansley

and Philip Barham.

4^th Official: Paul Sadler.

Star Player: Kieran WATKINSON (DOVERCOURT ROVERS FC)

Star Player: Brooklyn MAIDEN (GAS RECREATION FC)

FUTURE DATES:

COVID CUP FINAL

Wednesday 17^th May 2023 @ Brantham Leisure Centre