10/05/2025 – REPORT – EARLS COLNE FC RESERVES AND TAVERN FC

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION TWO.

EARLS COLNE FC RESERVES.             1.                     TAVERN FC.    2.

Date:   Saturday 10^th May 2025.                   Venue: Green Farm Meadow, Earls Colne.

A very warm afternoon greeted the large crowd that had gathered for this Division Two, top of the table clash between second placed Earls Colne Reserves and table topping, Tavern, for whom this would be their last match of the season. A win for Tavern would see them crowned champions, a draw or a win for Earls Colne reserves would mean the title would not be decided until mid-week, this division has been close all season, and third placed, Prettygate were playing fourth placed, The Rodings, over at Little Waltham.

The match official for this match was ESBFL, Referee, Appointments Secretary, Matthew Jarvis, who on this occasion, would have Stuart Tredget and Dan Sage as Assistant Referees, the pitch, as usual looked in excellent condition but would be hard underfoot due to the lack of rain recently.

            Earls Colne Reserves kicked off, Baham found Preston down the right side, Flanders defended well to concede a throw in, followed by a corner, taken by Clifford (O), the Tavern defence did not clear the ball and TAYLOR STIGANT managed to get a shot away through a crowd of players to give the home team a very early lead with just two minutes on the clock. Tavern needed to wake up, they were playing up the slight slope, the wind was blowing across the pitch but held the ball up when kicked above head height. That response was positive, Fowler got forward to gain a throw in, taken by Fowler, long to Louca whose shot flew well wide. Hutchings sent the ball long to Raven who turned and saw his shot deflected off Tappenden for another corner, taken by Clifford (O) but resolutely defended by Lake at the near post. A break down the left side by Louca saw his cross, find Caro, his shot was blocked by McNicholas who ran forward to the half-way line before Dolphin stopped his progress, Raven had a run against Lake, the defender did well to gain a goal kick which fell to Dolphin and he sent Finch on a chase forward. As expected, this game was becoming very competitive, Harrington defended well when Flanders failed to cut out a pass forward to Harrison, then leading goal-scorer, Clifford (L), today playing in the home defensive line brought the ball forward passing to Raven who was tackled by Tappenden.

            Tavern continued to try to clear the ball out of defence, the stiff breeze hampered their progress, and possession was lost near the half-way line, Fox handled the ball when he tried to break away, Dolphin took the free kick but home keeper, Game showed good handling. Clifford (O) fouled Lake, Lake took the free kick, but Dolphin was a bit late in his challenge on Clifford (O), the free kick from Hutchings found Stigant but a throw in followed. Caro fouled McNicholas, the free kick from Clifford (O) was blocked by Fowler who sent Finch away, but Clifford (L) stopped this push forward but lost possession as Dolphin stepped across to steal the ball and send Louca off down the left side to gain a corner. The corner, taken by Caro was delivered low, a goalmouth scramble followed, Dolphin stuck out a long leg and the ball drifted wide, Preston fouled Harrington, Flanders too the free kick but Rafferty was caught offside, then Caro fouled Clifford (L). Finch showed some good footwork to find space outside the penalty area from where he had a shot that keeper, Game saved on his goal-line. Preston and Flanders had a running encounter down to the corner flag, chasing a pass from Hutchings, then Finch fouled Stigant on the half-way line, the home player being forced off the pitch for a blood injury.

            There had been numerous stoppages for fouls in this first half, Tappenden blocked Preston illegally, twenty-five yards out, Stigant took the free kick, the ball was destined for the back of the net until keeper, Needs made a fine save, diving at full stetch to push the ball wide of his goal. A decent cross from Louca was not gathered properly by keeper, Game, it was left to McNicholas and Preston to clear the ball away, Finch picked up the loose ball and ran across the face of the penalty area, before shooting, the shot was blocked by Hutchings and a corner followed. When either Caro or Finch had the ball at their feet, there was optimism that their flair and pace would cause problems, when Hutchings dived into Caro he was shown a yellow card, Finch took the free kick, Dolphin rose above everyone in the crowded penalty area, only to see his header hit the crossbar and go out for a goal kick. The respective midfield areas were the centre of most of the action in this match, it was still competitive, numerous stoppages for fouls, Clifford (L) showed a neat turn and came away with the ball in a tight situation just outside his penalty area, he found Clifford (O) who was fouled by Fowler. Clifford (O) took the free kick from the far touch line, the high ball took one bounce and keeper, Needs was alert to tip the ball over the crossbar, a corner followed, McNicholas fouled Dolphin, Flanders found Finch from the free kick, and when the ball fell loose, Louca fouled Clifford (L) and received a yellow card.

HALF-TIME:    1 – 0.

            Tavern now had the benefit of the slight slope, the breeze remained a nuisance as the visitors kicked off, Dolphin tried a speculative shot or was it “lets gets the ball down the field and keep it there”, keeper, Game was untroubled though. Caro, set off on a run across the field and when reaching the corner of the penalty area, turned to shoot goalwards, the ball bounced narrowly wide with keeper, Game scrambling across to protect his goal. The Earls Colne Reserves response was equally positive, Raven, sent in a cross from the right side but the ball flew behind Clifford (O), to be cleared by Fowler. Rafferty blocked a run by Clifford (L) and with two players down on the ground, the match was stopped, sadly the free kick taken by Dolphin was poorly struck and the home team cleared. The pace of Raven, towards a loose, forward ball, found him flagged for offside, a throw in from Fowler fell to Lake, who was closed down, by Clifford (L), but a low cross was played in with Preston hammering the ball out for a throw in, one that was wasted! Tappenden worked the ball forward to Caro who took too long to control the pass but regained possession to send in a low cross that was headed clear, poorly by McNicholas from which Finch sent a rasping volley just wide.

            With sixty minutes gone, Earls Colne removed Harrison and sent on Flatts, Clifford (L) fouled Caro, wide on the left side, Finch took the free kick, but the cross was just over the head of Louca, one of the smallest players on the pitch, at the far post, how crucial was that missed chance going to be! Raven raised a high boot towards Flanders, and with the match stopped, Earls Colne Reserves exchanged Preston for Webster, Louca sent a pass through to Finch who had drifted offside, and Earls Colne Reserves seemed in no hurry to get the match going again, with the referee pointing to his watch. This half, Tavern were playing better football, Fowler found Caro who sent over a fine cross towards the unmarked Louca who dived forward but missed the ball, and an open net, at the far post. Fox fouled Caro, Barham was shown a yellow card for delaying the restart, effectively, kicking the ball away, Finch took the free kick, the height of Dolphin was causing a problem and a goalmouth scramble followed, numerous chances by Tavern were blocked as they kept up the pressure. On seventy-two minutes Tavern replaced defender Lake with a forward, Willis, Dolphin linked up with Finch with keeper, Game forced to catch a cross at the near post.

            We started the last fifteen minutes with a fine goal, Clifford (L) fouled Louca wide on the left side, Clifford (L) was cautioned but HARRY FINCH set up the ball before planting an exceptional right-footed free kick over the defensive wall into the back of the net, keeper, Game had little chance to save. Tavern had their tails up now, sensing another goal could be scored, Willis and Finch set up Willis who tried the glory shot from fully thirty yards, the keeper was untroubled but maybe Willis was thinking ahead. With twelve minutes remaining Tavern replaced Louca with Vickers, from the restart, Dolphin sprayed the ball wide to Finch who ran onto the ball and fired in a low cross and there was LUKE WILLIS running in to smash the ball into the net, to queue some joyous scenes on and off the pitch, could that be the goal that decided the divisional championship! Sensing the game, was drawing, to a close, Tavern made two more changes, both Finch and Caro had been prominent all game, were replaced by Dellar and Hazell, whilst Earls Colne Reserves sent on Poulter for Hutchings. Tavern keeper, Needs made a fine save from Clifford (O), midfielder Harrington, not for the first time, put in a fine challenge on Clifford (L) who was now playing further forward. The introduction of Willis had stirred a few feathers, his ungainly stride and physicality caused problems with his direct running, Tavern were on top in these final minutes and there were several added minutes still to play when Law replaced Flanders, but I cannot recall if Law touched the ball as the match was finished soon after!

FULL TIME:     1 – 2.

There were some jubilant scenes from the Tavern players and supporters at the end of the match, they needed a win, nothing else but a win, and three points to give them an unassailable lead at the top of Division Two, last season they were relegated having finished bottom of Division One, but the addition of several new players have proved successful. Earls Colne Reserves still have one league match to play and with two previous likely to be awarded then they can claim second place, for the record, third placed, Prettygate beat fourth placed The Rodings by three goals to one.

Turning to my Star Player, as usual a number of players stood out, for Earls Colne Reserves, Clifford (O) led his team well, brother, Clifford (L) played in defence for much of the game, Preston was prominent in the first half but as can be seen by their playing record, this season has been a big team effort with just three league defeats, their last one being back in late October. For Tavern, another team with just three defeats but by drawing one game less was crucial in the final points tally, today they had played without their suspended leading goal-scorer, but in the second half proved they have strength and depth to compete, coming from behind to snatch this victory with two fine, but late second half goals, one was scored by Finch who had a fine game, but again another team effort.

Teams:

EARLS COL;NE FC RESERVES

Colours:                        Yellow Shirts, Navy-Blue Shorts and Navy-Blue Socks.

Team:

Elliot game., Jordan Hutchings., Tom Fox., Lewis Clifford., Ryan McNicholas., Jack Preston., Taylor Stigant., Oliver Clifford (C)., Devon Raven., Kevin Barham., Teddy Harrison.

Manager:                      Shaun Clifford.

Used Substitutes:          Riley Poulter., Ethan Webster., Perrie Flatts.

Unused Substitutes:      Ben Rodwell., Taylor Moore.

TAVERN FC.

Colours:                        Green & White striped Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Connor Needs., Ben Fowler., Sean Flanders., Cameron Dolphin (C)., Ashley Tappenden., Joshua Lake., harry Finch., Ryan Harrigton., Finlay Caro., Jordan Rafferty., George Louca.

Used Substitutes:          Bradley Deller., Ben Vickers., James Hazell., Luke Willis., James Law.

Manager:                      Jordan Mallett.

Referee:                       Matthew Jarvis.

Assistant Referees:       Stuart Tredget

                        and:     Daniel Sage.

STAR PLAYER:            Harry FINCH               (TAVERN FC)