10/08/2024 – REPORT – Alresford Colne Rangers FC versus East Thurrock Community FC

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC.    2.       EAST THURROCK COMMUNITY FC.  1.

Date:   Saturday 10^th August 2024.              Venue: Ford Lane, Alresford.

            This was the first league match of the season, the League welcomes three new Clubs, East Thurrock Community FC, who will play at Corringham, Harwich & Parkeston FC “A” and Tendring Borough FC who will both play in Division Four. There are also new Reserve Teams at Cressing United FC., Earls Colne FC., Elmstead Market FC., Stillwaters FC and West Bergholt FC, we wish them all well this season, sadly Colne Athletic FC and Silver End United FC, last season’s Champions and Runners-Up have left the competition.

            Alresford Colne Rangers FC have added to their management team, and there new players registered as the Club looks to improve on last seasons basement battle, East Thurrock Community FC are an unknown, they applied late but their facilities match the NLS, Step 7 criteria and despite the perceived distance are within the Competition catchment area. On Saturday their team and supporters arrived by coach and clearly, despite the defeat, enjoyed their day out, their hosts no doubt, pleased with the bar takings at a Club that gives excellent hospitality!

            On a pleasing personal note, it was good to see a couple of familiar faces on the touch-lines, Alan Gould, former ESBFL Referees Appointment Secretary and Eric Bowers, a former referee on the panel, retirement clearly suits both of them.

            The referee for this match was the experienced Dean Welham who was ably assisted by Chris Warren and Daniel Webb, a couple of cautions were issued and a “sin bin” issued under the revised rules.

            On a warm afternoon, East Thurrock kicked off forcing a corner off Knevett, who then cleared the ball forward to Willoughby, who moved the ball on to Hewes whose first time cross was headed away by Case. Greaves, believed to be the son of the great Jimmy, for East Thurrock, held the ball up well and found Dixie (O) who rounded Knevett before firing a shot against the outside of the near post, with young keeper, Pickard well placed to cover. The start had been, end to end, East Thurrock were clearly fired up for their inaugural first competitive match, but they fell behind after just five minutes. Stoneman won a challenge in midfield getting the ball through the defensive line to Willoughby who was caught by the advancing keeper, Bruley, a penalty was awarded, and HARRY WILLOUGHBY stroked the ball home, bottom right-hand corner to give the home team an early lead. From the restart Knevett found Willoughby with Stoneman forcing a corner off Segemani, Hewes took the corner kick, but Willoughby hit the side netting when given too much space. Knevett, playing at right wing-back was seeing plenty of the ball and when he unleashed a  shot from thirty yards, keeper, Bruley made a fine on his goal-line. Hewes collided with keeper, Bruley, and Balaam ran forward to shoot speculatively over the goal and the Village Hall. A throw-in from Dixie (O) was headed out for a corner by Balaam, the corner taken by Coventry was poor and the danger passed.

            Alresford Colne Rangers built their next attack down the right side, Knevett to Hewes who eluded Segemani before crossing to the far side where Willoughby chipped the ball over keeper, Bruley but also narrowly wide with the East Thurrock defence outnumbered. Willoughby was also seeing plenty of the ball, his direct running on and off the ball forcing defenders to turn and chase and his understanding with Stoneman and Hewes could be a feature this season. Despite there being only one goal, this match remained close, East Thurrock Community, as expected were competitive and had good ideas when going forward, their supporters had taken up various positions around the pitch and had plenty to shout about, as did the home supporters. A shot from Lewis, set up by Balaam and Willoughby, for Alresford Colne Rangers did not force keeper, Bruley into a save but more a case of the visitors, not closing down players outside the penalty area. Willoughby was fouled having got behind Segemani and Greaves, Hewes and Willoughby stood over the ball and that combination saw the shot fly straight to keeper, Burley.

            A great shot from Knevett, again from wide on the right side was expertly saved over by keeper, Bruley, who tipped the shot over his crossbar from just under the corner of the post and crossbar, at the expense of a corner, Hewes took the corner, but keeper Bruley was equal to the cross, under pressure from numerous home players. Purdy for East Thurrock Community sent a long ball forward to Dixie (O), but too long, from the return down field ball Case was injured from which Coventry received a yellow “sin bin” card for dissent, after a further abusive comment towards the referee a second yellow card was shown meaning Coventry was dismissed. Alresford Colne Rangers were content to play the ball out of defence, mainly through Knevett and Balaam, from one positive move, Hargreaves received the ball, used his strength to round Segemani and despite chipping the advancing keeper, saw his effort clip the crossbar and be cleared by Dixie (R). The player advantage might well be exploited by the home team, Stoneman found Balaam with a cross but the attempted overhead kick, was well wide of the goal. As the half finished a long clearance from keeper, Bruley, bounced once, Dixie (O) gave chase as keeper, Pickard advanced, the keeper sustaining a blow to the head as the forward jumped over him, brave keeping from the youngster though!

HALF-TIME:    1 – 0.

            The home team restarted this close match with a poor shot from Hewes straight from the centre-circle, at least got the ball forward, but having given the ball away cheaply, East Thurrock Community pushed forward, OWEN DIXIE took possession after robbing Knevett, ran forward and hit a low left-footed shot that keeper, Pickard, crouched down to gather, however, the ball hit the ground in front of the keeper and reared up and over him into the back of the net for an unlikely equaliser. Willoughby chased a long ball forward, this was from forty yards, and from the goal-kick, keeper, Bruley sent a long ball forward towards Greaves who held the ball up in front of Smith (Ka) before laying it off to Purdy. When Willoughby cut in from the left side, his low shot was hacked away by defender Case who saw his clearance loop over the

Keeper to land on the roof of the net. On fifty-on minutes Alresford Colne Rangers replaced Mitchell with Smith (R), and his first action was to shoot wide after winning a tackle. The home team remained “on top”, Balaam used his feet well to come out of a penalty area scramble, he found Hewes whose positive cross field pass was cut out by Segemani. When Willoughby ran clear, this time on the right side, he was denied by the outstretched foot of keeper, Bruley, the ball fell to Hargreaves who missed the open goal!

On fifty-five minutes East Thurrock Community replaced Greaves with Adeosun, and his first action was running into space only to be denied by Knevett. Smith (R) blocked Adeosun to concede a foul, Hargreaves did likewise on Segemani, and tackles got heavier as both teams looked for a second goal, with Willoughby and Dixie (R) literally going head-to-head, to get a rebuke from the match official, who also spoke to the respective management teams. A great cross from Smith (Ka) for Alresford Colne Rangers found the long leg of Smith (R) but his goal bound effort was cut out by the hand of keeper, Bruley, a fine reflex save, two corners followed but the visitors defended these well. Hargreaves was replaced by Gibbs on sixty-five minutes and Prince was substituted by Sharkey for the visitors, that last move seems to have raised their game. Smith (Ky) was pulled up for a high foot on against Gibbs, and from a Gibbs cross, Reeman conceded a corner, taken long by Lewis finding Hewes who won a throw-in. The next corner, taken by Hewes did reap rewards as ROGER SMITH ghosted in, to head home from around the penalty spot and give the home team a lead they deserved. When East Thurrock pushed forward soon after the restart, Balaam was cautioned for impeding Adeosun, an infringement well spotted by the well placed, referee.

            With fifteen minutes remining, a free kick taken by Case flew straight to keeper, Pickard, Lewis for Alresford Colne Rangers was replaced by Harms and the home team had to defend with some timely blocks and no nonsense, clearances. Adams had entered play for the visitors, and he fouled Harms when in a good position outside the penalty area, a cross from Knevett fell to Willoughby whose first time effort flew to keeper, Bruley, then Hewes was caught offside from a Willoughby pass. With just five minutes of normal time remaining, keeper, Bruley launched yet another long clearance, after one bounce on the edge of the penalty area, keeper, Pickard caught the ball high on his goal-line, forward Dixie (O) ran in, to challenge, but rolled over the keeper falling heavily on his shoulder on the rock-hard ground. Clearly in agony the respective coaches ran on and players showed their concern as Dixie (O) was tended too, eventually leaving the pitch with the help and clutching his shoulder, we wish him a speedy recovery. This injury left the visitors with nine players for the remaining minutes, the home team finished with ten, when Smith (R) verbally questioned a robust, but seemingly fair challenge from Reeman, and was sent to the “sin-bin” for showing dissent. Smith (Ky) shot wide when well placed, and Hewes picked up a yellow card for adopting an aggressive stance after a foul on Segemani, the last effort coming from Sharkey whose effort flew wide.

FULL TIME:     2 – 1.

            A fully competitive match, no doubt, enjoyed mostly by the home Club, East Thurrock Community gave a good account of themselves, they will be competitive and should not be underestimated, this match was a tricky start for them and the home team also showed much improvement on last season, one to forget.

            A number of players showed up well on both sides, but this week my star player, despite picking up a silly caution, is Jack Balaam, he led from the back and set the tone for the players in front of him throughout.

Teams:

ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC:   

Colours:                        Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.

Team:

Sebastian Pickard., Elliot Goslin-Clarke., Callum Knevett., Jack Balaam., Kane Smith., Jack Stoneman., Jake Mitchell., Lewis Hargreaves., Harry Hewes., Ryan Lewis (C)., Harry Willoughby.

Manager:                      Ryan Amass

Assistant Manager:       James Pickard

Used Substitutes:          Ziggy Harms., Charlie Gibbs., Roger Smith.

Unused Substitutes:      Sean James, Aaron William.

EAST THURROCK COMMUNITY FC.

Colours:                        Light Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Tom Bruley., Ross Dixie., Kyle Smith., Kieran Case., Faith Segemani., Bobby Reeman., Joey Purdy., Daniel Greaves., Jack Coventry., Owen Dixie., Harry Prince.

Manager:                      John Coventry & Kevin Scott.

Used Substitutes:          Louis Sharkey., Michael Adeosun., Jack Adams.

Referee:                       Dean Welham.

Assistant Referees:       Daniel Webb & C. Warren.

STAR PLAYER:            Jack BALAAM                         (ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC)