11/04/2026 – REPORT – The Rodings& Little Waltham FC versus Gosfield United FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE
THE RODINGS & LITTLE WALTHAM FC. 2. GOSFIELD UNITED FC 0.
Date: 11th April 2026. Venue: Little Waltham Playing Fields.
For both teams, today’s match was their last Division One league game of the season, this division, had already been won with sixty-four points by the visitors, Gosfield United FC, and The Rodings & Little Waltham were already assured of being Runners-Up, with fifty-three points. It’s interesting to note that neither team had registered more than thirty players all season, only the visitors had transferred one player from another Club, that’s consistency and loyalty from those players involved.
The pitch at Little Waltham has a slight slope but looked in good condition, if perhaps a bit hard, today’s Match Official was Gregory Hart who would be ably helped by Club Assistants, there were some contentious issues caused by players and five cautions administered in a lively game.
Gosfield United lick-off up the slope and immediately gained a corner off O’Dwyer, the delivery was poor and the home team cleared losing possession and the visitors gained a throw-in, Gilder launched a long throw-in, keeper, Johnson (L) attempted to punch the ball clear under pressure from some taller players, but Gale put his shot over the goal. In the early stages it was evident that both teams had players with exceptional pace, Rosewall for The Rodings & Little Waltham and Gale for Gosfield United and that the respective right flanks will be the areas to attack from. Gilder, captain of the visitors started play in a forward position and was soon involved with defender Laird and a couple of coming-togethers were seen with the match official having to deal with the repercussions of these issues as he was clearly unsighted for two of them! I formed the opinion, maybe wrongly, that there was history between these two players! O’Dwyer found Armitage who gave chase down the right side, but Mills got back to pass the ball back to his keeper, Sanger (H). Matthews (J) from the throw out by his keeper, sent the ball forward and Gale gave chase, collected the ball but was shielded out of play by O’Dwyer.
With fifteen minutes gone, this match was shaping up to be a decent and competitive game, Gosfield United, before today, had only lost once and that was back in late August, The Rodings & Little Waltham were beaten for the first time in mid-November, by todays opponents, so consistency throughout the season has seen the teams reach today’s final meeting. A great cross from Matthews (J) was headed goalwards by Gale but keeper, Johnson (L) had a comfortable save on his goal-line, from the keepers clearance, Gilbert chased the ball down to the corner flag, from where his cross was touched out for a corner by Cannon, taken by Newlove, with Sanger (F) heading strongly out. With The Rodings & Little Waltham players up for the corner, Gosfield United broke forward and it was left to midfielder Johnson (K) to intercept the ball inside the centre-circle, passing wide to Rosewall who rounded Mills and shot straight to keeper, Sanger (H), this was end-to-end football. Gilbert found himself, on side, from the next home attack, but in waiting for the ball to drop onto his right foot it gave Mills the opportunity to steal the ball away. On twenty-five minutes Laird and Gilder were exchanging handbags again, this time Laird had fouled Gilder, a free kick was awarded but safely cleared by the home defence. Martin fouled Armitage, from the free kick the home team gained a corner, again the defending was sound, and the visitors broke up field to gain a corner themselves, taken by Matthews (J), however from the corner, keeper, Johnson (L) was fouled by Mills.
The Rodings & Little Waltham took the lead on thirty minutes, Gilbert took a throw in down the right side, this reached the near post but was cleared back to Gilbert who crossed low towards the penalty area, Sanger (F) blocked that cross but the ball fell to CAMERON GIBSON who turned sharply from a central position outside the penalty area, to send a fine left-footed shot that beat the keeper, perhaps un-sited, with ease. The game remained end to end, no quarter was given in any challenge, a cross from Matthews (J) was headed back to his keeper, Johnson (L) by O’Dwyer, Gosfield United kept up their pressure and keeper Johnson (L) was forced to punch a corner clear, off the head of Sanger (F), once again in the middle of the aerial action. Matthews (J) had got forward several times and when he played in Simpson, there was defender, Newlove who smashed the ball over his own cross bar, no messing there! Rosewall took on Matthews (H) and the defender fouled Rosewall just outside the penalty area in a central position, not sure what was said but keeper, Sanger (H) advanced and pushed Johnson (R) over and he collected the first un-necessary caution of the match! When Gilbert chased another forward pass, he easily beat Speller, then rounded Mills until Sanger (F) got across to cover his defence and the half-time whistle blew and we could draw our breath.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 0.
The Rodings & Little Waltham made a player change at half-time, off went Newlove with Elliott entering play, the home team had kicked-off the second half, Gilbert ran against Mills, but Speller covered and played the ball forward, this time down the slope and keeper, Johnson (L) had to advance out of his penalty area to head the ball clear, with O’Dwyer completing the clearance, in fact at this moment, The Rodings & Little Waltham were quicker to the ball. Armitage fouled Martin inside the centre-circle then Gale was late into a challenge on Gibson, keeper, Sanger (H) sent the ball wide to Gilder, who gained a throw in, taken by Mills but straight out for a goal kick. On fifty-two minutes Gosfield United made their first change, off went Mills and Prow came on in defence, there followed a head injury to O’Dwyer, who was quick to recover, keeper, Johnson (L) sent the ball long to Johnson (R) who only managed to scuff his shot to keeper, Sanger (H), more composure required there! When Gale broke through using his pace to clear the defensive line, he was thwarted by a fine save by keeper (L) in a one-on-one situation. A free kick taken by Watson was headed goalwards by Johnson (R) but again keeper, Sanger (H) had an easy save. When Rosewall tried to break through he was clearly on side, but Prow made a rash tackle and was rightly cautioned, and we had played sixty minutes.
A cross from Gilbert found the unmarked Rosewall running in at the back post, but he headed wide and Gilbert motivated his team when cheering every error by his opponents and there were several now as they desperately tried to find an equaliser. On sixty-two minutes, Gosfield United took off Simpson and sent on Hayward, Cannon chased back against Laird and gained a goal-kick, Armitage made a great tackle just outside his penalty area on Martin, Gosfield United had a goal correctly ruled out when Gale was caught off side but the danger remained, Hayward headed wide from another free kick. With a goal kick awarded, Gosfield United made another substitution with twenty minutes remaining, off went Cannon with Pike the replacement, the referee cautioned keeper, Johnson (L) for delaying the restart which was delayed further as the substitute had to take off his necklace! Laird conceded a corner, taken by Martin, Sanger (F) rose to head goalwards, but Laird headed clear, off the goal line with his keeper beaten. Gosfield United had raised their game in search of that equaliser, gaining several corners in a row, keeper, Johnson (L) was kept busy dealing with these well placed, corners where Sanger (F) and Gilder were prominent in the air.
As we entered the last fifteen minutes, central defender, Laird went down injured, holding his chest, early thoughts it might be a cracked rib but there was no way he was leaving the field, the visitors piled forward and left gaps at the back, which Gibson and Rosewall should have exploited when they were clean through, Rosewall opted to shoot himself, rather than pass to Gibson, keeper, Sanger (H) made a fine save though. A corner from Gibson was headed out again by Sanger (F), the second corner had the same combination and the third was curled behind for a goal kick. When Gale found space he entered the penalty area, where keeper, Johnson (L) made a brave attempt to block the ball which cannoned back off the crossbar, but even then Gosfield United could not score from the rebound. With five minutes remaining Rosewall burst clear, Gale gave chase and the pair matched each other’s, extreme pace, the home team gaining a throw in. Martin gained a corner off Laird, who was now struggling, Gale received a caution for a late challenge on Johnson (K), and The Rodings & Little Waltham were happy to keep the ball and run down the time remaining. Another corner taken by Martin saw Johnson (K) fouled by Gilder, the ball was cleared way up field and Johnson (R) was cautioned for delaying the restart having kicked the ball away. Gosfield United had not given up their quest for an equaliser but by pushing everyone forward they were left totally exposed when CHARLIE GILBERT, for The Rodings & Little Waltham ran through from the half-way line to score and there was little time to restart this match.
FULL TIME: 2 – 0.
I’ve seen numerous games in Division One this season, the standard of football tends to be good, it’s a difficult division to get out of, the standard of ground facilities for the Premier Division, have to meet FA, National Feeder League, Step 7 criteria, but today these two teams summed up their respective seasons in a hard fought match and it was apt that the top two played each other for their last game.
ESBFL, Treasurer, Brian Reed was on hand to present the respective winners and runners-up trophies to the team captains with the winners celebrating in style. One thing about the Social Club at Little Waltham is their hospitality, after this game there was a huge buffet for the players and both teams stayed to tuck in, lets hope that next season the teams play like today and enjoy a new venture.
Turning to my choice of Star player, numerous players had good games but with a fine overall defensive display James Laird, with or without a cracked rib, epitomised the determination of his team, apparently, he may now retire but players should remember his example that there is no lost cause, its also worth noting that in the four games lost, Laird did not play, he will be missed!
Teams:
THE RODINGS & LITTLE WALTHAM FC
Colours: Turquoise & Grey Shirts, Turquoise & Grey Shirts Shorts and Turquoise & Grey Shirts Socks.
Team:
Luke Johnson., James Laird., James Watson., Kyle Johnson (C)., Jake Newlove., Harry O’Dwyer., Jamie Rosewall., Cameron Gibson., Ryan Johnson., Charles Gilbert., Edward Armitage.
Manager: Richard James.
Assistant Manager: Gary Johnson.
Used Substitutes: Curtis Elliott.,
Unused Substitutes: Joe McGlone., James Mclaughlin., Lewis Curren., Dan Blackburn.
GOSFIELD UNITED FC:
Colours: Green & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Green Socks.
Team:
Harrison Sanger., Hayden Matthews., Harry Mills., Freddie Sanger., Jonathan Speller., Alex Cannon., Jordan Matthews., Will Gale., Matt Simpson., Charlie Martin., Dean Gilder (C).
Manager: John Holland.
Used Substitutes: Evan Hayward., Charlie Prow., Bobby Pike.
Unused Substitute: Kevin Spencer.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Gregory Hart.
STAR PLAYER: James LAIRD (THE RODINGS & LITTLE WALTHAM FC)
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