11/03/2016 – Team Brantham FC versus Lawford Lads FC Reserves

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE                  DIVISION TWO

 

TEAM BRANTHAM FC:    4.       LAWFORD LADS FC RESERVES:          2.

 

Date:   Friday 11^th March 2016.                                Venue: Brantham Athletic FC

 

The temptation to watch a Friday evening game was just too much to pass up despite the cold and a foggy air, but with home secretary Dan Allen asking me to visit I had to accept a chance to watch a local derby between what is, the Brantham Athletic FC, third team and local rivals Lawford Lads FC Reserves.

 

Team Brantham FC are a young side that joined the ESBFL a couple of seasons ago and they have acquitted themselves well since then, whereas the visitors dropped out of the ESBFL during last season, reformed during the summer recess and rejoined the ESBFL in Division Two, albeit finding it difficult with a young and inexperienced squad of players. By strange co-incidence the Lawford Management of Lloyd Bellett and Steven Rand had their son’s playing in their side with the latter also having another son, playing for the opposition and its was fairly noticeable that players from both teams knew each other really well. It was also good to see that home manager Joel Andrews had recovered from a badly broken leg as the last time we met he was on crutches with his leg being held together in a metal frame.

 

The Match Official for this Friday evening fixture (K.O. – 19:45pm) was Nathan Oakes, a young referee following in the footsteps of his father, Richard, and grand-mother, Pat, who if my memory serves me well was probably the first female referee in the Colchester area, some will remember her “no-nonsense” approach!

 

In the preceding minutes before kick-off, Lawford had to change their nominated keeper, who was stuck in Friday night traffic on the A12, Worsley took over the gloves, Hunt came in at right back with Hopkins named as substitute. In the first minute, Lawford, playing up the slope, earned a corner which was cleared by Allington to Candy and beyond to the Lawford defence, where a long ball back over the top saw Garrod gallop clear of Tanner (A) but with only keeper Barnes to beat, a rush of blood to the head for the spectacular goal saw the ball fly well wide and was probably more of a danger to the clubhouse, than the goal! On five minutes Team Brantham got a breakthrough when Hunt, who was originally a substitute, failed to control a looping ball back towards his keeper, Worsley, who was now stranded mid-area and this error allowed BEN ALLINGTON to run on and score. Two minutes later and the visitors struck themselves when some poor defending allowed PIERS HOBSON to run at goal and he managed to beat Barnes at the near post with a low drive for an equaliser.

On nine minutes Allington hit the cross-bar with a rasping shot when it was probably easier to score and Andrews received a caution for a robust challenge on Garrod. Two minutes later and Team Brantham, were in front again, again the beneficiary of a poor clearance by Hunt, which BEN ALLINGTON capitalised on to run through and score his second and Hood was cautioned for tanking into the back of defender Alexander. Certainly, after fifteen minutes this local derby was heating up as play was fairly frantic and three goals had been scored already. Allington forced Worsley into a decent save and his direct running and pace was causing problems every time he had the ball so it was no surprise when BEN ALLINGTON scored his third goal, running through three challenges before slipping the ball past the advancing keeper and only seventeen minutes had elapsed. Atton put in a big block challenge on Hood and Lawford broke forward down the left side through Morris whose far post cross fell to Garrod whose own shot was blocked by Tanner (C). Atton fouled Allington with the free-kick being cleared up-field to Hobson who ran clear of the home defence until keeper Barnes thwarted Hobson in the one-on-one chance, saving with his feet, and I got the impression that Barnes was not a normal goal-keeper!

Right on the half-hour mark, another goal, no guesses as to who scored it as BEN ALLINGTON rode two tackles, was dumped on the ground, only to get up and turn to shoot past Worsley from close range. Despite the three goal deficit the visitors kept plugging away with only the final ball letting their approach play down and forcing Team Brantham to defend where Allington fouled Hobson deep in his own half. From the free-kick taken by Garrod, Rand (B) headed just wide and another crunching challenge by Andrews on Lonergan conceded another foul. Allington was still prepared to run at the Lawford defence only to be stopped by a great challenge by Atton, with the resulting cross being held by Worsley, just as the first half ended.

 

HALF-TIME:       4 – 1

 

As expected, player changes were made by Lawford, substitute Hopkins went in goal, Worsley reverted to right back to replace the shell-shocked Hunt, Lenessarier replaced Morris with Alexander taking the captains armband and with all these changes the visitors restarted the half without a linesman! A minutes into the second half and Hobson pulled up so he too was replaced, by Dykes and for ten minutes the game was without incident despite some heavy challenges from Lawford as they tried to improve on their first half tackling display. Dyke attempted a long range shot and keeper Hopkins was finding plenty of distance with his clearances with Garrod looking to capitalise but having to resort to holding play up as his colleagues got forward in support. On the hour mark Team Brantham replaced Hood with Burns but it was Andrews who had the best chance but snatched at his shot from twenty-five yards.

Garrod forced Crowhurst to defend and concede a corner, taken by Garrod, cleared to Worsley whose shot forced Barnes to save, but a much better approach from the visitors. Substitute Lenessarier had another rare shot at goal but the effort lacked any power, then from a Lawford corner, taken by Rand (B), keeper Barnes punched clear to the edge of the penalty area where Garrod was fouled. Garrod took the free-kick, right-footed, curling the driven ball towards the far post where MATTHEW ATTON threw himself at the ball to head home and momentarily Lawford were back in the game. Team Brantham replaced Crowhurst with Thompson and Andrews tried his luck from 30 yards with a half-volley whilst Lenessarier crossed from the right wing and saw the ball clip the back of the cross-bar and safety.

The third team Brantham substitution saw Woods replace Rand (L) and Smith (A) took the ball off Smith (T) before crossing towards Burns whose header was fielded by Hopkins then Tanner (A) swept up defensively after an error by Candy almost let Rand (B) through. Another free-kick from Garrod was struck too high but it was now noticeable at this late stage of the game that the visiting goal-keeper was a virtual spectator, perhaps the home team had eased off after their sparkling start but he was called into action when he caught a free-kick taken by Andrews, dropped the ball then reclaimed it at the feet of Smith (A). The last action saw Worsley scamper through only to scuff his shot straight at the advancing Barnes and he, along with Alexander were probably the best players for the visitors.

 

FULL TIME:        4 – 2

 

Not quite the game of two halves but Team Brantham did all the damage in the first half scoring four times through Allington who was virtually unstoppable, whereas Lawford improved considerably in the second half to not only compete but also match the hosts and score the only goal to make the final score-line a bit more realistic.

 

This week for my selection for a Man-of-the Match it was no-brainer, as with four first half goals Ben Allington of Team Brantham FC clearly stole anybody else’s chances.

 

Teams:

 

TEAM BRANTHAN FC:                Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Thomas Barnes., Thomas Crowhurst (C)., Christopher Tanner., Joel Andrews., Andrew Tanner., Robert Candy., Tommie Smith., Alfie Smith., Alex Hood., Ben Allington., Lee Rand.

 

Manager:                        Joel Andrews.

Used Substitutes:             Max Burns., Timothy Thompson., Jack Woods.

Unused Substitute:           Scott Rodwell.

 

 

LAWFORD LADS FC RESERVES   Colours: Sky Blue & White Shirts, Navy Blue Shorts and Navy Blue Socks.

Aidan Worsley., Clayton Hunt., Ben Rand., Joshua Alexander., Matthew Atton., Lincoln Bellett., Dean Frost., Dylan Lonergan., Danny Garrod., Peirs Hobson., Anthony Morris.

 

Manager:                        Lloyd Bellett & Steven Rand.

 

Used Substitutes:             Keiran Hopkins., Charlie Dykes., Michael Lenessarier.

 

Referee:                        Nathan Oakes                  (Colchester).

 

 

Man of the Match:          Ben ALLINGTON                                          (TEAM BRANTHAM FC)