12/04/2025 – REPORT – West Bergholt FC versus Wormingford Wanderers FC

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION THREE.

WEST BERGHOLT FC.             2.         WORMINGFORD WANDERERS FC.               4.

Date:   Saturday 12^th April 2025.                              Venue: Lorkin Daniel Field, West Bergholt.

Just a few miles separate these village teams, so a much-awaited local derby, ironically or by quirk of fate, these two teams, must meet again before the season end. West Bergholt have a proud record in the ESBFL, but last season, after just a handful of games they took the decision to withdraw their First Team from the Premier Division, leaving their young Reserve Team in Division Five from where they were elevated to Division Three as their First Team whilst bringing back their Reserve Team. This season, a similar fate has fallen on Wormingford Wanderers who withdrew their First Team from Division One and retained their Reserve team in Division Three. West Bergholt have had a good season and have been in the top four for most of it, Wormingford Wanderers got a point back in August but had to wait until mid-December to win their first match, thereafter it’s been a steady improvement and rise, to a mid-table berth.

On a bright but chilly afternoon and on a rock-hard pitch, the official for this match was Stuart Franklin, personally I thought he was excellent throughout, who was ably supported by Club Assistants from both teams.

            Wormingford Wanderers kicked off after a minutes silence, an error was made by Cosgrove who played a short pass to Foley who slipped over, allowing Croney to steal the ball down the left side but he over ran the ball out for a goal kick, Croney was quickly on the ball again, this time he found leading scorer Clarke who was eased off the ball by Mortlock. Schofield played a fine pass into Clarke but again Cosgrove was there to defend, and a goal kick followed. As expected, the home team were on top and Wormingford Wanderers, when they had the ball opted for the long high ball forward but the visitors did take the lead, a throw in fell to Cosgrove who played the ball into the path of JACK ALLEN who turned to shoot past the diving keeper, Ware, at full stretch, with the ball hitting the inside of the right hand upright before finding the back of the net. From the restart, Croney, down the left side pulled the ball back to Clarke whose right footed shot was cleared by Fitzpatrick, running across in front of his keeper, Mitson, Whybrow, used his body to shield the ball into the path of Barton who looked like he was fouled but no free kick was forthcoming, Foley then found Whybrow whose deep cross was over hit for a goal kick.

            On fifteen minutes, Wormingford Wanderers increased their lead, Cosgrove sent in a lobbed cross, central defender, Johnson headed clear but only to LUKE WHYBROW who controlled the ball before volleying the ball past keeper Ware from twenty-five yards, that was more like the Whybrow, of old! Clearly, the home team need to wake up, their positive start was rocked by the visitors opening goal and know a second has been conceded. Well, they obviously read my notes as on nineteen minutes, when Croney sent in a deep corner towards the far post, there was captain HENRY JOHNSON to head home, game on. Croney had made several positive runs down the left side, defender Foley had stuck to his task well but when Croney fell inside the penalty area, was it a penalty, not at all, but Croney was cautioned for simulation. Wormingford Wanderers were good value for their approach to this match, they looked dangerous when moving forward, with Cosgrove prompting alongside Whybrow, Clarke got lucky when he came away with the ball through midfield, at least one hand ball was missed as the home team broke forward, Schofield joined the attack and from his cross, keeper, Mitson was quickly out to gather but got clattered by Croney, for his positive efforts. Foley did well defensively against Clarke who tried to latch onto a cross from Croney, when Ketley got round Fitzpatrick for the first time, his low driven cross was cleared by Foley.

            Keeper, Mitson advanced to smother the ball at the feet of Croney, once again running at pace down the left side, who in the next attack crossed the ball but keeper, Mitson commanded his six-yard box, dropping on the ball as keeper do these days! Both teams had tried some ambitious balls forward, a cross from Fitzpatrick, was cleared by Clarke, then Mortlock and Whybrow linked up to drive forward, again, at the back, Fitzpatrick, Watts and Foley had defended well. Ketley shot high and wide when well-placed and with the ball out of play and a player injury there was time for a drinks break. Mortlock was replaced by Haygreen, on thirty-eight minutes, Barton persisted against Johnson to gain a corner, taken left footed by Fitzpatrick towards the far post, Croney stopped the ball on the goal-line, first there was a call for handball, then there were calls for a goal, but the referee had a very good view and waved play-on. Haygreen sent the ball wide to Barnett, a big cross followed, the bounce was high and defender Leech had his arms wrapped around Barton inside the penalty area, surely a penalty, those behind the goal thought so after the match but with nothing given and Wormingford Wanderers challenging the decision they took their eye off play and HARRISON CLARKE ran through to score an equaliser right on half-time, a goal that should make the second half interesting.

HALF-TIME:    2 – 2.

            West Bergholt restarted this close game, Cosgrove fouled Smith over by the corner flag, the free kick was cleared up field, down the right side, and Cosgrove made himself available, so when on the ball he played a fine pass inside two defenders and JOEL BARTON ran on to score a well taken goal. Fitzpatrick sent a left footed free kick into the side netting, frustrating perhaps for his team whose tall players had all congregated inside the penalty area. Whybrow fouled Clarke then Allen (J) upended Smith, handshakes all round there, Whybrow chased down Johnson who allowed the ball to bounce once to keeper, Ware, Whybrow as spoken to, for a clumsy challenge on Smith, the game to be fair had been played in good spirit. On fifty-two minutes, West Bergholt replaced Schofield with Morgan, the visitors continued to chase and harass any home player on or near the ball, their game plan was working, and they retained their lead by defending resolutely.

When Croney got the better of Foley for only the second time, the low cross was thrashed away off the toes of Ketley, by Fitzpatrick, no messing in defence there! Allen (S) fouled Whybrow, Fitzpatrick took the free kick, but the ball flew directly to keeper, Ware. Barton thought he was through on goal but keeper, Ware made a fine interception at his feet, the visitors continued to attack, they wanted more goals and their fourth duly arrived on the hour mark, when the ball fell to JAMIE BARNETT he struck an absolutely “worldie” of an effort that flew into the top of the net from thirty-five yards, worth the entrance money that was, a fine strike. Croney attacked down the left side once the game started again, his cross was into the side netting, despite Clarke and Ketley being up in support, and a fine effort from Allen (S) hit the cross bar with keeper, Mitson well beaten. West Bergholt made a triple substitution on sixty-seven minutes, off went, Leech, (Allen (S) and Croney to be replaced by Farries, Saunders and Speed and the visitor took off Cosgrove with Rout taking his place. Whybrow had coved a lot of ground today so when he picked up the ball deep on the left side, he sent in a fine effort that crashed back off the cross bar from thirty yards out, again keeper, Ware was well, beaten. Keeper, Ware, spilled the ball from a shot by Barton who continued to chase the ball, there were no lost causes today, every ball was contested, and every player was quickly closed, down, the young home players were being out muscled by more experienced plays in the opposition line-up.

Watts stopped Speed in his tracks with a fine challenge that depicted the effort being put in, West Bergholt made a final change with Ketley being replaced by Murphy. The persistence of Barton saw him rob the ball off Johnson, but his shot was saved by keeper, Ware, ten minutes remained, and it looked like the score-line will remain unchanged although Rout and Davis had tried to work and opening. Watts, having taken the captains armband when Mortlock left in the first half, was getting full commitment from his fellow defenders and took great delight in reminding those gathered home supporters with some friendly “banter” of how he had nullified any goal scoring efforts from the home team. Davis, for Wormingford Wanderers embarked on a mazy run, beating three retreating players but had no strength left to cross the ball, Allen (J) picked up a late yellow card for a lazy tackle on the half-way line, it did stop a promising attack for the home team though, one for the team then! When Fitzpatrick fouled Speed, looked a bit innocuous from where I stood, Clarke stepped up to hammer the ball goalwards, but keeper, Mitson, was well placed to dive on the ball on his goal-line and the match finished upon the keeper’s clearance.

FULL TIME:     2 – 4.

Clearly the form book was upset in this match, the hosts sat second, the visitors in mid-table, any betting person would probably have backed the home team despite the players from both Clubs knowing each other really, well. Wormingford Wanderers struck early and increased their lead mid-half, had the ball cleared off the goal-line before West Bergholt hit back with two goals, the second, perhaps controversially, just on the stroke of half-time. The visitors struck early in the second half before scoring a fourth, a goal-of-the-game winner, and thereafter they defended well against the young home team. The good news for the home team was that third placed Barnston Reserves, could only draw against Roman Rovers Reserves meaning they remain two points ahead, with both teams have three matches remaining.

Turning to my Star Player, for West Bergholt, captain, Johnson did well against Barton and scored their first goal, Croney was lively down the left but well contained by Foley, leading scorer, Clarke did get lucky for his goal but again was well shackled by Watts. For Wormingford Wanderers, the experienced Whybrow, a goal scorer and Cosgrove, a goal provider, manipulated midfield, Watts, Foley and player-manager, Fitzpatrick did likewise in defence as these stalwart club players led by example. Up from Barnett and Barton really gave the home defence little chance to settle, both scored but Barton never stopped running.

Teams:

WEST BERGHOLT FC 

Colours:                        Turquoise Fluor & Dark Navy Shirts, Dark Navy Shorts and Turquoise Fluor Socks.

Team:

Harry Ware., Michael Schofield., Callum Leech., Samuel Allen., Henry Johnson (C)., Reece Cruickshank., Reuben Croney., Brett Angell., Harrison Clarke., Joel Smith., Adam Ketley.

Manager:                      Liam Meadows.

Used Substitutes:          James Farries., Bobby Saunders., Ryan Morgan., Eoghan Speed., Oliver Murphy.

WORMINGFORD WANDERERS FC.

Colours:                        Yellow & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Yellow & Black hooped Socks.

Team:

Andew Mitson., Robert Fitzpatrick., Luke Kent., Daniel Watts (C2)., William Foley., Jack Allen., Sam Mortlock (C1)., Luke Whybrow., Jamie Barnett., Joel Barton., Ben Cosgrove.

Manager:                      Robert Fitzpatrick.

Used Substitutes:          Albi Rout., Alfie Haygreen., Lewi Davis.

Unused Substitutes:      Sam Thornton., Benjamin Wilkes.

Referee:                       Stuart Franklin.

STAR PLAYER:            Joel BARTON              (WORMINGFORD WANDERERS FC)