12/09/2015 – Alresford Colne Rangers FC versus Tollesbury FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE – PREMIER DIVISION

 

ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC:    3.                 TOLLESBURY FC:               0.

 

Date:   Saturday 12^th September 2015.                   Venue: Ford Lane, Alresford.

 

A bright sunny afternoon welcomed the players, officials and spectators to a well prepared Ford Lane, Alresford last Saturday, and as usual, the cordial welcome from Club Secretary, Trevor Hunt was accepted along with a cup of tea served up by another club stalwart, Brian Martin.

 

The home club have a new management team this year, former successful Reserve Team Manager, Gary Wright has returned from Gas Recreation FC and he has co-opted the help of Gary Bright, both uncompromising players in their heyday, so a fit and robust home team was to be expected with two new players signing on before kick-off. The visitors were Tollesbury FC, this season managed by another club stalwart in central defender, Steve Hope, but on the day, whilst having several new players on show he had only a bare eleven players as even the named substitute was injured.

 

The Match Official for this game was Adrian Arnott and he would be assisted by Daniel Hill and Billy McKay. Together they over-saw the now customary “Respect” handshake, all clubs and officials should note that this pre-match condition is to be carried out across all divisions and all cup competitions.

 

Alresford kicked off and it immediately clear that their fast forwards would be looking to chase any long ball to pressurise the Tollesbury defence and that is exactly what happened with the first corner being won in the first minute. Marshall took the corner kick met by the head of McConnell and off the head of Hope for another corner, once again Marshall swung the ball in, Pickard (C) rose to head goalwards with Bright heading clear from under his cross-bar and his team breathed a temporary sigh of relief. Stoneman did manage to get his side going finding O’Brien wide on the right but the home defence turned the game around turning defensive duties into a quick attack with West raiding down the left side and with the Tollesbury defence flat-footed his pass forward allowed JAMES PICKARD to run through and score, this after only seven minutes. Home keeper Spencer got his first touch after ten minutes fielding a deep cross confidently and from his clearance Marshall launched a long throw to McConnell who chested the ball down to Boxall who volleyed high over the cross-bar. Another Tollesbury attack followed, keeper Williams found O’Brien who played the ball forward to Stoneman then Lamb, playing against his old club held the ball up well but spoilt the move with a poor pass, fielded by the home defence.

With fifteen minutes gone Alresford should have increased their lead when Pickard (J) scuffed the ball over the cross-bar from three yards this after a telling run down the right by Ally whose pace was already causing problems. Keeper, Spencer got the ball forward to Pickard (J) who found West on the move with his pace taking him past Bright, no slouch himself but his lobbed effort cleared the advancing keeper and the cross-bar as well. The home team should have been four goals to the good by now, Tollesbury had not found an answer to the fast and direct running of the home team but Cross sent in a long throw-in to set up Murrell, who could not turn and take advantage of slack home defending which did lead to a free-kick to the visitors, taken with the left foot by James with Spencer having to watch the trajectory of the ball as it flew across his goal. On twenty minutes Alresford did increase their lead, Mann sent a long ball forward to the left side, Ally took the ball on, cut inside his defender and struck a low shot that keeper Williams failed to hold and the predatory JAMES PICKARD was quickest to the ball to score his second goal.

Tollesbury, through Stoneman got going again finding Murrell and when Lamb ran on towards his pass he appeared to be caught by Marshall, falling to the round inside the six yard box, referee Arnott was not impressed and cautioned Lamb for simulation! On twenty-five minutes Tollesbury won a corner when Murrell persisted in his chase to earn the kick off Manning but Pickard (C) cleared the corner kick to allow Hassan to break forward only to over-run the ball at the other end. Tollesbury were perhaps relying too much on the long ball and thus conceded possession too cheaply to a solid home defence with new signing Manning playing well alongside Pickard (C) who has stepped up a division this season. Ten minutes before half-time and Alresford increased their lead, Ally set off on another mazy run down the left side and when he crossed WESLEY WEST rose unmarked, to head home from six yards out. Another corner kick by Marshall tested the Tollesbury defence with keeper Williams hesitant to catch with Hope just getting the better of McConnell who had won many headers already from his mid-field berth. Hope came to his keepers rescue once again when Mann approached and rounded the keeper who did enough to recover and stop the bouncing ball entering the net. As the half ended Alresford were good value for their three goal lead which in all honesty should have been doubled as Tollesbury rode their luck with Alresford failing to score from easy chances.

 

HALF-TIME:       3 – 0

 

Tollesbury changed their formation at the restart, James moved into midfield with Cross slotting into defence and it was James tested keeper Spencer with a high up-and-under from almost on the half-way line. The home team, through Baylis who put McConnell away on a long run breezing past Cross but only managed to play his pass behind both West and Pickard (J) and another chance goes begging. A free-kick from Baylis was cleared then Manning put in a strong challenge on Lamb which went unpunished, maybe a result of the first half incident as Lamb went to ground again. The start of the second half had seen much improvement from Tollesbury and they continued to improve as the game wore on denying Alresford any room to forge new attacks. Stoneman fed O’Brien who skipped through to set up Murrell and from his rasping shot Spencer was forced into a fine save down to his right side with Marshall clearance hitting Manning and bouncing out for a corner kick. A break by West following a rare error by the dependable Hope should have led to goal number four but keeper Williams was quickly out to parry the shot with West just failing to score with an acrobatic overhead kick to the rebound.

More good work by Stoneman put Murrell through but after rounding Spencer he placed the ball wide of the goal then Ally beat both Martin and Cross to the ball winning a corner, taken by Marshall with Tollesbury defending better this half. Ally made another telling run past two defenders but West scooped the ball over the cross-bar, another Marshall corner was headed over by the marauding McConnell. Spencer was called into action to save a header from Murrell, this from a long throw-in from Cross. Manning then played the pass of the game from deep defence to Ally wide on the left wing and when McConnell joined in with a crunching but fair challenge his cross found the head of Pickard (J) who was denied his hat-trick by a fine save by Williams. A free-kick by Cross was headed on by Lamb with Manning heading back to his keeper and it is fair to say that Tollesbury had played much better this half.

Alresford made two changes with McConnell and Mann being replaced by Swift and Collins but again Pickard (J) failed to capitalise when Williams saved firstly his header then secondly using his feet to the follow up shot, then when Lamb was fouled the free-kick taken by James almost found Stoneman who just failed to connect. James tried a shot from thirty yard for Tollesbury and Pickard (J) ran through from the half-way line but fired well wide of the goal. Bright received a just caution for pulling back Hassan who was still full of running and Marshall for Alresford received a similar fate for upending Lamb as he crossed the half-way line and in the final minute Wright replaced Marshall who was injured in his last challenge.

 

FULL TIME:        3 – 0

 

Alresford have started this season very well, this being their fourth consecutive league victory, numerous new players have joined and if this performance is anything to go on then this season looks promising, few errors were seen, the defence looks solid, the midfield competitive and with three fast forwards they will cause problems and score goals most weeks.

For Tollesbury this was only their second league game having won their first game away at Harwich & Parkeston and with other players still to become available a mid-table berth should be achievable as the season progresses.

 

For my weekly Man of the Match selection this really had to come from a home team player despite a gritty performance from Stoneman of Tollesbury, whose team did improve markedly after the break by which time the damage had been done. For the home team there were numerous new players for me to watch, the new defensive pairing of Manning and Pickard (C) looked comfortable, in midfield Mann, Boxall and especially McConnell who was a tower of strength created many chances for the forwards where the pace of West, Pickard (J) and Ally caused problems all afternoon. Anyway despite strong reasons to choose McConnell, I’m opting for Hassan Ally, creator of two goals but a real thorn in the side of Tollesbury who really had no answer to his pace and crossing ability.

 

Teams:

 

ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC:          Colours: Red & Black Striped Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks

Peter Spencer., Chris Marshall., Shane Baylis., Zac Manning., Christopher Pickard., Sam McConnell., Daniel Boxall (C)., Gavin Mann., Wesley West., James Pickard., Hassan Ally.

 

Manager:                        Gary Wright.

Assistant Manager:           Gary Bright.

Used Substitutes:             Sam Swift., Chris Collins., Gary Wright.

Unused Substitutes:         Dean Ford.

 

TOLLESBURY FC                                    Colours: Green Shirts, Green Shorts and Green Socks

Daniel Williams., Daniel Martin., Bradley James., Daniel Cross (C)., Steve Hope., Jamie Bright., Aidan O’Brien., Christian Lopez., Michael Murrell., Wayne Lamb., Ash Stoneman.

 

Manager:                        Steve Hope.

Unused Substitutes:         Andy Gibbons., Scott Keeble., Simon King., Corin Haines.

 

 

Referee:                        Adrian Arnott                  (Colchester)

Daniel Hill                       (Brightlingsea)

Billy McKay                     (Colchester)

 

 

Man of the Match:          Hassan ALLY                    (ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC)