12/12/2015 – West Bergholt FC versus Coggeshall Town FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE                  PREMIER DIVISION

 

WEST BERGHOLT FC:     2.                 COGGESHALL TOWN FC:          3.      

 

Date:   Saturday 12^th December 2015.        Venue: Lorkin Daniel Field, West Bergholt

 

Another frustrating Saturday when my intended game was called off mid-morning, however with the Premier Divisions second placed team, West Bergholt FC, playing third placed, Coggeshall Town FC, I expected and saw a full blooded game that ended with an element of controversy and almost in darkness. Good to see that when another fixture also fell foul of the weather the players from league leaders Gas Recreation FC also arrived to see how their nearest rivals fared.

 

Since I last visited West Bergholt there have been changes to the management team with Gary Wood returning to the club as Manager but assisted this time by a player duo of Gary McIlwaine and Anthony White, two loyal players who have been with the club for a dozen years or more. Coggeshall Town FC have on the other hand have big ambitions and have applied to join the Thurlow Nunn League next season so clearly want to finish as high as they can in what could be their last season in the ESBFL, we wish them well in seeking to play football at a higher level.

 

The Match Official for this top of the table clash was Richard Lock who would be assisted by Eric Bowers and Graham Austin, a new match official who has recently moved into the area, so an open welcome from the ESBFL. Generally, I thought they had a good game but when every player got involved in a last minute melee they had difficulty in seeing the real culprits leading up to and after the incident, a shame really as the game was a tight affair until the visitors took their two goal lead and desperate tackles being made towards the end.

 

After a cautious start with gentle attacks towards both ends we saw visiting keeper Walker use the strong wind to launch a long ball downfield with his opposite number Bethell (L) retrieving the ball after just one bounce and the visitors then mounted an attacking move with Bethell (L) making a fine one-handed save from Blanche who had been set up by the running of McCullock down the right wing that saw him skip past White who was unceremoniously dumped on the ground. The first free-kick from Clark on the half-way line fell to Blanche who cleverly back-heeled the ball into the path of Monk whose low cross was desperately cleared by Gibson from the six yard box. On five minutes Bethell (L) excelled himself again, McCullock appeared to be in an off-side position when the ball was played forward, the ball hit him on the back but with no flag and with defenders stopping McCullock ran on to pass to Blanche running between Gibson and White but the home keeper expertly palmed away the rising shot for a corner. Certainly this was a lively and competitive start to the game with the visitors on top, dominating midfield and having had two decent chances to score perhaps aided by the wind which was keeping the ball in the home half. In fact West Bergholt struggled to move the ball forward rather than across the back-line with only Mucaj using his pace to trouble the Coggeshall defence where the equally quick Mensah would have to be alert.

Fifteen minutes into the game and Coggeshall took the lead when the rangy and un-selfish running of Dobrowolski put pressure on the home defence so when his pass found DANIEL McCULLOCK he stroked the ball home from the edge of the penalty area, a goal that had been forecast from the earlier attacking play. Another poor clearance against the wind by White saw the ball fall to Dobrowolski who played a quick pass into McCullock who sent a rising shot just too high to trouble Bethell (L) but worth the effort all the same. Coggeshall kept the attacks going when clearing deep from defence thus forcing West Bergholt to try to play the ball out of defence as any ball hit long was held up by the wind and barely reached its intended target, maybe a first half damage limitation plan was needed. Monk and Blanche worked an opening down the left wing and from the deep cross McIlwaine rose to head just over his own cross-bar and Bethell (L) was soon forced to advance from his penalty area to perfectly time his tackle on McCullock just as he was about to latch onto the pass from Monk, as any error would have meant a free-kick and a probable dismissal. McIlwaine had a half-chance for the home team stabbing the ball goalwards after better play from Harrington, Mucaj and Bethell (J) then from a free-kick take by Slater, Gibson failed to get his head to the ball and McIlwaine, defending cleared into touch. Another long ball approach from Coggeshall should have paid off as when Bethell (L) ran forward to gather McCullock was quickest to the ball but only managed to lift the ball over the keeper and the open goal.

So far, after half an hour Coggeshall had been quicker both to the ball and into the tackle but had failed to increase their deserved lead, however, Bethell (J) and Harrington did well to work an opening after Davison had got the ball forward down the left side but the final effort failed to test Walker. Scott received an injury during that last attack and needed treatment both on and off the pitch with Barnsley being spoken too by the referee for apparent dissent about the tackle on his colleague. At the other end a corner taken by Barnsley was met by the head of Monk with McIlwaine again clearing from near the goal-line and despite the home team getting the ball forward their attack lacked any conviction to trouble a well marshalled defence. McCullock was rightly flagged for off-side despite the cross-field ball from Mensah heading towards the on-side Monk but once the player had turned to chase the ball from an off-side position he became active and the decision was a good one. When Barnsley again challenged a decision against his team, skipper Clark had to listen in as the referee made his decision clear with the Coggeshall number ten getting an earful from his management as well!

For once when Harrington battled his way past the defence from a pass by Bethell (J) he worked his way to the goal-line before pulling the ball back to Reddick who side-footed home at the near post only for a goal-kick to be given as the ball had actually crossed the goal-line in the build-up. Springett up-ended Dobrowolski who was going to run past him but the free-kick from Barnsley flew straight to Bethell (L) who punched firmly clear. Reddick and Mucaj had to help out their defence as Coggeshall finished the half on the attack with Dobrowolski chasing down a long clearance from Walker to set up Blanche who snatched his shot wide from ten yards.

 

HALF-TIME:       0 – 1

 

At the restart West Bergholt replaced Reddick with Webb but the visitors had the first goal-bound effort when Dobrowolski outpaced Davison to cross to McCullock whose effort on the turn flew just past the near post. The wind continued to play havoc, holding up the ball when players were expecting it to fall in front of them and allow them to run onto. As darkness started to fall, a foul throw-in by Scott started a short period of end to end football as when McIlwaine had a shot charged down, Monk picked up the ball half-way inside his own half before running the full length of the pitch past three defenders before crossing into the penalty area where Gibson headed clear off Monk to safety. McIlwaine was spoken too by the referee with Springett in attendance an incident again made for questioning a decision when Barnsley was fouled twenty yards out. On fifty-five minutes Bethell (J) made a strong run through mid-field from his own half but Slater was covering to concede a throw-in from which West Bergholt worked the ball into the penalty area only for Mensah to haul down Harrington with a penalty kick being awarded. Slater questioned the decision and was rightly cautioned before LIAM SPRINGETT stepped up to hammer the ball home for the equaliser and perhaps a life-line as the home team had improved this half.

Just before the hour mark, Murrells struck a shot high and wide assisted by the wind but Dobrowolski again showed his running and dribbling ability riding two high tackles before Springett put in a tackle to stop him. Play continued with McCullock caught off-side from another break by Dobrowolski whilst Murrells tried a cross-cum-shot effort that almost caught out Walker. McCullock continued to chase any ball struck forward into space giving Gibson and White a torrid time but these seasoned defenders managed to deal with his pace whilst Monk and Dobrowolski down the flanks gave Springett and Davison plenty to think about. Bethell (L) saved with his feet from Monk at the foot of the post and Coggeshall were looking to snatch another goal. On seventy minutes Coggeshall replaced McCullock with Southwell and two minutes later West Bergholt replaced Harrington with Harvey but when Bethell (J) and McIlwaine tackled Barnsley from behind McIlwaine was cautioned having already had an earlier warning. Springett made a good challenge on Barnsley but when he tried to do the same on Southwell he received a caution himself. Barnsley lined up the free-kick and KANE DOBROWOLSKI rose to send a looping header over keeper Bethell (L) who could only help the ball into his own net as he fell backwards trying to retrieve it. The response from the home team was immediate with Harvey forcing Walker into a save at the foot of the post, who then held an in-swinging corner taken by Bethell (J) just under the cross-bar.

With fifteen minutes remaining another home team youngster, Cannon, replaced Murrells but Dobrowolski continued to cause problems winning a corner off Springett, taken by Barnsley but cleared by White. Five minutes later and Dobrowolski broke down the left wing getting round the last defender to cross low into the penalty area where TOBY BLANCHE had the easiest of chances to score the visitors third goal. The Gas contingent made their way from the ground, expecting the visitors to move closer to them at the top of the table and inflict a first league defeat of the season on the home team. Mucaj chased down some slack play by Monk to find Harvey whose shot forced Walker to save and with five minutes remaining Coggeshall made a final substitution putting Gilvray on in place of Blanche who in my opinion had played well and I noted down as the game reached its final moments that the match official had made several more crucial decisions in what was a tense game that neither team wanted to lose.

Well just how wrong I was as in the last minute, from my recollection in the gathering gloom, West Bergholt were attacking only to lose the ball but as Coggeshall through Slater, tried to move up-field he was unfairly challenged. Stupidly he retaliated and with the referee calling the game to a halt almost every player piled in, including some from the side-lines, and a huge melee ensued inside the Coggeshall half. With both teams having to be separated and with the referee consulting his far side assistant the eventuality was that Slater received a second caution to be dismissed and Mucaj receiving a caution for pushing however I also felt that numerous other senior players from either team could quite easily have been cautioned or dismissed but with the poor light it was difficult to pick out all those other players who were involved, I have my view, but those players probably know who they are!

Now with the game stopped for the off-the-ball incident the referee re-started the game with a drop-ball, probably should have been a free-kick to Coggeshall as their player was initially fouled, but West Bergholt seized upon the loose ball and with Walker still retreating ERMAL MUCAJ lofted the ball home and reduce the deficit with the game being called to a close soon after.

 

FULL TIME:        2 – 3

 

Once again this week I expected a close game and that is what we got, Coggeshall Town deserved to inflict a first league defeat on West Bergholt, this after thirty-five undefeated matches stretching back to August 2014, a superb record. West Bergholt remain in the running in the top four and other big games will soon follow as with a change of management and with some players having moved on some new young faces have emerged and they now seem ready for Premier Division football, but as a club they will still be challenging for honours during the rest of the season. Coggeshall Town arrived with an attacking game plan, stuck to it and were rewarded with a narrow victory which should have been more comprehensive given the number of chances created. With the current squad there is a lot of footballing skill and passion to succeed and if they stay together and remain focused then they could also be challenging for honours at the end of the season which may be their last in the ESBFL should their application for step six football be sanctioned.

 

This week my Man-of-the Match selection changed as the game wore on, Bethell (L) had kept his side in the game with three fine first half saves as Coggeshall dominated but for the visitors the overall movement and pace which caused numerous problems all afternoon and with two assists and a goal himself my selection goes to Kane Dobrowolski.

 

Teams:

 

WEST BERGHOLT FC                                          Colours: Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts, Yellow Socks.

Luke Bethell., Liam Springett (C)., Connor Davison., Gareth Gibson., Anthony White., Stuart Reddick., Jonny Murrells., Ermal Mucaj., Jack Harrington., Jake Bethell., Gary McIlwaine.

 

Manager:                        Gary Wood.

Assistant Managers:          Gary McIlwaine & Anthony White.

Used Substitutes:             Robert Harvey., Scott Cannon., Kieron Webb

Unused Substitutes:         Luke Turner.

 

 

COGGESHALL TOWN FC:                                    Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts, Red Socks.

Matthew Walker., Daniel Scott., Abednego Mensah., Luke Clark (C)., Jon Slater., Michael O’Connell., Tom Monk., Toby Blanche., Daniel McCullock., Ben Barnsley., Kane Dobrowolski.

 

Manager:                        Graeme Smith

Assistant Manager:           John Pollard.

Used Substitutes:             Matthew Southwell., Luke Gilvray

Unused Substitutes:         Robbie Lee., James Gregory., Dean Gilder.

 

 

Referee:                        Richard Lock                   (Frinton-on-sea).

Assistant Referees:          Eric Bowers                    (Lawford)

Graham Austin                 (Kirby Cross)

 

 

Man of the Match:          Kane DOBROWOLSKI                                 (COGGESHALL TOWN FC)