13/01/2024 – REPORT – Kelvedon Social FC versus Elmstead Market FC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION FIVE
KELVEDON SOCIAL FC. 2. ELMSTEAD MARKET FC. 0.
Date: Saturday 13th January 2024. Venue: Shrub End Recreation Ground, Colchester.
A first delve into Division Five this season, Kelvedon Social FC against Elmstead Market FC, sadly the hosts can no longer play at “The Chase” in their home village, so they have, to rely on Council Pitches in Colchester, they are now under the managership of Club Secretary, John Valerkou, who has maintained one team after problems running more than one in previous seasons. Elmstead Market FC joined the ESBFL at a very late stage, but having overcome some initial teething problems, are competing well under the guidance of Brandon Roberts, who has pulled together a young team with, a number, of players from the University of Essex.
On a glorious but cold Saturday afternoon there were four matches ongoing at Shrub End Recreation Ground, there were another three pitches standing idle and Mile End was not being used at all! The referee for this mid-table match was Pierce Campbell, another young referee learning his trade in the lower divisions, this game despite three cautions was not a barn-storming game and it was refreshing to see players who were fouled be helped up by the perpetrator, you see, honesty and sportsmanship can be both given and received, so well done to everyone.
Despite many weeks of rain and wet weather, the pitch albeit a bit bumpy, was in excellent condition, ball control was at a premium at times but fair play to both teams who coped well and even had a laugh about any missed controlled balls. Elmstead Market started the brighter of the two teams, pushing forward, not quite kick and rush, but their youthful team were looking for the ball over the top against a team of older more experienced players, that should not be construed as saying they were old, well, one was sixty-two years old but he was rarely beaten and he must have been some player in his youth, reading the game so well, hopefully his son who was also playing will have learnt from watching him play! An early error by Wright for Kelvedon, almost let in Goody but a goal-kick was awarded, in the next attack Beckerleg waltzed in and out before forcing keeper, Wood (N), to save at his near post. Kelvedon Social hit back, Wood (T) ran down the right side, finding Sheppard who passed the ball further inside to Wood (T) who leathered the ball left-footed over the crossbar. Buoyed by this effort, Hume for Kelvedon Social launched a long ball forward, Kane dominated the aerial duel with Leeder, the ball falling to Sheppard whose overhead kick flew straight to keeper, Jerome. On ten minutes, Goody was caught off-side running onto a cross from Beckerleg, at the other end Pearson made a run down the right side, sending in a fine cross, fielded by keeper, Jerome, play switched immediately, end-to-end and Hume got back to defend well against Goody, who was running onto a through ball from Sanderson.
First corner of the game for Elmstead Market was on fifteen minutes, was taken by Brackenbury, the ball was played in low to the near post, defender Reilly (A) cleared at the near post after a fair bit of confusion inside the six-yard box. This game so far showed a lot of intent, nothing spectacular, and goals might well be at a premium, chances were there but wayward finishing and good defending kept the score goal-less. Toms made a fine challenge on Goody, the visitors main goal-threat, his close ball control and pace was being put through its paces, with Toms thwarting the same player minutes after, conceding a corner, taken by Brackenbury and headed away by Bacon, another corner followed, also cleared but home keeper Wood (N) had to advance to head clear when Sanderson ran through. A quickly taken throw-in from Pearson fell to Sheppard whose smart turn and left-footed shot saw the ball drift wide of the goal, Elmstead Market broke to the other end, Grotier found Goody whose left-footed cross was headed clear by midfielder Kane. With the visitors having more ball possession, they were wasting their chances, a cross from Grotier found Eden who volleyed wide, then Hume fouled Goody, who got up to take the free-kick, twenty-two yards out but struck round the wall to be comfortable held by keeper, Wood (N).
On twenty-nine minutes, the first goal, which came against the general run of play, a long high ball forward from Kane bounced on the edge of the penalty area, defenders Leeder and Sanderson missed their attempts to clear and before they could react BLAKE BACON fired home from twelve yards. Sheppard made ground to bypass Jones and then send a fine cross across the goalmouth but there was nobody there to tap the ball home and as the half ended, Toms, made a good tackle on Goody.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 0.
Before the restart Elmstead Market replaced McGeorge and Eden with Palfrey and Eiden and from kick-off, Beckerleg ran down the left side, but Sheppard was there to concede a corner, taken by Brackenbury, the ball reached the unmarked Leeder whose firm header was directed just wide, easier to score as they say! A run and shot by Sheppard had keeper, Jerome scrambling to his near post to usher the ball out for a corner, taken and cleared up field. No quarter had been given in any challenge, honest and fair, no arguments, players helping each other up and getting on with the game. Bacon tripped, Brackenbury, Sanderson took the freekick, but the effort drifted wide of the upright with keeper, Wood (N) untroubled. On fifty-seven minutes Bacon played the ball to Pearson and onto Wood (T) who was firmly tackled by Leeder. When play stopped, Kelvedon Social replaced Reilly (S) with Pinder but from the restart Bacon impeded Goody, to earn the first caution of the match.
Elmstead Market made a double player change on sixty-five minutes, off went Beckerleg and Pace with Witmore and Boulton entering play and from a free-kick, keeper, Wood (N) juggled the bouncing ball before securing its tenure in his arms, and Kelvedon made another change themselves, off went, Wood (T) with Wall taking his place. A cross from Witmore saw Hume head away for a corner, this was cleared and back in open play a run and left-footed shot from Goody flew wide of the left hand upright, getting close though! Boulton, failed to heed the last instruction from his manager, don’t give away anything stupid, so a handball offence was duly punished with a caution, but deserved as it stopped a Kelvedon attack on the right side, from the free-kick Bacons effort hit the defensive wall. Sanderson was replaced by Lambert on seventy-two minutes for Elmstead Market, Kane fouled Goody but the freekick taken by Brackenbury was straight at keeper, Wood (N). Leeder got the ball wide to Palfrey but from his cross Brackenbury shot wide, there’s that wayward finishing again!
With fifteen minutes remaining, Kelvedon used their fourth substitute, Pease replacing Reilly (A), the more senior one, he has a cracking attitude, his tackles were well timed and when beaten for pace he never gave up the chase back into defence. Kane forced a corner off Boulton, once again Leeder headed clear and the Elmstead Market charge up the field resumed, Goody attacked down the left side, took on and beat Wright, but his low shot at goal was brilliantly saved by the outstretched boot of keeper, Wood (N). Wall fouled Goody, seems like very few players had not in this game, the freekick taken by Brackenbury hit keeper, Wood (N), the parried ball was loose but Brackenbury in his follow up skied the ball wide of the open goal, great chance, not taken. Goody planted another effort over the crossbar, and the visitors were running out of time, the home side defending their slender lead well, led by Hume and Kane, when they were exposed by Goody, keeper, Wood (N) stood tall to tip a rising shot from Goody over the crossbar. On eighty-six minutes Manager, Valerkou brought himself on for Pearson, Brackenbury showed good footwork to create space, but Kane covered well to send the ball up field, as the final minutes ticked away, Sheppard was holding the ball up in the corner until Lambert dived in to concede a free-kick and a penalty kick, nonchalantly despatched into the corner by EDDIE KANE, game over.
FULL TIME: 2 – 0.
After a tricky start to the season, Kelvedon Social FC have picked up points moving up to seventh with this latest victory, they are an honest hardworking team and clearly enjoy the challenge of Division Five. Elmstead Market will rue not taking their many chances, such is life, they are a young team and have now adapted to the rigours of competitive and organised adult football, their early shortcomings and organisation are a thing of the past, the future as they say is bright.
Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player”, this was going to be difficult but for Elmstead Market FC, Goody was at the centre of most attacks but in the midfield of Kelvedon Social FC, Hume was excellent throughout.
Teams:
KELVEDON SOCIAL FC:
Colours: Yellow & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Nigel Wood., Daniel Hume (C)., Jack Wright., Eddie Kane., Sean Reilly., Anthony Reilly., Blake Bacon., Jamie Toms., Ross Pearson., Louis Sheppard., Thomas Wood.
Manager: John Valerkou.
Used Substitutes: Joe Pease., James Hopwood., Chris Wall., Rob Pinder., John Valerkou.
ELMSTEAD MARKET FC:
Colours: Green Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Nicolas Jerome., Callum Jones., Elliot Leeder., Bradley Page., Joseph Grotier., Callum Brakenbury, Darcy Eden., Jay Sanderson., Joshua Beckerleg (C)., Joseph Goody., Cameron McGeorge.
Manager: Brandon Roberts.
Used Substitutes: Dennis Palfrey., Jack Witmore., Edward Boulton., Harry Lambert., Sebastian Eiden
Referee: Pierce Campbell.
Star Player: Eddie KANE (KELVEDON SOCIAL FC)
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