13/04/2024 – REPORT – SUDBURY SPORTS FC versus COLNE ATHLETIC FC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION.
SUDBURY SPORTS FC. 1. COLNE ATHLETIC FC 4.
Date: Saturday 13th April 2024.
Venue: Shrub End Sports Ground, Boadicea Way, Colchester.
As we approach the seasons end and with pitch availability now at a premium, it’s a case of playing wherever you can so Sudbury Sports played this home fixture against Colne Athletic on the 3G pitch at Shrub End, Colchester. A bright, but breezy afternoon greeted all those who came to watch, in the knowledge that Colne Athletic had won the Premier Division title the week before when they won and other results went in their favour, it was also a case that the trophy would be presented after the match. The Sudbury Sports team was probably one of the youngest who have ever played in the ESBFL Premier Division, their average age was just under seventeen years!
The referee for this match was Carl Pearce who was today assisted by Zac Adams and Keith Succamore.
Sudbury Sports kicked off, but lost possession which allowed Colne Athletic to do what they appear to have been doing all season, keep possession, move the ball around and work their way up field, the young opposition were equally able to do the same when playing out of defence, a better option than launching the long high ball towards physical stronger and taller players for the visitors. Blanchett found Brown (D) with a cross from the left wing, but McNair cleared the danger, but Colne Athletic were quicker to any loose ball. Baker for Sudbury Sports made ground down the right side but his long searching cross looking for Skeet was blown out of play for a goal-kick. Keeper, Clark had to make two saves at the feet of, firstly, Yearling and then Brown (D) this was after Blanchett crossed left-footed into the penalty area, Sudbury Sports worked the ball to the other end, Baker used some good footwork to find space but ran out of pitch before any cross could be made. Crissell fouled Saunders, but the Colne Athletic defence was sound with Burch clearing and when his team broke forward, Yearling was denied by the advancing keeper, Clark who dived at the feet of the forward, once again, good goal keeping. On eleven minutes, Colne Athletic took the lead, Burch played the ball forward to Yearling, his first time cross found LEWIS BLANCHETT whose first time, control, stunned the ball, before his trusty left-foot rifled a rising volley into the far, top corner of the net, keeper, Clark had no chance, a fine strike from a player who often produces the so called “worldy! Colne Athletic kept up their attacking play, Milburn sent the ball across the field to Yearling but from his left footed cross, keeper, Clark clutched the ball out of the air.
Burch and Milburn linked up again to find Blanchett whose cross was headed just over the cross bar by Brown (D), Yearling was beaten in the air by McNair from another attack, but thus far the prompting and running off the ball by Blanchett was causing problems for the Sudbury Sports team, any cross or free-kick was precision hit or passed to feet, Vorobei cleared one cross, then an over-hit pass from Crissell (J) was collected by keeper, Clark, the oldest player in the home team. Skeet and Goredema worked the ball down the left side, passing inside to Jackson who ran round the defence but lost control to concede a goal-kick, another good move saw Jackson, Skeet, and Goredema get down the left side once again but failing to trouble the Colne Athletic defence. Blanchett passed wide to Heron whose, cross was blocked, Milburn followed up to set Yearling clear, his lobbed effort cleared keeper, Clark and the open goal! Parsons broke through the Colne Athletic midfield running onto a fine pass from Jackson, but he was stopped by a fine challenge from Burch, covering his defence from the far side, calls for a penalty were heard, the referee was not having any of that, but Parsons after lengthy treatment was unable to continue and was replaced by Bradshaw. Brown (D) set up Blanchett for a shot on goal, but this flew well wide and when Blanchett was fouled, Burch took the free kick, but keeper, Clark was untroubled when catching the high ball then Burch and Blanchett got the ball wide to Heron whose left footed effort also flew wide, but more goals looked likely from the visitors.
On the half-hour mark, Colne Athletic were in control, only one goal up but more had been threatened, their play was deliberate and calculated, no rush, pass and move, play to your strengths, and let the home team do the chasing. Burch, Yearling, then Blanchett worked another move, but Bradshaw got back to cover for his over-worked defence, Yearling started the move that led to the second goal and from his low cross, DALE BROWN turned the ball home from close range. Vaughan, sent in a fine cross that Yearling headed straight to keeper, Clark, then Brown (D) played in another low cross that Yearling totally missed when well placed in front of goal. To be fair, Sudbury Sports were still competing, their passing was good but when it came to that telling final pass the Colne Athletic defence stayed strong and read the danger. Yearling had seen a lot of the ball down the right side, his ball inside to Milburn should have seen a better finish but by delaying a shot, Milburn ended up fouling Goredema who had not given up on the physical challenge. Seven minutes before half-time and Colne Athletic increased their lead, Blanchett sent the ball wide to Heron and from his low driven cross SCOTT YEARLING was on hand to score, again from closer range.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 3.
At the restart Colne Athletic replaced Vaughan with Clampin, they kicked off and Blanchett and Brown (D) set Heron away, when he cut inside Crissell (J) handled the ball, but their attacking approach remained the same. Brown (D) was caught offside from a pass by Crissell (J) then Burch went over the top of Bradshaw who was looking to control a long clearance from keeper, Clark. A break from Heron on the left side saw his cross turned into the side netting by Crissell (J) and five minutes in, Burch was replaced by Keogh-Kedar and Sudbury Sports replaced McNair with McQuillan, a free kick taken by Baker fell to Jackson and from his pass forward Bradshaw had strayed offside. On fifty-three minutes a fourth goal from Colne Athletic, Heron broke away and from his low cross, SCOTT YEARLING managed to flick the ball off the back of his heel into the bottom corner of the net. Two minutes later and Colne Athletic replaced Brown (B) with Crissell (W), Goredema got forward and using good footwork to find space, but Crissell (W) blocked any further threat.
Blanchett had been quieter this half but when his left footed pass found Crissell (J) he could only steer the ball into the side netting and at the other end Bradshaw was offside from a pass from Jackson. Brown (D) clattered into the back of Goredema when he was in a good position to shoot, one for the team perhaps, unfortunately the free kick taken by Goredema hit the defensive wall to be cleared out to Blanchett whose long raking ball saw Yearling chasing forward to gain a corner. Defender, Baker, had shown some good touches when he was able to get forward for Sudbury Sports, he found Goredema and his team gained two corners leading to a shot from Baker which keeper, Weller held low down, probably their second shot on target, such had been the dominance of the Colne Athletic defence.
A break by Keogh-Kedar was stopped by Vorobei on the edge of the penalty area, Sudbury Sports replaced Baker with Szalanczi then Goredema was replaced by Moore, more substitutions followed with Rampton and Malone replacing Shurvinton and Keogh-Kedar who had only been on the pitch for twenty minutes! Sudbury Sports still looked to push forward through Jackson, the defence stopped thinking he was offside, but no flag was raised, the shot was good, the save from keeper, Weller, also matched the chance and a corner followed. As the game petered out, Sudbury Sports did score a consolation goal through HARRY BRADSHAW, who had found space at the unguarded far post but too little too late!
FULL-TIME: 1 – 4.
Another straight-forward, victory for Colne Athletic, they have one game to play, but with only two league defeats all season they remain nineteen points clear of Tiptree Heath (52 points with two to play), Brightlingsea Town (51 points with two to play) and Silver End United (49 points) the latter still having six matches to play! The Premier Division Champions trophy was handed to Josh Vaughan, Captain of Colne Athletic FC, by Brian Reed, ESBFL, Treasurer, who wisely stood well back as the team celebrated in the now customary style!
Moving to my Star player, for Sudbury Sports, they are young team, learning their game in the AFC Sudbury Academy, they all showed good skill and were not overawed by the physical presence of more experienced players, for me Jackson was probably their best player, but they all did well. For Colne Athletic FC, again it was difficult, so many good, experienced players in their ranks, hardly challenged in defence, clinical but perhaps wasteful up front but in midfield they are strong but with two goals, Scott Yearling gets my vote this week.
Teams:
SUDBURY SPORTS FC:
Colours: Yellow Shirts, Blue Shorts and Yellow Socks.
Team:
Kasey Clark (C)., Hayden Baker., Ryan Skeet., Yehor Vorobei., Taylor Saunders., Oakley McNair., Jacob Goredema., Jed Jackson., Oscar De’ath., Harry Wardley., Koby Parsons.
Manager: Craig Power.
Physio: Tim Jackson.
Used Substitutes: Nik Szalanczi., Theodore McQuillan., Harry Bradshaw., Harry Moore.
Unused Substitutes: Taylor Saunders.
COLNE ATHLETIC FC:
Colours: Burgundy & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Robert Weller., Keelan Milburn., Josh Vaughan (C)., Jack Burch., Joel Shurvinton., Ryan Brown., Scott Yearling., James Crissell., Lewis Blanchett., Dale Brown., Joe heron
Manager: Ben Connell & Jamie Thompson
Assistant manager: Scott Yearling
Used Substitutes: Daniel Rampton., Blake Keogh-Kedar., William Crissell., Cheyton Malone., Jack Clampin.
Referee: Carl Pearce.
Assistant Referees: Zac Adams & Keith Succamore.
STAR PLAYER: Scott YEARLING (COLNE ATHLETIC FC)
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