13/09/2025 – REPORT – Earls Colne FC versus Tiptree Heath FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

EARLS COLNE FC. 4. TIPTREE HEATH FC. 0.

Date: Saturday 13^th September 2025.

Venue: Green Farm Meadow, Earls Colne.

With most Premier teams on Knock-Out Cup duty there were only two leagues matches, I chose the visit of tenth placed, Tiptree Heath to Earls Colne FC, who sat just below them with both teams having had indifferent starts to this season. The pitch at Earls Colne, as ever, looked on good condition, helped by the mid-week rain, more was expected and ominously as we made our way over to the pitch the skies over towards Halstead looked threatening and so it proved.

Today’s Match Official was Greg Hart, as his Assistant Referees he had Adam Mehmet and Florin Grigoras, another new match official, for which this was his first game in the competition.

As Earls Colne kicked off, the first clap of thunder sounded and the heavens opened, forcing all spectators to rush into the shelter between the respective dug-outs, Tiptree Heath conceded a cheap free-kick wide on the right side, Ladlow struck the ball, left-footed and keeper, Fagg, making his debut for the visitors, made a fine diving save, low to his left side, the ball squirming away for the first corner of the match. Shields took the corner, but keeper, Fagg caught the ball on his goal-line, under the crossbar, the torrential rain persisted as Tiptree Heath moved the ball with purpose up the field with Chester urging his team forward alongside Seymour, Debrick put in a sliding tackle to stop that attack, and given the now sodden surface conditions there would be more of these to come. Chester returned a big challenge on Debrick, the timing had to be right and end-to-end play continued, Pennick handled the ball to concede a free-kick inside his own half, once again Ladlow, tee’d up the ball to strike another fine effort from twenty-five yards out, keeper, Fagg was equal to it, parrying the first effort but clutching the loose ball as Raven raced in.

The home team were trying to use the long ball hoping that the pace of Ladlow and Raven would see them clear the Tiptree Heath defence, who thus far had dealt with everything coming their way, on one attack Ladlow was stopped by a fine challenge from Hart, otherwise the goal beckoned, Debrick sent in a cross that found Raven steaming in at the far post, but his downward header was collected by keeper, Fagg, at the second attempt. As Earls Colne upped the pressure the ball was worked towards the edge of the penalty area, a clever back-heel by Raven almost set Debrick through but he was correctly flagged as being off-side. Keeper, Fagg was quickly out to field the ball on the edge of his penalty area as Raven chased down a long punt forward from keeper, Stigant. Tiptree Heath had so far defended well and battled away in midfield, they just needed that outlet upfront where Karr and Etheridge looked useful, they just needed the right ball to attack, once again Chester and Seymour were in the thick of any midfield battle. A throw-in by Lowry found Debrick, who sent Raven through, but with just the keeper to beat he placed the ball wide of the far post for a goal kick. On twenty-five minutes, Chester found Rogers, he in turn found Etheridge but the final pass to Karr, saw the ball weakly hit towards, keeper, Stigant. Another high ball was chested down by Pennick, Taylor set off on a run down the left side but Walker got across to cover his defence, conceding a corner, once taken it was caught by keeper, Stigant who launched the ball forward to Raven, his control was good but his pass inside to Ladlow saw his colleague in an off-side position, as Tiptree Heath held a high defensive line.

On thirty minutes the first goal was scored, Fox, down the left side, sent Raven away, his pass inside was missed by Pennick, which allowed HARRY LADLOW to run on and score, this game had needed a goal and on the balance of possession it went to Earls Colne. The home team sensed more goals were there for the taking, Raven failed to get the better of Pennick who defended well wide on the right side, when play switched to the other end a fine challenge by Willsher denied Etheridge, who was set up by Karr, Tiptree Heath continued to plug away, Mitchell (C), found Rogers who was denied by a fine block by Lowry, a corner followed. There had been plenty of effort from both teams in this first half, the conditions had not improved, sporadic thunder & lightning and persistent rain had made the pitch very wet and slippery, the home team had the better chances, two free-kicks and a goal in open play but at one nil, Tiptree Heath had shown enough effort to cause problems, if not now but later! Debrick was perhaps fortunate not to have seen a yellow card when his high foot caught Karr, a coming together of two committed players was probably his get out clause! The free kick taken by Rogers was headed clear by Walker, but only to Karr whose fine volley was caught by keeper, Stigant standing on his goal-line. Shields gained a corner off Mitchell (J), and the home team seemed content to hold the ball as we approached half-time, Tiptree Heath, when they had possession rushed their passing and lost the ball, a corner taken by Shields was headed over the crossbar by McNicholas, Pennick again shackled Raven, this was now a running battle, finally a throw-in by Mitchell (C), fell to Etheridge but McNicholas was quickly in to challenge and the half-time whistle was blown.

HALF-TIME: 1 – 0.

Whilst the rain had eased off, more looked to be heading towards us as thunder and lightning flashed in the distance, player safety is always paramount in these situations and Match Officials must make a judgement call, four matches had, by now, been abandoned elsewhere, either because of the pitch conditions or more importantly the safety of players.

Neither team had made any changes at the half-time interval, I’m sure there will be some, these conditions are trying and energy sapping but for now, the visitors got the match underway again, some big challenges were seen through midfield, Karr was adjudged to have fouled McNicholas, the free-kick from Shields was defended well and it was Shields who quickly got back to deny Chester whose rasping twenty-five yard shot was heading goalwards before being blocked outside the penalty area. Playing conditions had not improved, a couple of players lost their footing and the ball skimmed quickly off the surface, a fine cross from the left side by Taylor was cleared with no visiting forward in attendance! A break by Suttle down the left side was covered by Seymour, as play switched, Raven got round Mitchell (J), the ball fell at the feet of Debrick whose shot crashed against the back stanchion of the goal, a close call. Keeper, Fagg, definitely the busier, of the two custodians, was quickly out at the feet of Debrick, a corner followed, taken by Shields, Raven and Pennick tussled for the ball from the corner, the loose ball fell to Walker whose goal-bound shot was cleared off the goal-line by Seymour. As we closed in on the sixty-minute mark, Willsher threaded the ball through to Debrick, but Raven ran on but completely missed the goal with only the keeper to beat!

Tiptree Heath continued to play a high defensive line, Raven and Ladlow failed to check their forward breaks and that danger was overcome, Karr forced a corner, taken by Rogers, finding Hart, only for keeper, Stigant to save with a long outstretched foot at the near post, so near, but so far from the equaliser they sought and probably deserved. On sixty-one minutes Earls Colne manager, Debrick replaced himself with Andress, Chester got the better of Andress to set up Etheridge whose shot was gathered by keeper, Stigant, from his clearance the ball was heading out of play, Ladlow raced in to challenge with Mitchell (C), whilst there was no contact, the challenge was deemed to have intent and Ladlow received a yellow card. Tiptree Heath pressed forward again, a shot from Etheridge flew straight to keeper, Stigant, this after a fine pass from Seymour, who was covering a lot of the pitch. Willsher blocked Hart and a high up-and-under ball from Hart saw Chester head just wide but there was still plenty of intent from the visitors. When Karr fouled Willsher, words were spoken, McNicholas kicked the ball some distance away and once Willsher returned to his feet, McNicholas was cautioned.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Raven, as he had done all game, chased down a long through ball, keeper, Fagg gathered the ball low on the ground and was clipped by Raven, to me he had time to jump and clear the prone keeper, another needless caution was issued after a few words from the referee. Tiptree Heath made their first player change with Taylor being replaced by Hudson and Earls Colne swapped Fox for O’Keefe, keeper, Fagg was again quickly out at the feet of Ladlow, and on eighty minutes Abrehart-Briggs replaced Etheridge. Ladlow, possesses a fine left foot, as another cross went begging across the face of the goal, Lowry picked up the loose ball, another decent cross was sent in, Ladlow dived forward only for his bullet header to clear the crossbar, another close call for the visitors. Earls Colne increased their slender lead on eighty-three minutes, a corner taken by Shields was not cleared by Abrehart-Briggs which allowed HARRY LADLOW to run through and score. Earls Colne with only four minutes remaining, made three more player changes, off went Lowry, Ladlow and Raven with Harris, Pudney and Molloy entering play, WILLIAM HARRIS scored almost immediately with a fine opportune strike as the ball bobbled about inside the penalty area. The best goal of the game came on ninety minutes, substitute Molloy, picked up a loose ball on the half-way line and set off towards goal, it was questionable if keeper, Fagg should have kept coming out of his penalty area, but by stopping it allowed BLEU MOLLOY to run through and score and complete what looks like a comfortable win for the home team.

FULL TIME: 4 – 0.

Let’s forget the scoreline, which does not fully reflect the pattern of play, yes, Earls Colne did their job and won the match to move up to seventh in the table, but Tiptree Heath battled away and but for three goals in the last ten minutes the result would have been much closer, however, if you make mistakes you get punished and two of those goals had come from defensive errors but you have to score when the opportunity arises, the home team being guilty of also missing a couple of ”sitters”!

Turning to my choice of Star player, Fagg, the new Tiptree Heath keeper, made some fine saves, Pennick and Hart in central defence worked hard without reward, Chester and Seymour battled through midfield with Karr and Etheridge trying their best upfront, however this team has seen numerous changes this season and new manager, Abrehart-Briggs is keen to get a few players back, as the basis is there. For Earls Colne, they were defensively sound, the midfield was strong but the duel forward outlet of Ladlow and Raven, with their pace, will always cause problems, this week it has been a tough call but I’m going with Willsher for Earls Colne, he covered a lot of the pitch and never shirked a challenge.

Teams:

EARLS COLNE FC:

Colours: Blue & White Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Calin Stigant., Hayden Lowry., Thomas Fox., Ryan McNicholas., William Willsher., James Walker (C)., Harry Ladlow., Alfie Shields., Devon Raven., Ross Debrick., Joe Suttle.

Manager: Ross Debrick.

Assistants: Gary Pearce & Jordan Partridge.

Used Substitutes: William Harris., Braenan Andress. Oscar Pudney., Thomas O’Keefe., Bleu Molloy.

TIPTREE HEATH FC

Colours: Green & Black Shirts, Green Shorts and Green Socks.

Team:

James Fagg., Callum Mitchell., Jack Mitchell., Cameron Pennick., Connor Seymour., Joe hart (C)., Joe Chester., Sam Karr., James Rogeers., Harry Taylor., George Etheridge.

Manager: Charlie Abrehart-Briggs.

Used Substitutes: Charlie Abrehart-Briggs., Lewis Hudson.

Unused Substitutes Jack Tollhurst., Jack Davis.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Greg Hart.

Assistant Referees: Adam Mehmet

and Florin Grigoras

STAR PLAYERS: William WILLSHER (EARLS COLNE FC)