13/12/2025 – REPORT – Tiptree Jobserve FC versus Wivenhoe United FC.

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION THREE.

TIPTREE JOBERVE FC.                       3.         WIVENHOE UNITED FC.                    2.

Date:   13/12/2025.                                      Venue: Florence Park, Tiptree.

            What a lovely day last Saturday was, blue skies, no wind and bright sunshine, a tad cold perhaps but playing conditions were perfect at Florence Park, Tiptree, for the Division Three match between Tiptree Jobserve FC and Wivenhoe United FC, a new team, in their first season in the ESBFL. Currently, the home team, who have a few experienced players back in their line-up after a difficult season last year, are sitting just behind Harwich & Parkeston FC “A” but they do have three games in hand. Wivenhoe United after a difficult start, with new players joining and then leaving, now seemed to have a settled team and had won their last three games and scored four goals in each of those games.

            Today’s Match Official was Richard Windibank, and he would have the help of Club Assistant Referees, never an easy job when there is a contentious issue or two to contend with.

            Tiptree Jobserve kicked off playing towards the low sun that was already dipping behind one goal, the first cross came from Fisher, from the right side and home keeper, Field caught the high ball, from his clearance Tiptree Jobserve pushed the ball around comfortably and gained a throw in in the opposition half. Wivenhoe United also played out from the back, Fisher found Newman, whose left footed cross was again fielded by keeper, Field, they continued to chase down any player on the ball and when a loose ball fell to Siciunas who turned to shoot, but wide of the goal, a promising start for the visitors. Newman passed to Siciunas with Adebambo clearing the ball out for a throw in, Newman embarked on a strong run past three retreating defenders only to be fouled by Adebambo. Rand took the free kick, defender Owdlabi, under pressure, headed the ball upwards and goalwards, keeper, Field, was back-pedalling but could not stop the ball falling into the net and Wivenhoe United started to celebrate a goal, which was initially given by the match official. The Club Assistant Referee then called over the match official and following a discussion the goal was disallowed, the reason given was for a foul, it later transpired that the goal should have stood as the foul on Owdlabi was made by one of his own players! Within minutes, the game changed, defender Lohan-Valimana showed good timing when tackling leading scorer, Scott, but was beaten all-ends-up when GEORGE ALBONE got around him cutting in from the right side, to place a low driven shot across the face of the goal and into the net.

            Undeterred, Barrell ran at the home defence, beating Drysdale, but with only the keeper to beat he lost control of the ball, then a free kick taken by Teenans hit the defensive wall, with Teenans hitting the rebound over the crossbar. On fifteen minutes, visiting keeper, Henly, raced, way outside his penalty area to smother the ball at the feet of Scott, then got up to play the loose ball up field, Fisher, set up by Newman, had a shot charged down by Owdlabi who was not giving anything away as the home defence was put under pressure. When Gregory flicked on a forward pass, Scott was caught off-side, Drysdale blocked Barrell, running at pace, from the free kick taken by Rand, Owdlabi headed the ball over his own crossbar for a corner, taken by Rand with Owdlabi again heading clear. I have to say the free kicks and corners taken by Rand were always well delivered and the home defence looked far from comfortable when Wivenhoe United loaded the penalty area with tall players. On twenty minutes, a throw in taken by Longman fell to Kirwan who shot just wide, the game had now adopted a long ball pattern, both keepers launching long, high balls, Barrell ran onto one such clearance, rounded Drysdale and from his cross Fisher headed over the goal.

            The runs of Fisher were causing problems for the home defence, who were desperately clearing the ball at times, another long clearance from keeper, Henly, saw Barrell flick the ball on for Fisher to chase but keeper, Field was quickly out to gather. Despite being one goal behind, Wivenhoe United kept up their attacking game, sometimes overplaying the ball or sending in high crosses which Owdlabi or Bedford always seemed to clear, Fisher had been lively as had Barrell, with both home wing backs having to defend resolutely. Fisher was caught offside from a flick on by Siciunas, ten on thirty-eight minutes a strong run by Lohan-Valamina from inside his own half found Barrell marginally offside when the final pass was made. The home defence had certainly been tested this half, they were perhaps fortunate to still be ahead, the visitors had pressed them hard and for the most part were quicker in the tackle and quicker when running with the ball. Albone fouled Lohan-Valamina, Longman did likewise on Rand who along with Teenans had been instrumental in his teams’ attacks, their opposite numbers Kirwan and Gill had cause to work hard through midfield and just before the break Teenans showed some good footwork inside the centre-circle.

HALF-TIME:    1 – 0.

            Tiptree Jobserve made a bold, triple substation at the start of the second half, off went, Owdlabi, Longman and Drysdale, that’s three-quarters of their defence, to be replaced by Morris, Griffin and Barham, all experienced players and they need to regain the initiative. Griffin immediately impeded, Teenans, just outside the penalty area, Rand struck the free kick high over the crossbar, Barrell took on Morris and Kirwan was forced back to defend as Rand threatened, a corner followed, cleared by Gill, who had continued to impose himself in midfield, breaking up numerous attacking moves. A free-kick taken by Lohan-Vilamana fell to Teenans whose shot took one bounce before keeper, Field held the ball as Barrell approached. Wivenhoe United were undone defensively when keeper, Henly rushed out of his penalty area, a cross came in, Gregory got the faintest of touches which saw the Wivenhoe United defence flat footed, this allowed the unmarked JUDE SCOTT to side foot home, one of the easiest goals he will score this season. When play was stopped, Tiptree Jobserve replaced Kirwan with Taylor on fifty-five minutes, from the restart, Gregory received the ball from a flick-on by Barham, and from a wide position five yards inside the Wivenhoe United half, he looked up and spotting keeper, Henly outside his penalty area, he lofted a high ball goalwards, the ball took one bounce, the home team started to celebrate but the ball bounced over the crossbar, a great effort though!

            On the hour mark, Rand dived heavily into a challenge on Gill, who was clearly in a lot of pain and had to be substituted, with Clewlow taking his place, Rand was rightly cautioned, it might have been worse though! When Siciunas intercepted a poor pass out of defence from keeper, Field, his low driven cross-cum-shot was hammered out for a corner at the near post by Bedford, it could easily have been an own goal, it was that close. From the corner, taken by Rand, defender KEANE ROBERTS headed home, and the visitors sensed a comeback, whereupon Wivenhoe United took off Barrell and Fisher with Richards and Akindimeji entering play. Keane fouled Barham on the half-way line, as Tiptree Jobserve got forward a clever roll back of the ball and quick shot from Scott flew wide, clever move that! A long throw in from Griffin led to a corner, taken by Griffin but Akindimeji cleared the ball off the same player for a goal kick, whereupon Wivenhoe United replaced Newman with Coppin, and with fifteen minutes remaining play became a bit scrappy.

            When keeper, Henly, cleared the ball out of his hands, he was standing at least a yard outside the corner of his penalty area, this was spotted by the match official, leading to a free kick, Barham rolled the ball to TOMMY GREGORY whose right footed effort cleared the breaking defensive wall and beat the outstretched arms of keeper, Henly, a fine goal, the sort of goal that Gregory has in his repertoire! Moore made a fine tackle to stop Taylor, sending the ball forward to Siciunas who was tackled by Bedford, his forward pass was flicked on by Gregory to quick-silver Taylor whose run was too quick and he was caught offside. On eighty-two minutes Wivenhoe United replaced Roberts with Waine, a player returning from injury, then minutes later when Taylor was again caught offside from a pass by Barham, Barham was shown a yellow card for verbal dissent towards the Club Assistant Referee, and sent to the “sin-bin”, but would there be enough time for his return! Wivenhoe United scored again on eighty-seven minutes, a goal out nothing really as well, as, from pass from Siciunas, ROME COPPIN ran forward, he tried his luck with a left footed effort that sailed over keeper, Field, and into the unguarded net, didn’t see that coming but it led to a frantic, last few minutes. A free kick from Teenans found Rand whose pile-driver of a shot was cleared off his goal-line by the foot of keeper, Field, Barham re-entered play and the home team allowed one last shot from distance from Seciunas to fly to keeper, Field, the final whistle being blown seconds later.

FULL TIME:     3 – 2.

            For me, an edgy game, and for most of those involved and that included both managers, we all thought a draw would have been the right result given the balance of play and chances created, mistakes were made and chances taken, that early disallowed goal might well have seen the match have a different outcome, but I have to say for a Division Three match both teams get credit for having a go in a match played in the right spirit.

Turning to my choice of Star player, another difficult decision as numerous players played well throughout, Rand for Wivenhoe United was one but his opposite number, Gill, despite leaving play after an hour was almost everywhere, supporting his attack , then defending when required as well as putting in a big shift in midfieldn until his untimely departure.

Teams:

TIPTREE JOBERVE FC:

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

Team:

Connor Field., Joshua Longman., Brandon Drysdale., Adam Bedford (C)., Richard Owdlabi., Emmanuel Adebambo., Danny Gill., Finlay Kirwan., Tommy Gregory., George Albone., Jude Scott.

Manager:                      John Spurgeon.

Used Substitutes:          Harry Taylor., Adam Morris., Matthew Griffin., Stephen Clewlow., Kevin Barham.

WIVENHOE UNITED FC        

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

Team:

Harry Henly., Keane Roberts., Bobby Moore., Dominik Marcyniak., Roberto Lohan-Valimana., Mason Teenans (C)., Lee Rand., Dominyka Siciunas., Jake Fisher., Jack Barrell., Freddie Newman.

Manager:                      Glen Waine.

Used Substitutes:          Harrison Richards., Atoki Akindimeji., Rome Coppin., Reece Waine.

MATCH OFFICIAL:

Referee:                       Richard Windibank.

STAR PLAYER:            Danny GILL                (TIPTREE JOBSERVE FC)