14/02/2026 – REPORT – FA Inter-League Cup RESULT: ESBFL (1) versus SAL (0)
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
FA INTER-LEAGUE CUP – Round One.
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE (ESBFL): 1.
THE SOUTHERN AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE (SAL): 0.
Date: 14th February 2026. Venue: The Elite Travel Stadium (P2), Sudbury
For a change, sunshine greeted any early riser on Saturday, after weeks of persistent rain the clouds cleared and the ESBFL were able to play their FA Inter-League Cup, Round One, cup tie, the previous week the pitch at The Royal Oak, Harwich was declared unfit, like most in this area. AFC Sudbury stepped in and agreed to host this match on their new 3G pitch, the ESBFL had played two friendly matches in advance, beating a youthful Sudbury Sports FC XI and a Hatfield Peverel FC XI, both matches looked promising and were won by three goals to nil, however, a couple of call-offs late in the week meant a team reshuffle, hopefully the changes will have proved positive.
Today’s Match Officials, all appointed by the FA, were Tommy Breen (L2) who would have Chay Saggers and Adam Miller as Assistant Referees, I have to say those spectators all agreed what a fine performance the referee gave, aided by two footballing teams, very little dissent was heard and no serious fouls that warranted any cards being shown, so well done to all concerned.
The ESBFL kicked off, pushing forward down the left side, when the ball went out of play, a quick throw-in set the SAL on the front foot, but Barber was caught offside, as the ESBFL kept a high defensive line in the early stages. Bayles won a corner off Vaughan , the corner was played high and centrally which allowed home keeper, Pickard to punch the ball clear but only to Bayles whose shot missed the target, but an indication that the SAL have some good players. Willoughby held the ball up for the ESBFL, moving one way then the other to get around Molloy in midfield, but SAL had the next attack with Bussell having to chase back against Barber, conceding a corner on the right side. From the corner, Reeman was fouled inside the penalty area and was spoken too for his uttered comments, sensible refereeing was shown there as the game was only ten minutes old. Another corner to the SAL followed, taken by Doyle, once again, keeper, Pickard rose to collect the ball but was fouled by Smith inside the six-yard box, from the clearance Bearman headed forward towards Barber but Reeman was back to defend, leading to Prince being upended on the half-way line, from the free-kick Barnard was caught offside.
The SAL, through Barber and Bayles, had a very mobile forward line with pace and good dribbling skills meaning the ESBFL defence had to be on their toes, from a break down the right side, Barber sent in a low cross, it was just behind the retreating ESBFL defence, where the unmarked, Lee, pounced on the six-yard line but held his head in his hands when keeper, Pickard made a fine reaction save. On twenty-one minutes the ESBFL took the lead, Reeman moved forward in midfield, the pass inside was to Willoughby who put pressure on defender Smith, Willoughby got his shot away, visiting keeper, Warne did well to save but the loose ball rolled into the path of LUKE BARNARD who steered the ball into the unguarded net. Buoyed by this goal and having defended well so far, the mood changed to one with a lot more confidence, Willoughby set up Arnold who sent a right footed effort just wide, central defender Burch was clattered by Lee, a helping hand up, epitomised the manner of play. When ESBFL pushed forward they were left slightly exposed at the back, a quick break was initiated by Bird toward Lee, but keeper, Pickard was twenty yards out of his penalty area when he headed clear to Willoughby who proceeded to foul Bearman. Reeman once again was back to help his defence when the SAL threatened in numbers, a combination of Vaughan and Burch thwarted the threat of Barber who was twisting and turning just inside the penalty area.
Central defender, Hynes headed clear an SAL corner, this was whilst he was sitting on the ground after a previous attempt to clear a blocked shot, as the ball moved purposefully forward, Willoughby played in Arnold who rather than shoot straight away delayed his shot which was expertly saved by keeper, Warne, the follow up attempt from Mountenay flew well wide. A deep cross played in by Barber was comfortably taken by keeper, Pickard, his clearance found Arnold whose pass found Barnard, but he was crowded out by Doyle. With the ESBFL defence putting in a big shift it restricted the SAL into trying shots from distance, one from Barber failed to trouble the keeper, Vaughan chased back to defend when Bird played in Lee, who side-stepped Hynes before Burch blocked any further progress, conceding a corner. Keeper, Pickard, once again caught the high ball surrounded by some very tall players, his clearance fell to Willoughby who set Arnold away down the right side, the low cross came in and the shot from Willoughby was blocked by Smith. On forty-one minutes Mountenay, hampered by a hamstring injury, was replaced by Hunt, then in the next attack, Lee for the SAL pulled up with a similar injury but he was able to continue. The ESBFL should have increased their slender lead on forty-two minutes, Willoughby threaded the ball through to Arnold but again he delayed his shot and keeper, Warne made another fine save to deny Arnold and soon after the first half ended, plenty of good football had been played in an excellent spirit, let’s have more of the same in the second half.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 0.
From the restart, Reeman fouled Doyle, the free kick taken deep by Smith flew straight to keeper, Pickard, and the visitors had started the second half on the front foot, pressing forward whenever possible, Howatt scuffing wide when well placed, but more composure was needed. Midfielder Prince was back helping his defence, from his clearance, Linter played the ball back in where Burch got a long leg to the shot, a corner followed, taken short to Barber who sent a left-footed effort just over the crossbar. The SAL continued their early second half, dominance, to help them, even the low sun had dropped further behind the trees, Barber was caught offside just outside the penalty area, personally, I thought they were too quick for their own good! Willoughby flicked the ball over his head to try to get Arnold away but keeper, Warne was quickly out to the edge of his penalty area. When the SAL tried the long ball approach out of defence the ESBFL kept a high line and keeper, Pickard collected one long ball just inside his penalty area, Burch made a fine tackle on Barber, clearly their danger player, despite the ball rolling loose, keeper, Pickard saved a tame shot from Molloy. Bussell played a long ball forward to Barnard who turned it inside to Willoughby, who was fouled twenty-five yards out, with play stopped the SAL replaced Howatt with Sewell, Willoughby took the free kick himself, blasting high over the goal. The floodlights were now shining down on the pitch, for a change the weather had been bright and sunny, albeit a bit cold, Reeman was fouled by Bird, the free kick was played out for a throw in, taken by Willoughby who sent the return ball straight to keeper, Warne.
When Hynes fouled Sewell, play briefly continued until the referee brought play back, again sensible refereeing with a clear description and reasoning for his decision, the ESBFL put four players into the defensive wall, Barber, took the free kick which drifted wide. From the goal-kick restart, Arnold gained possession down the right side losing out to Linter whose long forward ball eluded Vaughan which allowed Molloy to try his luck from just inside the penalty area. On sixty-five minutes Barnacle replaced Arnold for the ESBFL then on sixty-seven minutes, Bussell defended well against Barber whereupon, with play stopped, the SAL replaced Bird with Tullett, and once again the ESBFL were forced to defend, getting players back behind the ball. With twenty minutes remaining, a long throw in from Linter, found Barber whose fine cross found the head of Bearman who headed wide from six yards out, what a great chance that was. Undeterred, the ESBFL worked the ball forward down the left side, Barnard flicked the ball on to Willoughby, who turned past Bayles to send a low rasping shot goalwards, keeper, Warne excelled with a full stretch save, Reeman followed up on the loose ball, but his shot from an acute angle was blocked by Smith. When the ESBFL launched another attack defender Smith and Bearman collided with one another, the match was stopped for the severe clash of heads and Bearman was forced to go off for treatment. Vaughan set Reeman away down the right side, Linter defended well but with the loose ball collected by Willoughby, defender Smith put in a fine tackle just as the ball was heading forward to the unmarked Barnard.
With fifteen minutes of normal time remaining, Smith re-entered play, Tullett played a long ball forward but keeper, Pickard was quickest to it, just inside his penalty area, from his clearance Willoughby found Barnacle, defender Doyle covered that attack and sent the ball long to Barber, but Bussell got there first. The SAL made a double change with ten minutes remaining, off went Barber and Bearman and on went Lane and Heritage, keeper, Pickard made another fine save to deny Smith who had by now been pushed forward to add height to the SAL attack, the header was from a cross by Tullett. The SAL continued their push for that equaliser, Hynes made the first of three fine tackles and blocks to deny Molloy and Bayles, a free kick taken by Smith was headed away by for a corner by Vaughan. The corner was taken low to the near post where Hynes cleared towards the touch line, a great cross was sent back in, Smith dived forward near the penalty spot, heading goalwards, there were three minutes of normal time remaining, the ball looked destined for the bottom corner, then out of nowhere, keeper, Pickard dived at full stretch to palm the ball round the post for another corner, what a fantastic save! Even as we approached the end of a fine football match, both teams kept going, Hynes conceded a corner under pressure from Molloy, Bussell headed the ball clear and chased up field only to be fouled by Doyle, that will eat up a few more seconds we thought! On ninety-two minutes, with the match stopped, the ESBFL sent on McMahon for goalscorer, Barnard, Prince took the free kick, Willoughby flicked the ball on into the path of Barnacle who forced a corner, this was taken short and kept in the corner as the ESBFL ran down any remaining time.
FULL TIME: 1 – 0.
This was a fine game of football, the SAL had beaten the ESBFL, six years ago in the same competition, this time revenge was exacted but this game was won by that solitary first half goal, there should have been more goals but for some excellent goalkeeping by both custodians and with two solid defences giving little away.
Turning to my choice of Star players, for cup ties I usually nominate one from each competing team, lets start with the SAL, clearly they are a very good league team and judging by their overall performance have played together numerous times, for me one player stood out from almost the first minute, that was Barber, who on another day might have scored goals with his well-honed left foot. For the ESBFL this was a major team effort, every player gave one hundred percent effort, they were never overawed by the opposition, they weathered the early pressure, scored their goal but did not sit back and defend as so often is seen. Other chances did arise and but for some good goalkeeping at both ends the scoreline remained at one nil, which brings me to ESBFL, keeper, Sebastian Pickard, this young player has grown into a confident goalkeeper, his save at the very end was worth more than anybody’s entrance money.
Teams:
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Jack Burch Great Bentley FC
Lewis Mounteney Great Bentley FC
Sebastian Pickard Great Bentley FC (GK)
Jake Vaughan Great Bentley FC
Luke Barnard Thorpe Athletic FC
Bobby Reeman East Thurrock Community FC
Zachary Bussell East Thurrock Community FC
Harry Prince East Thurrock Community FC (Captain)
Harry Arnold Hatfield Peverel FC
Callum Hynes Gas Recreation FC
Harry Willoughby Gas Recreation FC
Management: Richard Elmes & Keiron Baker.
Used Substitutes: Ryan McMahon Great Bentley FC
Brandon Hunt Thorpe Athletic FC
Tommy Barnacle East Thurrock Community FC
Unused Substitutes: Keiron Baker Great Bentley FC
THE SOUTHERN AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE:
Colours: Red Shirts, Red Shorts and Red Socks.
Team:
Henry Warne (Dorkinians FC) (GK)
Jack Doyle (West Wickham FC)
Ben Linter (West Wickham FC)
Lawrence Bearman (NUFC Oilers FC)
Eddie Lee (NUFC Oilers FC)
Laurie Smith (Nottsborough FC)
Joe Molloy (Nottsborough FC)
Dan Barber (Nottsborough FC) (Captain)
Harry Bayles (Nottsborough FC)
Harry Howat (Honourable Artillery Company FC)
Sean Bird (Weirside Rangers FC)
MANAGEMENT:
Alex Lodge (Winchmore Hill)
Dave Hallam Assistant Manager (Nottsborough)
Des O’Hare Assistant Manager (Wandsworth Borough)
Dom Roberts Manager (Old Blues)
Eddi Chibundu Campbell (Coach)
Carys Jones (Physio)
Used Substitutes: Jack Lane (Nottsborough)
Matt Crowe (Thorntonians FC)
James Tullett (Hammersmith)
Will Sewell (Thorntonians)
Chris Heritage (Honourable Artillery Company)
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Tommy Breen.
Assistant Referees: Chay Saggers & Adam Miller
STAR PLAYER: Sebastian PICKARD (ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTALL LEAGUE)
Dan BARBER (THE SOUTHERN AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE)
The Second-Round draw has already been made, the ESBFL will travel, away, to play The Arthurian League, they won this competition last time and had a bye for Round One.
The match date will be 7th March 2026, KO:15:00pm at Hanworth Villa FC.
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