14/03/2020 – REPORT – Cavendish FC versus Gas Recreation FC Reserves

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION TWO.

CAVENDISH FC: 9. GAS RECREATION FC RESERVES: 2.

Date: Saturday 14^th March 2020. Venue: Cavendish Sports Ground.

With most of the talk this week being about Coronavirus, rightly making the head-lines given the worldwide spread of this infection, the “FA” however, despite calling off the English Football League, had given their sanction that “grass-roots” football could continue on the proviso that standard precautions were known and accepted. Armed with this information the ESBFL decided to go ahead with a full, well almost full, match day schedule with just two matches being un-played. I could not get to a match last weekend but decided to travel into Suffolk for the match between sixth placed and promotion candidates, Cavendish FC, six wins from eight in all competitions and eighth placed Gas Recreation FC Reserves, five wins and a draw from their last six matches, all since the New Year. The visitors had picked up the wrong kit-bag, not a good start, and on arrival realised they had the same kit colours as the home team who helped out by supplying a yellow training top. With those match statistics I was expecting a closer game than what transpired……………….

I have to say the pitch was in excellent condition, a decent local crowd, not all football supporters I might add, had gathered and saw plenty of goals amongst the toing’s and froing’s from the away bench! The appointed match official was Mariusz Burchan, whom I had seen once before this season, where he had a good game, albeit a one-sided evening affair, and for this match he would be assisted by Club Assistants.

Gas Recreation FC Reserves kicked off, lost possession and Cavendish FC broke forward through firstly Chaplin, then Ashdown who set up the Competitions leading scorer, Day (G) who rifled a shot that keeper, Penna parried to save then push away. On five minutes Gas Recreation FC Reserves had a great chance, Bird broke forward down the left side, cutting inside he was one-on-one with keeper Hastie who made a fine save, the same two players had another dual within a minute, keeper, Hastie saving on the edge of his penalty area but even he was helpless when, on seven minutes SAM BIRD ran past Adams and comfortably scored past the keeper so for the scorer it was third time lucky. At ten minutes Gas Recreation FC Reserves had seen more of the ball and looked comfortable for their lead with Oliver, Cant, Jones and Hyams pressing from mid-field where Cavendish FC had yet to get to grips with things. Daw was caught offside from a pass by Day (G) then William was quickly across to stop Daw and defender Day (H) set the ball up for Day (G) but in taking his eye off the ball allowed keeper Penna to collect on six yards. On fifteen minutes, when Porter fouled Daw, the free-kick was played in by Ashdown, keeper Penna elected to punch clear but only as far as GEORGE DAY, lurking just outside the penalty area, a shimmy to his left then to his right opened up the chance to shoot and that he did to score past the static keeper.

Taylor fouled Willoughby who got up to take the free-kick himself, but the pass was weak and intercepted by Taylor who set Chaplin away down the right side only to over-run the ball to the keeper, Penna. Jones fouled King thirty-five yards from goal in a central position from where Day (G) elected to shoot forcing keeper, Penna into fine save conceding a corner, taken by Chaplin with keeper, Penna punching clear to Chaplin whose returned effort flew wide for a goal-kick. Cavendish Fc took the lead on twenty-three minutes, Day (G) held the ball up for Chaplin whose pass dissected the Gas Recreation FC Reserves defence allowing DANIEL ASHDOWN to run through and score. This set-back for the Gas Recreation FC Reserves started a few internal recriminations, defender Porter fouled Grafen, play had continued before being brought back for the foul, more verbal’s followed from the visitors then Bird attacked against Adams. Both players fell to the ground in the far corner, looked like a Gas Recreation FC Reserves free-kick, no, a free-kick to Cavendish FC, Bird got up and accepted the decision, the referee had clearly seen something we had not from sixty yards away. Gas Recreation FC Reserves continued to cause a few problems and forced a corner off Taylor who had tackled Willoughby, who was calling for a foul inside the penalty area, nothing was ever going to be given there, Jones took the corner kick which eluded everyone until it hit the standing leg of keeper, Hastie, to be cleared by Day (H). A break by Daw saw him go past William but when the cross came into Day (G) through on goal, in an one-on-one situation with keeper, Penna who parried the low shot and when the ball bounced up Ashdown should have scored heading towards the empty net only for the keeper to recover and snatch the ball a yard from goal.

On thirty minutes Willoughby fouled Taylor near the half-way line, the free-kick was played wide to Daw who sent in a cross to DANIEL ASHDOWN who chested the ball down to score with ease. Another goal followed three minutes later, Chaplin raced away down the right side to beat the off-side trap and from his cross the unmarked GEORGE DAY turned the ball home from ten yards out. Gas Recreation FC Reserves pressed forward through Cant, whose chip into space fell between Willoughby and Hyams but keeper, Hastie was quickest to the ball to make a fine interception near the penalty spot. Another chance fell to Cavendish FC on thirty-eight minutes, Daw sent in a left-footed cross finding Chaplin unmarked in the “D” but he stabbed his left footed effort just wide of the left upright, another missed chance! A trip by Hyams on Daw had seen play continue then be stopped as the referee, despite not seeing the incident brought play back to ascertain the nature of the injury. When play resumed, the ball was played across the field to Chaplin who rode a cynical challenge from Oliver, only to be clattered by Dadds (Li), with both players rightly cautioned by the referee. As the half came to an end Cant thought he had set up Bird who was flagged off-side, another verbal dispute followed, but right on half-time ADRIAN CANT dibbled through a crowd of players to score a fine individual goal but not good defending from the home team!

HALF TIME: 4 – 2.

Cavendish FC restarted the second half, Day (G) linked up with Daw who rifled a shot straight at keeper, Penna, a free-kick from Chapin, after a foul by Porter was cleared and Gas Recreation FC Reserves broke forward only to be stopped when Taylor made a fine challenge on Cant. Gas Recreation FC Reserves started this half brightly, just as they had in the first half and after Bird had got down the right side, Willoughby forced keeper, Hastie to save low down. Gas Recreation FC Reserves threatened again through Cant and Hyams, but the home defence weathered that threat and set about getting forward themselves. A cross from Daw was fielded by keeper, Penna who sent Cant away to find Willoughby whose slide rule pass fell at the feet of Bird who shot over the cross-bar from six yards out, easier to score as they say! The continued frustration of the Gas Recreation FC Reserves players boiled over on fifty-four minutes when Willoughby said too much, there’s a thing, and was sent to the “Sin-Bin” for ten minutes, and Cavendish FC replaced defender Day (H) with Tatum and mid-fielder Daw with Baker. Day (G) once again un-marked, wasted another gilt-edged chance only finding the keeper from six yards out, these chances might prove crucial if Gas Recreation FC Reserves should raise their game as the early minutes of this half had threatened. Chaplin set up King for a shot on goal but keeper, Penna made a great save to deny another goal and with play stopped Gas Recreation FC Reserves replaced Hyams with Venner.

On the stroke of sixty minutes, Cavendish FC hit their fifth goal, defender Adams sent a searching ball forward where TOM BAKER controlled the ball ran on past two central defenders to score with ease. A minute later and Chaplin gave chase to a ball played wide down he right side, the control was good, the cross was perfect and the finish by GEORGE DAY was delightful, the forward scoring with a scissor kick as the ball dropped over his shoulder and with his back to goal, that was his hat-trick and surely that must be game-over now! Ashdown cheekily tried to lob the keeper from forty yards out and with play stopped for the goal-kick, Gas Recreation FC Reserves replaced Porter with Whittle (Ry), and this stoppage allowed Willoughby to return to the game. Another break by Chaplin was cleared and at the other end Cant struck a fine free-kick which keeper, Hastie held comfortably under his cross-bar. On seventy minutes, more controversy, Willoughby dived into a challenge, a free-kick was rightly awarded and when showing more dissent Willoughby was shown another yellow “Sin-Bin” card followed by the statutory Red card and Gas were down to ten players. Gas Recreation FC Reserves captain William got in on the act as well and over-stated his opinion leading to a spell in the “Sin-Bin” for him as well so nine players remained on the pitch and twenty minutes remained. A cross from Baker led to a fine header by Ashdown which was matched by an equally fine save from keeper, Penna, he at least had not lost his head.

That said, Dadds (Li) perhaps feeling aggrieved at a decision against his team was summarily dismissed for foul and abusive language leaving the visitors with just eight players on the pitch and one still in the “Sin-Bin”. Cant deliberately took out Adams for another free-kick and with the ball worked forward to the right side, GEORGE DAY, collected, moving inside one defender, then another before shooting past keeper, Penna. On seventy-five minutes Cant was replaced by Whittle (Ro) and four minutes later Cavendish FC replaced Chaplin with Marsh with William returning from the “Sin-Bin” for Gas Recreation FC Reserves, however, the scoring continued with Day (G) turning provider for CHARLIE HOLMES who ran on to score with ease. Gas Recreation FC Reserves had a late foray forward with Venner testing keeper, Hastie who had to make a smart save from the long-range effort but in reality, he had been a spectator this half and even a late shot on the turn from Oliver failed to work the keeper. With the visitor’s defence in total disarray, Day (G) lobbed another effort wide in the eighty-eighth minute but he would not be denied his fifth goal as when keeper, Penna failed to kick the ball clear which allowed GEORGE DAY to pick his spot to rifle home from the edge of the penalty area. As the final whistle blew both sets of players came together as is customary, win or lose, however one Gas Recreation FC Reserves player, Oliver, took exception and landed a punch on Adams, witnessed by the referee so that player can expect an ECFA Misconduct Charge in due course.

FULL TIME: 9 – 2.

Wow, eleven goals, I expected some but not that many, for the record, nine to the home team, including five for one player then for Gas Recreation Reserves, two goals, two yellow cards, three “Sin-Bins”, two Red Cards and a Misconduct to follow, definitely not their day, out-fought with the ball, out-thought off the ball, and totally let down by their lack of discipline! In my opinion, and these match reports are always that, I thought the referee was excellent throughout and dealt competently with every decision he was forced to make.

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, for Gas Recreation FC Reserves, only keeper, Penna emerged with any credit, beaten nine times, yes, he might have gifted away two goals, but it could and should have been more, but for some useful saves. The home team dominated proceeding for much of the game, the early concession of a goal only spurred them on, occasionally wasteful in front of goal, but when you have the ESBFL leading goal-scorer, George Day, on the pitch, five goals today, bringing his seasons total to forty-eight goals from only nineteen matches, does that matter! Defensively sound but rarely tested, the midfield drove the team forward and goals flowed at regular intervals from Day (G) with five, Ashdown with two and Holmes and Baker one apiece. In all of this attacking football, and a disciplined team effort, to me one player stood out, Captain, Chaplin, always an outlet through midfield, working wide from both sides and creating scoring chances but not forgetting his defensive duties as well.

Teams:

CAVENDISH FC: Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.

Liam Hastie., Harry Adams., Thomas Grafen., Aaron Taylor., Henry Day., Adam King., William Chaplin (C)., Charlie Holmes., Carl Daw., Daniel Ashdown.

Manager: David King.

Used Substitutes: Tom Baker., Ryan Tatum., Ross Marsh.

GAS RECREATION FC RESERVES: Colours: Yellow Bibs, Black Shorts and Red Socks.

Ben Penna., Louis Dadds., Dean Porter., Aaron William (C)., Liam Dadds., Joshua Oliver., Adrian Cant., Connor Jones., Jordan Hyams., Harry Willoughby., Sam Bird

Manager: Gordon (Robbie) Robertson

Used Substitutes: Rooney Venner., Robert Whittle., Ryan Whittle.

Unused Substitutes: Ben Lawton., Fred Harrison

Referee: Mariusz Burchan.

Player of the Match: William CHAPLIN (CAVENDISH FC)

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“CORONAVIRUS”

THE “ESBFL” IS MINDFUL OF THE INCREASING SERIOUSNESS OF THIS INFECTION, MATCHES PLAYED ON SATURDAY WERE ALLOWED TO PROCEED UNDER THE GUIDANCE GIVEN BY THE “FA” ON FRIDAY.

THIS SITUATION IS BEING CONSTANTLY MONITORED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE “FA” WHO HAVE PROMISED REGULAR UPDATES.

ONCE THESE UPDATES ARE NOTIFIED THEN ALL MEMBER CLUBS WILL BE NOTIFIED AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.

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Additional Reporting:

YOU TUBE., FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

Once again, this season the ESBFL is widening its match-day reporting coverage, in addition to a full report written by Brian Reed, our other roving reporter, Spencer Hume, has once again made himself known during the friendlies season and he will also attend games reporting via You Tube, Facebook and Twitter to communicate up-to-date information and replicate other match reports. In addition, John Campany, Vice Chairman will continue to provide a weekly summary, published in The Gazette.

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Reminder to Club / Fixture Secretaries

Once again this season the fixtures, results, referees and “kick-off” times will be shown automatically on “The FA Full-Time / The Whole Game System” ( http://full-time.thefa.com ) but would all Club / Fixture Secretaries please advise any agreed changes, as required, to Alison Willmore ( mjw1947@sky.com ) especially for evening games and for those matches being played under floodlights etc.

KO is 3:00pm from: March to end of season

Cup Matches:

Kick-Off times for ESBFL cup matches, are generally 30 minutes earlier than those shown above but check competition rules beforehand.

Kick-Off times for Essex County Football Association cup matches are published on the ECFA web-site.

( www.essexfa.com/competitions/county-cups )

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ESBFL “web-site”

The web-site for the Essex & Suffolk Border Football League is: www.esblfootball.com

Clubs are reminded that the following documents are all available on this website under Clubs / Documents etc:

ESBFL Handbook,

Player Registration Sheet,

Player “Signed-On-Match-Day” Form,