14/03/2026 – REPORT – West Bergholt FC versus Cavendish FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO.
WEST BERGHOLT FC. 1. CAVENDISH FC 4.
Date: 14th March 2026. Venue: Lorkin Daniel Playing Field, West Bergholt.
As we near the end of the season it’s time to take stock of those teams vying for being champions or winning promotion places, there are four teams in contention in the Premier Division, the same is almost true in Division One, in Division Three there are three teams and it’s the same in Division Four. I chose a Division Two match, three teams already have, as they say, the points in the bag, but today fourth placed West Bergholt played fifth placed Cavendish, the teams had met last week and shared the points in a one-all draw at Cavendish.
On what looked like a well-prepared pitch that was in remarkably good condition considering the recent weather, today’s Match Official was Adrian Arnot who surprisingly advised that he had not refereed at West Bergholt since December 2018, heady days for the home team back then!
Cavendish kicked off and pushed forward down the left side, within three minutes the match ball burst, they certainly don’t make them like they used too, who remembers the leather ball which had a lace, was like a brick to kick or a lump of soap if wet! Recently the ESBFL donated every Club with four match balls, these have the league logo printed on them to identify the competition. Cavendish, keeper, Williamson mad a hash of his first clearance which fell to Balls but his shot from inside the half flew straight back to keeper, Williamson, who acknowledged his early error. The match had a slow start, Hubbard for Cavendish was probing through midfield and pushed a through ball towards Childs but home keeper, Ware was quickly out to gather. From the keepers clearance the ball reached Clarke, he controlled the ball and struck a shot that hit the back of defender, Melia to be cleared up field where Childs forced a corner off Johnson (H), taken by Brind to Finch whose goal bound effort forced keeper, Ware to push the ball over the crossbar and another corner followed on the other side. A rising shot from Finch was headed clear by Johnson (H) and the ball was played back to keeper, Williamson who played the ball to Wood, from his long ball forward, Dye gave chase and forced a corner off Cruickshanks. Brind took the corner, short to Childs who played the ball back to Brind who sent a shot not just over the goal, but also the hedge behind the goal, that garden must have seen hundreds of balls over the years! Play had been somewhat cautious, Cavendish defended well when required but West Bergholt lacked any penetration with a tendency to play, perhaps naively, the ball out from defence where mistakes were made.
On fifteen minutes the sun broke through momentarily, it was still cold though, Hubbard had a shot blocked, this after the home team failed to clear their lines, then Johnson (H) made a strong foray forward but his final pass lacked direction which allowed the visitors to put a new attack together and for a time the home team struggled to get out of their own half, that said the ball was in the air, far too often in my opinion. When Rose worked the ball out of defence he gained a first corner for the home team, the corner failed to trouble the Cavendish defence with Wood heading firmly away and play broke to the far end, the West Bergholt defence again failed to clear the ball and JACK HUBBARD put the visitors ahead on twenty-two minutes, when he scored the opening goal from close range. Keeper, Williamson sent a clearance long, to Childs, who found Hubbard whose first attempt to get the ball to Brind was blocked but from the second attempt, Brind shot towards the near post where keeper, Ware saved low down. On twenty-eight minutes, slightly against the run of play, West Bergholt equalised, Ware struck a long high clearance, one bounce later and the ball cleared the heads of both Wood and Melia, which allowed HARRISON CLARKE to turn and stroke the ball wide of the diving keeper, Williamson, both teams had been guilty of making mistakes and this was a clear defensive mix-up.
From the restart, Cavendish won a corner, Brind sent over the ball and Wood, rising at the far post, headed just wide. With half an hour elapsed, Hubbard fouled Rose, just inside the Cavendish half, Cruickshanks delivered a fine cross, but Hubbard headed clear and when Murphy delivered an even better cross from the right side, Johnson (H) stooped to head goalwards, whereupon, keeper, Williamson made a superb point-blank save on his goal-line to keep the scores level. Cavendish regained the lead on thirty-five minutes, a cross from the right side was headed home, over keeper, Ware by HARRISON CHILDS and five minutes later the visitors made it three when NATHAN McNICHOLAS turned the ball home after good work down the left side by Finch, who had not given up on chasing a loose ball forward, getting the better of the defensive cover. As the half ended, a free kick, taken by Cruickshanks was deflected goalwards with keeper, Williamson thankful that the ball just edged past the far post.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 3.
Before the second half restart, West Bergholt replaced Clarke, who had been struggling, with Burton, this injected a bit of pace upfront with Balls trying to use this to good effect, defender Wood stood firm and the danger passed. Brind passed forward to Childs who forced a corner off Johnson (H), Brind sent the corner to the near post and when he received the ball back his cross was headed home by JAKE WOOD, game over! Cavendish now had a firm grip on this game, Finch almost put Childs through, but keeper Ware was quicker to the ball, Childs fell to the ground seemingly fouled and when he got back to his feet, Childs saw a yellow card brandished for simulation, there was clearly no contact! On fifty minutes Cavendish withdrew McNicholas and sent on Chokowry, Burton thought he should have had a penalty kick awarded when eased off the ball by keeper, Williamson, Burton had run on, took aim at the goal only for Brind to clear the ball off the goal-line. With ten minutes of the second half elapsed, West Bergholt had raised their game but were up against a stubborn visiting defence, and on fifty-seven minutes a double change from West Bergholt, off went Murphy and Rose, and on went Smith and Bloomfield. From the restart, Finch made a strong run forward against Smith, but the eventual shot was saved by keeper, Ware, there followed a free kick, taken by Bloomfield but straight to keeper, Williamson.
On the hour mark, Cavendish made their first change, off went Archer and on went Mclaughlin, the match remained end to end, Cruickshanks tested keeper, Williamson with a long range effort as did Burton and on sixty-two minutes off went Dye with Wingfield taking his place, the home team then removed Cruickshanks and sent on Johnson (A). Smith, for West Bergholt was blocked off by a combination of Brind and Wood, their clearance found Finch, who had not stopped chasing through midfield and together with the persistence of Hubbard were giving the home midfield plenty to think about. Johnson (H) struck another wasted ball forward, this was easily fielded by keeper, Williamson. More substitutions followed with twenty minutes remaining with West Bergholt replacing Saunders with O’Hare and Cavendish replacing Childs with McLachan whose first action was to send a right-footed shot just wide of the far post from a flick on by Finch. To their credit, the young West Bergholt team, continued to try to play the ball out of defence but the more experienced visitors were quick to close down these moves, one move did lead to a disputed corner but this was headed clear by Finch.
There were now fifteen minutes to play, McLachan fouled Bloomfield, who took the free kick himself, but keeper, Williamson had an easy catch on his goal line, at the other end Purcell sent a free kick straight to keeper, Ware, sounds a bit tedious but that’s fact! McLachan shielded the ball out to gain a corner, Brind took the corner and Wood almost repeated his earlier headed goal, the ball just clearing the crossbar. A cross from Bloomfield was headed off the goal line by Wood then a fine penetrating run by Burton was stopped by dependable defender Wood, the next attack was foiled by McLachan who fouled Bloomfield which earned him a yellow card. Keeper, Williamson placed four players in the defensive wall, Bloomfield struck the ball well, over that wall but keeper, Williamson tipped the ball over the crossbar and a corner followed. From the corner, keeper, Williamson punched the ball clear and when play stopped, Cavendish manager, Coyston took the place of Purcell, Wood fouled Smith who took the free kick himself, finding O’Hare who crossed to Burton but keeper, Williamson had an easy save, and from his clearance the final whistle was blown.
FULL TIME: 1 – 4.
A gritty Division Two match, these teams stay fourth and fifth respectively, Cavendish showed more endeavour going forward, West Bergholt are a young team, at times were slightly naïve, so getting picked off when in possession or sending rushed and wayward passes.
Turning to my choice of Star player, Johnson (H) for West Bergholt FC played well in central defence whereas for Cavendish FC, Finch was industrious as was Hubbard who also scored the opening goal for the visitors.
Teams:
WEST BERGHOLT FC
Colours: Turquoise Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Harry Ware., Reece Cruickshanks., Oliver Murphy., Henry Johnson (C)., Connor Balls., Harrison Clarke., William Batten., Bobby Saunders., Callum Leech., Callum Rose., Dan Callendine.
Manager: Liam Meadows.
Used Substitutes: Archie Johnson., Reuben Burton., Joel Smith., Luke Bloomfield., Oliver O’Hare.
CAVENDISH FC:
Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.
Team:
Tom Williamson. Kamron Purcell., Callum Brind., Thomas Archer., Jake Wood (C)., Jordan Melia., Nathan McNicholas., Jack Hubbard., Harrison Childs., Lloyd Finch., Connor Dye.
Manager: Chris Coyston
Used Substitutes: Paul McLaughlin., Aadam Chokowry., William Wingfield., Jamie McLachan., Chris Coyston.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Adrian Arnot.
STAR PLAYER: Jack HUBBARD (CAVENDISH FC)
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