14/05/2022 – REPORT – Wormingford Wanderers FC versus Dedham Old Boys FC Reserves

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION THREE

WORMINGFORD WANDERERS FC    1.       DEDHAM OLD BOY’S FC RESERVES  1.

Date:   Saturday 14^th May 2022.                    Venue:             Robletts Way, Wormingford.

            It’s the last day of the 2022 / 2023 season and just one match took place, Division Three champions, Wormingford Wanderers FC, eventually finished their long season with a home match against Dedham Old Boys FC Reserves who, in contrast, last played on 2^nd April 2022, six weeks ago! Until recently, the form of Wormingford Wanderers FC had been such that they were undefeated in sixteen league matches, so, after a tiring season, the last four have seen three defeats and a draw today. That long season included reaching the semi-finals of the Essex Junior Cup, a semi-final defeat to Brightlingsea Town FC in the Tommy Thompson Cup and a ninety-second minute defeat to Barnston AFC Reserves in the Covid Cup final, by my reckoning they have played forty-two matches this season and bearing in mind that the season is usually only thirty-seven weeks long, that is a commendable achievement and a testament to the Committee, Management, and players of the Club.

            On a very hot Saturday afternoon, on a pitch that looked in excellent condition, if a bit hard, the appointed match official was Daniel Webb who dealt competently with everything when required, just a couple of cautions where he was given little choice but to act.

            The home team kicked-off and an early cross from Fowler (J) was headed clear by Ruffles for the first corner taken by Angell which caused panic in the visitors goal-mouth and really someone should have scored. Dedham got their game going Bethell (D) setting the ball forward for Fuller, but Kent covered, or so he thought, but his back-pass was short towards keeper, Lloyd who just managed to scramble the ball away for a corner as Fuller continued to run forward and challenge. Smith for Dedham played the ball forward to McAndrew, but his header onwards was too hard and Wormingford got the ball forward through Fowler (B) whose cross into the penalty area was headed clear by Baister to Fitzpatrick whose left-footed volley screamed wide. Just before the ten-minute mark Fitzpatrick found Angell who set up Watts whose rising hot on the turn forced keeper, Bentley into a fine save and another corner. This time the delivery from Kent fell to Watts whose effort was cleared off the goal-line, but JOE FOWLER sent a firm header into the net from close range. Undeterred, Dedham moved the ball forward starting with Baister, Bell and Pearce whose forward ball was too hard for Fuller to chase and keeper, Lloyd collected.

            Boy, it’s a hot afternoon and the players kept going, Dedham keeper, Bentley miscued a clearance to Humphries who was clattered by Fowler (B) mid-half, Bethell (D) clashed with Moss to concede a free-kick, Angell as ever, took the free-kick with Baister heading clear and the home team were now on top and a goal ahead. Now, there is a certainty in grass-roots football, it’s the off-side rule and how its interpreted by Club Assistants, as when keeper, Lloyd launched a huge clearance, Angell controlled the ball and sent a speculative punt towards goal, keeper, Bentley let the ball bounce and helped it into his own net, a goal, no, it was disallowed, because Watts had run across the sight of the keeper from an offside position, so after consulting the Club Assistant the goal was cancelled. Yet another talking point came minutes later, Richardson chased a long ball down the right side, keeper, Bentley, forced the player wide, shielding the ball out of play, or did he, as Richardson did not stop and crossed into the penalty area where a home player smacked the ball into the empty net. That goal was also disallowed as the referee considered the ball had gone out of play, so a future note to Club Assistants, keep up with play and raise, yes raise, your flag above your head appropriately when required, it saves confusion and controversy. On twenty-five minutes Fowler (J) played a poor back-pass to keeper, Lloyd, it must be catching, the clearance fell to Bethell (D) whose long range lobbed effort from thirty yards dropped just wide of the target.

            Moss sent in an excellent cross for the unmarked Richardson whose header flew wide, but he should perhaps have scored given the amount of space he had found, Bethell (F) fed the ball into McAndrews, but Sainsbury blocked his effort on the edge of the penalty area. Wormingford, do like to play the long ball game which can produce quick attacks but for the Dedham defence they equipped themselves well with Baister and Bell winning most headers. When Sainsbury and Fowler (B) went for the same ball, Smith came away with the ball crossing to Fuller who lobbed over the cross-bar, there are more goals in this game perhaps! Keeper, Lloyd sent another long ball deep into the Dedham half, Baister headed out to Moss who shanked his effort wide, at the other end Bethell (D) won the ball off Sainsbury who regained possession almost straight away. Smith played the ball into Bethell (D), Fowler (J) and keeper, Lloyd challenged for the ball and the Dedham player was spoken too for the challenge and verbal spat, then almost immediately, Bethell (F) tackled Sainsbury illegally and was cautioned for his tackle and reaction afterwards. From the free-kick taken by Angell, Fowler (B) headed on, but Baister got his head to the ball to concede a corner, taken by Angell finding Fowler (B) but keeper, Bentley was well placed on his goal-line. A long ball forward by Baister found Smith who ran one way then the other gaining a corner off Fowler (J), Bethell (D) took the corner and when the home defence looked on, the unmarked FRED FULLER ran in the score with a right-footed effort. Wormingford needed to raise their game, Fitzpatrick drifted down the left side finding Moss who set up Foley whose right footed curling effort was palmed over the cross-bar by keeper, Bentley. Angell took the free-kick, Watts headed goal-wards but keeper, Bentley, saved and the half ended with Bethell (D) fouling Fowler (B).

HALF-TIME:    1 – 1.

            So, there are forty-five minutes left of a long, drawn-out season, the first that has been fully completed for two seasons, this of course due to the COVID pandemic, lets hope we do not experience the likes again. There were no changes of player personnel for the re-start with Dedham getting the game going, Pearce sent in a left-footed cross that just fell short at the far post, then Fuller, took on Kent, turning one way then the other before shooting just over the cross-bar. Apart from that action the early part of this half was slow and without precision until Wormingford woke up, can I use that phrase, Fitzpatrick, got round Baister, crossed towards Moss who flicked the ball on to Foley whose downward header, bounced once before keeper, Bentley rose to tip the ball over the cross-bar. I agreed with a Wormingford player when he shouted that his team needed to keep hold of the ball, were his team-mates listening, we will have to wait and see! Smith was heavy into a challenge on Sainsbury and received a warning and with the match stopped Wormingford replaced Foley with Pretty, Angell took the free-kick with keeper, Bentley electing to punch clear.

            When Bethell (D) was fouled, the game was brought back as no advantage had ensued, the free-kick failed to trouble the home defence and Moss was guilty of over-running the ball at the other end for a goal-kick. Smith got going down the right side, the off-side flag failed to materialise, in my opinion he was yards off-side, but play continued with a cross to the unmarked McAndrews whose first-time effort was saved at point-blank range by keeper, Lloyd, how did McAndrews miss the goal, certainly a strong contender for miss of the season! This game was by no means a classic, another free-kick from Angell found Fowler (J) who forced keeper, Bentley to make a fine save. On sixty-six minutes Dedham in quick succession, replaced Bell and Bethell (F) with Avery and Cobden, and on seventy minutes Wormingford made a change replacing Richardson and Watts with Rose and Clarke.  A useful foray forward by the tireless Fitzpatrick should have led to a goal from Clarke who scuffed wide when well placed, ten yards out, a bit wasteful but it was his first touch of the ball.

            Given the number of chances created, Wormingford had been somewhat wasteful with their goal scoring chances, on seventy-five minutes Dedham made their last change replacing Fuller (F) with Walsom. As the game entered its final minutes, keeper, Bentley advanced as if to make an interception, a scramble followed with the keeper adjudged to have impeded someone, was he the last player, was it inside the penalty area, it was a central position, no caution or penalty award but Angell struck a fine shot that cannoned off the defensive wall and crashed against the cross-bar to be cleared, so close, and in the final minutes Smith received a caution under the totting up procedure for persistent fouling, so another twelve pounds to the County coffers.

FULL TIME:     1 – 1.

            I suppose, as this was the last game of the season it can often be an anti-climax, Wormingford Wanderers FC had won the league several weeks ago, Dedham Old Boys FC Reserves had not played recently, and the football played was clearly not the best. A lot of effort from some, others just seemed to go through the motions of being there and the home team will rue missing at least a dozen chances, looking at the final league table, goal-scoring looks to have been a problem, compared to other Divisional Winners, whereas goals against is very good.

            Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player” Dedham Old Boys FC Reserves had a smattering of First Team players, as is their prerogative, they had to defend for long periods of the match especially the last twenty minutes or so, for me Baister looked solid, McAndrew worked hard in midfield, Smith got stuck in, when required, Bethell (D) showed his experience and the two young Fred’s, Bethell and Fuller showed some promise. For Wormingford Wanderers FC, another solid performance starting at the back with keeper, Lloyd, Fitzpatrick, does he ever know how to stop, was up and down the left side all game, Fowler, (B) and Angell ran midfield with Moss, Foley and Watts leading the attack, however, their goal-scorer, Fowler (J) scored their only goal and never put a foot wrong when defending.

            Once the match had ended and the players had returned to the Clubhouse area, Dedham Old Boys FC Reserves sportingly lined up, in a guard of honour, before Team Manager, Liam Meadows and Team Captain, Ben Lloyd went up to collect the Division Three Winners Trophy from ESBFL, League Secretary, Alison Stanford.

Teams:

WORMINGFORD WANDERERS FC:  

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

Team:

Ben Lloyd (C)., Luke Kent., Robert Fitzpatrick., Will Sainsbury., Ben Fowler., Joe Fowler., Dan Richardson., Brett Angell., Dan Watts., Sam Moss., Will Foley.

Manager:                      Liam Meadows.

Used Substitutes:           Thomas Pretty., Callum Rose., Harrison Clarke.

Unused Substitutes:       Keiran Farthing., Kenny Burrows.

DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC RESERVES

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

Team:

Ryan Bentley., James Ruffles., John Pearce., Scott Humphries., Daniel Bell (C)., Simon Baister., Freddy Bethell., Taylor McAndrews., Darren Bethell., William Smith., Fred Fuller.

Manager:                      Fred Fuller

Used Substitutes:           James Walsom., Craig Avery., Lewis Cobden.

Referee:                        Danial Webb.

Star Player:             Joe FOWLER                (WORMINGFORD WANDERERS FC)