14/09/2024 – REPORT – Kings Park Rangers FC versus Hatfield Peverel FC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
KINGS PARK RANGERS FC. 5. HATFIELD PEVEREL FC. 2.
Date: Saturday 14th September 2024.
Venue: Cornard United FC, Blackhouse Lane, Great Cornard.
At the start of play, Kings Park Rangers FC headed the Premier Division table with six wins from seven matches, today’s opponents, Hatfield Peverel FC had a fine victory last weekend against Alresford Colne Rangers FC, once again, this week, both Managers bemoaned the fact that certain players were not available, that said, I was expecting a relatively close match. Kings Park Rangers FC have this season secured the use of Cornard United FC, its decades since I last visited there, the single-track lane remains, however the pitch looked in superb condition, very flat, nicely cut and marked out, if you can’t play football on that then…. you know the rest!
The Match Officials were Lewis Earl, this was his second Premier Division match appointment, his first experience was abandoned through a player injury, today he was assisted by Jody Downs and Adam Mehmet, with two cautions it was a relatively easy match as players wanted to play and chose not to show dissent or misbehave, you see it can be done!
Hatfield Peverel kicked-off, lost possession when the ball was pumped forward, Cunningham sprayed the ball wide to Hampson who evaded his marker on the right side, a simple turn and cross was headed home by BEN CANNELL, with only forty-two seconds on the clock! Collard (E) fired goalwards but was flagged off-side, Haywood got an early caution for hauling back Collard (E) wide on the right side, the free-kick taken by Cunningham flew inches wide. Hatfield Peverel forced, a number of corners in attempt to get back on level terms but on five minutes a misplaced pass by Havell-Olding put the home team in possession. A long ball forward saw midfielder Sampaney facing up to Hampson, whose pace took him clear, keeper Phillips advanced outside his penalty area but totally missed his attempt to clear, which allowed ADAM HAMPSON to run through and score into the empty net. Haywood for the visitors has an extremely long throw, one of the longest distances I’ve seen in the ESBFL, but from a Walton control and pass, Page was flagged off-side. Cunningham tackled Watson from behind, made his apologies and from the free-kick another long throw-in from Haywood at least put the visitors inside the home penalty area. Ricketts made a fine tackle on Last, then Last found Pollard whose long cross-field ball fell to Hampson who hit the ball on the volley, but Williams had tracked back to make a fine block at the expense of a corner, taken, let-footed by Cunningham, which keeper, Phillips elected to punch clear.
A corner from Southwell, fell to Cannell but Pretty intervened to clear, another corner from Cunningham followed, this time the ball was cleared out to Pollard, but he over-hit a speculative cross-field pass giving the visitors a throw-in and a bit of respite. Page fouled Ingram, Last fouled Ricketts, Pretty, sent in a deep cross that was cleared for throw-in, Haywood launched the ball long and high towards the far post with Collard (N) conceding a corner, taken by Pretty but the ball was clutched out of the air by keeper, West. Thus far, Kings Park Rangers were quicker to the ball but the dogged persistence by Hatfield Peverel kept them in this match, Southwell sent the ball wide to Collard (N) but his left-footed cross flew wide of the goal, then Collard (E) chased back to foul Ricketts, mid-half. Williams for the visitors was forced off for a blood injury but returned to foul Collard (N) from which Cunningham sent in a long curling free-kick towards Hampton but a goal-kick followed.
Hatfield Peverel scored on thirty-two minutes, Cunningham missed a tackle on Page who lifted the ball over defender, Ingram and this allowed CONOR WALTON to run on to score past keeper, West, who was left exposed for the first time in this match. Keeper Phillips launched a long ball towards Page who gave chase against defender Ingram, Page reached the ball first but hammered the ball into the side netting, things were looking up for the visitors. The first half turnaround was completed minutes later, CONOR WALTON evaded two tackles before scoring again, this had been a good response from Hatfield Peverel who kept going against a technically sound opposition team. When tackling back, Cunningham caught Page with a high foot, no caution, but I’ve seen them given, a long free-kick taken by Smith-Lightfoot clipped the head of Collard (N) for a throw-in taken by Haywood to Pretty whose shot from thirty yards flew straight to keeper, West. As the half drew to a close, Haywood, was pulled up for impeding Cannell, to me it looked fifty-fifty and Haywood had plenty to say about it, from the free kick, taken by Cunningham, keeper, Phillips, again opted to punch clear and the half ended all square.
HALF-TIME: 2 – 2.
The first half had been keenly fought, the score was all square so what could the second half bring, Hatfield Peverel made two changes, off went Ricketts and Haywood with Davis and Yav-Kalonji being the replacements. Davis hit the ball long, Page was fouled by Ingram, Rose took the free kick hitting the ball wide. Yav-Kalonji defended well against Last, the ball was quickly regained by Kings Park Rangers with Cannell chasing forward but keeper, Phillips was out to the edge of his penalty area to smother. Yav-Kalonji hit another long ball forward, but Rose was off-side, when play switched to the other end a cross from Last found Smith-Lightfoot faced up by Cannell who forced a corner. Southwell took the corner, the ball rebounded off Davis, hit the base of the upright for another corner, again taken by Southwell, the ball fell to Cannell who tried an overhead kick which Rose headed away off the goal-line. On fifty minutes Williams fouled Hampton, Southwell played the free kick into Hampton only for a fine reflex save to be made by keeper, Philips. When Pretty somewhat harshly, was adjudged to have fouled Collard (E), the free kick taken by Cunningham was perfectly placed for JOSHUA POLLARD who ran in unmarked to head firmly into the net. Both teams had players caught in offside situations as defences pushed up and forwards ran forward too quickly, a run and cross from Collard (N) saw that cross completely missed by Cannell.
When play stopped on the hour mark Kings Park Rangers replaced Hampton with Adeniji, however, as play resumed Davis was adjudged to have fouled Cannell as he tried to get into the penalty area, a caution was administered, the free kick was placed on the arc of the “D”, up stepped DANIEL CUNNINGHAM to curl a superb left-footed effort that beat the keeper, all ends up. Prior to that goal, Kings Park Rangers had taken off Cannell and Last, sending on Fox and Spyrou. That goal should have killed off most teams, but the visitors commendably were still trying to improve their attacking options, however when losing their tall centre-half at half time they struggled with corners and free kicks, all expertly delivered for maximum effect. When Davis cleared the ball off his goal line, a corner followed from the right side, taken by Cunningham, again nobody picked up the deep run by NICHOLAS FARTHING who virtually had a free header to score! Kings Park Rangers continued to hunt down the ball to good effect, giving Hatfield Peverel players little time to settle on the ball and on seventy-four minutes the visitors replaced the injured Page with Currie, and the home team removed Southwell with Jones taking his place.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Kings Park Rangers made their fifth change with Cunningham giving way for Codrington, Fox set up Adeniji who was marginally offside, then Spyrou drifted through only to be stopped by a firm challenge by Davis. With the game won, the home side seemed to take their foot off and allowed Hatfield Peverel to have more space and freedom, Walton had scored twice and probably deserved a third for his tireless running. Pollard conceded a corner, taken by Pretty, but straight to keeper, West, then Walton set up Currie whose left footed shot failed to trouble anybody, such a shame as he had made space for the shot outside the penalty area. When Davis pushed Adeniji, the free kick taken by Pollard was heading towards Farthing who totally lost sight of the ball in the bright sunshine and another headed chance failed to materialise. Hatfield Peverel played out the last few minutes with the ball in their possession, but the home defence was holding firm, but you have to credit, the visitors, for having a go against a well organised team who remain top of the Division on twenty-one points from eight matches.
FULL TIME: 5 – 2.
Another fully competitive match, both teams gave their all, the home side had the better ideas going forward, they were helped by an early headed goal from poor marking, the second goal was another error, but the rest came from free kicks or corners with Hatfield Peverel citing the loss of two central defenders and lacking the height to challenge against well taken opportunities.
For me, one player stood out, he captains the side, gets the best out of his team whatever the situation, takes most free kicks and corners, today with two assists and a fine goal from a free kick my Star Player is Daniel Cunningham.
Teams:
KINGS PARK RANGERS FC:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Hayden West., Noah Collard., Joshua Pollard., Matthew Southwell., Nicholas Ingram., Nicholas Farthing., Evan Collard., Daniel Cunnigham (C)., Ben Cannell., Adam Hampson., Bailey Last.
Manager: John Pollard.
Assistant Manager: Jamie Dobkin.
Used Substitutes: Reumel Codrington., Joshua Jones., Saburi Adeniji., Anthony Fox., Anthony Spyrou.
HATFIELD PEVEREL FC.
Colours: Yellow Shirts, Yellow Shorts and Yellow Socks.
Team:
Toby Phillips., Benjamin Ricketts., George Pretty (C)., Joshua Hayward., Miley Smith-Lightfoot., Kieran Sampaney., Jake Rose., Kieran Williams., Harry Page., Conor Walton., Caden Havell-Olding.
Manager: Steve Pretty.
Assistant Manager: Terry Haydon
Used Substitutes: Steven Johnson., Joseph Davis., Charlie Currie., James Kenny., Kalend Yav-Kalonji.
Referee: Lewis Earl.
Assistant Referees: Jody Downs & Adam Mehmet.
STAR PLAYER: Daniel CUNNINGHAM (KINGS PARK RANGERS FC)
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