14/12/2024 – REPORT – Hatfield Peverel FC Reserves versus Barnston AFC Reserves
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION THREE
HATFIELD PEVEREL FA RESERVES. 5. BARNSTON AFC RESERVES. 2.
Date: Saturday 14th December 2024.
Venue: Keith Bigden Memorial Ground, Hatfield Peverel.
After three weekends on family duty, it was back for a first foray into Division Three, leaders Hatfield Peverel FC Reserves were playing host to third placed Barnston AFC Reserves, a team that is gradually being put together with youth being the key. The hosts had signed two new players recently and in Dingli, had the ESBFL leading goal-scorer with thirty-two goals from fourteen games, naturally I was expecting a close match, the score-line suggests otherwise but read on!
On a cold afternoon with no sign of rain the pitch at Hatfield Peverel looked in very good condition, the Club have made big strides in recent years to improve their facilities and the sight of a mini digger, on the perimeter was there to help the club volunteers to erect new fencing around the main pitch.
The match official was Chris Warren, this is his second season on the ESBFL and so far, he said he had enjoyed every match, today he would be assisted by two Club Assistants, and they did a good job too.
Barnston kicked off, with Myers (G) having a shot at goal from twenty-five yards that was relatively easy for keeper, Rolfe to gather, a corner taken by Currie was palmed away by visiting keeper, Haines, another corner followed, this time Sheppard put in a block and the ball was cleared up field where Myers (G) gave chase, but ran into a tackle from Garey. The first five minutes, this open game had seen both teams trying to pass the ball around with purpose, long may it continue, keeper, Haines saved a low shot from the left foot of Currie, Barnston were relying on the presence of Fisher in central midfield with the forward outlet being sixteen year old, Myers (G) who chased everything all game whilst his twin brother put in a big shift in midfield in the first half. On ten minutes Myers (A) sent the ball long down the right side, Myers (G) reached the ball first and sent in a deep cross that went behind the goal for a goal kick, at the defensive end Reid had to be alert as Dingli threatened, a corner followed, taken by Kenny towards Garey, another corner followed taken by Currie but the shot from Leeder was blocked and another corner was awarded. Currie swung the ball over, left footed and curling towards goal, the ball ended up in the net and seemingly Dingli was seen taking the handshakes, but the goalmouth was very congested to ascertain who, did actually score, that opening goal, the Club have awarded it to CHARLIE CURRIE though.
Reading had to defend on two occasions against the quick moving Myers (G) who gained a throw-in then a corner, Howatt also played in Myers (G), but Garey stuck out a long leg to stop the attack and the visitors were undaunted by being a goal behind and pushed forward whenever they could. Perhaps that tactic left them exposed as a long through ball out of defence fell between defenders Reid and Bretman which allowed new signing HARRY ARNOLD a free run at goal and the hosts were two goals ahead. Barnston hit back and a fine dribble by Mayo from which a fine cross followed, this was met by Howatt who forced Leeder to concede a corner inside very crowded penalty area. A forward ball from Lock found Myers (G) who was fouled by Garey, the free kick taken by Bretman was overhit and any danger passed, until an under-hit back pass from Harvey, left keeper Rolfe in a one-on-one with Myers (G), the keepers attempt to block saw the ball hit GEORGE MYERS, who despite falling to the ground, got up to put the ball into the empty net. Hatfield Peverel hit back as one would expect, a fine cross from Blakey-Sewell fell to the unmarked Arnold who placed the ball wide of the goal. On twenty-nine minutes Hatfield Peverel did increase their lead, Myers (A) failed to control a cross-field pass, and this allowed Currie to thread the ball through to HARRY ARNOLD to use his pace against two turning defenders to run on and score his second goal.
Fisher won a midfield challenge against Blakey-Sewell and passed forward to Myers (G), once again Garey was well placed to defend against the lively forward who seemed undaunted by the huge difference in physical presence! Barnston were trying hard, perhaps too hard, to get back into this match, that final pass was either under-hit or struck too long making the home defences job a bit easier. Hayden was pulled up for a tackle from behind on Fisher, who was not amused, tackling from behind was outlawed years ago and it doesn’t matter if you play or reach the ball, it’s still a foul! Howatt had decent run towards goal and earnt a free-kick off Reading, this came to nothing but when Barnston played a “hospital” pass across midfield, there was Arnold picking up the ball, but he could only manage to drag the ball wide of the goal. On thirty-eight minutes Myers (G) ran onto a forward pass, defender Harvey, stepped across the forwards run, impeding him to such an extent that a penalty kick was awarded, Harvey was shown a yellow card and GEORGE MYERS coolly rifled the spot kick home. Minutes later, Myers (G) had another rasping goal bound shot saved by keeper, Rolfe, from the keeper’s clearance, Currie had a long range shot blocked by Fisher, with the ball loose in midfield Dingli switched play wide to the right side from where CHARLIE CURRIE scored with a left footed shot that left keeper, Haines, flat-footed to an effort he probably should have saved! This had been a decent first half, played by two young teams that wanted to play constructive football, and you could see why they are both doing well this season, let’s hope the second half is the same.
HALF-TIME: 4 – 2.
Barnston made two changes at half-time, off went Myers (A) and Sheppard who were replaced by Tetteh and Riches and having kicked-off Hatfield Peverel pushed forward, Kenny found Dingli, which resulted in a corner taken by Currie and cleared by Bretman. A run with the ball by Thurston saw his forward pass towards Tetteh being over-hit but the defender had run nearly eighty yards to get there! Hayden played the ball wide to Currie whose, cross was behind Arnold and Bretman cleared, Arnold ran across the edge of the penalty area, a couple of defenders had a nibble at the ball, but no free kick followed as the player still had possession. Mayo for Barnston pushed forward again, Myers (G) had found space outside the penalty area, looking up he sent a fine curling goal-bound effort that keeper, Rolfe saved under the corner of the bar and right side upright, a good effort though. When Dingli worked his way through the visitors, defence, there was keeper, Haines advancing to take the ball off the forwards feet, taking a knock to the head in the process.
On sixty minutes, more substitutions, Harvey was replaced by Rogers for the home team, and Barnston changed Mayo and Fisher for Rosewell and Spencer. From the restart, Arnold forced a corner off Howatt, Thurston cleared the corner and Bretman did well to contain Arnold when he threatened again. A long run and shot from Blakey-Sewell was saved by the feet of keeper, Haines, Kenny took the corner and defender Bretman thrashed the ball away but only to Leeder whose pass found Arnold but his effort was saved by keeper, Haines, who conceded a corner. Had Barnston tired or had Hatfield Peverel increased the tempo, the home team had most of the possession now, a cross from Leeder was heading towards Dingli, until Bretman stepped in to head clear. Keeper, Haines made a fine save to deny Dingli who was running through, and when play switched to the other end a shot from Riches was saved by keeper, Rolfe and end-to-end service had resumed when a cross from Arnold was headed wide by Dingli as Tetteh challenged.
With fifteen minutes remaining Hatfield Peverel made another player change, Reading being replaced by Wombwell-Grant and five minutes later a triple substitution, off went Hayden, Kenny and Dingli to be replaced by Mkanola, Ratcliffe and Webb. On eighty-three minutes, Hatfield Peverel were awarded a penalty when Arnold was fouled, Bretman, picked up a yellow card in the process, Arnold, took hold of the ball looking to score and make it a hat-trick but keeper Haines thought otherwise and kept up his one hundred percent saving rate when he pushed the ball up and over the crossbar! Mkanola raised a high foot against Reid and five minutes remained when Myers (G) and Howatt linked up and showed they were still very lively and eager to get forward. A corner taken by Howatt was cleared and Leeder was forced to clear off his goal line as Howatt beat the keeper with a low effort and Barnston mounted a late surge. Hatfield Peverel put the finishing touch to the match with a fine goal, keeper, Rolfe launched the ball long to Arnold, having controlled the ball he looked up and played the ball wide to JOE WEBB who ran on to beat the keeper, who had no chance to save. Did Barnston stop, not at all and once again defender Leader had to come to his teams rescue stopping a goal bound effort from Howatt and Myers (G) whose low shot had been only partially saved by keeper, Rolfe.
FULL TIME: 5 – 2.
Forget the scoreline, yes, Hatfield Peverel could have had six goals, if you count the saved penalty but Barnston were always in this game, their young players certainly played as a team and on another day would take more of their chances this against a more experienced home team, that had to defend throughout this match, a match which was a credit to both teams and the division.
Turning to my Star Player, two players stood out throughout, both scored twice and played well, that is Arnold for Hatfield Peverel and Myers (G) for Barnston, so this week it’s shared.
Teams:
HATFIELD PEVEREL FC RESERVES
Colours: Blue & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Jamie Rolfe., Woody Reading., Luke Harvey., Thomas Garey., John Leader (C)., Thomas Hayden., Nathaniel Blakey-Sewell., Harry Arnold., Charlie Currie., James Kenny., Oliver Dingli.
Management: Owen Dawson and Paul Rolfe.
Used Substitutes: Ndumiso Mkanola., Liam Rogers., Reece Ratcliffe., Joe Webb., Ryan Wombwell- Grant.
BARNSTON AFC RESERVES.
Colours: Orange Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
George Haines., Mason Lock., Teddie Bretman., Huey Reid., Caleb Mayo., Luke Thurston., Mason Howatt., Scott Fisher (C)., George Myers., Dominic Shepherd.
Management: Adam Lock and James Crowley.
Used Substitutes: Conor Rosewell., Emmanuel Tetteh., Thomas Riches., Aaron Spencer.
Referee: Chris Warren.
STAR PLAYER: Harry ARNOLD (HATFIELD PEVEREL FC RESERVES)
And George MYERS (BARNSTON AFC RESERVES)
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