15/04/2022 – REPORT – RESERVE KO CUP FINAL

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

RESERVE CUP FINAL

WEST BERGHOLT FC RESERVES 0. BRANTHAM ATHLETIC FC “A” 0.

PENALTIES: 3 – 0

Date: Friday 15^th April 2022. Venue: War Memorial, Little Oakley.

Well, we have made it to the first Cup Final of the season, but not without some decisions having to be made by the League Management Committee, with both contesting teams getting to the final by default! That said, both teams, West Bergholt FC Reserves, from Division One and Brantham Athletic FC “A” from Division Three served up a fine final, goal-less at full-time with the higher ranked team prevailing by scoring their first three spot kicks, whilst Brantham missed their three!

Once again, the venue for an ESBFL Cup Final was the well-appointed ground at Little Oakley FC, the ESBFL would like to thank the Club for allowing use of their facilities and for supplying the after-match refreshments.

On a bright, sunny, April morning in front of a decent crowd, the Match Officials were the experienced, and former Football League Referee, John Magill who was ably assisted by Aaron Mills and Paul Sadler with Lee Webb acting as Fourth Official. For a change the respective teams, lined up then fist-pumped before kick-off.

West Bergholt kicked-off, Bryan sent in an early cross from the left side, Goddard chested the ball down and Lewis struck a fine low shot that was beaten away by a fine save at full stetch by Brantham keeper, Hunt. The corner was cleared away up-field and Brantham broke forward through Davis whose rasping shot was blocked, the ball fell to Locke whose shot straight at keeper, Mitson, a lively start then with chances at both ends, let’s hope this continues, some finals can be a dour event as teams do not want to lose. Jenkins and Locke teamed up through midfield with Davis getting in the way of the shot from Locke for a goal-kick. Wilding and Davis then produced a flowing move down the left side with only a weak shot from Davis to show for some attacking endeavour. Davis fouled Clarke, Murrells took the free-kick finding Bryan whose cross was met at the far post by Lewis, whose own header was back across the goal to Goddard who headed over the cross-bar. The left-footed distribution from Bloomfield, today, playing in central defence, was accurate, picking out Bryan down the left side, Gibson won a big tackle against Goddard to set Davis away, but Hurley recovered to defend at the expense of a corner. It seems that today, the new weapon of choice is the “long-throw-in”, Wilding launched one for Brantham, Locke headed on but Murrells headed clear and West Bergholt broke with Goddard sending in a cross, blocked by Orman, for a corner, taken by Smith finding Bloomfield running in at pace but Locke headed the goal-bound effort away for another corner. When Leslie and Jenkins clashed heads, the match was stopped, to be restarted with Goddard pushing the ball back to keeper, Hunt.

A fine penetrating run with the ball by Wilding from inside his own half caused problems for a retreating West Bergholt defence who were snapping at his heels, Hurley stopped that foray by Wilding, then Davis was late into a challenge on Bloomfield. Brantham belied their lower divisional status by taking the game to West Bergholt, Orman found Locke who stroked the ball wide to Davis whose cross fell to Locke whose header was destined for the top corner until keeper, Mitson reacted to clutch the high ball. With twenty minutes elapsed this game had the makings of a decent match, two committed teams trying to play football, we just needed a goal to shout about. A cross from Locke found Davis who slipped the ball to Wilding whose rising effort crazed the cross-bar above the far post. The trickery and strength of Bryan certainly caused defender Head to be alert, good contest that was becoming, then a shot on the turn from Smith was comfortably held by keeper, Hunt. Wilding won a corner off Bloomfield; Jenkins took the kick finding Wilding with Locke adjudged to have fouled somebody in the six-yard box scramble. Again, Brantham attacked, Orman and Jenkins worked the ball forward to Locke whose pass this time was wayward with Murrells intercepting and when his pass fell to Goddard, there was Pembroke to put in a big challenge and a long driven free-kick taken by Bryan was headed wide by Bloomfield.

At the half-hour mark, Brantham were perhaps the better footballing team, equal possession perhaps, but fewer chances to score, Davis was leading their front line well, backed by good mid-field work from Locke and Wilding. On thirty-five minutes came the first caution, Orman skipped round Puzey, not once but twice with the defender eventually fouling the midfielder, Locke took the free-kick but straight to keeper, Mitson. A first real goal-scoring opportunity for Brantham came in the thirty-seventh minute, Davis set Jenkins through, but keeper Mitson made a fine save when advancing right to the edge of this penalty area to stop the chipped effort towards an unguarded net. A long throw-in from Pembroke fell to Davis who found Wilding, but he scooped the ball over the cross-bar from close range. Bryan made ground before crossing towards Smith and Goddard who probably got in each, others way and only succeeded in fouling keeper, Hunt. Wilding fouled Goddard on the half-way line, Bloomfield sent in a left-footed pass to Brooks whose control let him down and a goal-kick followed, a short one from Hunt to Locke who embarked on a leggy run forward, evading several challenges before Puzey, fairly, stopped his momentum as Brantham were quicker to the ball at this stage just before half-time. Pembroke sent a long ball forward, Davis held the ball up for Wilding whose driven shot was blocked by Bloomfield, a corner taken by Jenkins was easily caught by keeper, Mitson then as the half finished a shot from Locke was blocked by Puzey with Jenkins firing the loose ball well wide.

HALF-TIME: 0 – 0.

Brantham Athletic FC “A” started the second half, Davis, a willing runner up front and also when back to defend, pushed forward to link up with Locke, ending up fouled by Puzey with Locke firing the free-kick well wide from forty yards. When Gibson upended Clarke, West Bergholt were awarded a free-kick about thirty yards from goal, Bloomfield struck a superb left-footed free-kick that whistled just over the cross-bar, a fine effort from the captain. West Bergholt kept up their pressure Bryan ran in from the left side finding Goddard who played the ball wider to Brooks who fired over the goal from a decent angle. A strong run from Wilding saw him make a pass to release Davis, but Puzey thwarted that danger, to concede a throw-in, Pembroke launched the now trade-marked long throw towards Wilding whose tame header was held by keeper, Mitson. Wilding was becoming the driving force through midfield for Brantham, another positive piece of action saw him play the ball to Jenkins who gained a corner off Bloomfield. The corner taken by Jenkins was headed out by Hurley but only to Jenkins, whose next cross was just slightly too high for Davis at the far post. On fifty-five minutes Brantham replaced Head, who had been a rock at the back with Pembroke, with Candy, Puzey impeded another run by Wilding, mid-half with Davis curling his free-kick just over the cross-bar with the same player then typifying the effort of his team by making a fine challenge on Murrells to stop a left sided attack.

On the hour mark, West Bergholt replaced Leslie with Steel, but it was Brantham, through Wilding who then had a glorious chance, Wilding won a tackle inside his own half, strode forward across half-way, bursting through two heavy challenges before sending a fine lobbed effort goal-wards, only for the ball to drift fractionally wide of the right hand upright. Keeper, Mitson almost made a big error of judgement when running out to a high bouncing ball, which went over him, with Wilding just unable to control the loose ball in front of the open goal. The Wilding, Davis combination was clearly the threat from Brantham with Davis shooting over, then when play switched to the other end, Bryan jinxed his way down the left side, sending in a fine low cross which fell behind no fewer than three team-mates running into the penalty area, its time to mention that final ball phrase! With twenty-three minutes remaining Brantham replaced Orman with Good, Candy took a free-kick after Bryan was adjudged to have held back Jenkins, however at least three Brantham players were caught off-side. Keeper, Mitson played the ball wide to Murrells who sent the ball long towards Goddard and Bryan with the latter player fouled by Candy, wide on the left side.

Bryan, a clever player with a few tricks, was always looking for a ball he could chase and from another decent run and cross, Goddard headed goal-wards but failed to trouble keeper, Hunt, standing on his goal-line. Twelve minutes remained when West Bergholt replaced Brooks with Asare-Bebiako, Wilding again in the thick of a mid-field breakdown, ran purposefully forward to release Good, through on goal, he was denied by a fine save by keeper, Mitson who helped the rising ball over the cross-bar. Brantham replaced the tiring Davis with Manners with ten minutes remaining, Davis had been a constant threat and played well throughout, with the first action from Manners being a fine run and cross from the right side, just a shame there were none of his team players there to capitalise. This game was still end to end, it seemed that just one chance was needed to seal a victory, Goddard turned to shoot but Pembroke was well placed to block for a corner, taken by Clarke with Wilding heading clear. Wilding picked up a late caution for a clumsy challenge on Bloomfield, whose free-kick troubled nobody, and the match ended goal-less and so to penalties.

FULL TIME: 0 – 0.

West Bergholt FC Reserves Brantham Athletic FC “A”

Owen Bryan Scores 1 – 0 Taylor Locke Mitson saves 1 – 0
Johnny Murrells Scores 2 – 0 Ben Manners Missed 2 – 0
Luke Bloomfield Scores 3 – 0 Alex Gibson Missed 3 – 0

PENALTIES: 3 – 0

I’m sure that the assembled crowd would have enjoyed this morning’s entertainment, Division Three, Brantham Athletic FC “A” had given a good account of themselves against Division One, West Bergholt FC “A”. During the actual match neither side could break the deadlock, some good attacking football and some good defending and goalkeeping, the match was played in a good spirit and well refereed and allowed to flow by referee John Magill.

Now, let’s turn to my “Star Players, it’s a Cup Final so it is only fair that I pick a player from each team, for West Bergholt FC Reserves, the more experienced players, Murrells, Bryan, and Bloomfield guided their younger players for an overall team effort, however Captain, Bloomfield epitomised that determination with a sound overall performance from defence. For Brantham Athletic FC “A”, another team performance, again Captain, Pembroke led from the back, Davis was a willing runner and goal threat throughout but in midfield, Wilding was outstanding breaking forward whenever possible and also being a goal threat.

Teams:

WEST BERGHOLT FC RESERVES:

Colours: Orange Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Andrew Mitson., Alex Hurley., Johnny Murrells., Jake Puzey., Luke Bloomfield (C)., Henry Clarke., Brandon Leslie., Harry Smith., Paul Goddard., Owen Bryan., Lewis Brooks.

Manager: Matthew Puzey

Used Substitutes: Montell Asare-Bebiako, Joe Steel

Unused Substitutes: George-Codrin Ponta., Ben Lawton. Charlie Farthing

BRANTHAM ATHLETIC FC “A”

Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Stuart Hunt., Justin Davis., Ashley Uren., Mason Head., Jason Pembroke (C)., Edward Smith., Alex Gibson., Taylor Locke., harry Jenkins., James Wilding., Jamie Orman

Acting Manager: Joel Andrews

Used Substitutes: Robert Candy., Matthew Good., Ben Manners.

Unused Substitute: George Sykes., Ben Carragher

Referee: John Magill

Referee Assistants: Aaron Mills & Paul Sadler

4^th Official: Lee Webb

Star Player/s: Luke BLOOMFIELD (WEST BERGHOLT FC RESERVES)

James WILDING (BRANTHAM ATHLETIC FC “A”)