15/10/2019 – REPORT – Little Oakley FC Reserves versus Dedham Old Boys FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION.

LITTLE OAKLEY FC RESERVES: 1. DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC: 4.

Date: Tuesday 15^th October 2019. Venue: War Memorial Ground, Little Oakley.

It’s a mid-week lottery perhaps when Premier Division teams are scheduled to play under floodlights, last night it was the turn of Little Oakley FC Reserves (10^th) who hosted Dedham Old Boys FC (9^th). Clearly both teams were understrength judging by the players that had played on Saturday, the hosts included at least three players from their new “Academy” and the visitors had at least four Reserve team players in their line-up.

A damp, but clearing evening welcomed everyone to the well-appointed War Memorial Ground, the pitch, as usual looked in fine fettle or in other words in good nick! The match officials for this match were Adrian Arnot, Craig Gorman and Harry Arnot and with just three cautions their evening was largely uneventful as the visitors ran out by a four-goals to one score-line, a score-line I did not see coming after the first twenty minutes, I suppose it’s all about taking chances!

Little Oakley kicked-off and we had a frenetic start with football flowing end to end but nothing clear-cut resulted, a well-intentioned cross from Welham only found keeper, Sims who cleared downfield towards Harte who was fouled by Peat. Harte took the free-kick but played the ball straight to keeper, Henly, already commanding his penalty area, however, Keeble, in his attempt to win the ball, only succeeded in planting a raised foot into the chest of the stricken keeper who continued after some treatment with Keeble being spoken too. Palmer, a recent returnee from down the road at Harwich was acting as play maker for the young home team and from his first telling pass he found Sargent who set up Aldridge who side-footed into the side netting, decent chance though as Dedham stood off. Harte fouled Oscar and the free-kick from Bethell found Peters who headed wide, another decent chance as he was unmarked inside the penalty area. Palmer won a corner off Parker, Palmer took the kick with Sargent fouling Went with both players spoken too then Windred headed a cross from Palmer, on to keeper, Henly. Caudill fouled Bethell mid-half and once again the home team started from a deep position with Palmer bringing the ball forward. Caudill then fouled Parker with Ruffles playing the free-kick into the penalty area where Harte headed clear for a corner, taken by Went to Oscar, Harte cleared again for another corner, taken again by Went but straight to keeper, Sims. Halsey fouled Palmer and Little Oakley built again through Palmer, but Parker booted the danger clear, conceding possession and the home team pressed again, Smith (W) had to back-track to defend, conceding a corner, taken by Palmer to Wall at the far post but his return cross flew behind for a goal-kick. When Windred got the ball forward to Aldridge, his control was good, but the shot was weak and keeper, Henly caught the ball easily. Welham was caught off-side as the fortunes of Dedham changed, as having weathered the early pressure they felt confident to attack themselves, may have been the axis of the moon which had now emerged from behind a cloud to lighten up the sky. Bethell and Caudill were caught up in an unfair tussle, Bethell took the free-kick with the ball glancing off the head of Welham to keeper, Sims. Palmer found Sargent in space but Bethell covered the danger, and when the ball crossed the half-way line Windred and Peat challenged for the ball, Peat committed the foul but Windred was cautioned for his retaliatory flick. Parker, in central defence covered for Dedham just as Caudill used his pace to run round Bethell and as Dedham moved to the other end Smith (W) sent in a long range shot that fizzed just wide of the right hand upright.

On thirty minutes, we witnessed the closest we had been to a goal, Palmer looked up, thirty yards out and lobbed the ball goal-wards, keeper, Henly was way off his goal-line, the ball struck the right-hand post and rebounded towards keeper, Henly who having caught the ball was flattened by Aldridge who was cautioned for his high challenge. Smith (W) was late into a challenge on Sullivan, but his team cleared the danger to set up Peters who raced away beating two defenders to lay the ball back to Peat who thrashed the ball way over the cross-bar, the Astro pitch and more, a decent attack with a poor finish. Dedham keeper, Henly launched a long clearance to Welham who nodded down to Oscar but before he could react home keeper, Sims was out to take the ball away, just on the edge of his penalty area, good goal-keeping by anticipating how the attack might pan out. A break from Caudill saw him delay his chance to cross which allowed Halsey to get back and block the ball and move forward to pass the ball to Smith (W) who was felled by Keeble just on the half-way line. On thirty-eight minutes Oscar, who had been injured a few minutes earlier, limped off with Reserve Team Manager, Tarling entering the game for Dedham. Within a minute Dedham took the lead, Welham started the move, pushing the ball down the right side, Peters, I think it was, sent in a bouncing cross which defender Keeble failed to clear and MATTHEW HALSEY stretched behind with his right leg to curl a goal-bound effort past keeper, Sims. From the restart Halsey fouled Palmer, who took the free-kick himself, but Parker headed clear with additional distance if only to use up the last few seconds of the first half.

HALF TIME: 0 – 1

There were no changes to playing personnel at the second half restart and Tarling sent a deep cross goal-wards which keeper, Sims held and from his clearance Palmer, Aldridge and Sullivan worked the ball forward to find REECE HARTE who rifled a left-footed shot goal-wards, the ball striking the left hand upright before finding the back of the net, with keeper, Henly well beaten. This game remained, fairly open with defences doing their job and the midfield was cancelling each other out as play switched from end to end. A quick break by Sargent for Little Oakley led to Harte sending in a shot which keeper, Henly saved at full stretch, then at the other end break by Peters almost put Peat through but in his haste to score he fouled keeper, Sims. Aldridge had the ball in the Dedham net on fifty-three minutes, but the flag was raised for an obvious off-side decision, Parker had to defend against the lively Aldridge as the home team tried to gain the lead. A corner taken by Palmer found Caudill who played the ball back to Palmer whose driven shot was saved by keeper, Henly. With Parker, injured and out of position, Peat was cautioned for a foul on Keeble with Parker returning soon after following treatment.

Right on the hour mark, Dedham took the lead, BOBBY BETHELL intercepted a loose clearance, ran forward and after a neat interchange of passes with Peters and Smith (W) across the edge of the Little Oakley penalty area he struck a left-footed strike past keeper, Sims running off to celebrate as only Bethell can! On sixty-five minutes Dedham attacked again, Bethell found Peters who in turn found Smith (W) whose rasping volley drifted just wide. Another goal followed on sixty-seven minutes, the home defence stood still looking for an off-side flag which did not come which allowed WILLIAM SMITH to run on to round keeper, Sims for number three. I think we were a bit surprised by this turn-around, Little Oakley did have chances, not clear-cut whereas Dedham had taken their chances in very quick time and could perhaps relax and defend, not sure if that is ever a good idea though! Little Oakley replaced Harte with Roots with twenty minutes remaining, Windred hit a long free-kick to keeper, Henly and the effect of Palmer was again nullified by good defending by Peat and Parker.

The last fifteen minutes might be crucial, there were some tired legs on the pitch, Little Oakley replaced Aldridge with Smith (M) whilst Dedham replaced Bethell with Brown, but the home team had resorted to a long ball approach allowing Parker and keeper, Henly to sweep things up for Dedham. With eight minutes to play Dedham replaced Peat with Campbell but before he could get involved Little Oakley were awarded a penalty, it looked a soft decision when Peters was adjudged to have fouled Palmer however, Palmer placed the ball down before thrashing he ball way over the cross-bar, pretty much summing up the home teams, plight. Some hefty challenges came in from both teams, Parker on Windred and vice-versa as we edged towards the end however, a clearance by the home team was charged down and when the ball fell at the feet of KEIR BROWN, about forty-five yards from goal he looked up, saw the keeper ten yards out of his penalty area, then lobbed a fine effort into the back of the net, a great strike, this from probably only his third touch of the ball, game over, as they say.

FULL TIME: 1 – 4.

On the balance of play, Dedham deserved this victory, they move up to a heady fifth place, both teams might claim to have been understrength for a number of reasons but these things even each other out over the course of the game, which was not a classic but did show endeavour from both sets of players.

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, Palmer, for Little Oakley, always seems to play well when I visit, keeper Sims, despite nursing a slight injury from the weekend was given little chance with any of the goals as his defence struggled after the first twenty minutes. The home, midfield, were stopped by a determined Dedham pack which consequently gave little service to the home forwards. Dedham, after that early spell of being under pressure asserted themselves particularly after half-time, scoring three goals with one conceded, in open play, the last a real cracker from Brown. So who stood out, well Parker belied his age, not my words, to give a commanding defensive display, the whole team worked hard but Smith (W) caught my eye for a, workmanlike display, even if I did originally report that it was Peters who scored the third goal, something we put right in the bar afterwards.

Teams:

LITTLE OAKLEY FC RESERVES: Colours: Blue & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Sam Sims., Chris Wall., Theo Sanderson., Mark Palmer., Harry Windred (C)., Dan Keeble., Reece Harte., Tyler Sullivan., Isaac Aldridge., Miles Sargent., Josh Caudill.

Manager: Matthew Windred.

Used Substitutes: Daniel Roots., Mitchell Smith.

Unused Substitutes: Nathan Kioussis

DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC: Colours: Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.

Will Henly., Bobby Bethell., James Ruffles., James parker., John-Joseph Peat., Henry Welham (C)., Liam Peters., Mathew Halsey., William Smith., Luke Oscar., Myles Went.

Manager: Luke Tuttlebee.

Assistant Manager: Daniel Coote.

Used Substitutes: Darren Tarling., Keir Brown., Robbie Campbell.

Unused Substitute: Nathan Moodie

Referee: Adrian Arnot.

Assistant Referees: Craig Gorman

And Harry Arnot

Player of the Match: William SMITH (DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC)

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Additional Reporting:

YOU TUBE., FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

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