16/04/2022 – REPORT – Great Bradfords FC versus High Roding FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION FIVE

GREAT BRADFORDS FC:           1.                 HIGH RODING FC:         2.

Date:   Saturday 16^th April 2022.                   Venue:             The Bell Inn, Panfield.          

            It’s now late in the season and there were two new teams in Division Five, who entered the competition this season, that I had not been to see, not for the want of trying though as several previous attempts were thwarted by COVID, or the weather. This Saturday the weather was a balmy, warm afternoon so I travelled to Panfield to watch third placed Great Bradfords FC play second placed High Roding FC, a win for the visitors in their last game would ensure promotion but a win for the home team and two further victories could see them finish second. The Division has been won by Roman Rovers FC, another new Club this season but a tight contest that has literally to the wire, in fact High Roding FC lost three of their opening four matches but have been undefeated in the league since then, likewise Great Bradfords FC have plugged away all season and before today had only lost three matches as well, so a close game was expected and witnessed.

            The referee for this “runners-up” match on a compact, hard, and bumpy pitch, was Mariusz Buchan who would be assisted by Club Assistants, a big crowd was already present when I arrived as a Mid-Essex match was already in play, the atmosphere was friendly, and I received a warm welcome from both Clubs representatives.

            Great Bradfords FC kicked off down the slight slope, Lightly, sent a searching ball forward with visiting keeper Durak quickly out of his penalty area to clear, the home team forced the first corner comfortably cleared by Pardoe, one of many tall players in the High Roding team. Scott for the home team rode his luck through two tackles before shooting well wide but this attacking start was a welcome change and High Roding soon got into top gear themselves. Donaldson, who had played in the Premier Division earlier this season showed a clean pair of heels to defender Breen and his pace and trickery would be seen whenever he was on the ball. A high ball into the High Roding penalty area was treated like a ping-pong ball before it was cleared away for another home corner, this game was already fast and furious as High Roding broke up the slope to gain a corner off Gray, taken by Burgess to Donaldson who gained another corner on the far side, taken by Sanger but headed wide at the far post by Smith (B), this ball is too hot to handle! Burgess fouled Breen wide on the left-side, but the free-kick taken by Scott sent too wide, to be retrieved by Lightly, whose cross was cleared.

             Burgess sent a long ball forward, Donaldson gave chase but keeper, Smith (H) was quickly out to the edge of his penalty area to collect the ball, from his clearance Breen sent in a long range shot from thirty yards but well wide of the target. Hemmings collected a mid-field pass to set up Jones whose shot was initially blocked with the same player heading the loose ball over the cross-bar, both teams had already expended a lot of effort in warm conditions. Mills was forced to defend deep when Donaldson set off on a run down the right side having been released by Liddiatt, then Smith (B) chased a long ball forward sending the ball into Sanger with Breen heading his cross clear. The opening goal came on twenty-five minutes, Sanger worked his way down the right side before sending in a fine cross that was met by a thumping header from BEN SMITH, there was no stopping that goal, a great header. Great Bradfords countered with Jones making ground down the right side finding Lightly who really should have scored but Pardoe cleared off his goal-line with keeper, Durak already beaten. Hiskey took out Lightly inside the centre-circle, one for the team perhaps, as the home team pressed forward, Scott took the free-kick with keeper, Durak punching clear in a most unorthodox manner!

            Smith (B) won a mid-field challenge finding Sanger who shot wide of the mark, then Morter, Lightly and Smith (G) interchanged passes before Smith (G) placed his cross too high and too far to be of any danger. McClelland blocked a shot from Smith (G) after a run and cross from Jones and at the other end Burgess set up Smith (B) whose well struck shot was fumbled by keeper, Smith (H) who conceded a corner. The corner, taken by Donaldson was in advertently headed back into the six-yard by Breen where Hiskey released a firm shot that was blocked by Breen, making up for his earlier error. When there was a clash of heads involving Dixon and Liddiatt, play was stopped, both players recovered to return to the action almost immediately. Burgess rifled a shot from outside the penalty area towards keeper, Smith (H) who held on to the ball this time, then a throw-in from Burgess was headed on by Smith (B) with Hemmings forced into conceding a corner, which the home team cleared right on half-time.

HALF-TIME:    0 – 1.

            At the second half re-start, High Roding replaced Jackson with Webb and the loose arm of Smith (B) accidentally struck the nose of Scott who laid on the ground for some time before recovering his senses. The game was somewhat disjointed for a few minutes, stray passes, no control of the ball on the bumpy pitch and very little real football, that did change fortunately. Mills made a fine pass to find Jones racing down the right side, but Evans made a clinical interception, but the predictive long forward towards Smith (B) was becoming too regular and Great Bradfords countered by putting a player both in front and behind the target player. A cross from Scott found Jones in an unmarked position but he scuffed the chance wide whilst Liddiatt went on a fine run, lost the ball, chased back to win it back, getting past Scott, but not Morter. A long throw-in from Scott forced keeper, Durak to palm the ball away for a corner and on fifty-seven minutes High Roding replaced Pardoe with Passley who was immediately in action crossing towards Donaldson who missed the chance, but the ball hit an unsighted defender who handled the ball inside the penalty area. A soft decision perhaps, but within the letter of the current laws, nevertheless, all was forgotten when keeper, Smith (H) made a fine save from the spot-kick taken by Sanger.

            On sixty-three minutes, the deserved equaliser came about, pressure from Scott and Lightly on the left side, saw the home Captain, KIERON SCOTT, have a punt at goal, a bit speculative but keeper, Durak fumbled the ball over his head and into the unguarded net, game on, there was not between these two teams at this stage. A corner from Sanger, once again found the head of Smith (B) who thought he had scored but for the goal-line clearance by Breen, with Donaldson closing in. Scott was again in the wars when he was clattered by Smith (B) inside his own penalty area, more treatment was given before Scott limped back into the action. Keeper, Smith (H) was forced to save at the feet of Burgess after a good run forward from a defensive berth. A run and cross from Donaldson, again found Smith (B) whose header was saved by keeper, Smith (H) who dived on the loose ball, six yards out.

            Liddiatt, showed some determination and tried to set up Donaldson who was fouled just outside the penalty area, Hiskey took the free-kick, but the home team cleared their defensive lines, Dixon then fouled Burgess just outside the penalty area, Donaldson floated in the free-kick but the ever dangerous, Smith (B) headed over the cross-bar. With ten minutes to go Kayley replaced Lightly and both Managers were getting animated as chances came and went, the next goal could well decide this match although a share of the points would, in my opinion, have been fair. Keeper, Smith (H) rode his luck when he came out of his penalty area as Donaldson raced through, then Donaldson held the ball up well for Smith (B) who turned to fire over the cross-bar. With three minutes of normal time remaining, High Roding scored, two Great Bradfords players, dwelt on the ball then followed a misplaced pass across the half-way line, Hiskey intercepted the cross-field ball and sent a defence splitting pass to Smith (B) who controlled the ball, striking a fierce shot goal-wards, keeper, Smith (H) who made a fine attempt to save but could only parry the shot and MYLES PASSLEY, was on hand to force the ball over the goal-line and que some wild celebrations from the visitors contingent. Karr came on for High Roding when Hiskey was substituted, earning a caution for not leaving the pitch at the closest place from the pitch, that’s the rule folks! Donaldson was cautioned for kicking the ball away, delaying the restart from a free-kick and Scott followed him into the referee’s notebook as time slipped away with Great Bradfords giving Coleman a brief run-out when he replaced Hemmings.

FULL TIME:     1 – 2.

            A close encounter indeed, as I said with minutes to go, a draw would have been fair, but you could almost feel that there would be late drama, that said, I must commend both teams for serving up a right royal battle, conditions were not easy, but every player worked hard throughout, remember this was Division Five, there have been some good teams in that Division this season.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player, I’m not going to beat about the bush, Ben Smith of High Roding FC was outstanding throughout.

Teams:

GREAT BRADFORDS FC:       

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

Team:

Hadley Smith., George Smith., Joseph Jon Hemmings., Oliver Dixon., Luke Jones., Kieron Scott., Sam Lightly., Jack Morter (C)., Harry Mills., Aidan Breen., Stefan Gray.

Manager:                      Jon Holland.

Used Substitute:             Michael Kayley., Danial Coleman

HIGH RODING FC:

Colours:                        Light Blue & White Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Lukasz Durak., Callum Pardoe., Josh Burgess., Charlie Evans., Jim McClelland., Liam Liddiatt., Scott Hiskey (C)., Ben Smith., Aaron Donaldson., Steve Jackson., Harry Sanger.

Manager:                      Brian Daden.

Used Substitutes:           Sam Karr., Reece Webb., Myles Passley.

Unused Substitutes:       Reiss Wilkes., Alex Clayden.

Referee:                        Mariusz Burchan.

Star Player:                Ben SMITH                  (HIGH RODING FC)

REMINDERS:

MATCH NOTIFICATIONS

Fixture Secretaries of Clubs are required to notify all match details, date, venue, kick-off time, colours etc, to their opposition and any appointed official/s, at least FIVE days before the match.

KICK-OFF TIMES

April, to end of season:                                      15:00pm

ESBFL CUP TIES:                                                           30 minutes earlier, if necessary.

ECFA CUP TIES:                                                            Kick-Off as advertised

CUP TIES

There will be NO requirement for “Extra-Time” to be played in Cup Matches, if scores are level at the end of “normal time” the match will proceed directly to penalty kicks.

SUBSTITUTES

The ESBFL continues to allow FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named before kick-off but only “THREE SUBSTITUTES” may be allowed to participate.

Note:

In Essex County Cups (Premier & Junior) the Rule allows FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named and those FIVE SUBSTITUTUES may be used on a “Roll-On / Roll-Off” basis.

TEAM SHEETS

Team Sheets should be shown or sent to the Referee and the Opposition team either by text, email etc

The BLUE “League Copy” of the Team Sheet should be sent by First Class Post to reach Mick Willmore by the Thursday after a Saturday match, this is the ONLY item of correspondence that is required by post.

RESULTS REPORTING

Rule 21(B)

BOTH Clubs shall notify/SMS the result of each Competition Match to the Competition within 30 minutes of the finish of the match. This will include Football Association and County Football Association matches. The results of all League and Cup matches in the Competition should be reported by the FA Full-Time “SMS” (text) System. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

FA FULL-TIME

The Referees marks, team, players, substitutes, goal scorers, red / yellow cards, and sin-bin, etc MUST be entered to FA Full-Time by the end of the Tuesday following a Saturday match (ie 48 hours after any match). Failure to complete FAFT correctly and on time WILL incur a League Fine/s.

DISCIPLINE

Since the start of the season there have been 45+ players dismissed and over 600 cautions, there have also been several incidences of misconduct towards players, Match officials, members of the public and county officials. These are situations the ESBFL Management feel very strongly about, and the statistics make poor reading, the ECFA will deal with all these cases as deemed appropriate but bear in mind these actions can be very costly both for players and your, Clubs.

WHOLE GAME SYSTEM (“WGS”)

All Club Secretaries should check “WGS” on a regular basis, if you don’t, the ECFA levy a fine (25%) for late acknowledgements and payments of fines and the Club could be put into a “SINE-DIE” situation meaning they cannot play until those debts are cleared.

Club Secretaries are also responsible for adding the matches missed by players who have been suspended.

Whilst the ESBFL regularly reviews the whole Club contents on “WGS” it is not their responsibility to monitor failures by Member Clubs to follow basic procedure/s.

REFRESHMENTS

Rule 20A Refreshments for BOTH teams and Match Officials MUST be provided by the home Club at half time unless these are declined before the game. Clubs in default shall be fined.