16/05/2024 – REPORT – BBC ESSEX PREMIER CUP FINAL = BRIGHTLINGSEA TOWN FC (1) RAYLEIGH TOWN FC (3)
ESSEX COUNY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.
“BBC” ESSEX PREMIER CUP – FINAL.
BRIGHTLINGSEA TOWN FC. 1. RAYLEIGH TOWN FC. 3.
Date: Wednesday 15th May 2024. Venue: Aveley FC, Parkside, South Ockenden.
Commiserations go to Brightlingsea Town FC who lost by three goals to one against Essex Olympian Football League, Champions, Rayleigh Town FC, in the final of the BBC Essex Premier Cup, played at the impressive Parkside Stadium, home of Aveley FC on Wednesday evening. The last ESBFL team to lift that impressive trophy was Gas Recreation FC back in season 2012/2013 when they beat Wadham Lodge FC at Billericay Town FC, I remember it well!
Rayleigh Town FC sit top of their Leagues, Premier Division, with just three defeats all season, and they have scored in all but two matches all season, to reach this final they had beaten Halstead Town FC (Development)., Herongate Athletic FC., Woodford East FC., Manford Way FC., Shenfield Association FC., and Tiptree Heath FC. With their success this season, Rayleigh Town FC applied for and have been promoted to Step 6 of the National League System and will play in the Eastern Counties / Thurlow Nunn Division One South.
Brightlingsea Town, have finished fourth in the ESBFL, Premier Division and to reach this final have beaten Rapid Chingford FC., Galleywood FC., Basildon Town FC Reserves., Catholic United FC and Heybridge Swifts FC Reserves along the way.
The referee for this match, appointed by Essex County FC was Richard Baker, a level four referee, who hails from Colchester, and who passed through the ESBFL on his promotional route, several seasons ago, for this match he was assisted by Joe Wise and Robert Willcocks, who is currently on the ESBFL, Referee Panel, with the Fourth Official being Simon Brickwood.
A decent crowd had gathered on a fine evening in south Essex, my first thought, as the players lined up for the “respect” handshake, was, most of these players are tall and looked fit in the respective pre-match, warm-ups. Brightlingsea Town kicked-off, lost early possession and were indebted to a fine save from keeper, Grove, who saved a fierce shot from Barrett, who latched onto a left wing cross, Rayleigh Town kept the ball well in this early stage and both central defenders, Elliott and Simmons made telling blocks from Little. Acheampong showed his pace against Lee, down the left side, his cross was fielded by keeper, Grove and Bethell picked up the keepers pass out to find Sauka who set up Fosker whose shot took a deflection off Seaden to find keeper, Hudson. Brightlingsea Town weathered that early flurry of attacks, Armstrong fouled Close inside the centre-circle, the free-kick failed to trouble the Rayleigh Town defence who passed the ball out of defence to good effect with Olley and Barrett setting up defender Bazely, whose shot was well over the crossbar. Barrett tried his luck from distance but keeper, Grove was untroubled, Brightlingsea Town then a made a foray forward Ryan sent Sauka clear, or so he thought, but the off-side flag was raised. Close tried to get Fosker through, the chase was just too long, then a forward pass from Griggs fell to Ryan, but he too was caught off-side as Rayleigh Town played a high defensive line.
Rayleigh Town had settled into a routine pattern of play, confident on the ball with players all knowing when and where they should be running, their ability to switch play quickly was evident, Acheampong hitting the ball across the pitch to Little whose early cross was headed back to his own keeper, Grove, by mid-fielder Wallis. Brightlingsea Town were often too eager to get the ball forward, any long ball heading towards tall defenders was too easy and possession was lost, a good dribble by Griggs down the left side saw him crowded out by two defenders. A long throw-in from Larkin, found Armstrong but when turning he fouled Bethell just outside the penalty area, on twenty minutes, keeper, Grove, bravely caught the ball four yards out and was accidentally caught by Barrett but after treatment he was able to continue. Little and Olley in the Rayleigh Town midfield were not just stopping Brightlingsea Town from getting forward but creating attacking options for their own team. A long ball from Close had Sauka scampering away but again the off-side flag was raised, not so a few minutes later when the pace of Sauka saw him clear of the retreating defence, keeper, Hudson, advanced and made a fine save diving to his right, best chance of the game and a fine save to match. Brightlingsea Town, keeper, Grove, was caught outside his penalty area when a poor back-pass left him stranded, Barrett picked up the loose ball, playing it goalwards for Olley to chase but Griggs got there first to clear the ball away for a corner. A rasping shot from Olley from just outside the penalty area, cannoned off Bethell for a corner, taken by Bazely, high and curling towards Barrett, whose knock down fell to Armstrong who headed wide. Rayleigh Town won another free-kick inside the centre-circle, Close on Barrett, Seaden lined up the free-kick, keeper, Grove opted to punch clear and Brightlingsea Town tried to work their way forward and find breaks in more forward areas.
On the half-hour mark, Griggs fouled Seaden down by the corner flag, Bazely took the free-kick but Quick headed a decent chance well wide, when Bethell pushed forward from mid-field his pass forward towards Ryan or Fosker was spurned as neither player had read the intent of the pass, so frustrating that must be. A quick free-kick taken by Wallis found Sauka who was fouled, Lee, took the free-kick but shot just over the goal, the ball skimming the top of the net as it flew over. Thus far, both defences had held up well, the respective keepers had both made one crucial save but goal scoring chances were at a premium, Sauka made a telling interception as Rayleigh Town tried to play out from the back, but his effort was under-hit and keeper, Hudson was not troubled. On forty-four minutes and out of nowhere we had the first goal and what a goal, ARNOLD ACHEAMPONG, who had shown his pace once or twice but had flitted in and out of the game, was given space, he looked up and struck a fine shot that gave keeper, Grove, absolutely no chance to save, top corner, top drawer, a game changing goal perhaps, there was hardly time to restart the match before the half-time whistle was blown.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 1.
Buoyed by that late first half goal, Rayleigh Town kicked off, Griggs sent the ball long to Sauka, who was in plenty of space but when turning to look for a team-mate was dispossessed, but the running of Sauka could be key in this half. The opening minutes were very cagey, neither team prepared to create, just keep possession of the ball, Sauka powered a shot over the goal from outside the penalty area, this after he had latched on to a flick on from Close, the same move occurred a minute later this time Ryan headed on for Sauka to chase. A corner taken by Bazely, was headed firmly away by Lee, and when the ball was cleared up field the outlet was once again going to be Sauka, Rayleigh Town got wise to this and doubled up the marking. When Little worked his way through the Brightlingsea Town defence on the left side, keeper, Grove, made a fine save, firstly, in a one-on-one chance but was fouled on the follow up attempt, good goalkeeping there though. When Sauka dropped short for one ball forward, his flick on fell to Close but the ball rolled away for a goal-kick. Griggs picked up a yellow card, not sure why though, when Barrett used his pace to move goalwards Griggs equally used his pace to get back and usher the ball back to his keeper, Grove, it was clear that Rayleigh Town had raised their game another gear and were pushing forward more.
Disaster struck for Brightlingsea Town on the hour mark, not sure if it was Elliott or Simmons who fouled Olley, inside the penalty area, it looked, fairly, obvious and was not contested, ARNOLD ACHEAMPONG placed the ball on the spot and with a minimalist run-up, maybe two steps hammered the ball into the net. An unfortunate incident followed, keeper, Grove having retrieved the ball from the net launched a drop kick towards the centre-circle, but it hit Acheampong on the back of his head and he fell, prone to the ground, requiring some treatment. Brightlingsea Town now had an uphill task, Griggs made a run down the left side, Seaden defended and sent the ball forward to Barrett, Elliott, blocked him off, but Barret persisted and forced, keeper, Grove to save, the ball ran loose, is this number three, no, Barrett placed the wide of the empty net! On sixty-eight minutes Ryan was replaced by Kangandu when Brightlingsea Town were awarded free kick, taken by Fosker but straight into the tall four-man defensive wall. Wallis was cautioned for a late challenge, and again with play stopped, Rayleigh Town introduced Dalton and Tapley in place of Olley and Wright. On seventy-two minutes, Rayleigh Town scored their third goal, OWEN BARRETT picked up the ball on the left side of the penalty area, worked his way ten yards to his right before shooting past keeper, Grove, clearly, he is the main striker, and his finish was cleanly hit. Barrett was denied again soon after, this time, keeper, Grove took the ball off his feet as he broke through a tiring defence, and when Acheampong galloped away down the left side, Lee did not give up the chase, but only managed to concede a foul.
With fifteen minutes remaining, more substitutions were made, Simmons and Wallis were replaced by Hunt and Ekins, Griggs got the ball forward to Sauka and having turned to run goalwards, he was matched by defender Quick, who lived up to his name with keeper, Hudson required to divert the goal-bound back-pass away from danger. Ryan had re-entered play and when chasing back he was adjudged to have fouled Little, the Rayleigh Town supporters were immediately looking for a snipper and we collectively agreed that he had fallen without any touch, the downside was that whatever happened, or did not, Little was forced to be carried off the pitch, Barret was also taken off and their replacements were Baxter and Hodgson. Brightlingsea Town also made use of all their substitutes with Burnett and Gomesh replacing Sauka and Fosker. With five minutes of normal time to play, Brightlingsea Town were still trying to break down the efficient Rayleigh Town defence, Lee re-entered play for Hunt who was injured in a tackle, in essence, Rayleigh Town were now playing “keep-the-ball”, frustrating for some spectators but good game play if you are winning! Gomesh fouled Seaden, Acheampong worked his way into the penalty area, perhaps looking for his hat-trick but was denied by keeper, Grove in another one-on-one situation, this match was already into five minutes of added time! As more added time elapsed, Tapley headed straight to keeper, Grove, and from his long clearance a foul was committed on the corner of the Rayleigh Town, penalty area, CALLUM LEE grabbed the ball and sent a fine free kick goalwards, the far-side, side net wavered, those around me though, decent effort that, and we were all the more surprised when a goal was awarded and this was probably the most “un-celebrated” goal ever, no VAR either!
FULL-TIME: 1 – 3.
Perhaps not the most aspiring of Cup Finals, both teams have worked hard to reach the final, this after a long, weather hampered, season, the scoreline does reflect that the better team won on the night, Rayleigh Town were very professional in their approach and their general football play was good. The game was played in a fine spirit and was managed well by the referee who was largely anonymous, Brightlingsea Town can take credit in giving it a go, their players did not disgrace their club and they can reflect on another fine season.
Turning to my “Star Player”, for Brightlingsea Town FC, goalkeeper, Matthew Grove did his best, making numerous saves to keep his side in with a chance of success, for Rayleigh Town FC, I’m opting for Owen Barrett, always a player to keep tabs on when in possession, good feet and an eye for goal, he got frustrated when chances went begging but got his goal late on.
Teams:
BRIGHTLINGSEA TOWN FC:
Colours: Blue & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Matthew Grove., Callum Lee., Ricky Griggs (C)., Jake Bethell., Benjamin Elliott., Matt Simmonds., Darryl Wallis., Liam Close., Ashley Sauka., Rocha Fosker., Dominic Ryan.
Manager: Keiron Baker.
Assistant Manager: Liam Holyman.
Used Substitutes: (Roll-On / Roll-Off)
Phillip Burnett., Lee Gomesh., Terrance Kangandu., Rowan Hunt., Richard Ekins.
RAYLEIGH TOWN FC:
Colours: Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts and Yellow Socks.
Team:
Joshua Hudson., Charlie Seaden (C)., Louis Bazely., Taylor Armitage., Ollie Quick., Alfie Larkin., Charlie Little., Joe Olley., Owen Barrett., Adam Wright., Arnold Acheampong.
Manager: Robert Hodgson.
Assistant manager: Ian Read & Jason Davis.
Coach: Luke Heywood.
Used Substitutes: (Roll-On / roll-Off)
Nathan Scarborough., Ben Baxter., Jimmy Dalton., matt Tapley., Robert Hodgson
Referee: Richard Baker.
Assistant Referees: Joe Wise & Robert Willcocks.
4th Official: Simon Brickwood.
STAR PLAYER: Matthew GROVE (BRIGHTLINGSEA TOWN FC)
Owen BARRETT (RAYLEIGH TOWN FC)
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