16/08/2025 – REPORT – Prettygate AFC versus FC Clacton Reserves
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE
PRETTYGATE AFC 4. FC CLACTON RESERVES. 2.
Date: Saturday 16th August 2025. Venue: Shrub End Playing Fields, Boudicea Way, Colchester.
Promoted Prettygate AFC hosted FC Clacton Reserves, who have returned to Division One of the ESBFL, after one season away, the match was played on the 3G pitch at Shrub End and an entertaining match with six goals was seen.
On a breezy afternoon, the match official was Jonathan Dalton, and he was assisted by Club volunteer, Assistant Referees (linesmen), prior to kick-off he reminded both custodians of the new “eight second” rule, brought in to stop “time-wasting”.
Prettygate kicked off and FC Clacton captain, Page put the ball out for an early throw-in, as Prettygate, as expected pushed forward, the strength of the visitors is a bit of an unknown, but the hosts have retained all, of last year’s squad and included new signing Lewis in their starting line-up. From the throw-in Cook (C) dragged an effort wide with his left foot. Cook (C) was involved in the next attack with Cherry chasing the ball down the right side, the cross was deep, and a goal kick followed. The hosts were quickly in to tackle as FC Clacton Reserves players acclimatised to the artificial surface, Showemino was caught off-side from a long searching ball from defender, Page. Cook (C) tested keeper, Harvey with another shot that the keeper got down well too, then Lewis forced a corner after a penetrating run, Cherry took the corner kick, the first of the match. When Cook (C) played the ball wide to the right side, Boyle sent over a fine cross than keeper, Harvey saved, a corner followed with Cherry sending the rising ball over the crossbar. Thus far, Prettygate had held the balance of play, had created chances but when Breedon was adjudged to have fouled Showemino, it looked a bit clumsy from where I stood, up stepped KEATON HUFFEY who struck a fine left-footed free-kick that flashed into the top far corner of the goal and the visitors were surprisingly ahead with just ten minutes on the clock. A second goal almost followed as when keeper, Harvey launched a long ball forward there was Showemino running forward but home keeper, Jackson, wearing a pair of sporting glasses was quickly out to the edge of his penalty area.
That second goal did arrive on thirteen minutes, DIDEOLUWA SHOWEMINO running onto a ball from Pollard to cooly lob the advancing keeper, this scoreline was beginning to be a big surprise, had FC Clacton Reserves misread the script! Showemino is a clever player, his pace is electric, his ball control generally good, his eye for goal is good, but staying on his feet, let’s move on but he handled the next forward pass, such an unpredictable player! Page fouled Boyle, Cook (C), took the free kick but straight to keeper, Harvey, then when FC Clacton Reserves were awarded free kick on the half-way line, Cook (C) was cautioned for kicking the ball away and delaying the restart, such a cheap twelve pounds to ECFA! Dines and Boyle combined to find Lewis running through, but defender Page was quickly across to concede a corner, taken by Cook (C) but again straight to keeper, Harvey, who collected on his goal-line. Chen blocked a fine shot from Lewis who was linking out well with Boyle and Cherry through midfield, keeper, Harvey made two excellent saves in quick succession, tipping one shot onto the crossbar then deflecting a shot onto the left side upright, to be cleared. Page for FC Clacton Reserves was always looking for the long, driven ball forward for Showemino to chase and Dines was guilty of holding back Erediauwa just on the edge of the penalty area, the effort from Huffey flew wide this time.
Given that his team were two goals behind, Cook (C) had dropped back to pick up the ball and work his way forward, a long cross from Lewis was headed away by Page, and when Lam threatened, he was eased off the ball, quite fairly, by Odili, good defensive work there to protect his team’s lead. A rash back-pass from Pollard, wide on the left side, and half-way inside his own half, beat his keeper, Harvey and bounced inches wide. Cook (C) took the resulting corner, Dickson rose high at the far post, but his directed header was straight to keeper, Harvey. Prettygate had raised the urgency in their play, it was just the final pass that was missing, that changed on thirty-six minutes, Lewis crashed a fine effort against the crossbar, ELLIOT CHERRY was quickly on to the ball and volleyed home from twelve yards out. The equaliser followed a few minutes later, Cook (C) threaded the ball through the FC Clacton Reserves defence and RYAN LEWIS ran through to score, some turn-around this has been and deservedly so. The final action of the half saw keeper, Harvey, the busier of the two custodians clutch an effort from Cook (C) just under the corner of the post and crossbar.
HALF-TIME: 2 – 2.
Prettygate made the first of their changes at half-time, off went Beedon and on went Rashid, FC Clacton Reserves restarted this close match, Showemino played the ball back to Page, who dithered on the ball and Lam was quickly in to try a shot which flew wide. A quick break by Erediauwa saw him pass to Showemino but he was denied by a great tackle by Boyle, then Erediauwa tried a speculative shot from twenty-five yards, a goal beckoned, until keeper, Jackson, flung himself high to his left to palm the ball over the crossbar, a great save. A corner taken by Cook (C) was punched clear by keeper, Harvey, but as Prettygate regained possession, Lam tried to wriggle through but was fouled by Page, Lewis took the free kick hammering the ball against the defensive wall then Lam worked his way to the goal-line and was fouled by Page, it looked a bit soft but I was fifty yards away, BRANDON LAM stepped up to hammer home the spot kick and the home team now had the lead. On fifty-three minutes FC Clacton Reserves replaced Pollard with Jameson and Lam was replaced by Rose for Prettygate. Keeper, Jackson saved low down to deny Spurgeon, and Odili fired another effort that keeper, Jackson saved comfortably, Cook (D) pushed forward and was fouled by Jameson, this was just outside the penalty area, Rashid, for Prettygate showed some nice close control and a burst of speed to elude several challenges, he found Rose and when Lewis collected his pass, keeper, Harvey made another fine save, this time at full stretch, but sustaining an injury that required treatment.
On fifty-eight minutes FC Clacton Reserves took off Erediauwa and sent on Olowofoyeke, this was when the game had stopped as Cherry had sustained a nasty injury that saw him carried off, early diagnosis was a dislocated kneecap, we wish him well. Cook (D) was adjudged to have leaned unfairly into Adewole who had joined the match, and the home team awaited their third substitute, Woodward, as replacement for the stricken Cherry. Rashid made another fine run with the ball at his feet, he gained a throw-in, the ball was cleared up field where Dickson and Showemino clashed inside the penalty area, the latter falling theatrically to the ground, to me the defender was the stronger and his timing had to be perfect, it was. The match official called both Captains together to resolve the little bit of needle creeping into what was a good football match. Jameson tried a long-range effort, but it was well wide, maybe a bit of frustration! Rose, for Prettygate, was sent to the sin-bin, on seventy-five minutes for questioning a decision, when will players learn!
FC Clacton Reserves made their last two changes, off went Page and Richardson and on went Amass and Rush! Morgan gained a corner off Cook (C), taken by Jameson but straight to keeper, Jackson. Olowofoyeke won a free kick against Dickson, a big battle that, two big players giving their all, Olowofoyeke was again involved in the next attack, his cross fell to Jameson and from his pass Showemino lobbed the ball wide, much to his own frustration. Mehdi was looking dangerous when on the ball, his direct approach saw him send in a long cross, but nobody was there to capitalise, then when Dines embarked on a run, down he left side his cross fell to Mehdi who should have scored only for keeper, Harvey, to make another fine save. As the visitors pressed forward, with Rose still off the pitch, Lewis backtracked to help out his defence, Rose returned soon after though. Morgan and Chan worked the ball forward to gain a corner off Cook (D), from the clearance a poor pass, through midfield was picked up by CHARLEY COOK who lobbed the visitor’s keeper from thirty-five yards, not many players have that foresight to try that, but it was a fine finish. Morgan was cautioned for a lazy foul on the halfway line, and Dickson followed for his robust challenge on Olowofoyeke on the corner of the penalty area and the match finished soon after.
FULL TIME: 4 – 2.
On the balance of play and chances created, Prettygate just about deserved this victory, FC Clacton Reserves did push them all the way and surprised everyone, even themselves when they took a two-goal lead, Prettygate never gave up, got level before half-time and took their chances in the second half.
Turning to my choice of Star player, for FC Clacton Reserves, team captain Page was rock steady, Huffey played well and scored from a fine freekick, various other players showed up well and keeper, Harvey excelled with numerous saves. For Prettygate, team captain, Boyle was always available, Lewis brings experience up front but Cook (C) rarely fails to impress and today he was my Star Player, involved in most good things from his team.
Teams:
PRETTYGATE AFC:
Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Jake Jackson., Steven Dines., Frankie Beedon., Taylor Dickson., Dean Cook., Matthew Boyle., Cebo Madidkari., Charley Cook., Elliot Cherry., Brandon Lam., Ryan Lewis.
Manager: Bret Woodward.
Used Substitutes: Oscar Rose., Mehdi Rashid., Bret Woodward.
FC CLACTON RESERVES.
Colours: White & Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Billy Harvey., Godwill Odili., Jamie Pae., Keaton Huffey., Ivan Chen., Tommy Lee-Morgan., Lewis Spurgeon., Callum Richardson., Goerge Pollard., Dideoluwa Showemino., Alexander Erediauwa.
Manager: Ryan Amass.
Used Substitutes: Yomi Olowofoyeke., Caiden Jameson., Olakunie Adewole., Jamie Rush., Terry Amass.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Jonathan Dalton.
STAR PLAYER: Charley COOK (PRETTYGATE AFC)
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