16/09/2023 – REPORT – CO4 ULTRA’s FC versus GEAT BENTLEY FC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE
CO4 ULTRA’S FC. 2. GREAT BENTLEY FC. 1.
Date: Saturday 16th September 2023. Venue: Corporal Budd VC Gymnasium, Colchester.
For the third Saturday in a row, I chose to watch a match from Division One, this time it was sixth placed CO4 Ultra’s FC, a newly elected team to the ESBFL who would host, fifth placed, Great Bentley FC, always a team that will give you a game when the going gets tough! Both teams had notable absentees either through holiday, injuries, or suspensions but despite this I was expecting a close fought match.
On an afternoon that promised some higher temperatures which did not materialise, and on a pitch that was hard and dry, today’s referee was Nathan Tansley who would be helped by Club Assistant Referee’s.
Great Bentley kicked off, but CO4 picked up the ball and attacked through Hewes, whose left wing cross was defended by Peace when Wilson threatened, Rogers played a long ball forward towards Quinney who gained a throw-in with Beaird holding back Balaam to concede a free-kick, taken by Stoneman but the ball bounced through for a goal-kick. When Peace chipped the ball over Quinney the defender was quick to turn and head the ball back to his keeper, Wood, then Lampton played the ball wide to Balaam whose high cross was caught by keeper, Allwood. Barrett and Gregory had a midfield spat, Barrett was spoken too, his challenge was high, and he acknowledged his misjudgement. Stoneman took this free-kick, but Great Bentley cleared the ball which came back quickly forcing Warin to get back and help his defence when Balaam threatened. A running battle ensued between Jones and Quinney who faced up to each other, then Warin made a fine dribble forward down the right side, his cross was there to hit, but Morton elected to hit it with the outside of his left foot rather than put his right foot through the ball, and a chance had gone. Stoneman was spoken too for a robust challenge on Warin and as we approached fifteen minutes, CO4 had held the balance of possession but had no end product! Mounteney, Peace and Barrett worked the ball out of defence to find Herbert down the right side but his cross curled high and wide of the far post.
A right-wing cross from Balaam fell to Lampton, a tricky player when having the ball at his feet, but rather than volley the ball he tried to control the ball and in an instant the visitors defence was in the block and clear the ball long towards Jones. The first water break was held on twenty minutes, CO4 had been the attackers thus far but Great Bentley had defended stoutly, nothing other than safety, if in doubt, clear it out. Anderson cleared the ball off his own goal-line from Jones who should have scored, Quinney did likewise from Barrett who drifted round the back of the CO4 defence, there were calls for a penalty against Quinney in that instance and when the ball bounced out for a throw-in Hewes launched himself at Morton to concede a needless free-kick and he was perhaps that no caution was given. The visitors had this purple spell and a header by Peace was also cleared off the goal-line with keeper, Wood stranded amongst a melee of players. A long ball forward from Rogers set Gregory away but his snatched shot flew well wide, Warin was fouled by Bergin, Herbert took the free-kick, Jones and Peace attacked the ball, the ball goes into the net, but the Club Assistants flag was raised for off-side, must have been close though!
Great Bentley having been under early pressure had raised their game and were competing across the pitch giving the home side little chance to dwell on the ball. A low cross from Gregory was cleared by Peace and Grace, then, when Balaam threatened, there was Peace to clear, with Balaam showing dissent to receive a yellow card and ten minutes in the “sin-bin”. Herbert took the free-kick with Warin giving chase, there had been some good hearted “banter” on the side-lines up to this stage, with most of the players and management knowing each other well. Gregory was forced to defend against Jones before, on forty minutes, Barrett dissected the home defence and CONNOR JONES ran through to score, or had he, as the Club Assistants flag was raised, not for Jones, but for a wider player that was not interfering, the goal stands. Beaird ran into Gregory, bit of a soft free-kick but it was a foul, Stoneman took the free-kick but only hit the defensive wall from where Hewes fouled Beaird, and the half ended soon after
HALF-TIME: 0 – 1.
CO4 replaced Wilson with Girling, making a rare appearance these days, and his team re-started this close match, Warin broke forward down the right side, cleared the diving tackle from Stoneman and rifled a shot goalwards that keeper, Wood turned onto the cross-bar and safety, good save that as well. Gregory was caught off-side from a pass from Lampton, Girling fouled Barrett, just letting him know he was there, and when play re-started Balaam was allowed back on the pitch. Stoneman was adjudged to have handled the ball, high up by his face, Herbert took the free-kick but straight to keeper, Wood, the visitors had been gee ’ed along by Barrett in central midfield and by the unselfish running of Warin who was causing problems whenever he was given the ball. Warin was forced to defend when Stoneman got forward, the home player eventually dragging his shot well wide for a goal-kick and perhaps his frustration got the better of him when he was cautioned for a foul on Warin, Herbert took the free-kick, but Quinney headed clear. CO4 got themselves back into the match on fifty-six minutes, Balaam chipped the ball over the advancing keeper, Allwood, kept running and with the ball bouncing goal-wards RYAN GRACE helped the ball into the net when attempting to clear, Balaam is no doubt claiming the goal.
With that equaliser, the status of the match would probably change, but Jones for Great Bentley chased a long ball forward but keeper, Wood was well out of his penalty area when he cleared into touch. On the hour mark a shot from Stoneham deflected off Warin for a corner which was cleared and with play stopped, Hewes was replaced by Mitchell for CO4 with Great Bentley making their change two minutes later with Morton leaving play and Wright getting some action and there followed another drinks break. Adams had replaced Anderson for CO4 then another bouncing shot from Stoneham was picked up after an awkward bounce by keeper, Allwood, his opposite number Wood, made good use of his feet and body to totally deceive everyone when a low cross came in from Warin, the pick of the players on show today. Beaird defended well against Balaam who took the resulting corner but keeper, Allwood rose to punch clear, however, when the ball was played back in keeper, Allwood dived to his right, spilling the ball loose where Girling dived in but hit the keeper in his haste.
With the game evenly poised with thirteen minutes left the visitors were pinning CO4 back, a point apiece would be just about right but there was still plenty of time plus a fair bit of added time as well. A cross from Stoneham has headed out for a corner by Beaird, taken by Stoneham but hit far too long, the ball being cleared up-field, the visitors thought they had a good shout for a penalty when Jones went down under a challenge from Quinney, the well placed, referee said “nothing doing” from ten yards distant which was fifty yards away from me. CO4 broke forward, Balaam and Lampton put the pressure on the defence, keeper Allwood should really have cleared the ball but in hesitating allowed ZIGGY LAMPTON to score into an empty net. Great Bentley pushed forward looking for an equaliser, Jones passed to Warin who missed the goal but was flagged off-side in any case. Play switched from end-to-end, Mitchell set up Adams whose shot cleared the goal, a fine cross from Girling almost found Gregory, and Mounteney fed Warin who cut inside to force keeper, Wood into saving at the expense of a corner. With the game into added time, keeper Wood, cleared to Gregory who ran through supported by Balaam, only Mounteney was back defending but Balaam fired wide. The next chance fell again to the home team, Adams set up Mitchell who shot straight at keeper, Allwood, the final action was a shot on the run by Jones for Great Bentley, keeper, Wood comfortably saved and there ended a closely fought match.
FULL TIME: 2 – 1.
Definitely a close call for CO4 Ultra’s FC, a point apiece would have been justice and was deserved for Great Bentley FC who will rue missed chances and errors made at the back, CO4 Ultra’s have got their season underway with back-to-back victories to move up to fifth, with only Wormingford Wanderers FC, of the top six who failed to win, this Division is looking to be tight all season.
Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player”, by mid-way through the first half, one player stood out and after ninety plus minutes that player was still running, back in defence and up front, Rory Warin you are accredit to your Club.
Teams:
CO4 ULTRA’S FC:
Colours: Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.
Team:
Harvey Wood., Sean Anderson., Jack Stoneham., Tyler Rogers., DJ Quinney., Kyle Bergin (C)., Jack Gregry., Ziggy Lampton., Harry Hewes., Lawrence Wilson., Jack Balaam
Manager: Ryan Brown
Used Substitutes: Jack Mitchell., Ben Girling
Unused Substitutes: Aaron William., Luke Adams., Marius Mitu.
GREAT BENTLEY FC:
Colours: Blue & White Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Jake Allwood., Archie Herbert (C)., Matthew Beaird., Lewis Mounteney., Alfie Peace., Ryan Grace., Lee Barrett., Kust Firkins., Connor Jones., Rory Warin., Adam Morton.
Manager: Jack Murray.
Assistant Manager: Greg Taylor
Used Substitutes: James Wright.
Unused Substitutes: Jamie Baxter., Ryan McMahon
Referee: Nathan Tansley.
Star Player: Rory WARIN (GREAT BENTLEY FC)
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