16/11/2019 – REPORT – Dedham Old Boys FC Reserves versus Tiptree Jobserve FC Reserves

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION TWO.

DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC RESERVES: 1. TIPTREE JOBSERVE FC RESERVES: 0.

Date: Saturday 09^th November 2019.

Venue: The Drift., AKA: Southfields., AKA: The Old Grammar Scholl Ground, Dedham.

Water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink, a famous saying perhaps but a scourge of football clubs as they attempt to keep their home games playable, only three matches, some are usual suspects, fell by the wayside, to be re-arranged. Ironically my original first choice was going to be Wormingford Wanderers FC at home to Stanway Rovers FC Reserves, the home club have struggled this year playing against a new team that I have yet to watch, so, on Thursday, I turned my attention to Flitch United FC Reserves match at home to Lawford Lads FC Reserves, however, that too fell victim of the weather at mid-day on Saturday. Where to next, there were a lot of ESBFL Knock-Out Cup games between teams from differing divisions, I’m not always keen to report on landslides but you sometimes can’t predict eventual score-lines. Anyway, I digress and chose to pop over to Dedham where their Reserve Team were set to play Tiptree Jobserve FC Reserves, both in mid-table in Division Two.

The usual warm welcome was afforded by Dedham, Chairman, Andy Bell and before kick-off I reminisced about football from many seasons ago with todays, match official Eric Bowers. Eric, a real gentleman, reminded me that this season is his forty-first season as a referee in the ESBFL, his keenness and fitness have not faltered, long may it continue!

The pitch looked in particularly good condition, the locally based referee had actually taken time out to inspect it early the same day and but for a covering of autumn leaves down the clubhouse side we were ready for kick-off by the visitors. Dedham started more positively and took the game to Tiptree Jobserve however, Beedon defended well when Kibblewhite threatened and from his pass Law set Randall away, cutting inside to set up Law who had run forward to blast a right footed, rising shot that deserved a goal but actually missed the left had post as it flew just wide, a good move none-the-less. Dedham had two “Signed-on-Match Day” signings, keeper, Burnby and central defender Laval-Chesterton, the latter looked assured from his first touch of the ball. Law in central mid-field was involved in most of the early home attacks, his stature belying his clever footwork and ability to place a pass to any colleague. A ball from Law dissected the visitors defence however, Windsor had set off too soon to be caught offside, a poor clearance from keeper, Burnby, fell to Sparks who sent in a low shot that keeper, Burnby gathered low down. Law tried to get Randall through using his pace and strength to not only find space but then hold up the ball until team colleagues arrived. Tiptree Jobserve had been in this game and looked useful on the ball as well, especially through the experienced players, Hudson, Harvey and Driver so when new signing Kibblewhite got the ball to Driver he pushed the ball into the gap for Harvey to run on too, but he fired wide of the left-hand upright.

On fifteen minutes, a goal, for Dedham, and a good one at that, the ball came out of midfield to find LAYTON WINDSOR lurking wide on the right side, a bit of pace, a jinx inside onto his left foot and the flighted ball from the corner of the penalty area, curled away, over keeper, Palmer, another new signing, to nestle into the back of the net. Law and Payne linked up which allowed Law to send in a rasping right footed shot that keeper, Palmer caught under his cross-bar and even with the one goal advantage, the home team had been the better team so far. Kibblewhite forced a corner off Beedon, taken by Driver, a low effort that was easily cleared by Beedon who then put a block on Harvey as he tried to run through a crowded penalty area. Moodie fouled Billimore, the free-kick taken by Gill found Driver who, despite being flagged for off-side, headed straight at keeper, Burnby. On twenty-nine minutes, Randall played the ball inside to Windsor whose shot was held by keeper, Palmer, at the second attempt. A dribble by Kibblewhite was ended with a foul by Moodie, Driver shaped to take the free-kick, to me, it did take a slight deflection off the defensive-wall but the referee awarded a goal-kick, rather than a corner. Keeper, Burnby, then played a short pass out to Pearce who returned the ball, to the under pressure goal-keeper who had the presence of mind to back-heel the ball to Bell as Driver ran in, if you chance your arm and get might get lucky, this time he did! Bell, for Dedham played a long ball forward to Windsor, using his pace to outstrip the Tiptree Jobserve defence, this time his cross was too close to keeper, Palmer who gathered unchallenged.

A shot from Payne deflected off Trussler for a corner with Sparks clearing to Driver whose break was positive until the finally shot at goal, in reality, a scuffed effort. Pearce found Law who sent a long searching ball out to the left side to Randall who typically gave chase only for keeper, Palmer to reach the ball first, just inside his penalty area. Sparks intercepted a pass from Dedham’s Bell but Beedon got back to cover his Captains error, team-work, I’d call it! When Kibblewhite was fouled, Driver took the free-kick with Laval-Chesterton lashing the ball away, no nonsense defending there. Keeper, Burnby, made a fine save to deny Kibblewhite with Laval-Chesterton completing he clearance of the loose ball, Gill for Tiptree Jobserve then set Driver clear, his cross found Kibblewhite who shot at goal with Windsor back defending for a corner. Driver took the corner kick, Payne headed away and as Dedham sought to progress, Trussler, was fouled, looked a bit soft but it gave his team time to re-set their positioning with Billimore driving the free-kick just wide of the crowded penalty area.

HALF TIME: 1 – 0

Suitably refreshed by a cup of tea, we ventured outside again, it was noticeable that the temperature had dropped considerably, and the light was beginning to fade. Bell made a strong and important tackle on Trussler who called for a handball, nothing given though, there was no way the prone defender could get out of the way of a driven ball. A right-wing cross from Windsor found the head of Spencer but keeper, Palmer saved on his goal-line, then a run and cross by Sparks totally eluded Trussler who actually missed the ball with Laval-Chesterton bringing he ball forward. Sparks tried a shot at goal, keeper, Burnby stuck out a leg and diverted the ball off the near post for corner, in the next attack Driver chased what looked like a lost cause, gained possession to find Hume who was fouled by Randall, the referee allowed play to continue before bringing play back. Windsor made another telling run with the ball sending in a cross to Spencer who having controlled the ball was tackled by Gill. A free-kick taken by Gill was punched clear by keeper, Burnby, and whilst the ball was out of play Dedham replaced Spencer with Brown, Trussler embarked on a run forward beating three home players before firing goal-wards with Laval-Chesterton deflecting the incoming shot off his shoulder for a corner, taken by Billimore finding Harvey whose header was sent upwards and wide. Tiptree Jobserve had raised their game going forward, Sparks found Driver, normally a clinical finisher, this time his finishing let him down and the ball bobbled past the right hand upright.

Bullimore and Sparks tried to get another attack going only for the latter to misplace his pass and with play stopped, Tiptree Jobserve made their first change replacing Harvey with Webb following on from this Gill found Sparks and following a good run and cross the ball fell nicely for Driver who only managed to sky the ball over the cross-bar from close range, definitely not his day then! With twenty minutes remaining this game was still evenly placed, Dedham had a single goal advantage, but the visitors were beginning to rue the number of missed chances already. Dedham replaced the injured Beedon with Louch, Tiptree Jobserve regained possession with Webb finding Bullimore but once again the ball to Driver was perfect excepting that defender Laval-Chesterton stepped across to block the toe-poked effort and concede a corner. Gill became the one and only player to be cautioned when he upended Payne from behind as he ran across the half-way line, the well-placed referee had his yellow card out quicker than a western gunslinger, the players got up, shook hands and play continued. Louch set Randall through but Trussler was equal to the physical challenge to come away with the ball to set up another visitor attack with Louch chancing his arm with a long shot.

Both teams had defended well, the midfield had been a fair battle and the only goals scored, so far, was a good one, chances continued to be created and spurned by both sides, Dedham had been the better team in the first half with Tiptree Jobserve getting stuck in for the second half and causing far more problems with home defenders Pearce, Bell and Laval-Chesterton staying calm under pressure. Driver set Sparks away to cross before Bell intervened to head the ball out and concede a corner. From the corner, a goal-mouth scramble followed, a clearance from Moodie cannoned off Driver and fell straight into the arms of keeper, Burnby, kneeling by the near post, another lucky escape there! With ten minutes to go Dedham brought on Wymer for Law, whilst Tiptree Jobserve made a second change with Gill being replaced by Johnson, Moodie fouled Sparks, the free-kick was cleared long, by Laval-Chesterton towards Randall who was caught marginally off-side. Bell fouled Bullimore wide on the far-right side, the free-kick was defended well by Louch and from the throw-in Webb sent in along ball which keeper, Burnby clutched at his near post for the final action of the match.

FULL TIME: 1 – 0.

This was a decent match between two mid-table and fairly even teams, no aggravation, no dissent, no sign of a “sin-bin”, only one, nailed on caution, I know the referee enjoyed his game, rarely does this referee not, but the players helped by behaving and by wanting to play football.

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, I did have a clear idea before the end of this match but in the Clubhouse afterwards only one player was being mentioned, the one I had in mind, new signing Laval-Chesterton started well from his first touch and throughout the game read the game well, tackling well and with good distribution set his team off going forward.

Teams:

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

Grant Burnby., John Pearce., Layton Windsor., Lewis Laval-Chesterton., Daniel Bell (C)., James Law., Mitchell Payne., Nathan Moodie., Matthew Randall., Philip Spencer., Frankie Beedon

Manager: Fred Fuller.

Used Substitutes: Karl Wymer., Kier Brown., George Louch.

TIPTREE JOBSERVE FC RESERVES: Colours: Red Shirts, Red Shorts and Red Socks.

Joe Palmer., Daniel Gill., Daniel Hume., Mark Hudson (C)., Daniel Trussler., Harry Bullimore., Alex Sparks., David Kibblewhite., Dean Harvey., Carl Driver., Robert Lamb.

Interim Manager: Daniel Trussler

Used Substitutes: Jack Johnson., Stuart Webb.

Unused Substitute: Ross Parfitt

Referee: Eric Bowers.

Player of the Match: Lewis LAVAL-CHESTERTON (DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC RESERVES)

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Additional Reporting:

YOU TUBE., FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

Once again, this season the ESBFL is widening its match-day reporting coverage, in addition to a full report written by Brian Reed, our other roving reporter, Spencer Hume, has once again made himself known during the friendlies season and he will also attend games reporting via You Tube, Facebook and Twitter to communicate up-to-date information and replicate other match reports. In addition, John Campany, Vice Chairman will continue to provide a weekly summary, published in The Gazette.

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Reminder to Club / Fixture Secretaries

Once again this season the fixtures, results, referees and “kick-off” times will be shown automatically on “The FA Full-Time / The Whole Game System” ( http://full-time.thefa.com ) but would all Club / Fixture Secretaries please advise any agreed changes, as required, to Alison Willmore ( mjw1947@sky.com ) especially for evening games and for those matches being played under floodlights etc.

KO is 2:00pm in: November, December & January

KO is 2:30pm in: February

KO is 3:00pm from: March to end of season

Cup Matches:

Kick-Off times for ESBFL cup matches, are generally 30 minutes earlier than those shown above but check competition rules beforehand.

Kick-Off times for Essex County Football Association cup matches are published on the ECFA web-site.

( www.essexfa.com/competitions/county-cups )

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ESBFL “web-site”

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Clubs are reminded that the following documents are all available on this website under Clubs / Documents etc:

ESBFL Handbook,