16/03/2019 – REPORT – Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves versus Colne Athletic FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE.

ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC RESERVES: 5. COLNE ATHLETIC FC: 0.

Date: Saturday 16^th March 2019. Venue: Ford Road, Alresford.

Division One this week and a chance to catch up on the progress of both Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves who lay in third place and Colne Athletic FC who sat fifth. The home team have been in the top three for most of the season, numerous new faces this season but for this match they had many players unavailable and were required to sign two players on before kick-off, that said when I saw them lose at Flitch United FC, who sat top at the start of play they were soundly beaten. Colne Athletic FC have at last adjusted to their double promotion last season and after a difficult start have settled down to reside in the top half, once again they too had numerous players missing for what is in reality a local derby and certainly the visitors had players who have previously played for the hosts.

On a very windy afternoon, where good football might be hard to achieve the match referee was the respected Andrew French and aside from a single caution he had a relatively quite game and he would be assisted by club linesmen and yes that “Respect” handshake before kick-off is mandatory for all matches in the ESBFL!

Colne Athletic FC kicked off, but the first chance fell to Alresford Reserves who beat the off-side trap with Yearling (M) keeping players on-side, as Learoyd-Tuckwell and Ofori-Darko threatened with the eventual cross from Learoyd-Tuckwell being caught by visiting keeper, Ringe. A Colne corner taken by Moore (T) was headed back across goal by Dennis with Davis heading clear from the goal-line and keeper, Spencer saving the follow up shot from Yearling (S), diving to his right to concede a corner. Play, in the early stages had been fairly even and on six minutes Marchant was spoken too for a rash challenge and team mate Marshall crashed into Connell to concede a free-kick just on the perimeter of the penalty area, Moore (T) took the free-kick only to drive the ball against the defensive wall with Connell giving chase to the loose ball however, Marshall tracked back to gain a goal-kick. New signing Ofori-Darko showed some useful footwork through midfield as Alresford pressed forward to gain a free-kick when Moore (J) committed a foul, the left footed free-kick from Davis was punched clear by keeper, Ringe who did likewise from a corner, also taken by Davis and with Colne failing to clear the ball Cant drove the ball back in towards Sauka who set up Ofori-Darko for a shot that was blocked by Thompson. On ten minutes an injury was sustained by Connell in a tangle with Pullen, a drop ball ensued with the ball played back into the hands of keeper, Spencer who launched a long and high ball downfield. With the wind assisted ball dropping close to the edge of the Colne penalty area, Langmead and Thompson both attacked the swirling ball only to divert it past the despairing dive of keeper, Ringe who had inexplicably advanced off his line, not sure if he touched the ball but definitely, an OWN GOAL, a decision confirmed at half-time by the referee.

On twenty-one minutes Connell was forced to retire with that knee injury and he was replaced by Smith and within minutes Alresford had doubled their lead when Colne failed to deal with the ball defensively and this allowed JAKE HALLS, to strike the ball home past keeper, Ringe who seemed slow to react to the shot from outside the penalty area. Davis was perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty for a high foot against Moore (T), the referee was unimpressed, but I’ve seen them given and momentarily Colne had raised their game. A handball offence by Marshall led to the free-kick taken by Moore (T) flying high over the cross-bar whilst at the other end Sauka set off on a trademark run, at pace, past numerous players before crossing into the danger zone then Ofori-Darko set up Cant for a shot at goal which keeper, Ringe saved with his feet. On twenty-nine minutes Sauka got behind the Colne defence, a slight suspicion of off-side in the build up play perhaps but when the ball reached ROBERT CANT he fired home and the home side definitely wanted this victory.

Despite some decent build up play by Colne it was that elusive final pass that eluded them and the Alresford defence, marshalled by Marchant and Pullen kept the visitors at bay, and then created the break forward to the other end and once again when Colne tried to hack away a bouncing ball inside the penalty area it fell to KWEKU OFORI-DARKO to score on his debut. A couple of players were warned about their language, especially as this is a public playing field and whilst mostly out of frustration, players should learn to control what they say out loud, as next season all levels of “grassroots” football will operate with “temporary dismissals” or “sin-bins” so you have been warned. As the half petered out to a close it was Alresford in the ascendency with Colne struggling to get out of their own half, maybe half-time and being able to play with the wind at their backs might change their fortunes.

HALF-TIME: 4 – 0.

Right, here goes, Alresford to kick-off against the wind which had shown no signs of abating, they win a corner, Cant takes the corner kick, right-footed into the six-yard box, no Colne defender reacts and KYE LEAROYD-TUCKWELL tucked the ball away from four yards, oh dear those defensive frailties remain! Alresford kept up the pressure Marshall pushed the ball forward to Sauka who flicked the ball wide to Learoyd-Tuckwell who chanced his arm or aim from forty yards wide on the right touch-line, suffice to say that keeper Ringe, standing near the edge of his penalty area was relieved when the ball flew narrowly wide of his far post. Dennis fouled Ofori-Darko, the game being brought back when no advantage materialised, sensible refereeing here, Cant drove the free-kick into the defensive wall and keeper Ringe saved the follow up shot from Learoyd-Tuckwell. On fifty minutes a long clearance from keeper, Ringe flew downfield to his opposite number then a poor clearance from keeper, Spencer, against the wind led to a foul by Marshall on Goldie-McSorley, the free-kick taken by the same player flew high and wide over the cross-bar and again the home defence was untroubled.

Moore (J) made a decent run down the left side but his cross was poor, and Marchant pushed the ball out for a corner, taken by Moore (T) but again a poor delivery allowed Alresford to come away with the ball. Ten minutes into the half and Goldie-McSorley burrowed his way through the home defence until Pullen stepped in to stop any further progress, conceding a corner. When Alresford defender, Marshall and keeper Spencer got their wires crossed the ball was kicked out for a throw-in from which Moore (J) drove the ball over the cross-bar, still nothing on target for Colne though! On sixty-two minutes a double substitution from Alresford, off went Marshall and Ofori-Darko with Dodoo and Allsopp entering the game. Another Colne attack through Moore (T) and Bradley led to Moore (T) heading over and to be fair Colne had tried but all routes to goal had been stifled if not through midfield but definitely by, the resolute Alresford defence. A corner from Moore (T) found the head of Dennis but Spencer punched the high ball away, or so he thought as Dodoo, back defending ran under the jump of Langmead to concede a penalty kick, no question, no arguments. Up stepped Goldie-McSorley to drive the ball goal-wards, keeper Spencer dives to his left to push the ball away for a corner, definitely-not Colne’s day now!

With fifteen minutes to go, keeper Ringe made a decent save to deny Sauka who was set clear by Cant and minutes later Colne replaced Moore (T) with Smyth. Sauka picked up a caution for delaying the restart when not returning the ball to place of a conceded free-kick, a cheap tenner to the county there then! Sauka, then broke away down the right side to find Cant whose first-time effort flew straight to the exposed keeper, Ringe who saved and as the game moved towards a conclusion Davis found Learoyd-Tuckwell who set Sauka through but once again, keeper Ringe denied the eager striker.

FULL TIME: 5 – 0.

This match was certainly not what I expected, a local derby, many players know each other, both teams had well-known players missing, both teams were in the top five and that remains the case after this result which puts Alresford Reserves (47 points + GD 33) back in contention with Tiptree Engaine FC (50 points + GD 54) who leap-frogged Flitch United FC (49 points + GD 45) all teams having played twenty-two matches meaning the last two matches will be closely monitored

Now for my Player-of-the-Match choice, Colne were under the cosh very early on, few players could hold their hand up to say they had a good game so lets put it down to a bad day at the office. For Alresford, shot-stopper Spencer saved a penalty, but had very little else to do other than routine saves. Across the rest of the park though the home players dominated, four different scorers aided by a calamitous own goal, the forwards were keen to get the ball, the midfield snaffled up every loose ball and dominated proceedings but at the heart of any team pushing for honours is a solid defence, Marshall, perhaps unorthodox, Davis with a wand of a left foot and central defenders Marchant and Pullen did little wrong with Pullen just shading out his central partner.

Teams:

ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC RESERVES:

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

Peter Spencer., Andrew Marchant., Christopher Marshall., Steven Davis., Shaun Pullen., Jake Halls., Ashley Sauka., Christopher Price., Robert Cant., Kye Learoyd-Tuckwell., Kweku Ofori-Darko.

Managers: Lee Purchase & Gary Wright.

Used Substitutes: Cameron Dodoo., Lee Allsopp

Unused Substitutes: Roger Smith., Lee Purchase.

COLNE ATHLETIC FC:

Colours: Light Blue Shirts., Navy Shorts and Navy Socks

Elliot Ringe., Marc Yearling., Matthew Langmead., Jamie Thompson (C)., Timothy Dennis., Daniel Bradley., Joe More., Luke Goldie-McSorley., Ben Connell., Scott Yearling., Thomas Moore.

Manager: Ben Connell.

Assistant Manager: Scott Yearling.

Used Substitutes: Oliver Smith., Peter Smyth.

Unused Substitutes: Joshua Vaughan.

Referee: Andrew French (Halstead)

Player-of-the-Match: Shaun PULLEN (ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC RESERVES)

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Additional Reporting – FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

This season the ESBFL is widening its match-day reporting coverage, in addition to a full report written by Brian Reed, the league has enlisted the help of a young volunteer, Spencer Hume, who will also attend games using Facebook and Twitter to communicate up-to-date information and replicate other match reports, please make him welcome.

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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 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”

The web-site for the Essex & Suffolk Border Football League is: www.esblfootball.com

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

ESBFL Handbook,

Player Registration Sheet,

Player “Signed-On-Match-Day” Form,