16/01/2016 – Weeley Athletic FC versus AFC Hornchurch – Under 21’s (EPC-R4)
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE ESSEX PREMIER CUP – ROUND 4
WEELEY ATHLETIC FC: 4. AFC HORNCHURCH – Under 21’s: 3.
Date: Saturday 16th January 2016. Venue: Vista Road, Clacton-on-sea
On Saturday I was hard pressed not to change my weekly match on which to write a report however, with my old club Weeley Athletic FC appearing in Round 4 of the Essex Premier Cup, for the first time ever, against AFC Hornchurch, Under 21’s I changed my mind and went down to Vista Road, Clacton-on-sea. The club under the management of Keiron Shelley are currently competing on three fronts, well placed in Division One and also through to the Quarter-Finals of the ESBFL KOC.
AFC Hornchurch, Under 21’s currently sit top and unbeaten in the Ryman North League although a lack of football this year might have hampered their preparations for this match, in previous rounds they had defeated Waltham Abbey FC Reserve (away by 6 – 0) Lawford Lads FC (away by 3 – 2) and Old Barkabbeyans FC (home by 3 – 0). However, with a regular update received from the local council, the pitch was declared fit for purpose and a message was duly sent to the visitors who had advised they would be leaving Hornchurch at 10:30am.
The Match Official for this County Cup fixture was Wivenhoe based referee, Stuart Gillman and with other ESBFL games being called off the home team managed to secure the services of local referees Adrian Arnott and Eric Bowers to act as Assistant Referees, a decision welcomed by both teams for this important match.
So on a bright, sunny afternoon, using “Pitch One” and playing towards the railway, the going as they say would be soft, we prepared for kick-off, this after the well executed “Respect” handshake which the ESBFL has adopted as being “mandatory” just as it is for County Cup matches! There I’ve mentioned it again! Hornchurch kicked off and built an attack down the right side which Weeley cleared forward only for Nash to be fouled by O’Connor and both teams seemed tentative as they worked up a strategy, Weeley against a much younger but non-the-less skilful opposition whereas the visitors would probably have expected to be competing against physically stronger players who likewise can play an attractive style of football. My prediction, for what it was worth would be a close fought game and with Weeley never before having reached this stage it was uncharted territory so anything could happen. When Newland won the ball in midfield he sprayed a fine pass out to Rawlinson running wide on the left wing and from his pass inside McLean got a clean shot away only for the ball to be cleared for a corner, taken by Davis but straight to keeper, Bowels. East was pulled up for baulking Mallett who took the resultant free-kick but over-hit the ball and the early danger passed. Dickens played a long ball forward to Bull, whose first time shot flew to keeper, Freeman.
On seven minutes with some players finding it hard to keep their feet, the visitors took the lead, a long ball forward from Bolton by-passed Andrews, who had slipped in any case, and with Piper giving chase he secured possession and cut inside where Findlay also slipped allowing JAKE PIPER the time and space to set the ball up on his right foot before shooting past the outstretched dive of Freeman, had the visitors read script, certainly a wake-up call to the home team! Heffer and Newland set about an immediate response and with Rawlinson fouled wide on the left side by Piper, Rawlinson got up to take the free-kick flighting the ball into the crowded six-yard box where the presence of Downes saw the keeper drop the ball allowing THOMAS HEFFER to smash the ball into the back of the net, game-on. This tentative game continued with Hornchurch, through Holland running at Andrews, whose control let him down and Freeman saved easily from the shot from Holland. As the home team worked the ball forward a rash attempted challenge from Nash on the half-way line could have had dire consequences if he had connected with Holland or any player for that matter, nothing like a committed challenge though!
Now that Weeley had got themselves back into this game they started more attacks down the flanks, Rawlinson gave chase to set up Nash whose first-time shot was blocked by defender O’Connor whose defensive colleagues were equally adept at defending and playing the ball out of defence and looked good going forward. Downes made a crucial block to deny Pearce and from the corner Piper headed over the cross-bar. That said Weeley were also playing with more purpose and the next goal might determine any future passage of the game. So on twenty-two minutes we had another goal, who too, Weeley of course, Newland once again started the move, waltzing past several midfield players before passing the ball inside to Davis who pushed the ball wide to the left with the outside of his cultured left foot to Rawlinson. Just as we had seen earlier the cross inside was met by RUSSELL McLEAN who arrived from a deep position to nudge the ball past Piper before despatching the ball with his left foot past the despairing dive of Bowels for a fine team goal. Three minutes later and a heavy challenge by King with East, who never shirks a challenge, led to the visiting player receiving treatment and having to leave the field of play. East hobbled on, and from the throw-in King re-entered play only for the referee to stop the game and caution King. Took some time for us to work out the reason but the caution was for re-entering play before being beckoned on by the referee, whereas some spectators thought it was for dissent following the initial fifty / fifty challenge. From the ensuing free-kick on thirty minutes, East took the kick, Piper cleared as far as Rawlinson and when the bouncing cross fell at the feet of ROSS NASH six-yards out he placed the ball wide into the corner of the net.
Hornchurch to their credit were not out of this contest and looked capable of adding to their own goal tally, a break by Piper saw him push the ball forward to Pearce running into the penalty area but Downes totally miss-timed his challenge and conceded a penalty which FRANKIE HOLLAND placed wide of the dive by the home keeper, three goals to two and we had not reached half-time yet. So now it was time to concentrate, keep the ball, use the ball,do not concede and make no mistakes with the ground still soft. When O’Connor and Nash challenged for a long clearance from Freeman, O’Connor was so tight to Nash that when Nash tried to pull away on the turn, his loose arm caught O’Connor in the face, queue a protest from the visitors players, stray arm maybe, deliberate, no. O’Connor protested vigorously with the referee with skipper Moreton also present but the referee had seem a close tussle with one player trying to get away from the other and just before play resumed Dickens talked his way into, perhaps, a needless caution. As we approached half-time Rawlinson had to defend tackling Dickens just outside the penalty area to concede a centrally placed free-kick, taken by Mallett but striking the four-man defensive wall with Findlay clearing up-field to the sound of the half-time whistle.
HALF-TIME: 3 – 2
So we are half-way, Weeley just about deserve to be ahead but know that the visitors still pose a threat, would there be more goals, undoubtedly, but to whom! Weeley kicked-off but Hornchurch pressed forward to force a corner off Findlay and from the kick taken by Dickens, Freeman held a high ball. Heffer received the throw-out and passed back to Freeman who found McLean running through but Bowels was quickly out and the visitors replaced Dickens with Bentley in midfield. A break forward by East down the right hand side saw the ball reach McLean who slipped but Bowels still had to save at the feet of Nash. Bull was caught off-side despite the advancing Freeman meeting the forward ball East put in two defensive tackles and from one attack a through ball from Mallett was chased by Dickens who only managed to lob the ball to the advancing Freeman who had quickly left his goal-line. A quick burst forward by McLean from a pass by Newland saw the ball almost reach Nash and the presence of Newland who had changed positions with McLean was keeping Weeley on the front foot.
Another attack started by Newland saw the ball reach East, wide on the right and when Heffer broke forward his cross forced a sliced clearance by O’Connor pushing keeper Bowels into action with Nash fouling the keeper as he jumped to collect the deflected cross. A well hit shot from Holland almost deceived the diving Freeman when it bounced up and hit him full in the face, this after Weeley were caught too far up-field with a lack of defensive cover. Just before the hour mark, Downes intercepted a loose pass and embarked on a run up-field, crossing the half-way line before reaching the far penalty area where he lost control of the ball and ended up diving one-footed into a tackle with Moreton to concede a free-kick and earn himself a caution. With Freeman now requiring treatment for his bloodied face, Hornchurch replaced King with Bentley and after a lengthy delay play resumed but not before Westrip replaced Andrews for Weeley. Hornchurch continued to press forward and from a corner the header by Moreton looked goal-bound until Freeman reacted to superbly batter away ball away with his fists from inside the six-yard box. Weeley made their final change with Griffin replacing Davis and Westrip was quickly in action to find McLean the Rawlinson with Piper clearing the danger. The danger however moved the other end, East baulked Bull as he tried to go round him in a central position just outside the penalty area, and despite a four man defensive wall RYAN MALLETT drove a low free-kick into the back of the net and bring to score-line un-surprisingly level at three goals apiece with twenty-five minutes still remaining.
As Weeley upped their tempo, both McLean and Newland had goal-bound efforts blocked by some stout defending and Newland chased down a long clearance from Freeman to win a corner. Newland and Nash set Griffin away for another corner, taken by Griffin to Downes who waltzed around a defender to cross to Nash whose header found the grateful arms of the keeper. East produced a poor challenge on Mallett to earn a stern rebuke from the referee on the half-way line and when Freeman launched a long ball towards Rawlinson, his first time control was excellent to allow a fine cross to just clear the cross-bar. Freeman saved a shot from Holland as play switched from end to end and then Weeley came up with another fine team goal. East took a free-kick inside his own half to find Griffin free on the right, one touch and an astute pass inside found Nash who slipped the ball into the path of RUSSELL McLEAN who struck a curling shot away from the diving keeper into the corner of the net , this from the edge of the penalty area. The frustration of Holland wiped out Westrip in a clumsy challenge wide on the left side and from the free-kick Rawlinson found the head of Findlay who should really have scored instead the ball skimmed off his head to safety. The class of Newland had been evident throughout the first half but in the second half his close control and forward running without losing possession often took his team into dangerous positions and certainly frustrated the Hornchurch players who had no answer to his footwork.
With just five minutes and probably a minimum of six minutes injury time remaining neither team had given up on this game, Weeley needed to relax and control proceedings, Hornchurch needed to get possession and work the ball behind the home defence. Findlay fouled Pearce with Mallett driving the ball over the cross-bar, shame really because he had already shown his prowess from dead-ball situations. Once again, Newland broke through on his own forcing Bowels to save at full stretch and Griffin gave chase to set up Nash who effort was steered wide for a corner. East trapped the ball between his knees near the goal-line and Holland was fouled wide on the right side by Findlay as the home team defended. The free-kick from Mallet was headed clear by Findlay but when the ball was played back in an almighty scramble inside the penalty area saw Rawlinson block a goal-bound shot, Westrip blocking the second attempt and it was left to Heffer and Findlay to dig the ball out to clear up-field. As the ball crossed the half-way line the referee blew for time and Weeley had earnt a fine victory against a very competitive Under 21 team.
FULL TIME: 4 – 3
Once again in a County Cup match, I expected a close game and for ninety minutes and the added time for injuries, that is what we saw, Weeley, in my opinion deserved to win, scoring two fine team goals through McLean to add to those by the opportunistic Nash and Heffer, neither would normally miss from six yards out. AFC Hornchurch Under 21’s, on another day could have beaten similar opposition to the hosts but this win puts Weeley into the quarter-final, to be played on Saturday 6t h February 2016. Their opposition will not be known until at least Monday 25th January 2016 as two ties remain to be played after postponements last Saturday, needless to say any opposition will be a tough call, whether at home or away.
This week my Man-of-the Match selection was never in doubt, as despite two fine goals from McLean, Louie Newland, played probably his best game for Weeley Athletic FC dominating midfield throughout and creating numerous attacking options for his team.
Teams:
WEELEY ATHLETIC FC Colours: Orange Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Mitchell Freeman., Robert East., Kieran Andrews., Steven Downes (C)., Daniel Findlay., Tomas Heffer., Louie Newland., Steven Davis., Ross Nash., Russell McLean., Scott Rawlinson.
Manager: Keiron Shelley.
Assistant Manager: Richard Downes.
Used Substitutes: Matthew Westrip., Jimmy Griffin.
AFC HORNCHURCH Under 21’s: Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Joe Bowels., Jake Piper., Will King., Luke Bolton., George O’Connor., Barry Moreton (C)., Frankie Holland., Sam Dickens., Billy Pearce., Fred Bull., Ryan Mallett.
Manager: Alan Dickens.
Assistant Manager: Alan Pearce.
Used Substitutes: Mark Frostick., Matty Bentley
Referee: Stuart Gillman (Wivenhoe)
Assistant Referee’s: Adrian Arnott (Colchester)
and Eric Bowers (Lawford)
Man of the Match: Louie NEWLAND (WEELEY ATHLETIC FC)
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