16/04/2016 – Little Oakley FC versus Barnston AFC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

LITTLE OAKLEY FC:       2.                BARNSTON AFC:  0.      

 Date:   Saturday 16^th April 2016.                    Venue: War Memorial Ground, Little Oakley.

ThIs game was not my intended match, that was to have been Little Oakley FC “A” versus Tiptree Park FC at Low Road, Dovercourt but once I had ascertained that they had agreed an early kick off at Little Oakley FC I made my way back to The War Memorial Ground to watch the Premier Division action between the home club and Barnston AFC, whose travelling octogenarian club-men are always good company as are the more youthful club officials at Little Oakley FC.

 

The Match Official for this match was Martin Avent and his Assistant Referee’s were Simon Bird and Stuart Gillman, the inclement weather, or at least the rain persisted until half-time but with the pitch having been used earlier in the afternoon for the afore-mentioned Division 2 fixture the normally well prepared pitch, would soon cut up and players might easily have trouble keeping their feet. After the usual “Respect” handshake both teams stood around the centre-circle to perfectly observe a minutes silence in respect of Brian Lawrence, ESBFL Authentication Officer, who passed away recently.

 

Barnston kick off and had a chance almost immediately when a cross from Featherstone found De’ath in space with the home defence dithering about but this early attack stung Little Oakley into action with Hinks, on his debut getting down the left side, then a deep cross from Kiuossis was just too far ahead of Lewis who had run in from the left wing. A break by Barnston following a miss-placed pass by Kioussis was retrieved when Kioussis got back to make a timely tackle just outside the penalty area and after ten minutes play had been fairly even, albeit disjointed owing to the conditions. A foul, wide on the right by Jones  (S) enabled Kioussis to send in a deep cross towards Harmon but the header was wide, then a corner from Duly, after Palmer (Mi) had forced Bezant to concede, was headed clear by Robertson to Kioussis whose return shot was held by Coomber low to his left. A break down the right side through Palmer  (Mi) saw the eventual cross pass behind Lewis and Good as well as defender Spencer to be cleared.

On fifteen minutes Barnston broke forward, De’ath scampered past Wood and when keeper Tynan advanced to collect the ball he collided heavily with Dobkin and De’ath but the keeper had done enough to stop any scoring chance. Gribble lobbed the ball wide having dispossessed Dobkin and probably should have scored as the visitors were looking the more likely team to score. Kioussis received a talking too for what should have been a foul, the referee allowing play to continue with Barnston in possession until Hinks fouled Gribble. On twenty-five minutes the curling free-kick taken by De’ath was cleared up-field, Kioussis gave chase down the right wing sending in a hard and low cross which was met by TREVOR LEWIS who stroked the ball home at the near post to open the scoring before attempting to hurdle the perimeter rope, I say tried to hurdle and fortunately he was not embarrassed when straddling the rope!

Having already been spoken too by the referee, Dobkin obviously said something extra as he retreated and received the first caution of the game, this stemming from an earlier incident when play was allowed to continue. Duhig handled the ball on the half-way line but the long free-kick from Duly was just that, too long and when Barnston pushed forward Barry and De’ath worked the ball well to by-pass the retreating Wood but Dobkin dived in to stop any further progress. The long ball game showed little sign of being productive as when the ball hit the ground it zipped away at pace but the passing approach of Barnston through Molloy and Robertson only faltered when Robertson lost possession then Robertson was adjudged to have leant too heavily on Palmer (Mi) and from the free-kick two corners followed. From the second corner taken by Duly, Coomber punched clear and suddenly we witnessed six Barnston players storming forward with the ball and facing only two retreating defenders, fortunately keeper Tynan stood his ground making fine saves from firstly De’ath then Gribble at the expense of a corner, and clearly the home defence were not at their best today!

On forty minutes Dobkin was treated for an earlier injury and soon after, when play resumed a long kick from Tynan fell kindly into the path of Lewis who galloped away towards goal but faced with a one-on-one situation, keeper Coomber made an excellent save diving to his left as he advanced towards the penalty spot.

 

HALF-TIME:      1 – 0

 

Little Oakley re-started the second half with Palmer (Mi) hauling aside Barry as he tried to get round the stubborn defender and Tynan again came the rescue of his team twice saving shots from Jones and Molloy, whereupon Barnston replaced Spencer with Jackson. Harmon embarked on a long solo run from his own half, straight through the middle before unleashing a shot which Coomber initially parried before clutching the ball at the second attempt. Another better move starting with Kioussis, involving Lewis, Palmer (Ma) and Palmer  (Mi) whose shot hit Palmer (Ma) and flew to safety but clearly a single goal by the home team was not enough to secure victory as Barnston has shown great spirit and fought for every ball. Five minutes before the hour mark Little Oakley replaced Good with Hammond and Barnston replaced Featherstone with Jones (B) and Barnston pushed forward through Jones (S) whose pass inside to De’ath almost caught the last two home defenders napping but De’ath over elaborated his footwork and lost possession.

On the hour mark Duly was replaced by Polley and De’ath put in a robust challenge on Dobkin who once again seemed in the wars through injury. Visiting keeper Coomber showed his prowess at controlling the ball when taking down a high ball with his left foot just a yard off his goal-line, any error could easily led to a goal. Five minutes later and Eldridge replaced Palmer (Ma) and when Palmer (Mi) worked his way forward, he cut inside to shoot but Robertson had read the danger and blocked the goal-bound shot, six yards out. More player changes followed with King replacing Bezant and Barnston continued to press forward but generally play was very disjointed, from both teams perspective. Jones (S) in-advisedly slid into a group of players and a short melee followed with various accusations being made with the referee speaking too Jones (S) and the combative Harmon and with players not heeding that moment De’ath and Dobkin once again renewed acquaintances on the far side leading to the Barnston player receiving his caution.

With twelve minutes to go Little Oakley got the all important second goal, and another good goal it was too, the move started deep in the Little Oakley half and with four of five crisp passes, Harmon eventually fed SAM ELDRIDGE who slid the ball past the diving keeper and relieve the tension on the home team. As the game moved its final minutes Tynan had a narrow escape when dropping a shot from De’ath that skimmed off the wet surface and Tynan got a hand to the follow-up shot from an acute angle by Duhig. Little Oakley pressed again, late on, prompted once again by Harmon who had covered acres of this pitch today and was involved in most of the better football played by his team.

 

FULL TIME:       2 – 0

 

Not a classic game by any means, the Little Oakley FC squad is very familiar to me and apart from the inclusion of the odd fringe player is rarely changed other than rotation, however Barnston AFC had recently secured the services of a new manager who has now had time to assess his inherited players and bring in some new young faces and accordingly to a “learned oracle” there are more to follow next season.

 

For my Man-of-the Match choice this week I am selecting Rory Harmon who by covering most of the pitch and being involved in a lot of the action and the second goal for his team, just shaded out young keeper, Luke Tynan who made numerous crucial saves throughout the game, despite spilling the odd shot when it zipped off the treacherous surface but experience and confidence will come with time and effort.

 

 

Teams:

 

LITTLE OAKLEY FC                                            Colours: Blue & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Blue Socks.

Luke Tynan., Daryl Hinks., Shaun Kioussis., Jamie Dobkin (C)., Lewis Wood., Rory Harmon., Mark Palmer., Liam Duly., Michael Palmer., Trevor Lewis., Luke Good.

 

Manager:                       Paul Sadler

Assistant Manager:          Sean Tynan.

Used Substitutes:                        Sam Eldridge., Stephen Polley., Ben Hammond.

 

 

BARNSTON AFC:                                                Colours: Yellow Shirts, Blue Shorts, Yellow Socks.

Eddie Coomber (C)., Kevin Spencer., Max Barry., Andrew Bezant., Jordan Robertson., Connor Molloy., Harry Duhig., Sam Jones., Jake De’ath., William Gribble., Troy Featherstone.

 

Manager:                       Glen Wilkinson.

Used Substitutes:                        Bailey Jones., Sean Jackson., Benjamin King.

Unused Substitutes:        Ben Hayward., Jamie Coe.

 

 

Referee:                                    Martin Avent                   (Tiptree).

Assistant Referees:         Simon Bird                     (Wivenhoe)

Stuart Gillman                (Wivenhoe)

 

 

Man of the Match:        Rory HARMON              (LITTLE OAKLEY FC)