16/08/2016 – Report – Little Oakley FC versus West Bergholt FC
ANDREAS CARTER ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION.
LITTLE OAKLEY FC: 3.
WEST BERGHOLT FC: 2.
Date: Tuesday 16th August 2016. Venue: War Memorial Ground, Little Oakley.
This season the ESBFL have decided that certain mid-week fixtures would be accommodated in August in an attempt to stave off teams having to play Tuesday’s, Thursday’s and Saturday’s next May. So with that in mind and with both teams starting with a victory on Saturday, I travelled to Little Oakley who, were due to play West Bergholt FC. These two clubs have a consistent winning pedigree and with Coggeshall and Holland leaving the ESBFL, they, along with Gas Recreation would normally be expected to lead the division throughout the season so this match could be billed as the first heavy-weight match of the season!
There have been Managerial changes at both clubs this season, last season Sean Tynan and Paul Sadler were joint managers however this season Sean Tynan has taken the helm with Paul Sadler as his Assistant whilst West Bergholt have club stalwart Anthony White in charge after taking over midway through last season. A number of well known players from both teams were absent through a combination of work, holidays, injury or illness but nevertheless both teams had strong teams at kick-off time.
On a bright sunny evening that gradually got colder the match officials for this Premier Division game were Andrew French, George Lowe and George Sleigh and with these two experienced teams they would need to keep alert throughout the game and started well ensuring the “Respect” handshake was carried out before kick-off.
On an excellent pitch, West Bergholt kicked off and immediately played the ball backwards, no need to roll the ball forward anymore and the ball does not have to roll its circumference either so back it went, one of ninety-six new rules being applied this season, I suggest clubs and particularly their players read up on these as many involve players attitudes towards match officials, dissent in particular will be clamped down upon so players be warned, show any form of dissent and it will cost you £10. Carvey played a searching ball forward towards Palmer (Mi) formerly of Little Oakley FC and his header after one bounce fell into the grateful hands of keeper, Tynan standing on his goal-line. West Bergholt continued to press in the opening minutes, Hammerton sent in a right footed cross with his opposite number, Kioussis (S) clearing the ball on the volley over his own cross-bar for a corner which was headed narrowly wide by Webb. At the other end Heath was fouled by Murrells, Kioussis (S) took the free-kick only for Wood to head narrowly over. Kioussis (S) then fouled Palmer (Mi) with Murrells taking the free-kick which hit the defensive wall and bounced on to the keeper. Kioussis (S) then fouled Runicles when diving into the challenge from behind but even at the ten minute mark both teams had come here to play attacking football.
Mathurin gradually started to see more of the ball in forward positions and his pace with the ball at his feet was to test both Murrells and Hammerton and he won an early corner for the home team and followed this up with a run and cross that keeper Bethell (L) clutched out of the air. Gildea the wide left player for West Bergholt was likewise involved in the wing action for his team and from a penetrating run and cross Dobkin had to head away just as Webb was arriving at the far post. On fifteen minutes Mathurin broke forward down the right wing, passing inside to the unmarked Heath who had found space between the central defenders and despite getting a decent connection on the bouncing ball he had to watch as keeper Bethell (L) made an excellent one-handed reflex save having started to dive the other way with the keeper recovering to make another vital save off the foot of the post as Mathurin stole in to try to capitalise on the loose ball.
With twenty minutes played Heath went in hard on Turner and received a stern warning and the aggressive tempo flared again when Palmer (Mi) and Wood came together. Palmer (Mi) seemed to play the ball off the hand of Wood standing inside the penalty area, nothing was initially given and the two players then had a verbal spat closer to the six-yard box. The Assistant Referee flagged and the Referee after discussion with his Assistant awarded a free-kick, for handball, just on the edge of the penalty area taken by Murrells but the free-kick effort flew high and wide for a goal-kick. McFarlane, a new signing for the home team earned a corner off Murrells, for his attacking persistence with Hammerton heading the ball back to his keeper from the cleared corner. Dobkin set Mathurin away down the left wing before the player cut inside to shoot but was denied by two blocked challenges, firstly from Turner and then by Springett.
Ten minutes before half-time Little Oakley were awarded a penalty kick, Bethell (J) having initially lost the ball on the half way line chased back to defend but just as Harmon entered the penalty area the ball struck the arm of Bethell (J) and the on-the-spot referee pointed to the spot. Springett showed some dissent towards the decision and was duly cautioned whilst SEAN KIOUSSIS stepped up to hammer the ball home for the opening goal. Almost from the kick-off Webb sent the ball forward and Palmer (Mi) gave chase but with only the keeper to beat the ball bounced a fraction away from him and his toe-poked effort dribbled kindly to Tynan with a certain amount of derision being heard from the housing side of the pitch! As play swung from one end to the other, Heath gave chase to a forward ball only to collide with the advancing keeper so when Heath complained he was duly cautioned and Heath was again seen galloping away onto a left wing pass from Dobkin but as he cut in to shoot he only found the side netting albeit with a deflection off Springett, covering his defence as usual and the half finished with Dobkin receiving a caution just before half-time.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 0
Little Oakley restarted the match after the short half-time break, a sensible decision given the fading light, a long cross-field ball from Dobkin found Kioussis (S) in a forward position and from his pass Heath could not get round Springett who conceded the corner. Heath was causing numerous problems and when he got round Murrells it was left to Bethell (L) to make two timely saves in quick succession. Five minutes into the second half and West Bergholt stole an equaliser, initially poor defending on the home teams left side let Palmer (Mi) in to push a short cross from the by-line back into the six-yard box where CALLUM GILDEA steered the ball wide of the keeper and two defenders standing on the goal-line. The next action from the goal-scorer was to dive into a late challenge on Kioussis (S) who got up to take the free-kick, sending a teasing cross towards the six-yard box where keeper Bethell (L) advanced to punch clear but smashed into the unfortunate McFarlane who challenged for the ball, but required treatment thereafter. Heath was up and running at the West Bergholt defence once again on fifty-two minutes this time hitting a left footed drive that just whistled past the far post, a good effort though.
The game had definitely livened up after the equaliser and both teams looked to score more goals, Hammerton and Gildea chased down Mathurin only to foul him wide on the right side with Mathurin limping off to be replaced by Palmer (Ma) whilst the visitors replaced Runicles with Harrington. Palmer (Ma) sent Dobkin away down the left side and when his pass found Duly he miss-hit his shot and Heath was guilty of a glaring miss, volleying over with only the keeper to beat. On the hour mark, keeper Tynan received a back-pass but when trying to control the ball before clearing, he allowed the ball to run forward into space, a space where the alert Palmer (Mi) was running, fortunately the keeper got to the ball first and found Kioussis (S) who had tracked back. Midfielder McFarlane embarked on a mazy run avoiding three tackles until Bethell (J) clipped his heels to concede a free-kick mid-half. Heath almost became provider again as Harmon burst forward with Turner just reaching the ball first to clear but Turner was not so fortunate minutes later as he hauled back Heath to receive a caution.
With twenty-five minutes to go the visiting team were awarded a free-kick over by the corner flag when Duly upended Harrington, Murrells took the free-kick with Carvey heading goalwards, it looked a comfortable enough save until the keeper spilled the ball into the path of Runicles who poked the loose ball wide seemingly from under the body of the keeper. West Bergholt had mounted a series of attacks themselves, so when Gildea looked to chase a through ball, a poorly timed high challenge by Hammond on the half-way line led to his caution, many thought it could have been a dismissal offence. On seventy-five minutes West Bergholt were awarded another free-kick when Harmon fouled Gildea on the half-way line, Murrells as usual took the kick planting the ball high into the home penalty area where the unmarked RYAN CARVEY stole in to head home emphatically. Undeterred, Little Oakley pressed forward with spaces now appearing down the right side so when Duly picked out Kioussis (S) running wide down the right his first time cross was kicked clear by the outstretched leg of keeper Bethell (L), pure instinct I suppose but the goal threat remained.
With ten minutes remaining the home team did equalise, once again Duly picked out Kioussis (S) and after his low cross flashed across goal, Wood, up to join the attack attempted a shot on the volley but his miss-hit effort flew back into the path of the fortunate RORY HARMON whose forward momentum enabled him to steer the ball into the net through a crowd of players. Gildea was replaced by Bethell (B) but Little Oakley were not finished, Heath held the ball up well playing in Eldridge who was forced wide by the advancing keeper only to lob the ball agonisingly over the goal at which point he was replaced by Kioussis (J) with Runicles being replaced by Farrow for the visitors. Another strong run by Harrington getting onto a ball played by Carvey led to the substitute scuffing the ball just wide of the goal. With three minutes remaining Dobkin launched a long diagonal ball towards the corner of the West Bergholt penalty area, Kioussis (J) with his back to the ball expertly took the ball down, looked up to run past Murrells and deliver a strong right footed cross into the six yard box where JORDAN HEATH ran in to crash the ball home, smash and grab or what! Heath, a menace in attack all game was far from finished as when Turner seemingly impeded his direct run forward, the referee deemed that both players had collided with no intent by the defender, however both Heath and Kioussis (J) remonstrated with the match official to an extent that Kioussis (J) received a caution. The final act of intent was a break by Harmon who quite literally, ended up in a head-to-head confrontation with keeper Bethell (L) who had just picked up the ball as Harmon ran into him. Words were spoken but no further action taken but even the touching heads this season is a cautionable offence, another of the ninety-six changes!
FULL TIME: 3 – 2
This was an excellent match, in fact a credit to the ESBFL and these two committed teams, no quarter was given, or taken and I thought the match was officiated sensibly, six cautions perhaps, two for fouls but perhaps more worrying, four for dissent, a team only needs five cautions for dissent to incur an additional county fine, be warned or have a big bank balance!
Sometimes it’s hard to identify an outstanding Man-of-the-Match, West Bergholt captain, Springett led his team well, his defending and ball distribution was excellent throughout, shame about the bouts of dissent, for which he received an early caution, but as captain I suppose he should be able to pass comment but sensibly, and not in any other fashion. Gildea was a menace with his constant chasing with midfielders Carvey, Webb and Bethell (J) linking up well.
For Little Oakley McFarlane looks to be an good acquisition, Mathurin has stepped up from the Reserves and will cause problems with his pace and crossing ability, the defensive line is solid and dependable, led by Dobkin. However the return of Heath could be a crucial factor, four goals on Saturday and a late winner in this game will perhaps see him being marked closely, but in this game his overall play was effective, sometimes selfish but if you want a match winner then don’t discount him.
Finally, I mentioned the new rules more than once in my report, would managers and players please read up on them, some will be obvious, others not, check out the new rule on players receiving treatment and having to leave / or not leave the field of play it’s all about circumstances, the “Respect” handshake is mandatory for all participating players, not just the starting eleven but without wanting to labour a point, dissent, cut it out its unnecessary as a referee will not change his mind on any decision.
Teams:
LITTLE OAKLEY FC: Colours: Blue & Black Striped Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Luke Tynan., Sean Kioussis., Jamie Dobkin (C)., Liam Duly., Ben Hammond., Lewis Wood., Rory Harmon., Stuart McFarlane., Jordan Heath., Sam Eldridge.,, Sean Mathurin.
Manager: Sean Tynan.
Assistant Manager: Paul Sadler
Used Substitutes: Jacob Kioussis., Mark Palmer.
Unused Substitutes: Reece Harte.
WEST BERGOLT FC: Colours: Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts and Yellow Socks.
Luke Bethell., Chay Hammerton., Johnny Murrells., Luke Turner., Liam Springett., Kieron Webb., Jake Bethell., Ryan Carvey., Michael Palmer., Michael Runicles., Callum Gildea.
Manager: Anthony White.
Used Substitutes: Michael Palmer., Jake Harrington., Shane Farrow.
Referee: Andrew French (Halstead).
Assistant Referee’s: George Lowe (Colchester).
and George Sleigh (West Bergholt).
Man of the Match: Jordan HEATH (LITTLE OAKLEY FC)
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Request to Club / Fixture Secretaries
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 advice 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: August to October
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 )
ESBFL “web-site”
The web-site for the Essex & Suffolk Border Football League is: www.esblfootball.com
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