17/05/2023 – REPORT – Gas Recreation FC versus High Roding FC – COVID Cup Final

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

COVID CUP FINAL.

GAS RECREATION FC.    1.       (PENALTIES: 5 – 4)       HIGH RODING FC.         1.

Date:               Wednesday 17^th MAY 2023

Venue:             Brantham Leisure Centre, New Village, Brantham

            Another week, another Cup Final, this season, apart from one, the Knock-Out Cup to be played next week, have been dominated by the presence of Gas Recreation FC or their Reserves, it’s fair to say they have had an exceptional season as the First Team have also won Division Three and their Reserves, Division Five. High Roding FC also came into this match with silverware having won Division Four to secure a consecutive promotion.

            Tonight’s, Match Officials were, M/s Elora Hardstaff, who would have Stephen Vieira and Lewis Earl as Assistant Referees with M/s Wendy Townsend acting as Fourth Official, lets just say they had their work cut-out at times!

            Gas Recreation FC were to kick-off, Craig was fouled just on the edge of the penalty area, Dennis was over the ball but struck a left footed effort over the cross-bar, Maiden ran wide but was clipped by Killin by the corner flag, Bethell (F) took this free-kick, but High Roding defended well. High Roding woke up from this early pressure, Passley had a shot that flashed wide, Gas Recreation, through Bethell (D), and Craig played the ball back to Dennis who had joined the attack, but his well struck, right-footed effort flew over the cross-bar. Dadds fouled Passley and was spoken too by the Match Official, Pardoe had been injured in that build up as keeper, Bibby had advanced to collect the free ball but collided with Pardoe, Firkins had also gone to ground in the High Roding half attempting a tackle in that last attack. Bethell (D) and Evans had a friendly verbal spat mid-half, this after a foul, with Evans cautioned, Dadds took out keeper, Karr (D) from the free-kick which caused confusion, with Killin heading clear from the goal-line. Maiden fouled Liddiatt on the half-way line, Killin took the free-kick, high, into the penalty area but West, dependable, as ever, headed clear. Burgess, became the second player in the referee’s notebook, this for a foul on Bethell (F), from the free-kick, Maiden fouled Liddiatt, but the free-kick taken by Killin was too long and keeper, Bibby collected on the penalty spot. High Roding were having trouble trying to adapt, their long balls were easy fodder for the Gas Recreation defence, the ball was described as a “hot potato” by a learned, spectator sitting behind me in the stand.

            Bethell (F) worked the ball well with Craig and from his cross, keeper, Karr (D) was grateful for a ricochet off a fellow defender before claiming the goal-bound ball. A rash clearance from Carter, put his team under pressure, but Burgess and Karr (S) rescued the situation and got the ball forward to Passley whose lay off to Carter was good but the shot at goal, weak, much better from the lower placed team. Burgess, already cautioned, caught Bethell (D) on the half-way line, Dadds sent a long ball forward finding Bethell (D), his bouncing lay-off saw Maiden challenge against keeper, Karr (D) but with a raised foot, another talking too followed! Firkins, Craig, and Maiden then linked up to force a throw-in, from which Bethell (D) shafted the ball wide, decent approach work from Gas Recreation and so far, they looked the more likely team to scorer. Baker-Williams and Passley led the next attack from High Roding, Passley ran wide of the advancing keeper, Bibby, but West was there to cover, Rooney then put in a heavy challenge on Baker-Williams who got up and ran on with the ball. This game was competitive, plenty of tackles, a bit of niggle here and there but there was little in goal attempts, High Roding had raised their game though and were now more confident. Carter and Burgess sent Passley away, the pass back to Liddiatt was turned on to Burgess and in turn back to Evans who launched a left-footed effort over the cross-bar.

            Half an hour gone, both teams were hitting the ball, long out of defence, easy for their opposite numbers to pick up and try to create something, keeper, Bibby, caught Burgess when he ran out of his penalty area, Dadds was injured in the scramble that followed, Evans took the free-kick but again the ball sailed over the cross-bar. A cross from Liddiatt was heading for Passley, but West intervened, timing his header perfectly and Gas Recreation got forward, Bethell (F) sent the ball wide to Hynes who set Maiden away but again his left-footed effort troubled nobody and sailed over to the Bowls Club. Firkins and Bethell (F) worked the ball into space for Bethell (D) who also cleared the cross-bar, gone are the days, perhaps, when his shots would have resulted in a goal! Carter and Burgess sent Baker-Williams away, his lay-off to Carter saw the ball also clear the cross-bar, neither keeper had really had any saves to make so far! Dadds, possesses a potent left-foot and from one goal-kick, Firkins headed the ball on, Maiden gave chase but one bounce later and keeper, Karr (D) collected on the edge of his penalty area. This first half had been very disjointed, no pattern of play, not quite hit-and-hope, nor desperate as another half was to follow, Donaldson was late into a poor challenge on Dennis, another caution followed, Bethell (D), on the left side crossed, Evans won the header as usual, but the ball fell to Bethell (F) who sent a shot, hard and low across the goal for a goal-kick. When Evans hesitated on the ball, the quick thinking of Maiden saw him run on only for keeper, Karr (D) to be alert and kick the ball out for a throw-in. Bethell (D) and Baker-Williams after a challenge, and got in each other’s faces, the free-kick from Dadds put keeper, Karr (D) under pressure, conceding a corner, taken by Firkins to West at the far post, with the keeper collecting. As the half drew to a close, West picked out leading scorer Maiden, who gave chase but shot wide, the half ended but there must be goals in this game somewhere!

HALF – TIME:  0 – 0.

            A couple of enforced players changes happened at half-time, for Gas Recreation, off went Bethell (D) with Cooper the replacement, for High Roding, Killin made way for McClelland in defence. Burgess was quickly on the ball, from the kick-off, riding two tackles before shooting at goal, the ball drifting wide, then Burgess set Passley up, but his left footed shot was saved by keeper, Bibby, getting down low to save. High Roding kept up the “ante, Burgess and Carter set up Passley, but again his shot was saved comfortably by keeper, Bibby, whilst at the other end keeper, Karr (D) was quickly out as Firkins threatened. From the keepers, long clearance, Donaldson was fouled by West, a clear push in the back, and clearly seen by the referee, who cautioned West for his protests. SAM KARR struck a fine free-kick goalwards, keeper Bibby could not reach the flight of the ball, which hit the underside of the cross-bar, bouncing down to enter the net, a goal against the run of possession, perhaps, but High Roding had started this half more positively. Donaldson hunted down Bethell (F), good chasing back by the forward, Firkins left the field near the hour mark to be replaced by Willmore and when play restarted Maiden fouled Karr (S) and another caution followed.

            Burgess got across to challenge Maiden, Venner dived into a challenge on Evans to concede a free-kick on the half-way line, then Gas Recreation replaced Bethell (F) with Harrison on sixty-two minutes, his first action was to foul Donaldson wide on the right side. A decent cross from Carter was comfortable clutched out of the air by keeper, Bibby, but from his pass out, Willmore fouled Baker-Williams, Dadds spoke out of turn, was shown a yellow card and directed to the “sin bin” area for a ten-minute break! Donaldson tormented Harrison to gain a free-kick and West was warned about his vocal protest. On seventy minutes, a ball played through the centre was chased down by Maiden, heading to the left of the goal, keeper, Karr (D) rushed out, mis-timed his tackle and sent Maiden sprawling across the turf, a nailed on penalty, and a caution for the keeper, many were calling for different colour card, to me Maiden was going away from goal and still had to reach the ball several yards in front of him, the right decision in my opinion. BROOKLYN MAIDEN made no mistake from the spot-kick sending the keeper the wrong way, meaning its back to level terms and twenty minutes to play.

            Cooper fouled Baker-Williams, the free-kick from Liddiatt was held by keeper, Bibby, McClelland was cautioned for a poor challenge on Dennis, just as the defender was running clear, Hynes fouled Karr (S), and a fired-up Dadds re-entered the match. With ten minutes to play, Blunnie replaced Pardoe who limped off and Dennis had played his last when replaced by Page, maybe a shrewd move by Manager, Elms, his physical presence, and experience may, be required in these latter stages, or even the dreaded penalties which were now looming large. Evans rifled a shot to keeper, Bibby, again a safe pair of hands, the ball travelled quickly to the other end, Maiden was clean through, but a fine one-handed save was made by keeper, Karr (D) to deny the eager forward. Keeper, Bibby, denied Evans once again, diving to his left to save on the ground, a corner to the near post by Hynes was cleared at the near post by Karr (S) now helping out his defence. Maiden was almost goal provider, good control from a forward pass from Venner, he set the ball back to Page who lashed the ball wide. Gas Recreation made one final change, Craig being replaced by Ayling, Cooper fouled Carter, Evans took the free-kick, short to Carter, whose left footed shot eluded everyone as it fizzed across the congested goalmouth, that’s it, were now on to the lottery of spot-kicks.

FULL TIME:     1 – 1.

PENALTIES:

            High Roding FC                                                 Gas Recreation FC

1. Karr (S)             scores               1 – 0.                Ayling               scores               1 – 1.
2. Evans                scores               2 – 1.                Maiden              saved                2 – 1.
3. Donaldson         saved                2 – 1.                Page                 scores               2 – 2.
4. Passley             scores               3 – 2.                Cooper              missed              3 – 2.
5. Burgess             saved                3 – 2.                West                 scores               3 – 3.
6. Carter               scores               4 – 3.                Willmore           scores               4 – 4.
7. McClelland         saved                4 – 4.                Venner              scores               4 – 5.

RESULT:          Gas Recreation FC win on penalties by 5 to 4

            As expected, this was a gritty, competitive game, somewhat disjointed at times, too many free-kicks and long, high balls, with only two goals in normal time, and so the match went to “spot kicks, with Gas Recreation FC winning in sudden death, the highlight in that episode was the three saves from Taylor Bibby, which clinched the final, at the end of over two hours action.

            ESBFL, Chairman, John Campany and President, Lt Col Peter Andrews, OBE awarded mementos to the four Match Officials, Josh Burgess, Captain of beaten finalists, High Roding FC and this was followed by Louis Dadds and Dean West collecting the Winners Trophy to start some wild and noisy celebrations from the vocal Gas Recreation FC supporters who were out in force again.

            Finally, turning to my “Star Player” for Gas Recreation FC, for me one player stood out, keeper, Bibby showed what a good pair of hands he has, numerous saves, especially low down in the second half, he commanded his area at free-kicks and corners, he was beaten by a gem of a free-kick, but made up for that with three penalty saves in the shoot-out. For High Roding FC, I’ve seen them play better but on the night their threat came from Karr (S) who scored from a well struck free-kick to put his team ahead albeit momentarily.

Teams:

GAS RECREATION FC.

Colours:                        Red Shirts, Black Shirts, Red Socks.

Team:

Taylor Bibby., Joshua Dennis., Callum Hynes., Dean West., Louis Dadds (C)., Rooney Venner., Darren Bethell., Freddie Bethell., Eldon Craig., Brooklyn Maiden., Asten Firkins

Manager:                      Richard Elms.

Used Substitutes:           Alex Cooper., Scott Page., Kieran Ayling., Fred Harrison., Harry Willmore.

HIGH RODING FC:    

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

Team:

Daniel Karr., Liam Liddiatt., Corey Carter (C)., Ed Killin., Calum Pardoe., Luke Evans., Shayden Baker-Williams., Aaron Donaldson., Josh Burgess., Myles Passley., Sam Karr,

Manager:                      Brian Daden.

Assistant Manager:        Scott Hiskey.

Used Substitutes:           Jamie Blunnie., Jim McClelland.

Unused Substitutes:       Charlie Evans., Steve Jackson., Scott Hiskey.

Referee:                        M/S Elora Hardstaff.

Assistant Referees:        Stephen Vieira and Lewis Earl.

4^th Official:                    M/s Wendy Townsend.

Star Player:                Taylor BIBBY                          (GAS RECREATIONFC)

Star Player:                Sam KARR                               (HIGH RODING FC)