17/10/2020 – REPORT – Silver End United FC versus Gosfield United FC.

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE.

SILVER END UNITED FC: 4. GOSFIELD UNITED FC: 1.

Date: Saturday 17^th October 2020. Venue: The Broadway, Silver End.

I decided to travel to Silver End on Saturday, the Club’s First Team have returned to the ESBFL after more than a decade away playing in the County Motors Mid-Essex Football League where, at the time of the “first” COVID-19 lockdown, sat top of their Premier Division, so with that in mind the ESBFL placed the team, managed by Karl Johnson, in Division One. The ESBFL, Division One is once again this season is proving to be a competitive Division, getting out of it to the Premier Division, a National Feeder League, is a tough ask and then facilities need to match certain criteria.

I have to say that I was made very welcome, meeting Club Secretary, Mark Edgell and numerous Club Members all doing their bit to ensure “safe-distancing” with a plentiful supply of “sanitizer” etc, just a shame nobody could use the Clubhouse Bar facilities, another time maybe. The pitch is wide and long and in very good condition and a decent crowd, approximately sixty people, gathered before and during the first half and saw a decent game of football. Gosfield United FC managed once again by Mark Wiskin were having a decent season before the “lockdown” having been double promoted at the end of the season before, so another season of consolidation for them, but today he had numerous players out injured or playing whilst un-fit!

The man in the middle today was Simon Bird, he advised me that this was the first time he had officiated at Silver End but had played there, in his youth, and as the game unfolded it was good to hear the crowd consider that he was having a decent game, with some friendly banter thrown in!

The home team kicked off and showed their early intentions using their wide players to get forward and provide crosses into the box, on three minutes Gage ran down the right side and from his cross Edwards (R) headed just wide for a goal-kick. On the opposite side Gage ran in to connect with another cross from Edwards (S) which flew straight to keeper, Hobster who clutched the ball high to his right, six yards out, could be a busy day for the visiting custodian. Gosfield were making tentative attacks when going forward and Turner struck a fine shot which keeper, Jones seemed to consider the bouncing ball was going wide until it hit his standing leg and rebounded into play! On six minutes, Edwards (S) broke down the right-side beating Martin (J) however, Pike was there to defend conceding the first corner of the match which was cleared. The home team’s wide players, Edwards (S) and Gage were always found in space looking for the break and from another cross from Borein, keeper, Hobster was clattered, resuming after some treatment. Quance had the ball in the Gosfield net but was correctly flagged for off-side, this after good work through mid-field by Hollocks (S) and Johnson. On ten minutes a goal, and this was against the general run of play, a long ball forward fell at the feet of ANDY TURNER who looked up and lobbed the home keeper from thirty yards out. The home response was immediate with Hollocks (S) lashing the ball wide having rode a foul challenge, and when play continued young Martin (C) for Gosfield was injured, losing his boot in the process. Ellis fouled Hollocks (T), Hewitt took the free-kick finding Edwards (S) who set up Gage whose poor control allowed keeper Hobster to collect the loose ball.

Edwards (S) took another run down the right side, drifting inside to find Hollocks (T) who fired over the goal, then Vickery defended well against Hollocks (T) and defender Ellis did well to stop Hollocks (T) again, this time for a corner. Martin (J) headed off his own goal-line from an effort from Borein and defenders Swann and Vickery defended well against Johnson and Gage. The equaliser, on twenty minutes, was long overdue and looked like a family affair as when Hollocks (S), Johnson & Hollocks (T) worked the ball through the Gosfield defence it was left to DAN GAGE to steer the ball home from close range. Gage was giving his defender a torrid time down the left side, credit to the defender, Ellis, I think, for sticking to his task, Johnson fouled Turner on the half-way line, taken by Ellis but struck too long to cause any problems for a solid home defence. Hollocks (S) dribbled inside the penalty area once again letting off a shot which keeper, Hobster parried away with a fine save but it was in mid-field where this game might be won, thus far both defences had stood firm, only two goals, an opportunist lob for the visitors and a finely worked move for the home equaliser.

With half-an-hour gone Gilder (D) drifted wide down the right side, beating three players and having got round the back his low cross was intercepted by keeper, Jones as Turner and Martin (C) closed in. At the other end Hollocks (T) and Johnson combined to create an opening which led to keeper, Hobster, sticking out a leg to deflect the shot from Johnson, wide for a corner. Silver End had been the more dominant side going forward, having gone behind they were back on equal terms and had pushed forward from that moment looking to take the lead. Martin (C) and Gilder (D) combined down the left side but Quance snuffed out the danger, Pike fouled Edwards (S), twenty-five yards out, the free-kick taken by Hewitt took a deflection off the defensive wall and went out for a corner. With five minutes to half-time, Hollocks (S) launched himself at the loose ball, connected with the ball but his follow through pole-axed Haley, it didn’t look very pleasant from where I stood, the player escaped a caution, or possibly worse, but the referee explained his decision and play continued after treatment to the visiting player.

HALF-TIME: 1 – 1

Neither Manager made any changes at the restart, made by Gosfield, Edwards (S) strode down the left side, picking out Hewitt who fed Borein but the Gosfield defence stood firm with Haley clearing the ball out for a corner, taken by Hewitt with defender Ellis kneeing the ball back to his keeper, Hobster. Gage and Edwards (S) linked up to create a shooting opportunity, the right footed shot seemed destined for the back of the net until keeper, Hobster excelled to make a fine save. Quance sent in a long-range effort to the keeper whose clearance fell to Gilder (L) who played in Turner, but he dragged his shot wide of the goal. The game seemed end-to-end with the home team more dominant and having more idea of what to do with the ball when in possession, Brown slipped when making a tackle on Turner and a free-kick just near the edge of the penalty area was awarded, Haley took the free-kick but over-hit the ball, a wasted chance. In my opinion Silver End were over-playing when on the ball and trying, perhaps, to walk the ball into the net, keeper, Hobster made another fine save from Gage whose instant control and shot on the turn from six yards out, almost took everyone by surprise, not least the Gosfield defenders. Keeper, Hobster made another decent save, again from Gage, the ball was angling into the top right-hand corner until the keeper flung himself across his goal to palm the ball away.

On sixty-minutes, a goal, this followed a fine dribble forward by Hollocks (S) against a retreating defence that set up DAN GAGE who scored his and his team’s second goal from six yards out, and within a minutes it was three, a poor defensive clearance fell at the feet of SAM HOLLOCKS who looked up and from outside the penalty area, volleyed the ball back past a static defence and a motionless keeper who was given little chance to save. Gosfield made their first player change replacing Martin (C) with Clifford, and his first touch set up Turner whose shot forced keeper, Jones to push the ball wide and safety. Those quick goals had livened up this game, Silver End were now in control and Gosfield appeared to be tiring and after seventy minutes Silver End replaced Gage with Thomas. Johnson caught Clifford with a high challenge, got injured in the process and was cautioned before being substituted with Hodgson taking his place. Edwards (S) continued his running on the ball down the left side, over-playing one challenge and fouling Haley who had tracked back to defend.

Gosfield did put together a decent attack starting out of defence by Haley, Vickery, Gilder (J) who found brother Gilder (L) but his shot did not test the home keeper, Edwards (S) was denied again by keeper, Hobster, who was beaten by the rebound from Thomas who was correctly flagged, albeit late, off-side from when the initial shot came in. Gilder (L) laid a cross into Turner whose scuffed effort was pushed away for a corner by keeper, Jones, the corner was taken but with Gosfield pushing up, Pike was cautioned for hauling back Hollocks (S) just as Silver End looked to break forward. With nine minutes remaining Gosfield made their second change replacing Haley with Woodburn, and they thought they should have had a penalty when Gilder (L) played in Turner who went to ground near the penalty spot, I thought it was, as did some of the spectators near me, the referee was closer and deemed that the ball had been played first and play continued, although Gilder (L) was spoken too. From a Gosfield corner, taken by Turner, Gilder (L) fouled keeper, Jones and Silver End worked the ball forward to Thomas who slipped the ball through the defensive line, keeper, Hobster, advanced but missed the ball and SAM EDWARDS finally scored the goal he deserved on eighty-seven minutes. Game over!

FULL TIME: 4 – 1.

A decent game of football, the home team ran out clear winners on the day and the score-line perhaps reflects their dominance when in possession, Gosfield United FC, can take heart from a creditable display despite missing players, they can and will play better in future.

Now let’s turn to my Star Player, for Gosfield, keeper Hobster, made some fine saves to keep the score-line down to four goals, the outfield players battled throughout but were generally out-played by a strong home team. For Silver End, their defence were caught square for the opening goal but thereafter dealt with everything put their way. The mid-field and forward areas were crucial, Edwards (S) and Gage, both scored goals but in Captain, Sam Hollocks they had a hard-working player who covered much of the pitch and scored a fine volley so he is my choice this week.

Teams:

SILVER END UNITED FC: Colours: Orange Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Ben Jones., Paul Quance., Mitchell Brown., Reece Edwards., Joe Borein., Adam Hewitt., Sam Edwards., Todd Hollocks., Tom Johnson., Sam Hollocks (C)., Dan Gage.

Manager: Karl Johnson.

Used Substitutes: Nial Thomas., Henry Hodgson.

Unused Substitutes: Jack Vidler., Jack Keeble.

GOSFIELD UNITED FC: Colours: Green Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Christopher Hobster., Ryan Vickery., Jamie Martin., Bobby Pike., Ross Swann., Luke Ellis., Sam Haley., Jake Gilder., Andy Turner., Dean Gilder (C)., Charlie Martin.

Manager: Mark Wiskin.

Used Substitutes: Oliver Clifford., Theo Woodburn.

Unused Substitutes: Jack Gill., Alistair Groves.

Referee: Simon Bird

Star Player: Sam HOLLOCKS (SILVER END UNITED FC)

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“COVID-19” “CORONAVIRUS”

THE “ESBFL” IS MINDFUL OF THE CONTINUING SERIOUSNESS OF THIS INFECTION, MATCHES CURRENTLY BEING PLAYED WERE ALLOWED TO PROCEED UNDER THE GUIDANCE GIVEN BY THE “FA”.

THIS SITUATION IS BEING CONSTANTLY MONITORED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE “FA” WHO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE REGULAR UPDATES DIRECTLY TO CLUBS AND THE LEAGUE. PLEASE ENSURE THESE ARE READ, UNDERSTOOD AND ADHERED TOO.

IT IS INCUMBENT ON ALL MEMBER CLUBS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF VISITORS, THE FA HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS DIRECTIVES THEREFORE THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR IGNORANCE OF THESE GUIDELINES etc

ALL MEMBER CLUBS, ITS OFFICIALS, PLAYERS AND SUPPORTERS “MUST” ADHERE TO THESE GUIDELINES OTHERWISE THIS SEASON MAY ALSO BE CURTAILED EARLY.

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Additional Reporting:

YOU TUBE., FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

Once again, this season the ESBFL is widening its match-day reporting coverage, in addition to a full report written by Brian Reed, our other roving reporter, Spencer Hume, has once again made himself known during the friendlies season and he will also attend games reporting via You Tube, Facebook and Twitter to communicate up-to-date information and replicate other match reports. In addition, John Campany, Vice Chairman will continue to provide a weekly summary, published in The Gazette.

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Reminder to Club Secretaries / 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 either Mick Willmore (mjw1947@sky.com)

or M/s Alison Stanford (esblsec@icloud.com) especially for evening games and for those matches being played under floodlights etc.

KO is 3:00pm from: October

KO is 2:00pm from: November, December & January

KO is 2:30pm during: 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 )

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ESBFL “web-site”

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