17/10/2026 – REPORT – Oyster FC versus Mersea Island FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO.
OYSTER FC. 0. MERSEA ISLAND FC. 3.
Date: 17th October 2026. Venue: The Glebe, West Mersea.
On Saturday we had the full gamut of weather, a bright, chilly, sunny start, a strong breeze, a flawless rainbow then torrential rain just after half time, and temperatures dropped towards the end of the match, that’s Mersea Island for you! Today in this Division Three North, top of the table clash, the island local derby, unbeaten leaders Oyster FC were to play second placed and unbeaten Mersea Island who by all accounts haven’t lost a league game for nigh on a year.
Today’s match official was David Owen who would be assisted by Club appointed assistants, never an easy task especially when a large crowd, estimated at over fifty, had gathered on one side.
Oyster kicked off but conceded a throw-in mid-half, Ellis took the throw in sending a long throw deep into the penalty area on this compact pitch adjacent to the main road, it only took four minutes for the first ball to leave the pitch and go into the undergrowth outside the ground, the second ball went over on five minutes and a third cleared the car park behind the goal, but I was assured that there were plenty of balls on hand to be played with! Green for the visitors went on a mazy dribble from inside his own half but was upended by Mowbray down the left side, Ellis took the free kick which was headed clear by Page whereupon Davis fouled Burgess. From that free kick taken by Page the ball was launched into the Mersea Island penalty area, Amass was in the mix for the high ball which dropped to Dobson who leant back to strike the ball against the hand of keeper Henly, the bar hit the crossbar but remained in play and it fell to Elliott who dragged his right footed effort wide. Green flattened Brame and was spoken too by the referee, the free kick was cleared leading to a foul by Amass on Plane, who got up to take the free kick himself, the ball flew to Ellis who headed powerfully wide but chances at both ends’ already.
Mersea Island won the first corner of the match through Green attacking down the left side, Plane took the kick, keeper Shaw punched clear from under the crossbar at the near post as Green challenged and it was the visitors who were on top with regards to ball possession but no clear-cut goal scoring chances yet! Stock tracked back to cover when Brame threatened, a corner followed, only to be cleared but visiting keeper, Henly was quickly outside his penalty area when Dobson broke through. On twenty-four minutes, Mersea took the lead, Ellis played a long ball forward finding Stock who instinctively flicked the ball into the space between two defenders which allowed BENJAMIN DAVIS to run through and score, a decent move that. Thus far, Mersea Island had been quicker to the ball and made their challenges tell with perhaps greater player physicality and experience against a relatively young Oyster team. Gardiner hauled down Burgess just as he was trying to break forward and this was one more foul as the tally kept rising! Pitt, for Oyster did make one telling dribble, with the ball, Mersea Island defenders had two nibbles at the ball before the inevitable foul was committed by Lawrence.
On thirty minutes, Mersea Island put together a fine flowing move, Stock, Gardiner and Davis made the running down the right side until the ball went out of play at which point Oyster removed Brame and sent on Warren. Ellis tried his luck with a free kick from fully thirty yards out, Davis forced a corner off Elliott, this was cleared by Reid who rose highest, which allowed Mamoudou to break forward and his progress was good until defender Lawrence raced back to stop any further progress past the corner of the penalty area. Oyster mounted a forward foray through Amass, he rode two challenges but ran out of pitch so a goal kick was awarded, which allowed Mersea Island to break forward to gain a corner through the persistence of Davis. On forty minutes, Pitt chipped the ball over defender Passfield which allowed Amass to send in a fine volley that just drifted wide of the goal but that was what his team had been forced to resort too as the Mersea Island defence stood firm. When Stock fouled Pitt, the player opted to be substituted and Brame re-entered play. Ellis was spoken too by the referee, not sure why but as play resumed a poor throw-out from keeper Shaw fell to Green who shot wide from close range.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 1.
As we returned to pitch-side for the second half the heavens opened and we witnessed a flawless rainbow over towards Wivenhoe, I wonder if the pot of gold is in my back garden! From kick-off Dobson chased a long ball forward from Amass, but he shot wide when well placed, those chances need to be taken, as the home team started in a brighter state, however, the Mersea Island defence marshalled by Travers and Passfield stood firm supported by Green and Lawrence. Gibbons nipped into a space to collect a fine pass from Stock but sent a dipping volley just wide of the goal, Travers got the better of Amass in a timely challenge with Ellis completing the clearance with a huge up field ball that Gardiner chased after, to no avail! At the other end a long throw in, from Mowbray was touched out for a corner by Green, taken by Dobson but headed clear by Passfield.
Mowbray tackled Plane from behind, then Plane and Stock put in a heavy sandwich on Elliott who did continue after treatment, from the restart, Davis tackled Mowbray from behind, the number of fouls was increasing again. On sixty-five minutes Mersea Island replaced Green with Whyburd, but when Page took out the dangerous Gibbons, he earned a yellow card, and a penalty kick was awarded, DAN GIBBONS stepped up to score past keeper Shaw who moved the wrong way. Another caution, for persistent fouling, followed when Elliott tripped Plane, and with the game stopped Mersea Island replaced Gibbons with Oliver whose first touch was a low shot that forced keeper, Shaw into a fine save.
With fifteen minutes remaining Oyster took off Dobson and sent on Kelly, as Mersea Island pressed forward, defender Page stuck up his left hand to handle the ball, another penalty kick was awarded, this time RYAN ELLIS hammered the ball, left-footed into the bottom corner of the net, game over. The plight of Oyster was not helped when Burgess showed dissent to the referee so sat out most of the rest of the match in the sinbin! Two more yellow cards followed when Gardiner of Mersea Island for persistent fouling, and Pitt of Oyster was cautioned for foul. Mersea Island made their last substitution when Davis was replaced by Walker, and the last action of the match saw Oyster hit the crossbar from a free kick.
FULL TIME: 0 – 3
A local derby with two unbeaten teams at the start, the more physical attributes of Mersea Island probably was a deciding factor against a young Oyster team, it’s interesting that both teams play on Mersea Island and only a few seasons ago both had Reserve teams in the ESBFL and with this win, Mersea Island now top the Division Two table.
Turning to my choice of Star player, from the very first attack, following his very first challenge, Will Stock, captain of Mersea Island, stood out and he led his team from midfield throughout this match.
Teams:
OYSTER FC:
Colours: Blue & White Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Reuben Shaw., Fletcher Burgess., Daniel Mowbray., Ryan Amass., Archie Dobson., Jamie Page., Charlie Borthwick., Toby Elliott (C)., Kieron Mamoudou., Danny Brame., Bradleigh Pitt.
Manager: Gordon Robertson.
Used Substitutes: Lincoln Kelly., Leo Warren.
Unused Substitutes: Alexander Tyler., Aimie Ase., Daniel Claxton.,
MERSEA ISLAND FC:
Colours: Black & White Striped Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Henry Henly., Rory Green., Adam Passfield., Ben Lawrence., Ryan Ellis., Jake Plane., William Stock (C)., Ben Davis., Alfie Gardiner., Dan Gibbons., Callum Travers.
Manager: Scott Martin.
Used Substitutes: Zachary Whyburd., Liam Oliver., Sean Walker., Thomas Rix., Leo Byrne.
MATCH OFFICIAL:
Referee: David OWEN
STAR PLAYER: William STOCK (MERSEA ISLAND FC).
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