17/08/2016 – Report – Alresford Colne Rangers FC versus Cinque Port FC
ANDREAS CARTER ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION.
ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC: 2.
CINQUE PORT FC: 1.
Date: Wednesday 17th August 2016. Venue: Ford Lane, Alresford.
Another mid-week match to take in as the season starts at a gallop, at least for the Premier Division teams, last night I made the short journey to Alresford to watch the local derby match against Brightlingsea based, Cinque Port FC, a team that gained a second successive promotion last season. Both teams had been under-strength when losing at the weekend so both clubs were looking for their first points of the season and a close game was envisaged with many players knowing each other.
On a bright sunny and warm evening the match officials for this Premier Division game were Ricky Johnson, Nathan Oakes and M/s Gemma Gardiner and with only a couple of contentious issues they had a good game.
Cinque Port kicked off but it was the home team that grabbed the early initiative attacking straight away with Cinque Port looking a bit lethargic at the back, needless to say that both management teams had plenty to shout about from the sidelines! First foul came when Martin impeded Smith wide on the left side, the kick was taken quickly but Alresford defended well. Cinque Port put together their first attack with Machin pushing the ball forward to Simon and then too long for Sauka to chase. On seven minutes martin played a long ball forward to Lewis who saw the keeper marginally off his line and attempted a lob from outside the penalty area with the ball drifting wide of the goal. Sauka then chased forward to a short back-pass with keeper Spencer reading the danger to clear with the help of Boxall. Both keepers were seeing plenty of the action and when Mann charged through, Lloyd (B) advanced, failed to gather the ball properly and Linnane was on hand to complete the clearance for a corner from which Lewis fouled Machin as he rose to head clear six yards out.
Sauka was always the best outlet for Cinque Port with his hold up play and willingness to chase forward and from a fine pass by Machin, Sauka was almost through on goal until Boxall intervened. With eighteen minutes gone it was the home team that scored first, Linnane tried to play his way out of defence but lost control of the ball allowing Joseph to play the ball wide to Lewis whose cross-field pass fell at the feet of GAVIN MANN who stroked the ball home at the second attempt. Two minutes later and the home team doubled their advantage, again Cinque Port failed to clear the ball and when Alresford picked up the loose ball KYE TUCKWELL slotted home from close range. It’s definitely a case that if you make errors in the Premier Division then invariably you get punished and we had seen two examples in quick succession. Boxall steered Sauka out of play whilst at the other end Linnane made up ground to thwart the break by Lewis and it was the home team that held a two goal advantage through some hard work and opposition errors.
Cracknell sent a long ball forward which Vaughan headed forward to Sauka who miss-hit his volley wide of the goal. A long throw from Vaughan was headed clear by Boxall and from the break West broke forward to shoot from twenty-five yards with the ball flying wide of the left hand post with Cinque Port pinned back in, their own half. Defender Linnane was throwing himself into numerous challenges and conceded a free-kick twenty-five yards out but Walters fired over the cross-bar. Cinque Port replaced Lloyd (L) with Daly who ran into Martin rather than trying to go round the defender. In the first half Alresford had been the better team, more cohesive going forward whilst Cinque Port had been forced to graft away, mainly in defence and the half ended with Preston finding West but just as before his shot at goal was wide.
HALF-TIME: 2 – 0
Alresford restarted the second half and attacked straight away with Tuckwell taking on Machin without success but play switched quickly to the other end with Smith shooting weakly towards Spencer. Whatever was said at half-time seemed to have raised the game from Cinque Port with Martin committing a poor challenge from behind as Daly showed him a clean pair of heels with the first caution of the game following. From the free-kick taken by Machin, Martin headed wide for a corner, taken by Vaughan and headed home at the near post by ROGER SMITH. A caution for Linnane inevitably followed, this for a rash attempt at a challenge with the referee bringing the ball back twenty yards when the initial attack broke down and Vaughan got himself cautioned for dissent during a lull in active play. From an Alresford throw-in Linnane headed clear the ball falling kindly to Lewis who sent a dipping volley towards goal, clipping the cross-bar and going over,a close call. West got forward again down the left side finding Tuckwell who volleyed wide with Cinque Port replacing Smith with Meadows, who with his first touch ran into space behind the home defence onto a ball played forward by Machin but his eventual cross was cleared but his presence had given Cinque Port some fresh momentum.
Cracknell stopped a run by West and with Cinque Port being more direct Meadows had a great opportunity to have a swing at a ball rolling across his path but by delaying his chance the ball ran wide and all that materialised was a low cross that home keeper, Spencer caught then spilled before clearing up-field. Another strong run by West found the ball reaching Preston but his shot was straight at Lloyd (B). Mann received a caution for a poor challenge on the half-way line with Alresford replacing Mann with Drysdale, precaution or tactical but from the free-kick, a corner followed, take by Vaughan with Boxall heading clear to Drysdale who sent an even longer ball forward which Machin headed out for a corner under pressure from Tuckwell. Linnane continued to defend tigerishly clearing almost off his goal-line as his defending colleagues went missing with the corner from Preston falling to Boxall whose attempted volley flew straight to the keeper.
Cinque Port continued to push forward and their goal had certainly helped to raise their game and it was the home teams turn to defend with Drysdale appearing to push Sauka off the ball with both hands inside the penalty area but unfortunately neither official were able to view the incident committed on the blind side! Cinque Port replaced Vaughan with Yarwood with Alresford replacing West with Marshall and Preston with Marchant. Both sides continued to press forward, the home team should have perhaps played the safety game and find the corners in which to keep the ball whilst Cinque Port perhaps felt they could snatch an equaliser. Walters set Tuckwell away and from his pass the rangy Joseph strode forward until Homewood made a fine challenge to end a decent attacking move. The frustration of Walters was compounded when he fouled Linnane and then showed dissent towards the referee who promptly issued a yellow card. Meadows forced a late corner and Stephens received a bang to the head to receive treatment whilst struggling to breath but in reality the home team held on for three welcome points.
FULL TIME: 2 – 1
A typical local derby, plenty of effort, both teams trying to improve after defeats on Saturday, player availability still questionable due to cricket, holidays, injuries etc and whilst Alresford Colne Rangers bossed the first half it was Cinque Port who had the better chances in the second, just failing to find an equaliser.
My Man-of-the-Match choice was going to be a defender, Linnane and Machin looked assured for the visitors but Boxall for the home team was strong throughout winning every required tackle and header whilst keeping his colleagues in check.
Teams:
ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC: Colours: Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.
Peter Spencer., Dominic Nea., Daniel Boxall (C)., Daniel Martin., Gavin Mann., Jason Joseph., James Walters., Fraser Preston., Ryan Lewis., Kye Tuckwell., Wesley West
Manager: Gary Wright & Gary Bright
Used Substitutes: Sam Drysdale., Christopher Marshall., Andrew Marchant.
CINQUE PORT FC: Colours: Yellow Shirts, Yellow Shorts and Yellow Socks.
Ben Lloyd., Jack Cracknell., Gary Machin., Glen Linnane.,. Ryan Stephens., Darren Simon., Daniel Homewood., Joshua Vaughan., Louis Lloyd., Ashley Sauka (C)., Roger Smith.
Manager: Ian Newman
Used Substitutes: Aaron Yarwood., Richard Meadows., Quintin Daly
Unused Substitutes: Ben Barnard., Joshua Grimsey.
Referee: Ricky Johnson (Colne Engaine).
Assistant Referee’s: Nathan Oakes (Colchester).
and M/s Gemma Gardiner (Clacton-on-sea).
Man of the Match: Daniel BOXALL (ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC)
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