17/09/2016 – Report – FC CLacton Reserves versus Boxted Lodgers FC
ANDREAS CARTER ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE
FC CLACTON RESERVES: 2.
BOXTED LODGERS FC: 1.
Date: Saturday 17th September 2016. Venue: Rush Green Recreation Ground, Clacton-on-sea.
Division One this week and a short trip to Clacton to watch FC Clacton Reserves, who were promoted into Division One for this season, entertain Boxted Lodgers FC who had returned to Division One for last season after a single season in the Premier Division. Whilst the home team were largely youth players the visitors were a more experienced outfit, but despite these facts, I thought a close game would be played.
On a windy afternoon and on a bumpy pitch, the match official for this Division One game was experienced referee, Ricky Johnson, who oversaw the “Respect” handshake, which for those who do not know is for every match in every division and again I would point out to the management of clubs, that all participating players, inclusive of substitutes should take part, so, in turn you shake the hand of each player and the match officials.
Well no sooner had the game started and we witnessed a first minute goal to FC Clacton Reserves, Boxted had attacked but when FC Clacton cleared up-field through Hazell, the ball was moved on by “old-stager” Raine (sorry Darren but I could not resist) to Stein who had run into space just to the left side of the visitors defending side and when bearing down on goal his first attempted lob was parried by keeper Burton, who was beaten by the second lob executed by ASHLEIGH STEIN. Boxted hit back and Brace moved the ball forward to Seldon who found Congdon in space but his shot flew straight at keeper Clarke, whilst Pyle was looking to use his undoubted pace to chase any long forward ball by the visitors, a shot from distance by Seldon was cleared by Raine and both teams had adopted an attacking start. Fowler for FC Clacton looked lively as well, down the left side running against Trussler after prompting from midfielder, Harms.
Whinney showed dissent after being pulled up for a foul on the competitive Griffin but escaped a caution, then Stein played the free-kick to Griffin running in at the far post only to smash the ball into the side netting, a close call. Welham fouled Pyle in the middle of the park and from a short free-kick the ball fell to Congdon whose shot was scuffed wide of the target. A quick break by Stein, who raced past Trussler, to send in a deep cross which Griffin controlled to force Burton to save at the second attempt then Brace for the visitors broke down the left side overlapping his team mates to send a low driven cross across the penalty area where the ball was missed by three defenders and three attackers, but a better response from the visitors. On twenty minutes, Keeper, Burton showed his kicking skills sending a huge goal-kick deep into the FC Clacton half where Raine headed forward towards Griffin who powered forward past Trussler leading to Barker fouling Welham. A minute later and a corner to Boxted, taken by Trussler found Macklin who controlled and shot at goal with the ball taking a deflection as it sailed over the crossbar.
Boxted had adopted a patient approach through midfield but in Pyle they had a willing runner who would chase down any long ball, however these were often over-hit, whereas FC Clacton were predominantly using the left wing where the pace of Stein, Fowler and Harms would give the visitors defence something to think about. Likewise FC Clacton were wasteful, skipper Launder struck a fine forward ball into the path of Griffin who controlled the ball well before blasting a shot wide of the goal with only the keeper to beat and momentarily we had a short sharp shower. When Seldon was fouled, Trussler stepped up to strike a dipping effort just over the defensive wall and the cross-bar and both teams had shown enough ability to create chances with defences largely in control, save the opening goal in the first minute.
Griffin was rightly flagged for an off-side situation and home keeper Clarke showed his powerful kicking ability launching the ball deep into the Boxted half where, either Dwight or Barker headed clear. A cross from Trussler was deflected for a corner and from his driven corner kick the simplest of touches by Watts at the near post, would surely have secured a goal but he like players behind him missed the ball completely, with Seldon picking up the loose ball only to shoot straight at Clarke. Trussler took another free-kick which, this time was firmly headed goalwards by Watts only for Clarke to make an excellent save, diving to his right but from the next corner taken by Trussler, the driven kick was headed home by the unfortunate DARREN RAINE for an own goal, Trussler will no doubt claim it for himself and there was no time to restart the half as half-time had been reached.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 1
There was brisk start to the second half, Boxted were pushing forward, just as in the first half, with FC Clacton, looking to break and when they advanced a corner was won, taken long by Stein with Griffin volleying straight to Burton. Play resorted to being a bit scrappy both teams lost their shape and the ball too easily. Whinney was fouled by Keep and another dangerous corner from Trussler found Watts who forced keeper Clarke into another fine save with Barker reacting to the rebound but fouling the keeper in the process. FC Clacton replaced Heath and Keep with Mann and Faulkner and Stein had the ball in the net only to see the linesman flag correctly raised for off-side. Stein forced a corner off Dwight, taken by Mann who found Harms, whose left foot shot deflected off outstretched foot of Burton for another corner which was cleared up-field to Pyle whose pace forced the home defence to retreat until Pyle over-ran the ball.
On sixty-five minutes Boxted replaced Whinney with Angel and Launder having to make a timely challenge on Pyle but moments later keeper Clarke almost cost his team dearly when a poorly struck pass to wards Launder, fell to Watts whose own control let him down as he would have had an open goal to aim at! On seventy minutes Watts was replaced by Cheorghe (Koko) and Boxted had probably been the better team so far in this half and the game remained at one goal apiece. When Dwight embarked on a forceful run out of defence his momentum carried him through three tackles before he over-run the ball and fouled Keep earning a hotly disputed caution for his efforts, I say hotly disputed, not by the player but by Wash, a substitute and joint manager who felt his player had been unjustly cautioned, Oh well another ten pounds to the County coffers!
As the game entered its final stages Stein broke through but failed to score when missing the goal, Harms was cautioned for dissent, not sure why but it did seem he was annoyed by something! FC Clacton continued a late push for victory, a cross from Hazell almost reached the out-stretched leg of Griffin at the far post, another close call. In the eighty-fifth minute the home team scored the winning goal when TOBY HARMS ran down the left wing, cut inside Trussler and placed the ball wide of the advancing Burton, a cruel blow to Boxted who had competed well throughout, with Welham, delaying the restart, he was duly cautioned, when will players learn!
FULL TIME: 2 – 1
Well we had early drama in the first minute of this match, drama at the end of the first half and likewise in the dying minutes of the game, both teams had a go at winning the game and perhaps FC Clacton just shaded events in what I predicted to be a close game.
Good to catch up with spectators Peter James, Glen Harms and Duncan Perry who still show an interest in local football, young teams like FC Clacton Reserves need encouragement whilst on another day Boxted Lodgers could easily have won the game themselves, its all about finishing or not, in their case!
My usual Man of the Match selection was once again a tricky decision, Trussler and Dwight defended well against the youthful home players and Seldon led his team well. For FC Clacton, numerous players caught the eye, Launder and Griffin look good prospects, Welham, Harms and Fowler caused endless problems with Harms scoring the late winning goal, but for me the overall attitude and non-stop running of Stein, who scored the opening goal gets the decision this week.
Teams:
FC CLACTON RESERVES: Colours: Blue & White Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Daniel Clarke., James Hazell., Harry Heath., Adam Keep., Darren Raine., Harry Launder (C)., Charles Welham., Toby Harms., Ashleigh Stein., Tyler griffin., Ben Fowler.
Manager: Lee Seymour
Used Substitutes: Benjamin Mann., Riley Faulkner.
Unused Substitutes: Kieran Crolla.
BOXTED LODGERS FC: Colours: Red Shirts, Red Shorts and Red Socks.
James Burton., Ryan Trussler., Scott Brace., Peter Dwight., Jonathan Barker., Liam Macklin., Matthew Whinney., Josh Congdon., Alan Seldon (C)., Benjamin Pyle., Daniel Watts
Joint Managers: Staffan Falla & Terry Wash
Used Substitutes: Brett Angel., Dan Cheorghe (Koko!)
Unused Substitutes: Terry Wash
Referee: Ricky Johnson (Colne Engaine)
Man of the Match: Ashleigh STEIN (FC CLACTON RESERVES)
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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.
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Kick-Off times for ESBFL cup matches, are generally 30 minutes earlier than those shown above but check competition rules beforehand.
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( www.essexfa.com/competitions/county-cups )
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