18/01/2020 – REPORT – Dedham Old Boys FC versus Brantham Athletic FC Reserves

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION.

DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC. 0. BRANTHAM ATHLETIC FC RESERVES: 2.

Date: Saturday 18^th January 2020. Venue: The Duchy Field, Dedham.

Another change to my intended match unfolded on Saturday when the Flitch United FC Reserves match against Little Clacton FC fell foul, of a waterlogged pitch, these are new teams to the ESBFL but I’m sure I’ll catch them before the end of the season. So where too at short notice, well a local derby over at Dedham between the home First Team and second bottom Brantham Athletic FC Reserves, I’d seen both teams away and home respectively. To me, the home teams had numerous absentees, at least two injured players were watching, good to see that though, whilst the visitors have stood by their youth element supplemented by experienced players but no first teamers!

Saturday was again bright but cold, there was no discernible breeze but for the second week running I met match officials whom I had not met before, Referee Neil Lawson and his assistants, Alfie Davidson and Tony Vaughan. The “Respect” handshake was held out on the centre of a very soft pitch where the ball would “plop” on the ground with very little bounce and any low passes would roll nicely, hit a bump and deceive any player trying to control.

Brantham kicked off, the first minutes were slow and uneventful although Dedham had the first chance when Moseley chased down the right-side crossing to Macklin whose free header only found the arms of veteran keeper, Watkins (J), he won’t thank me for advising that his son Thomas was also playing for the visitors. On ten minutes, Brantham countered through Gunn who crossed towards Watkins (T) but home keeper, Peat was alert, to intercept the ball before it could reach the unmarked forward. Watkins (T) was fouled by Ruffles mid-half with Jones sending in the free-kick, defender Went headed upwards but Gunn shanked his attempted volley just wide when the ball eventually dropped. When Simpson dived into a challenge on Moseley, he successfully cleared the ball but Moseley accidentally rolled over the defender who was clearly injured however play continued, it was not a head injury, and when Brantham stopped thinking the ball would be played out, Dedham broke forward from inside their own half through Macklin, who, when reaching the edge of the penalty area passed inside to Windsor who cut inside defender Bethell only to shoot wide of the goal with only the keeper to beat, decent chance and a real let-off for the visitors! With play stopped, attention turned to the injured Simpson who was eventually helped off suffering what looked like a heavy knock to his hip, Lee being the numerical substitute, with Jones taking over the Captains armband.

With a quarter of an hour gone, Dedham had created the better attacks but failed to convert any of them and Brantham stepped up a gear to force the home team back to a point where they could not get the ball cleared over the half-way line. A shot on the turn from Mott flew just wide having been set up by a move involving Kilbourn and Watkins (T) down the right side, defender Collins brought the ball out of defence sending a raking pass wide to the left side where Watkins (T) dribbled the ball forward before shooting only for keeper, Peat to catch the ball near the edge of his penalty area, good anticipation here. A forceful run by Smith, for Dedham set the ball up for Moseley who failed to control when well placed. At the first half, half-way point, this game was evenly balanced, few chances had been seen from either side and neither keeper had really been troubled. Welham in midfield for Dedham lost the ball in a forward area, defender Parker had also charged forward leaving Dedham short at the back as Lee strode forward and it was left to a fine tackle by Bethell to thwart the danger, this time! Watkins (T) was late arriving into a challenge on Welham and from the free-kick play moved through Macklin and Moseley only for Collins to break up the move. A break by Windsor down the left side saw him outstrip Bethell to send in a hard and low cross that defenders Collins and Crissell snuffed out.

On thirty minutes, a long clearance from keeper, Peat fell to Welham who was fouled by Gunn, but Dedham failed to get the free-kick into the danger zone and Brantham cleared upfield and broke away through Lee who found LOUIS MOTT inside the penalty area who turned to score from close range, smash and grab perhaps but Brantham had been the more positive side in the ten minute spell leading up to the goal. Buoyed by this goal, Jones fed Lee once again and the substitute was only stopped when Parker intervened conceding a corner, taken by Gunn but headed clear by Went. Lee and Mott once again linked up to push the home defence back with Mott fouled by Parker just outside the penalty area, SAMUEL GUNN strode up to hammer the ball at the defensive wall, it struck a Dedham player and with keeper Peat already moving to his left the ball bounced to his right and found the back of the net, maybe it should go down as an own goal but Gunn was definitely or is that defiantly claiming it! So, after forty minutes the visitors had surprised the home team, few, given the current form and league placement of Brantham, would have expected this, two goals to nil, score-line! Dedham needed to pick themselves up, Bethell pushed forward to find Smith who found Moseley who dribbled through three players before unleashing a rising shot than cannoned back into play off the corner of the post and cross-bar, a close call for the visitors. A free-kick from Windsor found Bethell whose header looped upwards only to be caught on his goal-line by keeper, Watkins and as the clearance crossed the half-way line the referee blew for half-time.

HALF TIME: 0 – 2.

A welcome cup of tea in the clubhouse helped warm my hands and we were soon back out for the second half where Dedham had replaced Went with Tarling, the first positive action saw Moseley caught marginally off-side, Welham found Macklin but keeper Watkins was quickly off his line to gather the ball. Jones fouled Parker mid-half, Bethell drove the ball forward to Moseley who hit a shot that cannoned off Collins allowing keeper, Watkins to save low to his left side. Dedham had lost their shape and generally played themselves into trouble and Parker was helped out by keeper, Peat as Brantham closed down any outlet to clear with Lee prepared to chase and hassle defenders. Keeper, Watkins caught a free-kick from twenty-five yards from Windsor, and Parker and Lee had a nibble at each other. Tarling conceded a free-kick when fouling Gunn just on the corner of the penalty area but the curled effort from Lee failed to trouble anybody and on fifty-eight minutes Bethell was replaced by Spencer for Dedham.

Lee, once again chased down the ball when in the possession of defenders and he just clipped Parker when he was attempting to clear the ball forward, Parker was un-impressed when no foul was given and once back on his feet he took retribution on the nearest player to him with the ball, that unfortunate player was Hawkins (T) who now has some serious stud work on his leg. The referee was already on the spot and had a clear view of the challenge and acted swiftly to separate the offending player and issue a straight red card to Parker. Voices were raised as players reacted, but the situation was quickly diffused with the stricken Watkins (T) after lengthy treatment, carried off, allowing Mitchell to enter the game.

Moseley sent in another shot that keeper, Watkins (J) had covered, standing on his goal-line, Milbourn was injured in a tackle and Dedham defender, Ruffles, hit the right-hand upright and with the ball out of play Brantham replaced Crissell with Lawler. Lee galloped through two challenges, but his pass was good enough until it hit a divot and diverted away from its intended recipient, the unmarked Mott. Dedham tried to get the ball forward, but Moseley was battling alone upfront with no help around him, playing with ten me did not help his teams cause. Brantham still caused problems, Lee was set away by Donnachie, but he dragged his effort wide under pressure from Welham who had been forced back into defence when Parker was dismissed. The final action of the game should have seen another Brantham goal, but Mott rifled his left footed shot well over, but his team finished worthy winners and it was encouraging to see the dismissed Parker go over to apologise to Watkins (T) and his father, Watkins (J) for what was an awful challenge.

FULL TIME: 0 – 2.

Not a classic match by any means, most people watching thought the better team had won, Dedham with key players missing had little to offer up front and their defence was constantly on the back-foot as a youthful Brantham side made the most of their opportunities. This win lifts Brantham out of the relegation zone, to fourteenth, having leap-frogged Tiptree Engaine FC who have been in free-fall recently as their club re-adjusts its playing strength.

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, Dedham were off the pace in this match but Brantham had several players who stood out, Jones and Crissell in midfield nullified anything Dedham could muster, Mott and early substitute Lee always looked dangerous when on the ball but for any team that has been struggling this season then you have to build from defence and today Collins stood out, never missed a challenge, or header and provided good distribution to his colleagues.

Teams:

DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC: Colours: Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.

John-Joseph Peat., Bobby Bethell., James Ruffles., James Parker., Myles Went., Henry Welham., Tristan Moseley (C)., Liam Macklin., William Smith., Ryan Lee., Layton Windsor.

Manager: Luke Tuttlebee.

Used Substitutes: Darren Tarling., Philip Spencer

Unused Substitute: Luke Tuttlebee

BRANTHAM ATHLETIC FC RESERVES: Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

John Watkins., Samuel Kilbourn., John Donnachie., Matthew Simpson (C)., Christopher Collins., Lloyd Jones., Samuel Gunn., William Crissell., Louis Mott., Joshua Milbourn., Thomas Watkins.

Manager: James Long.

Used Substitutes: Jonathan Lee., Lewis Mitchell., Kieran Lawler.

Unused Substitutes: George Mutimer., Christopher Hyde

Referee: Neil Lawson.

Assistant Referees: Alfie Davidson.

& Tony Vaughan.

Player of the Match: Christopher COLLINS (BRANTHAM ATHLETIC FC RESERVES)

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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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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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