18/01/2025 – REPORT – White Notley FC versus Tiptree Heath FC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION.
WHITE NOTLEY FC. 1. TIPTREE HEATH FC. 4.
Date: Saturday 18th January 2025. Venue: Oak Farm, Faulkbourne, Witham.
After two vacant Saturdays, this due to the frosty conditions, the usual Saturday excursion was planned and I decided to go to watch the Premier Division clash between bottom team, White Notley FC and Tiptree Heath FC, a team whom themselves had occupied bottom spot for much of the season. Both teams have struggled with regular player availability, both had signed new players on and in the visitor’s “dug-out” was Steve Chester, stepping back into the breach when things started to look bleak, he had lost three players on the morning of the match! A quick foray into the Clubhouse and a warm welcome from Chairman, “Jack” Daniels and Dave “Robbo” Roberts, a stalwart of the home Club, boy, can we reminisce on matches from the past!
The match official for this match was the experienced Simon Lyons who was assisted by young, Leo Weller and veteran Anthony Darke, who is in his thirty-ninth season in this competition, overall, despite two “nailed-on” dismissals for White Notley, they had a relatively easy match.
White Notley kicked off and showed positive intent with Willett pushing the ball through to James, only for keeper, Mitson to save down to his left-hand side, Tiptree Heath pushed forward from the restart, Green put Ward through, but he scuffed the ball wide from outside the penalty area. Back at the other end Willett thrashed the ball against the base of the right hand upright with Tollhurst scrambling the ball away. Play was already end-to-end, Green was caught off-side from a pass from Mouat, whilst Willett used his pace and good footwork to gain ground down the right side giving Kensdale a rough ride in the process and Hosier put in a hefty challenge on the flying winger who needed treatment. Willett had seen plenty of the ball, he was certainly the target player for the home team to use to advance forward, a teasing cross from Willett being headed goalwards by Constantinou but straight to keeper, Mitson. There followed a fine ball forward by Claydon towards Constantinou, but he was rightly flagged for off-side, on twelve minutes, keeper, White found Willett but his cross towards Constantinou was poor and Abrehart-Briggs cleared to Hosier who sent Kensdale away down the left side, his deep cross was headed away by King (T) and King (R) launched the ball forward to Willett who was immediately closed down by Tollhurst, Willett did manage to wrap his leg around the defender and the ball, but keeper, Mitson was hit in the chest by the ball having advanced to the edge of his penalty area, good keeping there.
Whilst White Notley had seen more possession in the first fifteen minutes, the second fifteen started with Tiptree Heath on the charge, Green found Mouat whose clever cross just cleared the crossbar with Ward and Leavett up in support. Willett again crossed from the left side, again Constantinou headed weakly goalwards and keeper, Mitson, who collected unchallenged. King (R) put in a poor challenge through the back of the legs of Hart to stop play having been caught out of position, from the restart, Kensdale, Ward and Kensdale again forced home keeper, White to save at the feet of Kensdale. A long throw-in from Claydon was headed away by Abrehart-Briggs as the home team continued to attack, Kensdale was seemingly fouled but play continued, with Mason in possession but North, got across to defend and gain a goal-kick. When Constantinou threatened again, Tollhurst defended well with his fellow central defender, Abrehart-Briggs completing the clearance and both defences had stood firm at the thirty-minute mark.
Leavett, looked lively wide down the right side for the visitors, he just needed to see more of the ball perhaps, he gained a throw-in on a chase with King (T), play had got a bit frantic, and both teams should really try to settle down. Willett again started a move finding Dyer whose cross was heading towards Constantinou, that was until Tollhurst nodded the ball out for a corner, successfully cleared, but only to Willett whose cross was turned goalwards by James with keeper, Mitson saving on his goal-line. When Willett got the better of Abrehart-Briggs, Kensdale was there to cover at the expense of a corner, taken by Willett but headed home by PETER FALCO who rose higher than anyone else and five minutes remained before half-time. On forty-five minutes, Tiptree Heath scrambled an equaliser, Claydon fouled Kensdale down the left side, Green took the free kick, a goalmouth scramble ensued, and defender JAMES NORTH stabbed the ball home from close range, the half ended even which summed but the pattern of play thus far.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 1.
Tiptree Heath kicked off the second half, at the break, White Notley had replaced Dyer with Pearce, Ward fouled Simmons in the first foray forward, Green, having won possession, then played in Ward only for keeper, White to collect off the forwards toes. King (T) got the ball forward to Willett but from his pass the visitors defence had stepped up, leaving Constantinou in an offside position. On fifty minutes, substitute Pearce was injured in a tackle and was immediately replaced by Arnold, and few niggly fouls followed as both teams tried to get on top, Willett was clipped by Kensdale and before play could resume a replacement ball was required as the other fell flat! Constantinou fouled Tollhurst and when Willett did the same to Kensdale he received a yellow card, more for dissent rather than the challenge. On fifty-eight minutes, goal-scorer, Falco was replaced by Simpson, from the restart, Ward was fouled by Claydon, the free kick taken as usual by Green eluded everyone and went out for a goal-kick.
Just around the hour mark, Tiptree Heath took the lead, North, up supporting his forwards had a shot at goal through a crowd of players, keeper, White made a fine save at full stretch but was unable to hold onto the ball which was swept into the net by the predatory CAMERON WARD from six yards out. White Notley, shocked by this conceded goal, lost the plot defensively as within minutes Tiptree Heath scored again, this time TYLER MOUAT was on target, shooting across goal, the ball hitting the inside of the far post before nestling in the back of the net, with keeper, White, given no chance. Worse was to follow as on sixty-five minutes, a shot by Green was saved by keeper, White but JAMES NORTH was on hand to place the ball in the back of the net for a fourth goal for the visitors. To be fair, White Notley still tried to attack, Claydon but the ball through for Constantinou but Abrehart-Briggs was quickly in to defend however, the pace of Constantinou saw him clear through, but keeper, Mitson was quickly out at the feet of the forward. A turning point of this game, apart from the three goals scored this half was the dismissal of King (T) who unfairly rugby tackled Hart, Green took the resulting free kick was headed clear by King (R) and play became a bit scrappy.
Sensing there were more goals to have, Tiptree Heath pushed forward, shots by Ward and Green were blocked, Hosier also had a shot but hit colleague Ward who was on the six-yard line and a goal-kick followed. At this break, Tiptree Heath replaced Leavett with Taylor, whose first action was to chase back and defend against Willett, then Constantinou rounded Tollhurst but keeper, Mitson saved well with a strong right hand and a corner followed. Home defender, Simmons, was put under pressure by Ward but defensively the home team looked vulnerable especially as now, they were playing with ten players, mistakes would inevitably follow and when a stray pass was played across the edge of the penalty area, Simmons dived in, but the ever alert, Green, had got there first and Simmons as last man was shown a red card, nothing came of the direct free kick taken from the edge of the “D”. In a final flourish, Kensdale found Green, his pass back into the path of Green saw a fine rising shot that crashed off the angle of the post and cross bar and the game petered out with the resurgent visitor’s, comprehensive winners.
FULL TIME: 1 – 4.
With these two teams having struggled for most of the season, this match was never going to be a classic, credit though for plenty of effort and the visitor’s goals came mainly from mistakes, whereas the header from stalwart home player, Falco, conjured up his eye for goal from years gone by!
Turning to my Star Player, White Notley relied on the attacking outlet of Willett and the defensive experience of captain, King (R) who tried to encourage his team throughout this match. For Tiptree Heath, when Green and Ward play there is every chance of goals, they were prominent throughout but with two goals and a fine defensive display, this week I’m going for James North.
Teams:
WHITE NOTLEY FC
Colours: Amber Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Ethan White., Spencer Claydon., Harry Simmonds., Robert King (C)., Tommy King., Peter Falco., Aaron Willett., Ben Dyer., Josh James., Baillie Mason., Lefkos Constantinou.
Manager: Mitchell Taylor.
Used Substitutes: Harry Arnold., Mitchell Pearce., Matt Simpson., James Turner.
TIPTREE HEATH FC.
Colours: Green & Black striped Shirts, Black Shorts and Green Socks.
Team:
Andrew Mitson., James North., Ben Kensdale., Jack Tollhurst (C)., Joe Hart., Taylor Hosier., Tyler Mouat., Charlie Green., Cameron Ward., Charlie Abrehart-Briggs., William Leavett.
Manager: Steven Chester.
Assistant Manager: Noel Pennick.
Used Substitutes: Joel Taylor.
Unused Substitutes: Joe Chester.
Referee: Simon Lyons.
Assistant Referees: Leo Weller and Anthony Darke.
STAR PLAYER: James NORTH (TIPTREE HEATH FC)
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