18/04/2025 – REPORT – Reserve Knock-Out Cup Final – Alresford Colne Rangers FC reserves versus Earls Colne FC Reserves

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

RESERVE KNOCK-OUT CUP

ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC RESERVES.                     1.

EARLS COLNE FC RESERVES.                                                3.

Date:   Friday 18^th April 2025.                                   Venue: Little Oakley FC.

The Reserve Knock-Out Cup Final was played on Good Friday morning, the competing teams were both from Division Two, a battle of the “Colne’s”, Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves and Earls Colne FC Reserves. In the semi-finals Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves had beaten Roman Rovers Reserves by four goals to one whilst Earls Colne FC Reserves had beaten Silver End United FC Reserves by four clear goals, without reply.

On a bright, breezy, but chilly morning in front of a crowd estimated as being over one hundred and fifty people and on a rock-hard pitch, the officials for this match were Jake Molloy, who had Jonathan Dalton and Ben Cooper as Assistant Referees, with Anthony Phillipps as Fourth Official.

Before the “Respect” handshake, the Alresford Colne Rangers Reserve team were led out with their U7 and U10 team players, a nice touch that those youngsters should remember, they were also in good voice throughout the match as well.

            Earls Colne kicked off, playing into the strong breeze and pushed forward down the right side in the early exchanges, Barham cleared the ball out of play, from where Higgleton found Knevett through on goal and only a timely outstretched leg from keeper, Game, saved a certain goal, a corner followed, taken by Griffin but cleared by Willsher. A long ball forward from Barham, saw Clifford (L) challenging for the ball with Purchase, near the edge of the penalty area, when Clifford tried a shot goalwards Purchase stuck out a hand to concede a dangerous free kick and the defender received the only yellow card of the match and this after only five minutes of play! Clifford (L) took the free kick but was narrowly wide of the goal with a right footed effort that flew across the face of the goal. Donnachie was a bit late into a challenge on Willsher, from the free kick, Clifford (L) sent the ball over to Fox who headed the ball back to Raven at the far post, his header bounced wide as defender Higgleton pressurised the forward. The start of this game had been fast and when Knevett threatened, keeper, Game had to advance out of his penalty the head clear with Barham and Willsher caught up field. An attack started by Vidal, found the ball worked forward to Raven whose pass wide, found Clifford (O) but his cross was over-hit to the far side of the pitch. Clifford (L) and Gregory (T) worked the ball well down the right side, giving Raven another chance to use his pace against Lee who stuck to the task and gained a goal kick.

            Clifford (L) was starting to appear everywhere through mid-field for Earls Colne, attempts to impede him failed as he used his body to get in front of the ball, then turn and sprint away, one such challenge led to the ball being allowed to go out to Raven who then over ran it out of play. Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves were now having to defend on the back-foot as Earls Colne Reserves pushed forward, that early chance was a distant memory for some though. The game was now competitive, some big, but fair challenges were being put in by both teams, the referee deemed them fair, and play was allowed to continue. Murphy got down the right side and found Griffin whose cross was plucked out of the air by keeper, Game, from his clearance, Raven controlled the ball then skipped around Gregory (J). Hodgson was caught offside from a pass from Murphy as Barham and Vidal stepped up in unison, from the restart Gregory (T) rounded Higgleton to send in a low driven cross that was hacked away by Purchase. Flatts set up Raven down the right side he found Fox but from his high cross defender Gray headed clear and he epitomised the effort the Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves defence had put in so far. Griffin fouled Vidal, then did likewise on Clifford (L), with Higgleton conceding a corner. Many, thought Barham had impeded Knevett on the left side in front of the dug-out, side spectators, nothing was given despite the frustration of Knevett, this allowed Earls Colne Reserves to move up field with Gregory (T) gaining a corner, taken by Gregory (T), short to Raven whose control, for once let him down.

            On thirty minutes, Earls Colne Reserves had seen more possession but goal scoring chances had been few, Clifford (L) fouled Gregory (J), Barham swept up a mistake from Willsher, who had been put under pressure by Donnachie, putting the ball out for a corner, which was cleared out for a  throw-in, taken by Higgleton, but once again the Earls Colne Reserves defence stood firm as the high ball came in. Clifford (O) sent a right footed pass in to Willsher, Clifford (L) got involved in midfield, but Raven was correctly flagged as offside as the forward pass was made. Fox troubled Purchase, but the experienced defender won that battle, Knevett took the ball forward and passed inside to Gregory (J) who side-footed the ball into the net, only to see the Assistant Referees flag waved, and rightly so. On forty minutes, Earls Colne Reserves took the lead with the opening goal, Clifford (L) embarked on a strong run forward, moving inside Purchase, he passed across goal to DEVON RAVEN who scored from ten yards out. Gray came to the rescue of his team, once again, Raven, chased down a forward pass with defender Lee, keeper, Spencer failed to get to the ball, on the edge of his penalty area, Devon rounded the stricken keeper only to see Gray get in front of the open goal to clear the ball for a corner. Keeper, Spencer, atoned for his earlier error with a fine full stretch, one-handed save, this to a low shot from Raven, Clifford (L) was still creating attacks and when he laid the ball off to Flatts, the midfielder saw his fine effort across goal, hit the left hand upright and be cleared away.

HALF-TIME:    0 – 1.

            Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves kicked-off the second half, Morris won the ball and sent raven away down the right side to gain a corner, taken left-footed by Gregory (T) and cleared off the goal-line by Higgleton, play moved to the other end and a cross from griffin was over-hit, from the goal kick, Gregory (J) fouled Clifford (O) on the half way line. Gregory (T) linked up with Clifford (L) who was blocked off by Gray but the loose ball fell to Clifford (O) who blasted it over the cross bar, another fine forward pass from Barham found Gregory (T) but Griffin was back to defend. Alresford Colne rangers began to push forward with more purpose but were leaving space at the back so when a poor clearance from keeper, Spencer, fell to Clifford (O) he was well beaten but Gray was once again putting in a block, six yards out. Donnachie fouled Gregory (T), Barham took the goal kick finding Clifford (L) who ran along the goal line before running the ball out for a goal kick. Murphy spread the ball wide to Griffin, but Vidal was quickly in to defend then when Fox won the ball inside the centre circle, Gregory (J) dived through the back to concede a foul and a spoken warning. On fifty-seven minutes Earls Colne Reserves made a triple substitution, off went Morris, Vidal and Gregory (T) to be replaced by Webster, Shields and Poulter the first action for Shields was to set up Raven who swivelled to his right but shot well wide.

Griffin fouled Poulter, Clifford (L) went on a mazy dribble evading three challenges on the way to gain a corner. On sixty minutes, Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves made two changes, Purchase and Griffin being replaced by Smith and Earl, a corner taken by Flatts was volleyed over the cross bar by Shields, a pass from Gregory (J) hit the back of the referee, the game was stopped and restarted with Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves in possession. Raven and Shields worked a crossing opportunity from  the right side the ball fell to Raven, but Gregory (J) challenged and defended well for a goal kick, then Webster and Shields forced a corner, driven long by Flatts whereupon Barham gave chase to gain another corner, again taken by Flatts, this time a glancing header from Shields flew into the arms of keeper, Spencer. Smith was guilty of tripping Barham, Gregory (J) did likewise on Barham who took the free kick finding Clifford (L) who rolled around Lee before seeing his shot blocked by Gray. Raven was given a free shot at goal when the Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves defence stood off, a dangerous tactic given that he is the Clubs First team leading goal-scorer as is Clifford (L) for the Reserves.

A high cross from Murphy, found Hodgson in an offside position, at this stoppage Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves replaced Lee with Page, the ever alert, Raven, from a pass by Webster, tried an audacious goal attempt from twenty-five yards when he spotted keeper, Spencer way off his goal line. Earls Colne Reserves increased their lead when LEWIS CLIFFORD struck a fine shot from twenty-five yards out, across the crowded penalty area, whether the keeper was unsighted was hard to tell but the ball ended up in the back of the net. Earls Colne Reserves made two more changes, off went Willsher and Fox with Moore and Partridge joining the game for the last ten minutes and Alresford Colne Rangers made a fourth change themselves with Collins replacing Donnachie. With five minutes remaining, Clifford (L) went on another surging run forward, three challenges were evaded, the player kept his feet and managed to cross the ball wide to his right where DEVON RAVEN was on hand to stroke the ball home for number three, is that game over! Smith sent in a fine effort for Alresford Colne Rangers and forced keeper, game, into his first save of the half, the match leaders clearly want this cup. With two minutes remaining a cross from Gregory (J) was struck on the volley by Earl, the ball was destined for the back of the net until keeper, Game, rose to expertly tip the ball over the cross bar, a fine shot, a fine save to match. Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves did score a consolation goal, one minute into added time, Earl played in CALLUM KNEVETT who struck a fine left-footed shot past keeper, Game.

FULL TIME:     1 – 3.

Earls Colne FC Reserves duly lifted the ESBFL, Reserve Knock-Out Cup, The Jeffrey Cup, in terms of possession and number of goals scored they deserved to win, commiserations go to beaten Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves who did not disgrace themselves. ESBFL, Chairman, John Campany gave a short speech thanking the four Match Officials and the two teams for putting on a decent game of football, he also thanks Little Oakley FC for the use of their facilities, whereupon medals were handed out and Earls Colne FC Reserves celebrated with the cup, first donated to the competition around 1900.

Turning to my choice of Star Players, usually in a cup final I nominate one player from each team, for Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves one player stood out and he receives numerous mentions in this report for his defensive work, that player is Joshua Gray. For Earls Colne FC Reserves a solid team effort led by the experienced Barham in defence, Flatts and Clifford (O) won the big battles in midfield, Raven tormented the opposition defence for the full ninety plus minutes to score twice, but midfielder, Lewis Clifford, with two assists and a goal as well, deserves my vote.

Teams:

ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC RESERVES         

Colours:                        Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Red & Black Socks.

Team:

Peter Spencer., Ethan Lee., Jack Higgleton., Jack Gregory., Joshua Gray., Lee Purchase., Callum Knevett., Jerome Murphy (C)., John Donnachie., Joshua Hodgson., Matthew Griffin.

Manager:                      James Gill.

Used Substitutes:          Roger Smith., Christopher Collins., Tyler Earl., Jamie Page.

Unused Substitutes:      Bradley Hallum.

EARLS COLNE FC RESERVES.

Colours:                        Yellow Shirts, Blue Shorts and Yellow Socks.

Team:

Elliot Game., Adam Morris., Jordan Vidal., Kevin Barham (C)., Perrie Flatts., William Willsher., Lewis Clifford., Tommy Gregory., Tom Fox., Oliver Clifford., Devon Raven.

Manager:                      Shaun Clifford.

Used Substitutes:          Ethan Webster., Taylor Moore., Alfie Shields., Jordan Partridge., Riley Poulter.

Referee:                       Jake Molloy.

Assistant Referees:       Jonathan Dalton.

                        &:         Ben Cooper.

Fourth Official:              Anthony Philips.

STAR PLAYERS:            Joshua GRAY              (ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC RESERVES)                                    Lewis CLIFFORD        (EARLS COLNE FC RESERVES)