18/10/2022 – REPORT – Dunmow Town FC versus Stanway Rovers Community FC U23’s

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

DUNMOW TOWN FC 2. STANWAY ROVERS COMMUNITY FC Under 23’s 0.

Date: Tuesday 18^th October 2022.

Venue: Heybridge Swifts FC, Scraley Road, Heybridge

Here’s a thing, an evening match in October, between the current Premier Division league leaders Dunmow Town FC who have moved from Braintree to the excellent facilities at Heybridge Swifts FC and twelfth placed Stanway Rovers Community Under 23’s, this their first season in the Premier Division, having won Division One last season.

On a perfect 3G pitch under the Scraley Road floodlights this game could be a close-run thing, the experience of the home team against the youth of the visitors, my pre-match prediction was 3 – 1 to the hosts, but what do I know!

The match official for this encounter was Stuart Franklin who would be assisted by Nathan Tansley and Keith Succamore, overall, I thought they had a good game dealing with all issues when required and there were a couple!

Stanway kicked off and straight away the expected pace of the game was shown, Yearwood bore down the left side from a pass from Sonnex, and from the deep cross Stanway keeper, Wood clutched the ball out of the air and sent a long ball forward to Thomas who controlled the ball only to volley wide from outside the penalty area. On four minutes Blanchett dived into a challenge on Collins, with the studs of his left foot showing, an immediate caution followed and when Blanchett spoke out of turn, he was sent to the “sin-bin” for a ten-minute break, strong but the correct action by the on-the-spot referee. On seven minutes, the unfortunate James, for Dunmow, turned to chase Gray down the left side, but crumpled to the ground in agony, another injury lay-off for a player that had only just returned from a long-term injury, we wish him well. Team Captain, Buckland moved into a right sided defensive role when Cowler replaced James, Stanway were keeping possession and playing the ball around with confidence especially as the home team still had only ten players on the pitch. Blanchett re-joined the match on fifteen minutes, but the visitors still keep up there pass and move game, out of defence through midfield to find Lewis or Thomas who were holding the ball up well up top. Sonnex for Dunmow tested his pace against Savage who did well to keep close attention as the cross flew out of play.

Wing-back, Sonnex was clearly an outlet for Dunmow and from another fine run he found Blanchett who sent in a fine left-footed cross which flew across the penalty area to be cleared. Blanchett forced the first corner of the match when keeper, Wood fumbled a rasping shot behind, Blanchett took the corner kick, Mouat headed out to O’Brien who played the ball wide to Zanone who was caught off-side. A second corner from Blanchett lead to a third conceded by Tebbutt, then a throw-in taken by Buckland was headed out for a corner by Savage, Stanway need to clear their lines with more effect. On thirty-one minutes a corner taken by Blanchett was lofted high into the six-yard box and when the ball dropped just close to the cross-bar, there was JAKE BUCKLAND to head home and the home pressure of late had paid off. Stanway hit back and a cross from Tansley was narrowly missed by Mardell at the far post, in reply Buckland set up Blanchett for a cross that keeper, Wood took off the head of Zanone. Sonnex dived into a challenge on Cowan, Buckland kicked the ball away much to the displeasure of the Stanway parents and the tempo was suddenly raised.

Barnett was taken to the cleaners by the trickery of Tansley, and a scything challenge followed, but as Tansley lay on the ground, Barnett appeared to lower his knee towards Tansley and once seen the situation escalated with players and spectators rushing to the far corner, it’s all about angles and the match officials would have had a different view. However, once things quietened down, Barnett was perhaps lucky to only receive a caution, as was Gray who had needlessly run twenty yards to push a Dunmow player over! The resultant free-kick taken by Mardell troubled no-one and a goal-kick followed, Buckland sent Yearwood away and from his right side cross, Blanchet managed to get a toe end on the ball but could only steer the ball just wide of the goal. This game had been fast and furious, there was some very good football being played by both teams, a solitary goal separated these teams as we approached half-time, the visitors just needed to sharpen up their possession when in sight of the goal.

HALF-TIME: 1 – 0.

Dunmow restarted this pulsating game, Stanway won possession but quickly lost the ball with some over-elaborate play, Buckland picked up a caution for a rash challenge on Tansley, Mardell took the free-kick which keeper, Pellin held at the second attempt. Tebbutt started the next Stanway move getting the ball forward to Cowan who found Mardell but sadly he was off-side, the intention to play forward was still there though. A lobbed ball forward by Osborn fell nicely to Zanone but he nudged the ball over the open goal. A break from Savage who passed to Mardell, was covered by Buckland getting across the pitch with his defence caught up-field.

Stanway still persisted in getting forward with Dunmow on the defensive, conceding corners on both sides of the pitch, Blanchett fouled Cowan and from the restart Cowan found Mardell galloping away down the right side only for his driven cross to arrive so quickly that Lewis could not control, and the chance disappeared. The play of Stanway had given Dunmow little chance to play their own expansive football, Yearwood did get round the back of Tebbutt, but Zanone was standing off-side. Tansley and Hamill exchanged thumping tackles across the half-way line, then a long ball forward from Buckland found Zanone chasing forward with keeper, Wood, quickly out to the edge of his penalty area. Sonnex went on a trademark run, going outside and then cutting back in to find Zanone who placed the ball into the net only to see the Assistant Referees flag waved.

Stanway replaced Cowan with Stoneley on the hour mark, and his first action was to set up Lewis who shot over the cross-bar, then a long ball forward from keeper, Wood found Gray with Lewis in support, but Buckland conceded a corner, taken by Tebbutt to Stoneley whose low effort was collected at the near post by keeper, Pellin. Barnett pulled up with an injury and after treatment left the field of play and then return whilst Mardell played in Thomas who dragged his shot wide, more good approach play by the visitors. Tansley collected a caution for a late sliding challenge on Buckland evening up their contest, and on seventy minutes Dunmow replaced Blanchett with Chappell, whilst Osborn won a challenge outside the penalty area before lobbing the ball just over the top of the goal. Hamill picked up his caution for attempting to take down Mardell through midfield, there may not have been contact but the intent was there.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Stanway made another change, Collins being replaced by Byron, Zanone ran at the retreating Stanway defence but could not get in a cross as Tebbutt stuck to his defensive task. Both Stanway (Betts) and Dunmow (Shelley) Management picked up cautions for entering the field of play and disputing a decision, and on eighty minutes Stanway replaced Mardell with Atmadjov, then Tebbutt handled the ball, was it denying a goalscoring attempt, perhaps a close call, but Tebbutt ran off to be replaced by Partner. Sonnex had been quite this half but when he popped up in an advanced position he won a corner off Mouat, Hamill took the kick finding Buckland whose headed effort was headed off the goal-line by Savage. On eighty-five minutes, Barnett launched a speculative ball forward, but hesitation between defender and keeper, Wood saw the ball fall kindly to STUART ZANONE who netted from close range, a real sucker goal at this late stage because Stanway deserved far more from this game. Sonnex tackled Tansley from behind to receive the last caution of the match, yes, he may have played the ball, but you cannot tackle from behind! The free-kick taken by Byron landed on the roof of the net and seconds later the final whistle blew.

FULL TIME: 2 – 0.

Probably, the best match I have watched this season, fast flowing football from both teams, no quarter given in challenges and in a match well controlled by the Match Official, who had a no nonsense, approach but applied the Rules of the Game appropriately. Dunmow Town FC triumphed by two goals to nil, a draw would have been fairer, Stanway Rovers Community FC should take heart from their impressive performance.

Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player”, bit difficult as so many players had good games but being pushed into a decision, Tansley for Stanway was in the thick of things throughout.

Teams:

DUNMOW TOWN FC:

Colours: Red Shirts, Red Shorts and Red Socks.

Team:

James Pellin., Benjamin James., Lewis Sonnex., Jake Buckland (C)., Reece Barnett., Freddie O’Brien., George Hamill., Stuart Zanone., Joseph Osborne., Lewis Blanchett, Alex Yearwood.

Manager: Kevin Wilson.

Assistant Manager: Keiron Shelley.

Used Substitutes: Adam Chappell., Jordan Fossey., James Cowler.

Unused Substitutes: Harry Stoneham.

STANWAY ROVERS COMMUNITY FC Under 23’s

Colours: Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts and Yellow Socks.

Team:

Harvey Wood., Adam Tebbutt., Harry Savage., Teddy Cowan., Tyler Mouat., Ehren Collins., Keane

Tansey., Nathaniel Mardell., Thomas Lewis (C)., Harry Thomas., Max Gray

Manager/s: Keiran Betts & Glen Cowan

Used Substitutes: Charlie Stoneley., Alfie Partner., George Byron., Antoine Atmadjov.

Referee: Stuart Franklin.