17/10/2026 – REPORT – Alresford Colne Rangers FC versus White Notley FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION.
ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC. 3. WHITE NOTLEY FC. 1.
Date: 17th JANUARY 2026. Venue: Ford Lane, Alresford.
Today, the two teams currently at the bottom of the Premier Division were to play each other at Ford Lane, Alresford, this season has been a tale of continued problems and issues for both teams, who have both had recent changes to their management teams. For the home team, who had yet to win a league match after seventeen games, James Meadows, aided by Mark Henry, have ridden in with a new team of young players, a team that would have three experienced players down the backbone of the team. White Notley, now under the management of Lee Greenwood have also gone for youth, and similarly, with less than a handful of players who have played consistently at Step Seven.
On a well-prepared pitch that would cut-up as the game progressed, today’s Match Official was Matthew Hills who would have Philip Barham and Keith Succamore as appointed Assistant Referees.
The home team kicked off, Hannah made an interception and passed to Glew then inside to Brazitis then on to Keep who forced a corner off Smith, taken by Brazitis who found Keep but his rising shot cleared the crossbar. The first five minutes had been open and seen both teams on the attack, Balaam in central defence for Alresford showed good composure when pressurised by Keep and Wilson, from one long clearance tow players dived into a tackle, the ball came off worst and had to be replaced, these modern balls are so lightweight, in more than one sense, of the word! Smith tackled Snell unfairly, Brazitis took the free kick with defender Vearer heading the ball away for another corner, again taken by Brazitis, this time, keeper Marsh rose to palm the ball away from under the crossbar. Sauka found space down the right side and raced onto a ball set up by Greenridge and Smith, his cross was low and hard but keeper, White was untroubled.
On twenty minutes, White Notley withdrew the injured Wilson and Sykes made an early appearance, from the free kick taken by Brazitis the ball fell to Sykes whose left-footed cross found the head of Skipper who headed narrowly wide. Keep, for White Notley showed some excellent footwork to round Smith and Morgan-Eagle but ran into Balaam who timed his challenge well to gain possession and drive forward. Another corner from Brazitis, this time taken short, reached Keep, again good footwork saw him pass the ball back to Brazitis, but defender Podrazik cleared for another corner, this time Balaam headed clear from close to the near post. At this mid-half point, it was White Notley who held the attacking edge, for the home team this was only their second match with their new management and players in operation, and failing to control and keep the ball was their undoing. The corner count to the visitors kept rising, from one taken by Glew, Rowbotham headed clear and Sauka embarked on a quick break, only to be thwarted as keeper, White was quickly out to clear and immediately at the other end home keeper, Marsh was called into action reaching the ball just before team-mate, Balaam, a throw-in followed, a simple instruction of calling for the ball to let your team mates know who is in control, its simple really, but the learning curve for teenagers is steep, especially at this level!
Hannah for White Notley tried his luck from fully thirty yards but it troubled nobody, Budgen-Jones threaded a fine pass out to Sauka, racing through, out came keeper, White, both players missed each other and the ball as it ran out of play. Sauka fouled Vickery, taken short and played up field where Brazitis gained and took another free kick, however Sykes fouled keeper, Marsh inside the six-yard box. Sauka again fouled Vickery on the half-way line, bit of rivalry building up there between, two experienced players, Skipper and Keep worked the ball into the penalty area but Balaam, no nonsense, cleared the ball out for a corner, taken by Glew, Vickery pushed Balaam in his attempt to head the ball, from the free kick taken by keeper, Marsh, Vickery fouled Sauka. Rowbotham took this free kick, but Vickery headed clear with Killin moving the ball further forward where Vearer made a fine challenge on Skipper, Kyriacou set up Greenridge who laid the ball back to Kyriacou whose shot flew wide but better from the home team. Home keeper, Marsh was quickly off his line and outside his penalty area to clear when Keep broke through the defensive line. As we approached the end of the first half this match was evenly poised, the visitors had seen more possession and created more chances, but the home team had defended well to keep their goal intact.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 0.
White Notley were to restart this close match, but the first attack saw a cross from Sauka find the gloves of keeper, White, then Rowbotham found Sauka running wide down the right side, but the cross was cleared to the other end where Rowbotham upended Keep earning the first caution of the match. Brazitis took the free kick which flicked wide off the head of Vickery, and the visitors started to impose themselves as they had done in the first half. On fifty-two minutes Alresford Colne Rangers replaced Rowbotham with Burnett, another experienced player, and the visitors forced a corner off Balaam, Glew took this corner and Sykes headed goalwards, keeper, Marsh, in a congested goalmouth could only palm the ball away but straight onto the head of TOMAS SKIPPER who headed home. Debellott fouled Sauka, Burnett bowled over Keep inside the centre circle, the free kick was too long and too wide to be of concern but Alresford Colne Rangers through Budgen-Jones broke forward and after a fine run his cross was plucked out of the air by keeper, White. Balaam fouled Brazitis, Killin took this free kick, and Smith headed the ball away for a corner which when cleared saw Burnett dive into a challenge on Killin, but no foul was given much to the defenders, distain!
As we approached the hour mark, Sauka showed some neat footwork to escape the attentions of Debellott and numerous petty fouls followed but when the ball fell to Greenridge he was seemingly fouled by Vickery, to me the forward player was already falling as he tried to turn the defender whose momentum took the player down and a penalty kick was awarded, seen them given , seen them not given, no VAR here but JACK BALAAM stroked the ball home for the equaliser. White Notley got back in their stride and Snell found Keep who slipped over under the close attention of Podrazik, the match still revolved through mid-field with both teams cancelling each other out. Keep, rode a tackle from Podrazik to force a corner, Brazitis swung over the corner, right-footed towards the far post where Vickery just failed to make contact and a goal-kick followed. Both teams, in tiring conditions had kept up a good pace with plenty of commitment shown by every player, nobody wanted to lose this match! Morgan-Eagle defended well against Skipper, one of several visiting players who had shown the ability to dribble round defenders, almost at ease, Morgan-Eagle did let fly with a shot from distance.
Right, fifteen minutes of normal time to play, there had been some injuries so would expect another five minutes to be added to that number, White Notley replaced Glew with Williams, Smith played a fine cross field ball into the path of Sauka running in from the right side, defender Vickery slid in to tackle but the shot from ASHLEY SAUKA was already on its way when it hit the prone defender and looped high over the raised arms of keeper, White, who had little chance to save the deflected effort. Play remained end-to-end, White slipped on his way outside his penalty area but recovered just in time as Greenridge threatened, at the other end keeper, Marsh saved at his near post following a Sykes, corner taken from the far side. On eighty-two minutes White Notley sent on Durzalski for Debellott whether this upset the rhythm of his team, but the visitors defence was caught flat footed, and ASHLEY SAUKA ran through to score his second goal and probably seal victory. When Vickery held back Greenridge, he rightly received a caution, the free kick taken by Burnett was poor and keeper White hardly had to move, to save, Podrazik defended well again when Keep, ran forward and the home team, encouraged by captain, Balaam, had a element of calm about them, a great run down the left side by Kyriacou ended with a injury sustained in a tackle down by the corner flag. On eighty-seven minutes Sauka ran forward and latched onto the cross-field ball to send it rising towards the goal, keeper, White made a superb save, tipping the ball over the crossbar from twenty yards out. In time added on Alresford Colne Rangers sent on Shipe for Sauka who had probably run himself into the ground, a fine pass from Burnett fell to Greenridge whose effort was blocked on the goal-line, the match ended seconds later.
FULL TIME: 3 – 1.
Let’s give some credit to both these teams, they lie bottom and second bottom of the Premier Division, for Alresford Colne Rangers, under new management and with new players, this was their first win of a torrid season, understandably they celebrated well. For White Notley, also under new management and with numerous youngsters in their team, they dominated the first half but dropped away as the game progressed, the conceding of the penalty may have seem unjust to them but they plenty of chances to score before and after that incident, the second goal conceded took a huge deflection, if your luck is out, well you know the rest.
Turning to my choice of Star player, two youngish teams; for White Notley, Keep, Sykes and Skipper showed promise, Brazitis and Snell in midfield worked hard, Killin and Vickery defended well until late on, but they remain seven points ahead of today’s victors. For Alresford Colne Rangers, this is a new team on mainly teenagers, they all played well especially Vearer in central defence but for me it was the three experienced players that showed the way forward, Smith, in midfield was a uncompromising as ever, Sauka, rolled back a few years with two goals but captain Balaam led by example and defended well and took responsibility for taking the penalty.
Teams:
ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC:
Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Red & Black Socks.
Team:
Alex Marsh., Tomasz Podrazik., Chris Kyriacou., Jack Ballam (C)., Roger Smith., Ashley Sauka., Lain Vearer., Ronnie Morgan-Eagle., Markel Greenridge., Joe Rowbotham., Dexter Budgen-Jones.
Manager: James Meadows
Assistant Manager: Mark Henry
Used Substitutes: Philip Burnett., Ayotomide Shipe.
Unused Substitutes: Nathan Vanhingsburgh., Ryan Hunter., Richard Ekins.
WHITE NOTLEY FC
Colours: Amber Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Ethan White., Gavin Hannah., Keiron Debelott., Ryan Vickary., Ed Killin., Alfred Snell., Tomas Skipper., Jordan Brazitis., Hayden Glew., Robert Keep. Luke Wilson.
Manager: Lee Greenwood.
Used Substitutes: Oscar Williams., Archie Sykes., Klaudiusz Durzalski.
Unused Substitutes: Lee Greenwood.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Matthew Hills.
Assistant Referees: Philip Barham.
and Keith Succamore.
STAR PLAYER: Jack BALAAM (ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC)
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