19/03/2022 – REPORT – Dedham Old Boys FC versus Chelmsford City FC Reserves

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC           2.                 CHELMSFORD CITY FC RESERVES    1.

Date:   Saturday 19^th March 2022.                Venue:             The Drift, Dedham.

            By visiting “The Drift” at Dedham, on Saturday, it meant I had now watched every Premier Division team at least once this season, the home team, sat fifteenth, but came into this match on the back of a fine victory at Earls Colne FC the previous week, whilst the visitors sat a clear third, in the table. Dedham Old Boys FC had the older, perhaps the more experienced and wiser players, even a father and son, whereas Chelmsford City FC Reserves again relied heavily on youth players, and it was a very young team that started this Premier Division match, this their first season in the ESBFL.

            On a bright, sunny, windy but cold March afternoon the appointed match official was Simon Bird who had Andrew Harvey and John McGill as Assistant Referees, the pitch was dry albeit slightly bumpy which would be to the advantage of the home team given that the visitors usually play on the 3G pitch at Heybridge Swifts FC.

            Bethell (F) was quickly into a challenge on Payne, too quickly in fact as a free-kick was awarded, Payne received treatment as did Wilkes when he tackled Smith a short while later, a short corner taken by Wade found Wilkes whose cross was headed clear by Humphries on the edge of the penalty area. Just seven minutes had elapsed when Chelmsford were awarded a penalty kick, Mupomga picked up a pass from Wade, managed to beat two defenders before Humphries dived in slightly from behind to impede Mupomga with SAMUEL WADE scoring from the spot-kick. The response from Dedham saw Moseley try with a long-range effort but his connection with the ball was poor and weak, the wind was strong but blowing across the pitch and both keepers were reaching half-way into their opponent’s half. Wade, jinxed in and out from the right side with his shot ricocheting off defender Went forcing home keeper, Bentley to save smartly low down to his left side. Went followed that interception with another block when Howson spun to hit a shot goal wards.

            At fifteen minutes Chelmsford were slightly on top, more possession and better passing from a young, well drilled team, Olagunju, and Payne, at, the expense of a free-kick, did well to stop Moseley who was looking to break through on goal, the free-kick taken by Smith bounced once before reaching keeper Woodrow. Dedham had raised their game and when Moseley found space his rising shot from ten yards was superbly palmed onto the cross-bar by the alert keeper, Woodrow. Smith was spoken too for a late challenge on Mupomga whose pace could be a key weapon, Wade beat the offside trap, but his driven cross was handled inside the penalty area by Mupomga, good approach but poor control let the side down. Keeper, Bentley struck a long ball forward McAndrew gave chase and forced keeper, Woodrow to save low down, this game was much more even now. Morritt, nipped in front of Went to gain possession, a neat chip over keeper, Bentley followed, but the ball drifted just wide to hit the side-netting. At twenty-five minutes this game needed livening up, two teams prepared to slow the game down and work the ball forward but there was nothing in the way of goal-scoring chances, in fact, those balls played forward were over-hit, almost hit-and-hope! An error by Olagunju almost set up Harper who eluded the defensive line on the right side but his driven cross went out for a throw-in on the far side. Humphries was caught by Tavares, the home defender requiring treatment, then Olagunju tackled Bethell (F), both players fell to the ground, both players kicked out and after consulting his Assistant Referee, the referee, rightly, cautioned both players.

            Bethell (D for Darren, not Dad) took a free-kick, struck too long, Wilkes played a long ball forward, Wade gave chase and forced a corner off of Went, which was defended well, and Dedham broke with McAndrew giving chase, rounding the advancing keeper, Woodrow, only to be denied by Olagunju who had got back to head clear off the goal-line. When Peters made a foray forward, Tavares conceded a corner, again cleared and when tracking back, Peters was adjudged to have made a high challenge on Norton. Bethell (D) won a midfield challenge finding Harper whose cross back inside to Moseley was deflected back to his keeper, by Olagunju, and more stray passes followed from Dedham. That changed on forty minutes, Bethell (D), from inside the centre-circle, swung the ball wide to the right side, Harper controlled the ball and floated a fine cross to the far post where TAYLOR McANDREW rose to head a superb header past keeper, Woodrow. Bethell (D) was then spoken too for a rash challenge on Wilkes, a long throw-in from McAndrew to the far post found Harper diving in but his header was straight into the hands of keeper, Woodrow. Smith ran into the back of Lloyd, perhaps deliberate to stop the attack, Wade took the free-kick with keeper, Bentley palming the ball away.

HALF-TIME:    1 – 1.

            Before the restart, Chelmsford replaced both Norton and Wilkes with Brewer and Simba, with Brewer almost immediately being spoken too by the referee when he questioned a decision made by the referee who was hampered by the bright sunshine. Brewer then fouled Bethell (D) and received a second spoken warning, calm down, must have been in there somewhere! Simba picked up the loose ball on the left side, ran down the line, then cut inside along the goal-line before poking the ball towards Wade who could not get his feet set properly and Smith cleared out of defence. Dedham had woken up again at the start of this half, pressing forward with Chelmsford prepared to sit back and defend before playing the ball forward. A fine run down the right by Mupomga led to a cross into the penalty area where Simba tried an over-head kick, the ball bouncing once but wide for a goal-kick.

            Just before the hour mark, Bethell (D) rode a challenge from Lloyd, in fact, with Dedham still in possession, a good advantage was played by the match official, Bethell (D) placed the ball between Olagunju and Payne and from twenty-five yards TRISTAN MOSELEY rolled back the years, his words, not mine, with a fine lobbed effort over the stranded keeper. On the hour mark Dedham replaced Bethell (F) with Robinson and Bethell (D) took out Morritt to concede a freekick, Chelmsford, through keeper, Woodrow, started the next attack, Simba controlled the long ball to find Howson who had strayed marginally off-side. This prompted Dedham to attack, Harper gave chase to a pass from Ruffles but ran out of pitch for a goal-kick, Went, headed clear a cross from Lloyd, the ball fell to Mupomga who was stopped by a block tackle from Smith.

            On sixty-six minutes Chelmsford replaced Howson with Konde, Olagunju attacked passing to Simba who moved the ball wide to Wade, but the scrambled effort was saved by keeper, Bentley. Dedham had defended much better this half to protect their slender goal advantage, especially Smith and Went, setting a Captains example. Moseley fouled Lloyd but with the ball played wide to Mupomba, Smith was too strong in the tackle and brought the ball out of defence. Harper chased another long ball, took control, and forced Brewer to concede a corner, taken by Bethell (D) that saw a header from McAndrew firstly blocked and the follow-up superbly saved at close range by keeper, Woodrow. A cross from Mupomba was steered clear for a corner by Peters with Simba ready to pounce, taken by Wade but curled straight out of play! With time running out a poorly timed challenge by Smith on Simba led to the last caution of the match.

FULL TIME:     2 – 1.

            Once again, I would not say this match was a classic, far from it, two evenly matched teams trying to carve out a victory, Chelmsford may feel hard done by, but its goals that count, their early penalty was not added too, whereas Dedham took two beautiful chances and defended well when required.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player, for Chelmsford, keeper, Woodrow made two excellent saves, one in each half to deny Dedham, Olagunju defended well, his only error was a silly caution for kicking out, Morritt worked tirelessly through midfield with Mupomba and Simba being their only real goal threat. For Dedham, a depleted team, maybe, but they ground out this result with two fine goals, Bethell (D) used his experience through midfield alongside Harper, both McAndrew and Moseley maybe could have scored more than the one goal apiece, but defensively Peters, Smith, Humphries and Captain, Went stood up to whatever Chelmsford brought forward, so by setting the defensive tone and with leadership from the back, Went gets the nod this week.

Teams:

DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC:        

Colours:                        Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Ryan Bentley., Liam Peters., William Smith., Scott Humphries., Myles Went (C)., Darren Bethell., Tristan Mosely., James Ruffles., Freddie Bethell., Taylor McAndrew., Cameron Harper.

Manager:                      Luke Tuttlebee.

Assistant Manager:        Daniel Coote

Used Substitutes:           Chay Robinson.

Unused Substitutes:       Liam Macklin., Luke Oscar., John Vitelli

CHELMSFORD CITY FC RESERVES

Colours:                        White Shirts, White Shorts and Light Green Socks.

Team:

Joshua Woodrow., Finn Wilkes., Emanuel Olagunju., Guy Norton., Evan Payne (C)., Liam Morritt., Samuel Wade., Sergio Tavares., Harry Lloyd., Elliott Howson., Kennedy Mupomga.

Manager:                      Marc Stephen

Used Substitutes:           Armali Simba., Nathaniel Konde., Oliver Brewer.

Referee:                        Simon Bird.

Referee Assistants:        Andrew Harvey.

                        and       John McGill

Star Player:                Miles WENT                             (DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC)

REMINDERS:

MATCH NOTIFICATIONS

Fixture Secretaries of Clubs are required to notify all match details, date, venue, kick-off time, colours etc, to their opposition and any appointed official/s, at least FIVE days before the match.

KICK-OFF TIMES

March, to end of season:                                               15:00pm

ESBFL CUP TIES:                                                           30 minutes earlier, if necessary.

ECFA CUP TIES:                                                            Kick-Off as advertised

CUP TIES

There will be NO requirement for “Extra-Time” to be played in Cup Matches, if scores are level at the end of “normal time” the match will proceed directly to penalty kicks.

SUBSTITUTES

The ESBFL continues to allow FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named before kick-off but only “THREE SUBSTITUTES” may be allowed to participate.

Note:

In Essex County Cups (Premier & Junior) the Rule allows FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named and those FIVE SUBSTITUTUES may be used on a “Roll-On / Roll-Off” basis.

TEAM SHEETS

Team Sheets should be shown or sent to the Referee and the Opposition team either by text, email etc

The BLUE “League Copy” of the Team Sheet should be sent by First Class Post to reach Mick Willmore by the Thursday after a Saturday match, this is the ONLY item of correspondence that is required by post.

RESULTS REPORTING

Rule 21(B)

BOTH Clubs shall notify/SMS the result of each Competition Match to the Competition within 30 minutes of the finish of the match. This will include Football Association and County Football Association matches. The results of all League and Cup matches in the Competition should be reported by the FA Full-Time “SMS” (text) System. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

FA FULL-TIME

The Referees marks, team, players, substitutes, goal scorers, red / yellow cards, and sin-bin, etc MUST be entered to FA Full-Time by the end of the Tuesday following a Saturday match (ie 48 hours after any match). Failure to complete FAFT correctly and on time WILL incur a League Fine/s.

DISCIPLINE

Since the start of the season there have been 45+ players dismissed and over 600 cautions, there have also been several incidences of misconduct towards players, Match officials, members of the public and county officials. These are situations the ESBFL Management feel very strongly about, and the statistics make poor reading, the ECFA will deal with all these cases as deemed appropriate but bear in mind these actions can be very costly both for players and your, Clubs.

WHOLE GAME SYSTEM (“WGS”)

All Club Secretaries should check “WGS” on a regular basis, if you don’t, the ECFA levy a fine (25%) for late acknowledgements and payments of fines and the Club could be put into a “SINE-DIE” situation meaning they cannot play until those debts are cleared.

Club Secretaries are also responsible for adding the matches missed by players who have been suspended.

Whilst the ESBFL regularly reviews the whole Club contents on “WGS” it is not their responsibility to monitor failures by Member Clubs to follow basic procedure/s.

REFRESHMENTS

Rule 20A

Refreshments for BOTH teams and Match Officials MUST be provided by the home Club at half time unless these are declined before the game. Clubs in default shall be fined.