19/08/2023 – REPORT – Bradfield Rovers FC versus Cornard United FC Reserves
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO.
BRADFIELD ROVERS FC. 4. CORNARD UNITED FC RESERVES. 1.
Date: Saturday 20th August 2023. Venue: Bradfield Community Playing Fields.
With a limited list of fixtures scheduled during August, my attention was drawn to the first, Division Two match of the season, Bradfield Rovers FC, who were overhauled on the final day of the season, at least finished a creditable third in Division Three. Today they were playing against Cornard United FC Reserves who had re-joined the ESBFL having played in the Thurlow Nunn Reserve Section for a number of years and who had resisted the temptation to join the exodus to the newly formed Thurlow Nunn Under 23’s league. What would the outcome be, who knew, a promoted team against a Reserve Team from a Club in a higher competition, Bradfield Rovers are managed by Ryan Dawson and Sam Day who have stayed loyal to the village Club who deserve credit for also fielding their Reserve Team against league newcomers Elmstead Market in Division Five, so, when some Clubs are struggling to play one game, in August, Bradfield Rovers manage two on the same day!
On a bright, warm, and sunny afternoon and on a pitch that probably needed a trim and certainly needed re-marking due to the heavy overnight rain, the Match Official was Adrian Arnot, one of the ESBFL more experienced referees.
Cornard United Reserves kicked off towards the children’s play area, kept possession as one would expect and forced an early corner, taken, left-footed by Debellott, tall defender Glasgow headed clear and Allum worked the ball forward to Allington, last season’s leading goal-scorer, who gave chase but was unable to reach the ball. Simpson and Davis set another attack going down the right side, but Addison got across to cover with his defence caught in forward positions. A corner taken by Simpson was hit long towards the far post, again it was Addison defending by heading the ball out for another corner on the other side, this time taken by Farthing who found Griffin whose effort went out for a goal-kick. Just seven minutes were on the clock when Bradfield Rovers took the lead, Farmery played a fine pass forward to Allington whose defence spitting pass saw TOM FARTHING give chase and strike a excellent left-footed shot that whistled past keeper, Game who was given no chance to save. Cornard United Reserves had started fairly well but this early set-back was clearly causing some frustration with words said between players, more composure was clearly required and quickly and was advised by their Management.
Davis used his pace down the right side, but Caplan stepped across to stop that raid and as early as the fourteenth minute Cornard United Reserves were forced to make a player change with Wilson limping off to be replaced by Giles. A deep cross from Farmery was fielded by keeper, Game, and from his clearance his team started a decent move through mid-field where Roach was demanding the ball alongside Chinake. On twenty minutes Davis fouled Skipper wide on the left side, Debellott, took the free-kick but he hit the ball too long for the taller players who had moved up from defence. A free-kick taken by Addison was met by the head of Debellott whose header flew straight to keeper, Wilkinson, from his clearance Bradfield Rovers broke forward through Allum and Simpson and they gained a corner. Simpson took the corner, another far post ball was poorly defended by Cornard United Reserves, Allington reacted quickest and nudged the ball back into the six-yard box where the unmarked TOM FARTHING slammed the ball home.
Bradfield Rovers had their tails up, as they say, Farthing, eager for a third goal, was stopped in his tracks by a fine tackle by Williams, Simpson then picked up the first caution of the game when tripping Debellott and when this player did get round the home defence a combination of players made further progress a problem, call it good defending then home keeper, Wilkinson was forced to punch the ball away when Debellott threatened. Bradfield Rovers should have scored again on forty minutes, Allington, intercepted a poor pass out of defence, his pace took him past Addison, then Caplan, who slightly impeded him, but Allington was forced wide by keeper, Game and with the angle now tighter the eventual goal-bound effort hit the outside of the right hand upright. Bradfield Rovers were goal hungry now, a free-kick taken by Farmery fell to Farthing whose first shot was blocked and the second was always going to rise over the cross-bar as we reached the end of an entertaining half.
HALF-TIME: 2 – 0.
There were numerous substitutions at the restart, Allington was replaced by Goodman, whilst for Cornard United Reserves, Seymour (A) and Seymour (O) replaced Chinake and Moore. Cornard United Reserves had not learnt from their first half mistakes, two minutes into the half and with the defence dithering just outside the penalty area, Allum found Davis and when the turned the ball inside there was TOM FARMERY, with another clinical finish for his hat-trick. A free-kick taken by Roach hit the defensive wall and was cleared up-field and after seven, second half minutes Cornard United Reserves made another change bringing on Nichols for Caplan and when in space Roach shot high and wide from a fair distance out, smacked of desperation really! With the home team in control, Farthing was cautioned for delaying the re-start after an infringement mid-half, being deemed to have kicked the ball away, well at least to the wrong place!
Visiting keeper, Game, made two great saves on sixty-five minutes to deny, firstly Farthing then Davis, again his defence was exposed by the fluent home players who showed excellent team-work in this match. Seymour (A) embarked on a mazy run forward for Cornard United Reserves, his final pass found Roach who could only shoot at keeper, Wilkinson, who gathered the ball at the second attempt. Bradfield Rovers hit their fourth goal on sixty-seven minutes, a free-kick taken by Simpson, reared up in front of keeper Game, whose reaction save forced the ball up against the cross-bar with defender SAM GLASGOW quickly on hand to side-foot the ball home from close range. Another substitution followed, Skipper being replaced by Green, but the home team kept up the pressure and gave the visiting players little time to settle on the ball when in possession. Farmery fouled Seymour (A) just outside the penalty area, Roach spoke out of turn to earn a caution, the free-kick taken by Debellott was driven just over the cross-bar then Giles made a right side run down the wing to send in a low cross which eluded everyone.
Bradfield Rovers had been the better side, probably since the second goal, if not before, and with twenty minutes remaining this could be a crucial period for the visitors, a corner taken inevitably by Debellott was hit too long and with thirteen minutes remaining, Manager Dawson brought himself on in place of Farthing. For once a decent piece of approach work on the left side saw Cook hauled down by home defender Gooding, just he ran along the goal-line, no brainer, a clear penalty, comfortably stroked home by HARVEY ROACH. Davis, for Bradfield Rovers was cautioned for kicking the ball away, when will players learn, especially when you are three goals ahead and there are only minutes to play! Cook fouled keeper, Wilkinson after chasing an aimless long ball forward, Davis had a shot blocked by keeper, Game then at the other end Farmery made a fine tackle to deny Seymour (A), game over.
FULL TIME: 4 – 1.
You could call it a comprehensive victory, Bradfield Rovers did play well, and you could understand why they deserved to be elevated to Division Two, its early days but the performance shown was through a team effort and was clear to see. For Cornard United Reserves, this is a wake-up call, there will be no easy games in this division, pitches and facilities will be very different to home matches, this is “grassroots” football, but welcome, all the same.
Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player”, without going into too much detail, with three goals, Tom Farthing was far and away the most influential player, he also did a fair amount of defending and covering when required so when he was substituted, he was given the Club Linesman flag, did he argue, no!
Teams:
BRADFIELD ROVERS FC:
Colours: Claret Shirts, Claret Shorts and Claret Socks.
Team:
Harvey Wilkinson., Jevon Farmery., Dylan Griffin., Sam Glasgow., Lloyd Gooding (C)., Tom Simpson., Ross Easey., Jack Allam., Oliver Davis., Tom Farthing., Ben Allington.
Manager: Ryan Dawson.
Assistant Manager: Sam Day.
Used Substitutes: Daniel Goodman, Ryan Dawson.
Unused Substitutes: Sam Day.
CORNARD UNITED FC RESERVES
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Elliot Game., Harry Caplin., Robert Addison (C)., Oscar Williams., Luke Wilson., Taylor Moore., Jonathan Chinake., Tomas Skipper., Harvey Roach., Kieran Debellott., Aston Cook
Manager: Adam Roach.
Manager: Mark Barrett.
Used Substitutes: Harry Giles., Oliver Seymour., Jordan Nichols., Aston Seymour., Adam Green.
Referee: Adrian Arnot
Star Player: Tom FARTHING (BRADFIELD ROVERS FC)
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