19/10/2019 – REPORT – Stanway Pegasus FC Reserves versus FC Clacton Reserves

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE.

STANWAY PEGASUS FC RESERVES: 1. FC CLACTON RESERVES: 0.

Date: Saturday 19^th October 2019.

Venue: Stanway School, Winstree Road, Stanway.

Division One this Saturday, third placed Stanway Pegasus FC Reserves in their first ever season in the ESBFL were to play fourth placed FC Clacton Reserves who had been promoted back to Division One after a one-year absence, so a lot of new faces to watch.

On a bright sunny afternoon, with slight breeze this game was played on the 4G pitch at Stanway School and would be refereed by Jack Luckman who was to be assessed by Ernie Osborne, that’s twice we have met up this season!

FC Clacton were to kick-off but immediately Stanway Pegasus won a corner when Pash (M) played the ball off Wales, taken by Pash (M) with keeper, Woods punching clear and FC Clacton broke forward with Eldridge taking a throw-in to Thompson, then Mallett crossed the ball which clipped the back-side of the cross-bar. The visitors had started to push the ball around quite nicely, pass and move was the order of the day, encouraged by Manager, Toms on the side-lines. Dolphin found Pile wide on the left side, but Caulfield got across to defend then Thompson and Pile tried again only for Cursons to head clear, more pressure followed with Eldridge setting Thompson away to chase forward but Caufield defended, then a throw in from Eldridge was headed wide by Dolphin. Stanway got moving just before the ten-minute mark, Gray sent the ball into Booth who laid the ball off to Pash (M) who scuffed a decent chance just wide. At the other end keeper Bentley, at full stretch, palmed away a fine effort from Brazitis with Pile thrashing the loose ball over the cross-bar. Keeper, Bentley pushed away a rasping shot from Thompson with Pash (C) tiding up at the back for the home team.

On fifteen minutes, Wales pulled back Pash (M) and was spoken too and with the ball cleared it gave Nwadikwa a chance to stretch his legs to chase the long ball forward, reaching the ball before Cursons but he was unable to get in a cross as the home team defended well. A shot from Tiffney stung the hands of keeper, Woods who held on to the ball and when he cleared the ball wide to the right side, Booth was injured in a challenge and was substituted on eighteen minutes with Sakal taking his place. Thompson, again, for FC Clacton was denied by keeper, Bentley who opted to palm his rising shot clear and he was, definitely the busier of the two keepers do far. For Stanway, Bethell headed just wide when Pash (M) cleverly lifted the ball over retreating defender Wales, this from six yards out, FC Clacton countered when Nwadikwa and Thompson broke away only for Tiffney to cover his defence with a sound tackle. At the first-half mid-point it was, at least for me, the visitors who had played the more constructive football, they just needed to finish off their numerous attacks which had been largely repelled by home keeper, Bentley. Smith launched a long range shot that failed to trouble the home keeper, then Caulfield foiled a raid by Nwadikwa only for the ball to fall back to the same player whose second shot was lashed clear by the outstretched feet of keeper, Bentley, standing firm once again. Another break by Thompson, latching onto a pass played wide by Nwadikwa was foiled by keeper, Bentley whose long clearance fell to Bethell, but his snatched shot from outside the penalty area flew straight to keeper, Woods, standing on his goal-line.

Sakal set the next attacking move going, passing to Diplock who managed to play the ball off defender Wales to Bethell whose fierce shot was well held by keeper, Woods, moving across his goal to catch the ball. Keeper, Bentley again denied Thompson, again with his feet, as a goal-keeper, those saves all count, and Dolphin had a shot charged down by Pash (C) leading to a home attack. Cursons played the ball forward, the ball bounced once, defender Eldridge was seemingly caught in two minds, either to head the ball back to his keeper or try a pass to a colleague, either could be risky rather than “Row Z”. The attempted pass was under-hit and JOSHUA GRAY pounced to lob the ball over the advancing keeper and into the unguarded net, a goal scored, certainly against the run of play! A few minutes later and keeper, Woods came rushing out, took the ball off the feet of Pash (M) who caught the keeper on the head with his trailing foot as he tried to hurdle the keeper, and the game was stopped for the head injury. Cursons and Nwadikwa were both spoken too by the referee, not sure why but with any obvious head injury the game must be stopped. FC Clacton needed a goal quickly and from an Eldridge cross Thompson headed over, then the visitors strung together a flowing move, Dolphin, Nwadikwa and Thompson set the ball up for Dolphin who blazed over the cross-bar, a great chance, not taken. The first half ended with a Stanway attack, a free-kick was played into the FC Clacton penalty area, Richardson cleared as far as Bethell who shot wide.

HALF TIME: 1 – 0

It was Stanway Pegasus who re-started the second half of this tightly fought match, would one goal be enough, or could FC Clacton manage to score, they did deserve to be level if not ahead on their first half performance, but football is about not making mistakes and taking chances, enough said! Dolphin was cautioned for leaving a trailing foot as Pash (C) cleared, Wales hit a long ball to Dolphin whose fine cross was headed away by Cursons, then Pash (C) put in a great tackle on Nwadikwa and actually gained a goal-kick. Pash (M) copied his namesake with a hard challenge on Brazitis and Sakal intercepted a cross-field pass to set up Tiffney who fired wide, better already from the home team and taking the game to the visitors. Pash (M) committed a silly foul on Brazitis to earn his caution, Smith took the free-kick which deflected off Cursons for a corner kick taken by Thompson with Wales glancing the ball goal-wards only for Caulfield to head the ball off the goal-line when standing at the far post, so close again for the visitors. Eldridge limped off after a hefty challenge to be replaced by Simon, and the visitors pushed forward again with Stanway prepared to sit back and defend.

Stanway defender, Caulfield covered his defence once again when numbers were short at the back, and keeper, Bentley also advanced to clear off the feet of Nwadikwa, and play switched to the other end where Bethell set up Pash (M) whose shot was straight at keeper, Woods. Dolphin and Thompson worked the ball down the left side and when the cross came in, Nwadikwa challenged unfairly for the ball with Caulfield who was fouled with the visiting player cautioned. Diplock had been a willing runner for Stanway and having retrieved the ball found Pash (M) who moved the ball on to Sakal whose rasping shot found the arms of keeper, Woods. Pash (C) had not missed a header or a tackle in this game and alongside his keeper, Bentley were two of the reasons why FC Clacton had not scored. FC Clacton replaced Smith with Bramhall on sixty-five minutes and from the restart Diplock gave chase but was caught off-side, a decision he disagreed with, kicking the ball away to earn a needless caution. Stanway, whilst having more ball possession this half were still having to defend in numbers, not always pretty but effective, none-the-less, with Manager, Dance directing operations. Latest substitute Simon raced past defender Caulfield to reach a through ball played forward by Bramhall to find Brazitis whose shot was blocked by the feet of keeper, Bentley.

A free-kick taken by Pile was over-hit but a defender did get a slight touch for a throw-in deep in the Stanway half, Caulfield cleared that danger, but only to Thompson who linked up with Dolphin to find Nwadikwa but once again his shot was straight at the keeper. Pile crossed to Thomson who headed over the cross-bar and the game, with ten minutes remaining ebbed from one end to the other, defences to the fore. Mallet sent a long ball forward to Pile but his pass towards Thompson was mis-placed and with the ball out of play FC Clacton replaced Brazitis with Antoniou-Garcia. Bethell rode three attempted challenges before succumbing to the fourth from Richardson, then Simon fouled Bethell who still shows his ability on the ball in tight situations. This free-kick, down by the corner flag was taken by Bethell himself, the ball skimming off the head of Sakal for a goal-kick. Caulfield fouled Dolphin just as he tried to break down the right side, Wales floated in the free-kick towards Antoniou-Garcia who laid the ball back to Nwadikwa only for his shot to bounce narrowly past, the unguarded post, a close call! In a final flourish, keeper, Bentley held an overhead kick attempt from Nwadikwa and his contribution to his team’s victory cannot be understated.

FULL TIME: 1 – 0.

A close match, just as I expected, given their pre-match league positions, Stanway Pegasus FC Reserves move up to second with FC Clacton Reserves dropping one place due to a wind for Cressing United FC at Little Oakley FC “A”. This Division is particularly close, where five points separate the top seven teams, some have games in hand so this could be a Division that is going to the wire this year, hopefully! It was also pleasing to see both teams want to play football, yes there were four cautions, all correctly meted out, in my view, by a referee who was always in control, well done.

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, FC Clacton Reserves are a relatively young side, many of their players have ability and flair, Richardson and Wales in defence, then Dolphin and Thompson caught the eye with Brazitis perhaps their best player. Turning to Stanway Pegasus FC Reserves, much has been spoken and written about the Clubs intentions, this Reserve team is new this season, there is a blend of experience and youth and a steely determination to win. For them, Pash (M) and Gray alongside Bethell did most of the midfield graft, Diplock ran himself into the round upfront especially when Booth limped off, but despite being outplayed for much of the first half they scored through Gray, who latched onto one defensive error, they rode their luck a bit, with keeper Bentley inspired behind Pash (C) who missed nothing all game, strong in the air, strong in the tackle and leading his defence in fine fashion so he gets the vote this week.

Teams:

STANWAY PEGASUS FC: Colours: Yellow & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Yellow Socks.

Ryan Bentley., Connor Pash., Max Caulfield., Harry Diplock., Frank Tiffney., Williams Cursons., Michael Pash., Josh Gray (C)., Darren Bethell., Ollie Booth., Josh Pointer.

Managers: David Dance & Shane Bethell.

Used Substitutes: Daniel Sakal.

Unused Substitutes: Jamie Duffett., Jake Halls.

FC CLACTON RESERVES FC: Colours: White & Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Thomas Woods., Jordan Mallett., Bradley Smith., Billy-Lee Eldridge (C)., Kieran Wales., Jake Richardson., Cameron Dolphin., Jordan Brazitis., Duaine Nwadikwa., Bradley Pile., Samuel Thomas.

Manager: Lionel Toms

Used Substitutes: Andreas Antoniou-Garcia., Lyndon Bramhall., Anthony Simon

Unused Substitutes: Alex Forsythe

Referee: Jack Luckman.

Player of the Match: Connor PASH (STANWAY PEGASUS FC RESERVES)

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Additional Reporting:

YOU TUBE., FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

Once again, this season the ESBFL is widening its match-day reporting coverage, in addition to a full report written by Brian Reed, our other roving reporter, Spencer Hume, has once again made himself known during the friendlies season and he will also attend games reporting via You Tube, Facebook and Twitter to communicate up-to-date information and replicate other match reports. In addition, John Campany, Vice Chairman will continue to provide a weekly summary, published in The Gazette.

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