19/10/2024 – REPORT – Boxford Rovers FC versus Dedham Old Boys FC Reserves
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO
BOXFORD ROVERS FC. 1. DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC RESERVES. 2.
Date: Saturday 19th October 2024. Venue: Homefields, Boxford, Suffolk.
Weather permitting, I had scheduled a trip to Boxford for the Division Two clash between Boxford Rovers FC and Dedham Old Boys FC Reserves, but saddened on Friday when I learnt that Andy Bell, Chairman of Dedham Old Boys FC had passed away the previous weekend. Boxford is one ground I had not been to before and upon arrival I also met a new match official, Ciprian Juganaru, the respective managers, Richard Robinson and Darren Tarling were also in attendance at the time.
Whilst rain had fallen most of the morning, the afternoon had brightened up and blue skies were seen throughout the entire match, the pitch looked in good condition, but it does have a marked slope but as they say, its equal for both sides.
Boxford Rovers kicked off up that slope with Allston forced to defend as Montgomery gave chase, the cleared ball fell to Vitelli who looked up, forty yards from goal and tried an audacious attempt with keeper, Woods standing on the edge of his penalty area. McLean found Nash who held the ball up down the right side before crossing into the penalty area, but Dinnell headed away and Dedham worked the ball down the left side through Tweddell and Allston to Vitelli who still has a turn of pace which troubled Hazell (D) from an early stage. On five minutes Dedham Old Boys gained a corner through the persistence of midfielder Paton, Allston took the corner, left-footed but Dinnell headed clear once again, and Boxford Rovers broke forward only for Wood to be caught off-side. The visitors had taken a hold of the midfield, McLean and Paton worked the ball out to Allston whose fine cross was clutched out of the air by keeper, Woods, the match was becoming rather noisy as frustrations built up when passes went astray. When Wood dispossessed Twedell just outside the penalty area his goal bound attempt was poor as he scuffed the ball just wide, at the other end Nash sent in rising shot that keeper, Woods saved comfortably. Then Vitelli chased a through ball only to be denied by the outstretched foot of keeper, Woods who was in action again soon after, denying Vitelli, parrying the first attempt, then standing tall to divert the ball upwards and catching it as it came down.
The match was already competitive a few tackles had flown in, Chokowry forced a corner for Boxford Rovers, taken by Hazell (L), defended by Allston then Wood took the second corner, who found Dinnell, but his low shot drifted wide. The response from Dedham Old Boys was immediate, Paton worked the ball wide to Vitelli, his pass inside fell to Nash, standing in space, but his shot flew well wide, Moodie and McLean linked up to find Nash who laid the ball back into the path of McLean whose shot cleared the crossbar. Hazell (L) put in a fine challenge on Hayes, but Dedham Old Boys pushed forward in numbers with Moodie having two goal-bound efforts blocked outside the penalty area and the ball was like a hot potato for the home team, they would win the ball then give it away cheaply. Vitelli left Dinnell standing wide on the left side, his cross fell to Nash who was quickly tackled by Evans (Jo), Allston possesses a fine left foot and his driven cross from the left side was heading for Nash until Evans (Ja) intercepted to clear, berating his colleagues for allowing the cross to be made in the first place. On twenty-eight minutes Boxford Rovers replaced the tiring Hazell (B) with Salt, Paton played in Nash, just inside the penalty area, his control was good, but when turning inside he lost his footing, and the chance disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. Dinnell was again left behind when Vitelli ran past him, down the left side and only a fine save by keeper, Woods, again using his feet, stopped a certain goal.
An injury to Chokowry, forced him to have treatment and leave the field, upon his return, keeper Woods saved with his outstretched foot, but Hayes had strayed off-side in any case, Salt stopped Vitelli with Paton picking up the loose ball, weaving in and out before passing to Moodie who failed to control the ball. Tweddell put in a strong challenge on Ennis-Handley when an opportunity arose, the home players shot cleared the crossbar, but he needed treatment for his effort, with play stopped Dedham Old Boys replaced Hayes with O’Hart and the stricken Ennis-Handley limped off with Bullock entering play. Evans (Ja) made a timely tackle on Patrick, who had ventured forward, and the last action of the half saw McLean pass to Allston who fired over the crossbar, on the balance of play Dedham Old Boys had more of the ball possession and goal-scoring chances but the score remained level.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 0.
The visitors were set to restart this match, a cryptic home spectator asked if I knew how to spell “yawn”, I do, but it prompts the thought that this second half has got to liven up at some stage! Well two minutes in and a goal is scored, Vitelli chased down the right side and passed to ROSS NASH who clinically despatched the ball past keeper, Woods. Bullock was seemingly fouled by Tweddell, nothing was given as a throw-in followed, Moodie tracked back to engage Dinnell whose effort was swept up by keeper, Schultz. Chokowry fired wide when well placed, a long ball forward from keeper, Woods fell to Patrick whose attempted back-pass to his keeper, Schultz, put his keeper in trouble, the keeper could only manage to fly-kick the ball away for a corner, taken by Chokowry but straight to keeper, Schultz who has already touched the ball more times than in the first half, O’Hart was put through by Paton, he ran on into the penalty area, keeper, Woods advanced and spread himself, but the effort from O’Hart flew wide across the open goal. Dedham Old Boys increased their lead around the hour mark, Evans (Ja) fouled McLean, wide on the right side, Allston swung in the free kick, Nash held the ball up for JOHN VITELLI who side-footed the ball home.
From the restart, Dedham Old Boys pushed forward down the right side, Evans (Ja) tackled Nash who felt aggrieved and the two players squared up, the red mist descended, and Nash received a straight red card for violent conduct. Boxford Rovers made their final change replacing Joyce with Matthews and the home team were gifted a goal at the other end, Tweddell and Findlay who had both been so reliable so far misunderstood each other’s defensive call, Findlay ducked away, keeper Schultz advanced to clatter JACK MONTGOMERY who had arrived first, to head the ball into the unguarded goal. Evans (Ja) who perhaps had been fortunate not to have received a yellow cad earlier, was shown one when he tackled Patrick unfairly, meaning he had a twenty-five-minute tightrope to walk from now on! When Mongomery was clean through, keeper, Schultz was quickly out and the home captain spurned the chance firing wide, Boxford Rovers had raised their game against the ten men and this was their best passage of the game so far, in fact when Bullock found space with the ball at his feet, to looked up, leaned back and blasted the ball over the goal! Findlay blocked an effort from Dinnell who had stayed forward after a corner with Paton picking up the loose ball to bring it forward and calm things down.
A throw-in from Chokowry, followed a corner conceded by Patrick, at the other end Evans (Ja) put in a fine challenge on Vitelli, it had to be timed perfectly otherwise the forward was clean through, Allston again found Vitelli who kept the ball in play down by the corner flag. On eighty minutes Dedham Old Boys replaced O’Hart with Rush, Allston linked up with Vitelli who shot wide, these chances keep coming though! Moodie fouled Matthews through midfield to earn a yellow card, Chokowry took the free kick, but Findlay headed away and despite there being at least five minutes of added time, you sensed that Boxford Rovers might steal that equalising goal! Rush deliberately tripped Evans (Ja) and he too was shown a yellow card, Salt took the free kick, long, but straight to keeper, Schultz, who fell to the ground, more time being added there then. From the keeper’s long clearance, Vitelli gave chase against sole defender, Evans (Ja), a high and rash attempt to block the clearance led to another yellow card this time for Vitelli, the final whistle being blown as soon as the free kick was taken.
FULL TIME: 1 – 2.
Was I expecting a classic game in Division Two, probably not, but both teams tried hard, frustrations boiled over on numerous occasions, players berating players in their own teams and getting on the back of the referee, but the quality of football was, let’s say, poor! With this result Dedham Old Boys Reserves move two places up the table, Boxford Rovers stay fourteenth, with just one win to date.
Turning to my Star Player, in a fragmented game, it’s a hard choice this week, but one player did keep his head and played some positive forward moving football from misfield, that was Jack Paton of Dedham Old Boys FC Reserves.
Teams:
BOXFORD ROVERS FC:
Colours: White with Red Sash Shirts, Blue Shorts and Red Socks.
Team:
Matthew Woods., Bradley Hazell., Jack Evans., Joshua Evans., Oliver Dinnell., Alex Joyce., Liam Hazell., Cody Ennis-Hadley., Jamie Wood., Aadam Chokowry., Jack Montgomery (C).
Manager: Richard Robinson.
Used Substitutes: Jamie Matthews., Oliver Salt., Hayden Bullock.
DEDHAM OLD BYS FC RESERVES.
Colours: Royal Blue Shirts, Black Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Sam Schultz., Ruben Patrick., Dan Allston, Daniel Findlay (C), James Tweddell., Jack Paton., Nathan Moodie., Ross Nash., Alex hayes., Russell McLean, John Vitelli.
Manager: Darren Tarling.
Used Substitutes: Aidan O’Hart., Jamie Rush., Arcie Grimsey.
Unused Substitutes: Luke Brady., Darren Tarling.
Referee: Ciprian Juganaru
STAR PLAYER: Jack PATON (Dedham Old Boys FC)
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