20/01/2024 – REPORT – FA Inter-League Cup – Round 2 – Essex Olympian Football League (3) versus Essex & Suffolk Border Football League (2)

FA INTER-LEAGUE CUP – Round 2

ESSEX OLYMPIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE.                           3.

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE.           2.

Date:   Saturday 20^th January 2024.             Venue: Harlow Town FC.

          This season the Competition has seen the return of the FA Inter-League Cup for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign, with Leagues from Step 5 and 6 invited to enter their representative teams in the Competition. There is also the added, bonus of this season’s winners going on to represent England in the UEFA Regions Cup. The competition is strictly for amateur players who have never been under a written professional contract and who are aged under forty years old and over eighteen years old. 

            The ESBFL had reformed their Representative Team under the new Management of Danny Laws, from AFC Sudbury, and with one friendly match played against a Long Melford FC XI (1 – 1) he had kept faith with the majority, of that squad of players but had been forced to change two players due to the age constraints.

            Ironically, the draw for the Competition, possibly regionalised, had seen the ESBFL drawn away to our near neighbours, the Essex Olympian Football League and the match was arranged to be played on the 3G pitch at Harlow Town FC.

            Saturday was very cold and the small ESBFL contingent were welcomed by the EOFL, there was no danger of the game not going ahead, when all around the county, matches were being postponed because of the frozen conditions. Before kick-off a minute’s silence was held in honour of a former EOFL Official.

            The FA appointed Match Officials were Joshua Jones who would be assisted by Callum Dorling and Matthew Dowling and to be fair in an evenly contested match their job was made easy by the players excellent attitudes, the only caution, hastily shown, for an ESBFL player, was for delaying the restart at a free kick, when our player was still on the ground after committing the foul.

            The ESBFL kicked off, Blanchet sent the ball long to the left side, Griffiths reached the ball first and he passed outside to Page who rounded his defender but shot wide, a pass out from keeper, Weller, found the Baker (K) who headed on to Page and this bright start was to continue. Milburn, down the right side also picked out Baker (K) whose downward header fell to Blanchett whose shot was blocked for a corner. Blanchett took this corner on the right side, this was cleared for another corner on the left side, taken right footed by Neale with the unfortunate defender BEN MARRABLE heading into his own net at the near post with just three minutes on the clock. Blanchett tried his luck from outside the penalty area, but the shot cleared the crossbar with ease, but the ESBFL had found some rhythm and pushed forward again, through Griffiths, Baker (K) and Blanchett. The EOFL stirred themselves and young winger Jones raced away down the left side to send in a low cross which was cleared six yards out by Milburn who had chased back to defend his goal, the use of that player was clearly noticed early on. Playing out of defence with confidence, Baker (C), set Blanchett away into space on the right side, cutting inside, onto his favoured left foot, Blanchett, forced keeper, Pitts to save low down at the near post. The EOFL hit back, and McClean volleyed over the crossbar, Jones fouled Milburn who defended well, then a throw-in from Blanchett fell to Griffiths who failed to make a decent connection and the keeper gathered on his goal-line. Burch also playing out from the back to find Milburn in space further up the pitch, but home defender Kemp snuffed out the chance of a cross. On twelve minutes a cross from Stillwell, for the EOFL, fell to Jones who had got round the back of the ESBFL defensive line but his volleyed attempt failed as he totally missed the ball, good move though, Baker (K) picked up a stray pass in midfield but lost possession in a crowded area, however, the forward ball from Stillwell, did find Jones, but he was flagged for off-side.

            After fifteen minutes, the ESBFL looked comfortable, a goal up and pushing the ball around nicely and not to date, being really threatened by the EOFL, although winger, Jones had pace and skill but Milburn, had so far had stuck to his defensive task well. Jones was caught offside down the left side, but when he did get in a cross, Stillwell got on the end of the ball to pass it through not just the legs of defender Baker (C) but his forward Pinkerton, do you call that a “double nutmeg”! Neale chased away on to a forward pass by Baker (K), the onward pass found Blanchett who gained a throw-in, from which the EOFL gained easy possession and produced a more positive attack with Stillwell and Mead central to that attack. When Neale set Page up for a run at the home defence, his low driven cross just failed to reach the unmarked Blanchett as defender Conteh read the movement of the ball. Jones, with his head down, once again tried to get the better of Milburn, but having been beaten for the initial challenge, Milburn recovered well to get in front only for Jones to foul the defender on the edge of the penalty area. For a short period, neither team could string many passes together, but the ESBFL persisted by playing the ball out of defence then try to find Baker (K) whose height was a considerable problem to deal with. Hodgson found space on the right side, but his cross was just too high for Baker (K) and a goal kick followed, Griffiths started the next move finding Page, who found Baker (K) but as he turned, defender Payne made a timely tackle. The ESBFL went further ahead on twenty-five minutes, Burch played the ball wide to Hodgson who flicked the ball on to Blanchett and from his low cross there was CHARLIE GRIFFITHS running through to slot home from close range, a team goal. As the ESBFL pushed forward again, Long was caught offside from a pass by Baker (K) but when Page fouled McClean, Hodgson was cautioned for delaying the restart by standing over the ball which was struck from just a few feet away, clever stuff from the home player, the caution was given under the letter of the law, but a tad harsh perhaps, given the way the game was being played.

            On thirty minutes, Baker (K) passed to Page, his cross was poor, still feeling the effects of the earlier foul tackle perhaps, Milburn again shackled Jones, a good contest that was building up nicely, keeper, Weller, launched a high free-kick finding Baker (K) who was fouled just on the corner of the penalty, Neale, Blanchett and Page stood over the ball with Neale sending his effort into the four-man defensive wall. ESBFL, keeper, Weller, saved well from Mead, Milburn swept the loose ball clear but only to Stilwell whose low cross was cut out by Milburn, conceding a throw-in and for this latter part of the first half the EOFL had gained some momentum with Baker (C) making a fine tackle on Truman. A throw-in from Kemp fell to Pinkerton and his laid back, ball to the unmarked Stillwell was rifled low over the crossbar, Neale robbed midfielder, Mead, but placed a left-footed shot well wide but the chance was there. When Neale was adjudged to have fouled Jones, it looked soft, the dive, in my opinion, was an eight, but from the free kick taken by Truman, Baker (C) headed clear. McClean, in full flow, was stopped by a timely tackle from Long, conceding a corner which was cleared by Long himself at the near post. When Truman nudged the ball over keeper, Weller, Baker (C) got back to head clear, the ball fell to Jones whose low shot was safely gathered by keeper, Weller who had regained his goal-line positioning. The latter part of the half had been fairly, even, the EOFL had gained some confidence, despite being two goals behind, that should have been three when Neale lobbed over from six yards, this from a pass from Blanchett on the right side. Just on half-time, Blanchett did a neat shuffle down near the corner flag, getting past Kemp but firing his shot straight at keeper, Pitts.

HALF-TIME:    0 – 2.

            The EOFL restarted this match, Kemp played in Jones, but Milburn shielded the ball out of play to gain the throw in, Conteh sent the ball long to Stillwell, Burch defended and passed wide to Griffiths who tried to find Page, the ball was over-hit though. Hodgson linked up with Baker (K) who flicked the ball into space, but Conteh reached the ball before Blanchett, running in from the left side. Keeper, Pitts was untroubled from a shot by Neale and from his clearance Truman spread the ball wide to Jones, whose run ended with a low driven over-hit cross that went out for a goal kick. Stillwell headed a chance straight at keeper, Weller, and the EOFL had raised the tempo with calls for the ESBFL to calm down, Payne for the EOFL found Jones with a fine cross field pass, Jones was correctly flagged for off-side. Page set up Blanchett for shot from outside the penalty area, this was blocked by Marrable, Stillwell tried to get the ball into Pinkerton, but Baker (C) intercepted the pass, Pinkerton was less than subtle when he fouled Burch, from the free kick, Baker (K) and Burch moved forward with Blanchett pressurising keeper, Pitts inside the six-yard area. The dual between Milburn and Jones continued, the defender still winning the contest, but the EOFL continued to use that route, long to Jones, that said the EOFL had doubled up on Baker (K) given that he had won most aerial battles in the first half. Baker (K) was injured when he fell awkwardly near the half-way line the match was stopped with possession held by keeper, Weller, from the drop-ball restart, keeper, Weller hit the ball long, Baker (K) gave chase but opposite keeper, Pitts collected on the edge of his penalty area.

            Marrable fouled Neale, Blanchett was on the ball, sending it towards Baker (C), he found Baker (K) but from his pass Burch was caught off-side, then in their haste to get forward, Blanchett, for the ESBFL was caught offside from a pass from Baker (K). On sixty-two minutes Neale was replaced by Shuttlewood for the ESBFL and the EOFL replaced Pinkerton with Ogbebor, who immediately showed his pace down the left side, this forced a corner, taken by Truman with JACK MEAD on hand to head home in a crowded area, this goal looked simple enough but was real blow to the ESBFL who had defended all set pieces well until now, sixty-five minutes. Long covered his defence when Mead threatened again soon after his goal which clearly spurred his team on, with McClean running forward and shooting over the crossbar. Keeper, Weller, was forced to come to the edge of his penalty area to clear, as Mead ran forward, with Baker (C) nudging the ball back to his keeper. The ESBFL were losing possession too easily and did not have their rhythm shown in the first half, Truman fired wide from a good position, and Ogbebor forced a corner off Griffiths. Page was injured in a tackle but played on, the EOFL gained a corner off Milburn, taken by Truman, cleared by Baker (C) to McClean who shot straight to keeper, Weller. Ogbebor, the new EOFL player was quick and prepared to take on any defender, in one instance he sent in a fine cross that eluded everyone as it flashed across the goal area.

            With the EOFL, seemingly on top now, the ESBFL made a player change bringing on Pretty for the injured Page, Burch fouled Ogbebor wide on the left side, Truman took the free kick which was cleared by Burch. The EOFL made their third and final change on seventy-nine minutes bringing on Elongo for Jones, he proved to be another pacy player who would cause problems with his control and pace. When the ESBFL did get forward, Blanchett was held up in the deep corner area, some good footwork followed which allowed him to cross but Conteh cleared with ease. A throw-in from Shuttlewood was headed out by Payne to Pretty who placed the ball over the crossbar, on eighty-two minutes, Truman was substituted by Denham for the EOFL, and from the restart Shuttlewood found Blanchett whose, cross was excellent but there was nobody there to capitalise! The EOFL pushed forward and a lazy cross to the right side was missed by an ESBFL defender and from the resulting cross in ran PRAISE OGBEBOR to slam the ball home to cue up some celebrations with the hosts drawing level. Mead showed some good dribbling skills but in the presence of Milburn, he tripped over the ball, at his feet, and when play stopped on eighty-six minutes the ESBFL changed Baker (K) with Farley-Hearn, to play down the left side against Marrable who defended well on the first occasion. When McClean fouled Farley-Hearn wide on the right side, Blanchett took the free kick, floating the ball towards Baker (C) running in at the far post, his firm header was held by keeper, Pitts. From the keeper’s long clearance Ogbebor, with the ESBFL having to get back, picked up the ball and drove towards Milburn who stumbled and failed to tackle, keeper Weller, advanced but PRAISE OGBEBOR kept his nerve to score off the inside of the far post, to put the EOFL into the lead, that’s some turnaround in this half and the match finished minutes later.

FULL TIME:     3 – 2.

            Well, that was the proverbial game of two halves, the ESBFL bossed the first half, had a two-goal advantage and had been rarely troubled, the second half was dominated by the EOFL who scored three times, including twice in the last ten minutes, when perhaps players were tiring.

Congratulations to the EOFL who move forward to the third round, with their opposition still be notified once the draw takes place next week and we thank them for their hospitality on the day.

 (Draw is shown at the bottom)

            The ESBFL Management Committee and Team Manager, Danny Laws, would like to thank all the ESBFL players involved and to their respective Clubs for allowing them to play, more friendlies are expected to be played in the future.

Teams:

ESSEX OLYMPIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE:       

Colours:                        White Shirts, Red Shorts & Red Socks

Team:

Jonathan Pitts               Old Southendians FC

Ben Marrable                Old Southendians FC

Ryan Stilwell                 Old Southendians FC

Neil McClean                 Old Southendians FC

Jack Mead                     Old Southendians FC

Eamon Payne                Sungate FC

Ibrahim Conteh             Sungate FC

Scott Truman                Sungate FC

Jonathan Kemp             Old Chelmsfordians FC

Tom Pinkerton              Leigh Ramblers FC

Manager:                      Lee Mackman.

Manager:                      Mark Brook.

Physio:                         Lee Mackman.

Used Substitutes:         

Christopher Denham     Kelvedon Hatch FC

Jordan Elongo               Kelvedon Hatch FC

Praise Ogbebor              Kelvedon Hatch FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE:

Colours:                        Yellow & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:                         

Conrad Baker                Brightlingsea Town FC  

Keiron Baker                 Brightlingsea Town FC  

Jack Burch                    Colne Athletic FC                      

Keelan Milburn              Colne Athletic FC                      

Rob Weller        (G/K)    Colne Athletic FC                      

Lewis Blanchet              Colne Athletic FC                                  

Harry Page                    Hatfield Peverel FC                   

James Long                   Silver End United FC                             

Henry Hodgson             Silver End United FC                 

Charlie Griffiths             White Notley FC           

Jack Neale                    White Notley FC

Manager:                      Danny Laws.

Coach               (G/K)   Steffan Robson.

Physio:                         Joshua Leggatt

Used Substitutes:

Regan Farley-Hearn      White Notley FC

George Pretty               Hatfield Peverel FC                               

James Shuttlewood       Thorpe Athletic FC        

Unused Substitutes:

Matthew Grey               Thorpe Athletic FC

James Bates     (G/K)    Hatfield Peverel FC       

Referee:                       Joshua Evans.

Assistant Referees:       Callum Dorling & Matthew Rowling.

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The FA Inter League Cup third round draw has been made, following the completion of the first two stages of the 2023-24 campaign.

The third round, draw is:

1 Manchester Football League v Cheshire Football League
2 West Yorkshire Football League v Humber Premier League or Yorkshire Amateur League
3 Herts Senior County League v Essex Olympian Football League
4 The Arthurian League v Thames Valley Premier League or Dorset Premier Football League

Ties in the third round must be completed by Saturday 24 February 2024.

The semi-final has been scheduled for Saturday 23 March, with the provisional date for the Final being Sunday 4 May.