20/08/2022 – REPORT – Colne Athletic FC versus Earls Colne FC
PREMIER DIVISION
COLNE ATHLETIC FC 0. EARLS COLNE FC 2.
Date: Saturday 20th August 2022. Venue: Strangers Corner, Brightlingsea.
This was the second Saturday of the League season, both teams had played twice, both winning those early matches, so the “Battle of the Colne” was held in Brightlingsea on a pitch that resembled a desert where every seagull in Essex had seemingly landed and then left all of their feathers behind. As usual, a stiff breeze was blowing up from the River Colne and this blew straight down the pitch, a game of two halves coming up here perhaps!
For this afternoon’s match, the appointed Match Official was the experienced Adrian Arnot who today would be assisted by two newcomers, Ben Martin, and Jack Munro, we trust they enjoyed their baptism of officiating at Premier Division level.
Earls Colne FC kicked-off with the wind at their backs, home keeper, Thomson retrieved the first long punt up-field from keeper, Hudson (Jo), his roll-out to Shurvington was read by Welton who easily robbed the ball but was held back by the central defender for the first free-kick, taken by Saunders who, even allowing for the wind clearly over-hit the free-kick out of play for a goal-kick. When Burch rashly dived into a challenge on Debrick, the free-kick from Saunders was much better and Loveridge was a few feet away from connecting at the unmarked far post. Earls Colne Fc had settled quickly and did not allow Colne Athletic FC out of their own half for the first five minutes when Vaughan found Banner who worked the ball through to Evans however, Hudson (Ja) had tracked back to deflect the ball back to his keeper from six yards out. The visitors were liberally using the long ball, a clearance from Hudson (Jo) was headed on by Cameron, Welton gave chase but keeper, Thomson was quickly out to gather the ball inside his penalty area. Randall tried a shot from thirty yards out, well wide though and when the home team pushed forward Evans was guilty of fouling Salter, Price fouled Debrick, again the home defence dealt with the high free-kick this time, from Randall. The first real chance came, surprisingly, from Colne Athletic, Vaughan got down the left side to send a fine left-footed cross into the six-yard box, one bounce later and keeper, Hudson (Jo) snatched at the ball only to be clattered by Yearling, the ball was there to attack though, a free-kick followed after the keeper received some treatment.
Milburn had shown some good touches when given the ball, especially running in from the left side and from one foray his pass found Banner who was clearly pushed by Welton, Vaughan took the free-kick which was headed clear by Salter with Milburn chasing back to put the ball out for a throw-in. On twenty minutes, Vaughan fouled Loveridge, both players were incensed and after a minute or two of “handbags” the referee gave them a final warning and this stoppage allowed everyone to make use of the drinks break. Keeper, Thomson threw the ball out to Shurvington who passed the ball across the field to Vaughan, his forward ball had Milburn scampering away, but he lifted the ball over the cross-bar. Randall found Cousins, his pass found Loveridge whose cross was headed out for a corner by Burch, Saunders took the kick and the Colne Athletic defence scrambled the ball away, just as Milburn was fouled in the melee. The quick thinking of Brown set the ball up nicely for Vaughan who send a speculative shot dipping over the cross-bar from thirty plus yards with visiting keeper, Hudson (Jo) back-pedalling. Loveridge had switched wings, so a cross in from the left side found Debrick at the near post however Burch was there to concede a corner, again the in-swinging kick fell at the near post where Hudson (Ja) thrashed the loose ball over the cross-bar from close range.
Evans fouled Hudson (Ja), a long throw-in from Fitzsimmons was headed clear by Burch and a series of innocuous fouls followed, probably caused by the hard conditions as players miss-controlled the ball, but Earls Colne had been quicker to the ball and had made better use of it so far without really threatening keeper, Thomson. Colne Athletic tend to use Vaughan as their outlet when playing out from the back, his distribution is generally good, and Milburn latched onto another forward ball only for his cross to be intercepted by Randall who alongside Hudson (Ja) had been the driving force from midfield for the visitors. Yearling, Banner, and Price worked the ball forward but the final ball, a cross, was easily caught by keeper, Hudson (Jo), then Vaughan set up Milburn, but Randall did enough to drag the ball away from danger with Brown shooting over from thirty yards out. Right on half-time Price sent in a cross towards Yearling but Saunders was there to head out for a corner and the half-time whistle was blown after the corner was cleared.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 0.
The half time break was an opportune time to take on some fluids and discuss how to break this games dead-lock, two teams virtually cancelling each other out, just as early season results indicated, Colne Athletic replaced Price, I believe, due to a thigh strain with Barker entering the fray. Colne Athletic would have the wind behind them for this half, would that help or hinder them, Debrick was hard into a challenge on Millburn, no foul was given, and a throw-in followed. Burch lunged at the ball which was being shielded by Debrick, a nailed-on foul and a caution and another drinks break was held. A free-kick taken by Randall was high and wide for Earls Colne, Salter had a nibble at Evans to concede a foul, but Hudson (Ja) cleared the danger. On the hour mark Colne Athletic replaced Banner with Malone and Earls Colne made two changes, the injured Cousins limped off with Debrick to be replaced by Charnock and Chapman respectively. Earls Colne kept up the pressure, Loveridge set up Hudson (Ja) whose shot was superbly blocked by Vaughan six yards out
At the other end a snap-shot from Malone tested keeper Hudson (JO) who had to dive at full stretch to save low to his left side, the game was then stopped as the keeper had hurt his back in making that save, the first shot on target, all game. On sixty-five minutes a defining moment, Loveridge danced one way then the other inside the penalty area, Burch used both arms to try to hold the player back, the result, a penalty, no question, with RICKY LOVERIDGE sending keeper, Thomson, the wrong way from the spot kick. Earls Colne replaced Cameron with Couzens on sixty-five minutes but Millburn almost equalised from the restart, but Saunders was on hand to block the shot at the near post.
With fifteen minutes to go the deciding goal materialised, Evans lost possession deep in the visitor’s half, a quick exchange of passes through midfield saw JAMES COUZENS stride on to lift the ball over the advancing keeper, from outside the penalty area, this was probably his first contribution to the game! Hudson (Ja) was replaced by Andrews and the home team looked devoid of ideas and were forced into numerous errors by their opponents who looked comfortable with a two-goal lead. A corner taken by Charnock was headed over by Welton and from a second corner Burch headed clear, keeper, Thomson launched a long ball towards his opposite number who collected inside his penalty area, but Millburn kept running and collided with the keeper. With ten minutes remaining Colne Athletic replaced Brown with Bradley, Vaughan made poor back-pass towards his keeper and Earls Colne had a free corner, taken by Randall but again headed clear by Burch. Vaughan almost became provider when his ball laid back to Millburn was thrashed the ball well-wide, but it showed the home team still had designs on getting something from this game as eight minutes of added time were then played out without further incident.
FULL TIME: 0 – 2.
Not a classic match, a gritty determined display from both teams in testing conditions, in my opinion, Earls Colne did deserve to win.
Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player”, for Colne Athletic, who had a couple of players missing, Vaughan has his critics but is a key player, Milburn ran his heart out without reward. For Earls Colne, Captain Hudson (Ja) was influential though out through mid-field but defended well when required, defensively they looked sound but in Loveridge they had a player who covered every blade of grass, chasing down players at every opportunity, gaining and scoring the penalty kick, the important first goal that broke the dead-lock.
Teams:
COLNE ATHLETIC FC:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Jamie Thomson., Tim Flack., Josh Vaughan (C)., Ryan Brown., Joel Shurvington., Jack Burch., Daniel Price., Harrison Banner., Gareth Evans., Scott Yearling., Keelan Milburn
Manager: Ben Connell.
Assistant Manager: Jamie Thomson
Used Substitutes: Daniel Bradley., Jamie Barker., Cheyton Malone.
Unused Substitutes: Joe Heron.
EARLS COLNE FC
Colours: Red Shirts, Red Shorts and Red Socks.
Team:
Jordan Hudson., Samuel Cousins., Harry Salter., Connor Randall., Sydney Saunders., Jake Fitzsimmons., Ricky Loveridge., Jamie Hudson., Ross Debrick., Declan Cameron., Luis Welton.
Manager: Chris Hudson
Assistant Manager: Gary Pearce
Used Substitutes: Jack Charnock., Joshua Chapman., Aaron Andrews., James Couzens.
Referee: Adrian Arnot
Assistant Referees: Ben Martin & Jack Munro
Star Player: Ricky LOVERIDGE (EARLS COLNE FC)
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