20/02/2016 – Harold Wood Athletic FC versus Weeley Athletic FC (EPC-Q/F)
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
ESSEX PREMIER CUP – QUARTER-FINAL
HAROLD WOOD ATHLETIC FC: 2. WEELEY ATHLETIC FC: 3. (AET)
(SCORE WAS 1 – 1 AT THE END OF NINETY MINUTES)
Date: Saturday 20th February 2016. Venue: Vista Road, Clacton-on-sea
With the designated “home team” Harold Wood Athletic FC, once again agreeing to switch a county cup tie to Clacton-on-sea, they recently played and beat Holland FC on The Rush Green Bowl, for this match they faced Division One, Weeley Athletic FC who are continuing to surprise other teams with their never-say-die attitude and playing ability.
Harold Wood Athletic FC, have been hampered by their home pitch being unplayable due to the wet conditions, have only played twice since mid-December and like Weeley are well behind other teams in their respective league, the Prokit Essex Olympian League, Premier Division, where they are the current champions. The local gossip, from Holland, was that they relied on a solid defence, a quick and skilful left winger and a very useful forward who was their target man.
Once again on Saturday, I was hard pressed not to go and watch my old club Weeley Athletic FC appearing in the Quarter-Final of the Essex Premier Cup, for the first time ever having watched them beat AFC Hornchurch, Under 21’s back in January. The club under the management of Keiron Shelley are continuing to compete on three fronts, well placed in Division One and also through to the Quarter-Finals of the ESBFL KOC.
Now for many months now we have been listening and talking about what is going on at “Number 10” (Downing Street) but in this game it was the respective “Number 10’s” that shone throughout, step forward Gillard for Harold Wood and Newland for Weeley, the latter once again showing his “class” with two memorable goals in extra-time to help see his team through.
The Match Officials for this County Cup fixture were those originally chosen by E.C.F.A. for the scheduled game in Harold Wood, referee, Alex Mullett who was assisted by Gordon Farrington and Callum Cockley, all of whom officiate in the Prokit Essex Olympian League and overall I thought they were excellent, despite a one hundred and twenty mile round trip and a late caution for a Weeley player.
The Vista Road pitch looked in remarkably good condition but with the forecasted rain starting just before kick-off we knew the going would be soft and players might struggle to keep their feet if it persisted. Weeley chose to use their new multi-coloured footballs, courtesy of the FA, for reaching Charter Standard, to me they seem so light these days, not like the laced up version I used to play with! I digress, but with Harold Wood kicking off they put early pressure on the Weeley defence and in only the second minute Findlay stepped across Onielyan, the quick winger, to concede a penalty kick, allowing JORDAN TOLAN to step up and place the ball past a static Freeman who I don’t think had even touched the ball yet! Not the start that Weeley wanted and Harold Wood continued their early dominance, pushing forward confidently with Weeley struggling with the conditions and hastily clearing any loose balls played into their penalty area. Harold Wood were using a long ball tactic, aiming for Gillard, the useful forward, whilst he tried to get Liddard into space or play the ball wide to the pacy Onielyan. Onielyan slipped past East and Davis to shoot but Findlay blocked for a corner, taken by Tolan, short to Ashby who forced Freeman to tip the ball over his cross-bar. Weeley clearly needed to get hold of the ball, settle down and play themselves up the pitch, Freemans goal-kicks and there were several early on rarely found a team-mate, in fact I thought the trajectory of the new ball was strange, seemingly wavering in the air but then again my eyesight is not as sharp these days!
Harold Wood also had a different weapon, the long throw-in, and these were always taken by Donavan were aimed at Gillard, who generally headed on into the six-yard box and these caused a few headaches as Weeley tried to clear. When Nash and Newland tried to get across the half-way line for the first time, Newland was accidentally trodden on by Ashby, a free-kick was awarded but the Weeley momentum was slowed and the Weeley managers patience was being tested as his team failed to get to grips against a well organised Harold Wood team. Donavan sent in another long throw-in from the other side, Findlay got the better of Gillard this time and Weeley cleared but only as far as the half-way line and the attacks started again. East was struggling with the trickery and pace of Onielyan who jinxed one way then the other then used the proverbial “nutmeg” to get round the tenacious defender who stuck to his task. A long shot from King was fielded by Freeman whose throw out to Davis led to Nash setting Rawlinson away and force, Ashby to concede a corner and perhaps the best move by Weeley so far. Weeley thought they should have had a penalty when Onielyan turned his back on a shot from McLean, the ball hitting his arm / back, similar to that Raheem Sterling situation last weekend, nothing given though as the referee was close by to adjudicate. The respective management teams had plenty to say to their teams and each other, friendly banter fortunately as each group respected each other’s teams abilities. A corner taken by Davis should have set up Findlay but he lost his footing with Ashby clearing the weak shot off the goal line and the game had opened up to a competitive encounter.
On twenty minutes a break down the left wing by Rawlinson this from a pass by Davis led to Nash forcing a corner when his shot was blocked, again the corner taken by Rawlinson led to Downes slipping this time although his similarly weak goal-bound effort did appear to strike a defenders arm, again nothing given, close call though! At the other end a long clearance by Forster led to Findlay losing his footing for a second time as Gillard attacked but shooting wide. Despite the weather, a decent crowd had gathered, a lot of local interest for sure and Harold Wood, had brought a few them-selves and sensibly travelled by coach judging by the drinks consumed before kick-off. A long throw-in from Donavan almost led to another goal, Gillard headed on towards the far post where Stevens had ghosted in up-marked, to send a decent header goal-wards, only for Freeman to launch himself to make a fine save just inside the post. A move started out of defence by Heffer, for Weeley set McLean away and with Newlands shot being blocked a corner followed, unfortunately the kick from Davis was unusually poor and was cleared some distance down-field by Donavan forcing the Weeley defenders to get back quickly with Gillard and Liddard threatening. Rawlinson made the timely tackle to retrieve the situation and worked his way down the left side, linking up with Newland then Davis whose final ball back to Rawlinson was curled round the last defender forcing keeper Forster to gather at the base of the far post, again a much better passing move as Weeley gained more confidence.
Onielyan continued to take on East who despite, on occasion, being beaten would race back to try again and this mini battle lasted until the end of normal time, Heffer conceded a free-kick taken by Tolan but this time too high for the head of Gillard. Despite Weeley having got back into this game their final ball failed to reach a team-mate, Rawlinson from a Davis pass and Newland from a pass by Heffer but at least they were trying to create something. Tolan was late into a challenge on Davis who got up to take the free-kick, long towards Downes whose firm header was turned away for a corner by Donavan. Davis took the corner to Newland standing on the edge of the penalty area and when his shot was charged down, Rawlinson latched onto the loose ball and seemed to be fouled by Tolan as he cut inside, nothing given and Tolan sprayed the ball wide to Onielyan who was on a charge, out-pacing East but lobbing the ball over the cross-bar, lady-luck was clearly shining on Weeley though. Heffer sent Rawlinson clear of Ashby but the cross was over-hit then at the other end Gillard headed down to Stevens who had run around Andrews but only managed to steer the chance a yard wide of the goal then Onielyan slipped past the sprawling East who hauled him down but despite the pacy winger running clear, a good advantage was lost as the referee blew for the foul. Tolan took the free-kick from the corner of the penalty area, the ball hitting the face of the cross-bar and five minutes remained until half-time. McLean found Nash then Newland joined in, running wide of the retreating defence and his low shot was turned, rather desperately away for a corner by the prostrate Donavan. As the half closed Gillard eased Rawlinson off the ball to set up Stevens who blasted the ball high and wide and Weeley breathed a sigh of relief as despite being under pressure for much of the half they had competed well and were only a single goal behind.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 0
Weeley kicked-off the second half and McLean embarked on an aggressive run down the right wing from a lay-off by Nash only to be fouled by Lingsley, Davis failed to get the ball past the defensive wall and Harold Wood played the ball forward to Gillard who held off Downes to slip the ball forward to Liddard who had run into an off-side position, a decision not agreed with by the Harold Wood management. Ashby and Onielyan were doubling up on McLean, a perceived source of danger but it suggested that Weeley had shown enough for Harold Wood to be concerned then Gillard flicked the ball over Downes, ran round the defender but volleyed the ball over the cross-bar. Five minutes into the second half and Weeley scored their equaliser, Andrews broke out of left side defence passing to Nash and then Davis from central midfield found Newland running to the right side with Heffer ahead. TOM HEFFER appeared to miss-hit the bouncing ball and thinking it was going wide turned away to curse his luck, that was until a roar went up as unbeknown to him the ball had dipped to strike the under-side of the cross-bar and fall into the back of the net, game on. Gillard ran at the Weeley defence again, showing good close control for a big player, but his left foot shot was too high and on fifty-five minutes Weeley took the opportunity to replace Davis with Griffin who immediately put in a strong tackle on defender Crossley. A Donavan throw-in once again found the head of Gillard with Liddard heading wide as he climbed higher than East at the far post and Heffer was in the wars when he appeared to fall awkwardly after a tackle, but play continued. Onielyan made a trade-mark run down the left wing before cutting inside but shooting straight into the arms of Freeman then Onielyan wiped out East with a rash challenge as his frustration almost got the better of him.
On the hour mark Harold Wood replaced Stevens with Driscoll and McLean and Rawlinson linked up before the cross was hit too high for the incoming Nash but it was evident that if Weeley could keep getting the ball into Newland his running ability would start to cause problems to the opposition, just as Gillard had done for Harold Wood. A free-kick taken by Tolan was headed firmly clear by Heffer and Weeley broke forward them-selves with East finding Newland, then Nash crossed to McLean and when the ball was played back across the penalty area Andrews sent a rasping shot wide of the goal. Nash forced a smart save from Forster after being set up by McLean and Onielyan again played tricks on East, left, right, nutmeg, see yah but ran out of space along the goal-line. Clover replaced Andrews for Weeley on seventy-five minutes and as the defence regrouped Gillard forced Freeman to save low at the near post then Clover set up an attack with Nash but the shot from Clover was charged down. Onielyan chanced his luck by running at Findlay through the middle but East and McLean doubled-up to defend and clear the danger then Gillard ran at Downes who stood firm and clear out of defence.
A strong run by Rawlinson down the left wing ended with a poor cross and as play continued end-to-end Liddard failed to score with only Freeman to beat and Griffin defended well to deny Tolan from a corner. Newland drifted past Gillard, who had tracked back to defend but unfortunately the lobbed ball forward by Newland fell just behind the unmarked Nash who was unaware the ball was coming in, otherwise an open run at goal. In the last minute McLean broke forward and fed Newland, with Donavan heading out for a corner, with Rawlinson unmarked in the penalty area. Rawlinson took the corner, Downes headed goal-wards Tolan blocked the ball and cleared off Heffer for a throw-in with the whistle going to signal extra-time.
FULL TIME: 1 – 1
After the toss of the coin to choose kick-off for the start of extra-time, Weeley replaced East with Westrip, with East receiving a rousing round of applause from not just his team but the opposition as well, nice touch that, because his dogged approach had pretty much nullified a regular source of attack, Onielyan, for Harold Wood. Weeley started the first period of extra-time in positive fashion, Downes thwarted Onielyan as Findlay slipped again, use studs not blades I say and Findlay stopped Gillard when he also threatened. Forster went long, with a clearance to Liddard with McLean back, not just defending but coming away with the ball, playing a pass to Newland who held the ball up long enough to set Mclean through to force a fine save from Forster, diving low to his left side. Forster gathered the corner kick to launch a wind assisted kick down-field, last man Westrip tried to head the ball away but clearly handled the ball just outside the penalty area and despite the assistant referees flag the referee had allowed an advantage as Liddard ran on to shoot wide of the goal and with play stopped Westrip received only a caution, but it could have been much worse, let’s just call it good common-sense refereeing.
The game remained fast and furious, Freeman saved shots from both Onielyan and Tolan whilst at the other end Westrip shot wide on a rare foray forward for the defender. Newland and Nash worked the ball well with Newland using his body to turn one way then the other and send in a shot that flew just wide, just getting his range I’m thinking! As the first period of extra-time finished the long throw-ins continued but this time Gillard fouled Downes at the near post.
EXTRA-TIME / HALF-TIME: 1 – 1
So with fifteen minutes to go, would the dreaded penalty shoot-out decide this closely contested match or would an error or spark of genius decide who would go through to the EPC semi-finals. Harold Wood would kick-off with Weeley having the strengthened breeze behind them and nobody had left pitch-side as this game was going to the wire. McLean was quick to challenge Tolan who berated his defenders for not alerting him of the danger but fortunately for him Newland had drifted off-side. Two minutes into the second period of extra-time Weeley took the lead and what a goal, Forster kicked the ball out but only as far as LOUIE NEWLAND standing on the edge of the centre-circle, his first time control was immaculate but the left footed lobbed effort had height and weight and despite the efforts of a back-pedalling keeper the ball nestled in the back of the net, superb goal and Weeley were in raptures. Freeman was alert to advance to the feet of Liddard and Weeley were pushed back as a determined Harold Wood looked to retrieve the situation.
Whilst Onielyan had drifted back into a more defensive role for Harold Wood, Mclean for Weeley was still running at a tiring defence but he played no part in the third Weeley goal. With ten minutes to go, Westrip ran out of defence with the ball, passing up-field to Nash standing in a very forward position, Nash controlled the ball, turned his marker and attempted a back-heel the ball into the path of Newland, however the ball cannoned back off the defender and Nash was still able to push the ball into the path of Newland just outside the penalty area. LOUIE NEWLAND took the ball on, drifting past Ashby and Crossley before drawing the keeper and slotting the ball into the back of the net, another great goal built by team-work and scored by a player who on his day is almost unstoppable.
Only five minutes remained when Harold Wood scored their second goal to set up a frantic last five minutes, a corner on the left was not cleared allowing MATTHEW DONAVAN to head home from close range. Queue the last few minutes, Westrip conceded a corner under pressure from Gillard and Gillard played a teasing lobbed ball forward which Stevens just failed to reach, Clover fouled Crossley in his own penalty area and Weeley kept the ball deep in the Harold Wood half with Newland drawing a foul as did Mclean and whilst Weeley deliberated who would take the free-kick the referee blew for full-time and some wild celebrations started.
EXTRA-TIME / FULL-TIME: 2 – 3
Once again in a County Cup match, I expected a close game and for ninety minutes and the period of extra-time we wondered who would win, in the end we saw Weeley triumph against fit and well organised opposition who were, very complementary in their defeat. To say that the clubhouse was “buzzing” after the game would be an understatement with Manager, Shelley opening his wallet to celebrate with a few drinks for his victorious team.
Weeley Athletic FC would normally know their semi-final opposition by now but the other quarter-final match between Frenford Senior FC (not Buckhurst Hill FC) and West Essex FC has just been scheduled for Saturday 27th February 2016, with the winners at home to Weeley Athletic FC on Saturday 5th March 2016.
This week my Man-of-the Match selection was never in doubt, both teams played as that, a team, certain players did however stand-out as I said at the start of this report when referring to the “Number 10’s” however as the scorer of two fine goals, Louie Newland, who, to me played better than in the last round for Weeley Athletic FC dominating midfield from half-time onwards to create numerous attacking options for his team.
Teams:
HAROLD WOOD ATHLETIC FC: Colours: Claret Shirts, Claret Shorts and Blue Socks.
Greg Forster., Matthew Donavan., Julian Ashby., Jordan Tolan., Sean Crossley (C)., Simon King., Joe Stevens., Reiss Lingsley., Charlie Liddard., Dan Gillard., Adie Onielyan.
Manager: Chris Taylor.
Assistant Manager: Steve Gaunt.
Used Substitutes: Stephen Reynolds., Dan Driscoll
WEELEY ATHLETIC FC Colours: Orange Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Mitchell Freeman., Robert East., Kieran Andrews., Steven Downes (C)., Daniel Findlay., Steven Davis., Russell McLean., Tom Heffer., Ross Nash., Louie Newland., Scott Rawlinson.
Manager: Keiron Shelley.
Assistant Manager: Richard Downes.
Used Substitutes: Matthew Westrip., Jimmy Griffin., Jarrad Clover.
Referee: Alex Mullett (Romford)
Assistant Referee’s: Gordon Farrington (Brentwood)
and Callum Cockley (Gidea Park)
Man of the Match: Louie NEWLAND (WEELEY ATHLETIC FC)
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