21/02/2026 – REPORT – Dedham Old Boys FC versus Alresford Colne Rangers FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION.
DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC. 0. ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC. 5.
Date: 21st FEBRUARY 2026. Venue: University of Essex, Wivenhoe.
Dedham Old Boys FC have temporarily switched their home venue to the University of Essex, the main pitch there, whilst having a slight slope has an immaculate playing surface, today bottom team Alresford Colne Rangers travelled a couple of miles up the road to Wivenhoe for this Premier Division fixture. Dedham Old Boys sat mid-table on thirty-one points from twenty games, a much-improved position after last season’s run of poor results, Alresford Colne Rangers ended last season in mid-table but a steady exodus of players has resulted in a change of management and numerous young players being brought in, before today they had drawn once but had just one victory, that was as recent as mid-January!
On a well-prepared pitch that would cut-up as the game progressed, today’s Match Official was John McGill who would have Anthony Keeble and David Commander as appointed Assistant Referees.
Dedham Old Boys kicked-off in front of a decent crowd, what else is there to do on a Saturday afternoon when the weather was set fair, Watson for Alresford Colne Rangers conceded a free kick against Halsey, wide on the right side, Ruffles sent in a fine free-kick that forced keeper, Marsh, to palm the ball over the cross bar at the far post, the resulting corner was cleared up field. Balaam was spoken too after several decisions for fouls were not upheld as his team still had possession, Morgan-Eagle fouled Halsey who was looking for the foul, again wide on the right side. Ruffles sent over another testing free kick, Smith (R), cleared the ball off Cobden and a goal kick followed. Ruffles almost turned provider soon after, his pass found Knevett in space and from his pass Halsey struck the ball goalwards, but keeper, Marsh saved, pushing the ball wide for a corner kick, taken by Potter however, Welham was climbing all over Balaam at the far post and a free kick was given. An error by defender Smith (W) almost let in Scotcher who passed the ball to Girling whose low effort was saved by keeper, Yates.
Alresford Colne Rangers scored just after the fifteen minute mark, Scotcher sent the ball wide to Stacey, from his deep cross, Ruffles headed the ball away from under the cross bar, Girling retrieved the ball and set up ALEX SCOTCHER who sent a fine curling and dipping shot into the back of the net off the underside of the crossbar, a fine effort that Dedham Old Boys should have been defended better! In response, Cobden, made ground down the right side, from his low driven cross, the ball was cleared by Vearer, but only to Halsey whose shot flew narrowly wide, Halsey was then on the end of a no-nonsense challenge from Smith (R). Smith (R) was spoken too but the free kick taken by Ruffles cleared the visitors defence and a goal kick followed, then as Dedham Old Boys continued to get back on level terms, a volley from Welham hit the crossbar. So far, Alresford Colne Rangers had a certain hunger about their play, they were defending well through Balaam and Vearer, but their young midfield and forward players looked useful. Knevett forced a corner off of Daff, from the kick, Potter rose at the far post but was denied by a goal-line clearance and when his follow up shot was also cleared the ball ended up back with Potter, once again a fine cross was played in but Cobden handled the ball into the net and was promptly cautioned.
Scotcher was impeded by Welham, it looked a bit soft to me, the free kick was cleared, then Welham had to usher Stacey out of play on the left side, from that free kick Girling struck the free kick directly to keeper, Yates. Alresford Colne Rangers increased their lead on thirty-three minutes, a throw in taken by Daff, fell to ALEX SCOTCHER who used his pace to outstrip the retreating defence, he avoided the challenge of Ruffles and beat the advancing keeper, for a well taken goal. When Smith (W) fouled Scotcher just outside the penalty area, Scotcher, now on a hat-trick, took the free kick himself but blazed the ball high over the goal. That third goal did materialise on forty minutes, Scotcher ran through, keeper, Yates saved with his feet, but THOMAS STACEY followed up to score, from the restart Cobden was fouled by a combination of Balaam and Vearer, whose defensive mandate was “though shall not pass”, the free kick taken by Ruffles hit the defensive wall and was cleared. That third goal seemed to have knocked the stuffing out of Dedham Old Boys and perhaps “damage limitation” would be the topic discussed with half-time just minutes away. Keeper, yates did very well, using his feet to beat Scotcher who was chasing down a pack-pass from Smith (W), when the ball was finally cleared by Ruffles, Knevett was caught offside and the half ended with Watson finding Stacey whose cross was hit too long.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 3.
Dedham Old Boys made a player change before the second half got under way, with Vidler entering play, immediately from kick-off, Knevett fouled Watson, then Cobden appeared to foul Balaam, but no free kick was given as the visitors held the ball until Knevett fouled Balaam. Dare for Dedham Old Boys required treatment after making a hefty challenge to deny Stacey who gained a corner, taken by Girling, the ball reached Smith (R) who headed straight at keeper, Yates. Knevett, despite playing in a wide position found himself offside from the next home attack, and on fifty-three minutes, with the match stopped, Dedham Old Boys replaced O’Hart with Panton. As Dedham Old Boys pushed forward again, Vearer steered the ball out of play for a corner, this was to deny Knevett, from the corner Smith (R) thrashed the ball forward to clear his defensive line. A fine cross from Potter from down the right side was not punished as there were no Dedham Old Boys players up with play, and keeper, Marsh had a simple catch to make on his six-yard line. Smith (R) put in a fine challenge on Cobden, and he was clearly relishing this match, his team thus far this season have been under constant pressure, today they were enjoying this match.
On the sixty-minute mark Morgan-Eagle, not for the first time today, made a strong run through midfield, evading two desperate tackles, only to be denied by keeper, Yates, who made a fine save at the expense of a corner, taken by Girling but headed wide by Stacey. Vidler managed to get in a cross from the left side towards Panton, but Vearer reacted quickest to clear the danger, whereupon Alresford Colne Rangers pushed substitute Podrazik into play with Watson making way. Dedham Old Boys had not been in this match since the interval, Stacey gained a corner from some hurried defending, Girling took the corner, keeper, Yates punched the ball clear, then a shot from Morgan-Eagle was blocked by Ruffles, with throw in awarded. With twenty minutes remaining, Dare received a short pass from a quickly taken goal-kick, Kyriacou, read the situation and robbed Dare of the ball and passed to MASON GIRLING who scored with ease.
Cobden had been replaced by Moss for Dedham Old Boys, then Alresford made another change with Shipe replacing Kyriacou, the visitors continued to push forward, Morgan-Eagle showed some nice touches and intelligent passing to eager colleagues who probably felt there were more goals to be scored. Balaam, who had led his young team from the back, played the ball forward into space, Stacey ran on and squared the ball to Scotcher who should have scored but missed the target at which point he was replaced by Greenridge. Ruffles, perhaps out of desperation, took aim from thirty yards but keeper, Marsh was not troubled with a simple catch on his goal-line, Dare, who had been struggling, eventually limped off and the home team played the last ten minutes with just ten players. When play restarted, a cross from the left side from Girling was slotted home by MARKEL GREENRIDGE, possibly his first touch of the ball whereupon Alresford Colne Rangers replaced Girling with Vanhinsburgh. Throughout this match the visitors had been quicker to the ball and belied their basement league position, the final action was started by Balaam whose free kick found Greenridge who was denied by a five save by keeper, Yates, a corner followed and was cleared.
FULL TIME: 0 – 5.
The scoreline suggested this was a one-sided affair, the early signs were that Dedham Old Boys would prevail, but the young players of Alresford Colne Rangers clearly thought otherwise and set about their game plan and could have scored more goals. It may be a coincidence, but I was present at Alresford Colne Rangers first win of the season, that was over White Notley in mid-January, today I witnessed their second win, but I’m not around next weekend to continue their improvement under James Meadows.
Turning to my choice of Star player, let’s cut to the chase, for a change I had a learned, former player standing beside me for most of the match, his choice and I have to agree that this player covered a lot of ground, did the simple things when breaking down play and then supported play when his team was on the attack, that player is Morgan-Eagle.
Teams:
DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC
Colours: Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.
Team:
Harley Yates., James Ruffles., Oluwapelumi Dare., Noah Gadsby., Henry Welham., Matthew Halsey (C)., Callum Knevett., Jack Potter., Lewis Cobden., Aidan O’Hart., William Smith.
Manager: James Gill.
Used Substitutes: Elliot Moss., Jack Vidler., Jack Panton.
ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC:
Colours: Light Green Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Alex Marsh., William Daff., Connor Watson., Jack Ballam (C)., Lain Vearer., Roger Smith., Chris Kyriacou., Ronnie-Jayden Morgan-Eagle., Alex Scotcher., Mason Girling., Thomas Stacey
Manager: James Meadows
Assistant Manager: Mark Henry
Used Substitutes: Nathan Vanhinsburgh., Markel Greenridge., Tomasz Podrazik., Ayotomide Shipe.
Unused Substitutes: Ethan Lee.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: John McGill.
Assistant Referees: Anthony Keeble.
and David Commander.
STAR PLAYER: Ronnie-Jayden MORGAN-EAGLE (ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC)
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