21/03/2026 – REPORT – Kelvedon Social FC versus Bradfield Rovers FC Reserves.
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION FOUR.
KELVEDON SOCIAL FC. 1. BRADFIELD ROVERS FC RESERVES: 3.
Date: 21st March 2026. Venue: The Broadway, Silver End
As most avid readers know I have no Club allegiance these days, so I pick and chose where I go on a Saturday afternoon, now I’ve been to Silver End many times but never watched a match on the second village pitch, today Kelvedon Social FC were playing hosts to Bradfield Rovers FC Reserves for a Division Four league encounter. Over the years, Kelvedon Social FC have been in all divisions of the ESBFL but have been unable to play in their own village for a couple of seasons now, whilst talking to their Club Chairman, late in this game, he has aspirations of moving back there at some time in the future, I can remember changing in an old converted railway wagon before the Club built their old Clubhouse, sadly now condemned! At the start of play the hosts sat in fifth place whilst todays opposition, Bradfield Rovers FC Reserves sat down in ninth position, their club has also had issues over their home venue, hopefully now resolved, this was also the first meeting of these teams this season, so for me this game could go either way.
Today’s Match Official was young Oliver Chenenko, I last watched him as an Assistant Referee alongside his father last season at former Premier Division team, Barnston AFC, today, no issues, got most decisions correct by being on the spot during open play, one caution issued without question, so well done.
On a beautiful afternoon, it would be Bradfield Rovers Reserves who would kick off with the bright sun, shining right down the pitch, good to see that the match was played using the new footballs provided by the ESBFL. The first clearance by Madge, flew directly to home keeper, Banks and from his clearance Kelvedon Social pushed forward, Chapman (L) forced a throw in off Akinade, then Goodman fouled Akinade, Goodyer took the free kick but the ball was overhit towards the far post, retrieved by Taylor who passed the ball back to Akinade whose effort struck the outstretched leg of keeper Nesbit and Bradfield Rovers Reserves pushed forward with Goodman shooting straight to keeper, Banks. On five minutes, Madge got forward but defender Hume shielded the ball out for a goal kick, the game had been a bit of kick and run so far as both teams tried to get hold off and then keep the ball. Wall fouled Chapman (C) wide on the left side, from where, Birch struck a fine free kick, but Chapman (C) headed wide at the far post, as play switched to the other end, Taylor, struck a rising shot that keeper, Nesbit caught on his goal-line. Kelvedon Social continued to push forward down the right flank from where Taylor fired the ball, not just over the crossbar, but the gardens at the far end. When Birch broke clear through from a midfield error, keeper, Banks was quickly out to save, on the follow up, Hume blocked a shot from Wood and play once again switched ends with Taylor crossing to Sheppard who hit the ball over the goal.
With fifteen minutes played, Birch headed over the goal from a cross by Chapman (C), the response from Kelvedon Social saw Greenyer, play in Sheppard who set up Akinade for a shot which flew over the crossbar, Sheppard had to leave the field of play due to a bloody nose from a stray arm in that last attack. Chapman (L) fouled Sheppard who had returned to the field of play, Bacon took the free kick and gained a corner which Bacon took himself and another corner followed on the other side. The pitch today was fairly hard but the ball spent a lot of time in the air and over was often overhit, Sheppard charged down an attempted clearance by Chapman (L) and on twenty-six minutes and slightly against the run of play Bradfield Rovers Reserves scored, keeper Banks dived to his left attempting to save a shot from CHARLIE CHAPMAN, the ball squeezed under his outstretched arm and the visitors were ahead. Almost from the restart, Wall advanced down the right side and from a fine cross JIBRIL AKINADE rose to power a superb header past keeper, Nesbit who had no chance to save. Within another minute and the visitors retook the lead Birch pushed a fine pass through the home defence and CHARLIE CHAPMAN raced through to score with ease.
That flurry of goals was just before the thirty-minute mark, play remained even if disjointed by niggly fouls from both teams, Akinade was fouled by Chapman (C), Bacon floated the free kick into the penalty area, Still rose to head the ball but straight into the arms of keeper, Nesbit. Keeper, Nesbit, hit his clearance long to Madge who was overlapping down the right side, from his cross a flying header by Chapman (C) cleared the crossbar. Madge conceded a corner when Taylor sent in a cross towards Akinade, and play switched again, Chapman (C) broke down the right side but failed to get past Hume who defended well. Birch was blocked off by Bacon but the eventual cross from Birch was too long and a goal kick followed. Akinade went on a mazy run across the pitch, finding Still running through, but keeper, Nesbit was quickly out at his feet, the keeper then had to save a shot from Taylor. The next goal-bound effort, also from Taylor was parried by keeper, Nesbit, there followed a late free kick, taken by Bacon which bounced once before flying past the far post.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 2.
Kelvedon Social would restart this close game, but beforehand they replaced Taylor with Roulston, Chapman (C) chased forward once again, his pass found Madge down the right side, but his decent cross eluded everyone. The home response was to send the ball log to Akinade who headed down for Bacon who sent a left footed volley just wide. Allington was quickest to the ball when he chased back against Wall, he pushed the ball forward to Birch who took on Wall who lost the ball through midfield. On fifty-five minutes a superb volley by RYAN WOOD from fully forty yards sent keeper Banks back-pedalling, the keeper tried to save but could only help the ball into his own goal and this stretched the visitors lead. Bacon received the only yellow card of the match when he fouled Birch, once too often, this free kick was cleared and, on the counterattack, Akinade found Sheppard who forced a save from keeper, Nesbit at his near post. Sheppard chased down a ball down the right side, having beaten Allington he crossed into the penalty area, but Greenyer right in front of the goal, could not control the ball!
Roulston, took a quick free kick but Hodgkins was adjudged to have fouled Chapman (L), from the next free kick taken by Wood, the ball flew harmlessly to keeper, Banks, then a cross from Akinade was turned out for a corner by Madge. Another free kick was awarded when Chapman (L) fouled Akinade right on the corner of the penalty area, Roulston struck this free kick way over the crossbar then Bacon struck another free kick straight to keeper, Nesbit. The free kicks kept coming, Wilding was upended just outside the penalty area, this time Roulston struck the defensive wall, the ball fell to Bacon who arrowed a rising shot just wide. On seventy-five minutes Bradfield Rovers replaced Allington with Lloyd, Chapman (C) and Hodgkins accidentally collided but played on and Chapman (C) shrugged off any injury when he ran through from the half-way line but was foiled by the advancing keeper, Banks, who was injured in the process.
We had now entered the last fifteen minutes, a corner taken by Birch was clutched inside the six-yard box by keeper, Banks, from his clearance, after one bounce, Le Messurier sent the ball back with interest! With play stopped, Kelvedon Social made a double change, off went Sheppard and Wilding with Reilly and Findlay entering play, defender Hume had now moved forward to supplement the home attack. Chapman (L) fouled Akinade wide on the left side, Bacon under-hit the free kick but keeper, Nesbit was forced to save at the near post and with six minutes remaining Foakes replaced Hodgkins for Kelvedon Social and the home team kept pressing for goals. With the home team set on attack mode, it left gaps at the back, Birch broke from half-way but keeper, Banks again saved with his feet, the final action saw Findlay caught offside for Kelvedon Social.
FULL TIME: 1 – 3.
Its Division Four, was I expecting a classic game, well no, but to be fair both teams kept going and tried hard, Bradfield Rovers Reserves won because they took their chances, on another day the hosts might have scored more!
Turning to my choice of Star player, with two goals and being a threat all game, this week its Chapman (C) of Bradfield Rovers FC Reserves.
Teams:
KELVEDON SOCIAL FC
Colours: Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Lewis Banks., Chris Wall., Daniel Hume (C)., Sam Hodgkins., Kieran Wilding., Luke Still., Joshua Taylor., Alex Greenyer., Blake Bacon., Louis Sheppard., Jibril Akinade.
Manager: John Valerkou.
Used Substitutes: Sean Reilly., Graham Foakes., Gerald Roulston., Michael Findlay.
Unused Substitutes: Calum Irvine.
BRADFIELD ROVERS FC RESERVES:
Colours: Claret Shirts, Claret Shorts and Claret Socks.
Team:
Luke Nesbit., Lee Chapman., Micheal Le Messurier., Ben Rand., Nathan Allington., Callum McFarlane., Ryan Wood., Dan Goodman., Andrew Madge., Charlie Chapman., Jack Birch.
Manager: Timothy Thompson.
Used Substitutes: Danny Lloyd.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Oliver Chenanko.
STAR PLAYER: Charlie CHAPMAN (BRADFIELD ROVERS FC RESERVES)
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