21/08/2021 – REPORT – Barnston AFC versus West Bergholt FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
BARNSTON AFC: 0. WEST BERGHOLT FC: 4.
Date: Saturday 21st August 2021. Venue: High Easter Road, Barnston.
Family commitments kept me away from football last weekend and through mid-week but today back with a long trip out to Barnston AFC for their visit from West Bergholt FC, at the start of play the home team sat fourth, the visitors seventh with just one defeat so far from four games played so I was expecting a close match! Both Clubs have seen significant changes to both Management and players during the close season, it happens in football, what I sometimes tend to question is player loyalty lets hope they have made the right choice, it’s a long season and this season the Premier Division could be too close to call at present.
Today, the referee was Lee Miller who would be assisted by Derek Packer and Keith Succamore and they, like me were afforded a Barnston AFC welcome, a welcome cup of tea and sausage and chips afterwards, excellent hosting by a dedicated team off the pitch, which, as I’ve mentioned it, looked in pristine condition, mainly due to some hard work and expenditure.
Barnston AFC kicked off, the visitors had the first shot, from Firkins, which was blocked by Burton (A) and this was followed by a foul on Firkins by Cubberley about twenty-five yards out, Andrade lined up the central free-kick, keeper Taylor dived low to his left but could not hold the greasy ball and LEE TOWNROW had the simplest of chances to score from close range. The response from Barnston AFC was almost immediate when O’Brien sent a fine curling left-footed free-kick round the defensive wall but narrowly wide. West Bergholt FC again used a long ball clearance from keeper, Rouse, to the feet of Townrow standing just inside the centre-circle, first time control, a look up and a chanced lob from forty-five yards that drifted wide. West Bergholt FC had already got a perceived hold on the midfield area with Firkins Bethell (J) and Schofield pulling the strings and from another free-kick, Firkins tested keeper Taylor who caught the ball high under his cross-bar.
On fifteen minutes another goal, Barnston AFC were caught up-field, Firkins danced through several challenges down he left side and laid the ball across the penalty area for KARL ANDRADE to side-foot home, another close-range attempt. Barnston AFC adopted along ball approach from keeper, Taylor to Coopersmith (O) who was fouled by Bethell (J), the free-kick taken by O’Brien cannoned off the defensive wall for a corner, taken by O’Brien with Robertson missing the goal with a free header. At the mid-half stage, the home team had improved but those two early goals could be crucial for the visitors and the home team had not really threatened other than from free-kicks.
At the half-hour mark a cross from Cubberley was headed wide by Coopersmith (O) then Morgan fouled Davison and from this free-kick Firkins drove the ball towards Townrow, keeper, Taylor advanced to catch the high ball only to be fouled by Townrow, both players falling heavily to the ground. Ten minutes before half-time Barnston AFC were awarded a penalty, Pyne ran past Bethell (B) and when Pyne tried to go past Keeble he was dumped on the ground by a poor challenge resulting in a spot kick, taken left-footed by O’Brien, who thumped the ball against the cross-bar and a chance had gone. Barnston continued to push forward Robertson was fouled near the edge of the penalty area by Keating and once again O’Brien tried, left-footed, hitting Townrow on the edge of the defensive wall and the goal-bound effort was deflected away for a corner. A cross from Robertson found Coopersmith (O) whose header was directed straight at keeper, Rouse. Cubberley received a caution for a clumsy foul on Bethell (J) and after fifty minutes, mainly due to injuries we had reached half-time.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 2.
West Bergholt FC restarted, this so far entertaining match, there were no changes in playing personnel until two minutes into the half when Firkins was replaced by Plane, in between time Payne and Townrow had exchanged passes before keeper, Taylor made a crucial save. Pyne set out on a decent dribble with his resulting cross being headed wide by Robertson, perhaps there are still goals in this game! Robertson made a strong run towards goal but after doing all the hard work his shot was weak and keeper, Rouse was untested. Keating fouled Smith and Keeble was forced to head the free-kick over the cross-bar for a corner, and the first ten minutes of this half had seen the home side pushing for a goal. West Bergholt FC still looked dangerous despite the loss of Firkins, his replacement, Plane was quickly involved and from his pass Payne forced keeper, Taylor into a fine save, low to his left side and the keeper was in action again when Andrade found Davison whose cross was turned away by the keeper.
On sixty minutes Barnston AFC replaced Pyne with Stanley and two minutes later McGuinness made way for Sykes and another length stoppage followed when Keating pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury then Townrow who had led the West Bergholt FC front-line very well fell heavily on his wrist and he also left the field after receiving treatment. Keeper, Rouse made a fine save to deny Morgan for Barnston AFC and before the corner was taken Cubberley was replaced by Wickham. The corner taken by O’Brien was punched clear by keeper, Rouse and with play once again stopped, it allowed the visitors to replace Keating with Blanchett whose first effort on goal was blocked on the edge of the penalty area by Burton (A). At the other end Bethell (B) was adjudged to have handled the ball, the free-kick from O’Brien found Morgan whose header was deflected away for a corner by Keeble.
A run at goal from Plane saw Burton (D) block a rising shot at goal, Blanchett used good footwork to get round Sykes, but his low cross was deflected wide for a corner, we were now in the last fifteen minutes, a third goal would definitely kill off any hopes that the home side had, however, a goal for Barnston AFC might create a different problem especially with visiting players carrying injuries which had forced Townrow and Bethell (J) to play in defence. The game was put to bed with less than ten minutes remaining, the ball was cleared out as far as Bethell (J) whose shot took a huge deflection off Burton (D) for an OWN GOAL. As we entered a prolonged period of time added on the visitors scored again, a cross from Townrow was met at the far post by LEWIS BLANCHETT who really couldn’t miss with a far post header. As the minutes ticked away, O’Brien was shown a yellow card and sent to the “Sin Bin” but in reality, the game was over.
FULL TIME: 0 – 4.
This game was entertaining, both teams started with similar records, at the end their respective league position were reversed, if I’m honest the four-goal margin was harsh, West Bergholt FC had by far the better chances and the home team’s plight was compounded by those two late goals.
Now let me turn to my “Star Player”, for Barnston AFC the team worked hard but found it difficult to break down the West Bergholt FC midfield and defence, for the visitors Keating and Keeble did the hard bits well, Firkins, Bethell (J) and Schofield did much of the play-making and in Andrade and Payne they have quick forwards with good control and pace however, today Lee Townrow gets my vote, scoring the first goal, an assist late on and generally he was involved where it mattered in attack.
Teams:
BARNSTON AFC:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Andrew Tayler (C)., Joe McGuinness., Daniel O’Brien., Luke Cubberley., Adam Burton., Daryl Burton., Shane Pyne., Stephen Smith., Oliver Coopersmith., Jordan Robertson., Michael Morgan.
Manager: Matt Coopersmith and Adam Burton.
Used Substitutes: Billy Sykes., Stuart Stanley., Matthew Wickham.
Unused Substitutes: Peter Monk., Matthew Coopersmith
WEST BERGHOLT FC:
Colours: Red Shirts, Red Shorts and Red Socks.
Team:
Tom Rouse., Bobby Bethell., Connor Davison., Jake Bethell., Daniel Keeble., Reece Keating., Aston Firkins., Michael Schofield (C)., Karl Andrade., Lee Townrow., Luke Payne.
Manager: Kieron Shelley & Ryan Lines.
Used Substitutes: Jake Plane., Lewis Blanchett.
Unused Substitutes: Ryan Lines., Luke Edwards.
Referee: Lee Miller.
Assistant Referees: Derek Packer & Keith Succamore
Star Player: Lee TOWNROW (WEST BERGHOLT FC)
REMINDERS:
MATCH NOTIFICATIONS
Clubs are required to notify all match details, date, venue, kick-off time, colours etc, to their opposition and any appointed official/s, FIVE days before the match.
TEAM SHEETS
Team Sheets should be shown or sent to the Referee and the Opposition team either by text, email etc
The BLUE “League Copy” of the Team Sheet should be sent by First Class Post to reach Mick Willmore by the Thursday after a Saturday match, this is the ONLY item of correspondence that is required by post.
The team, players, substitutes, goal scorers, red / yellow cards, sin-bin, and referee’s marks must be entered to FA Full-Time by the end of the Tuesday following a Saturday match (ie 48 hours after any match).
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