21/09/2019 – REPORT – Stanway Pegasus FC versus Gas Recreation FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION.

STANWAY PEGASUS FC: 4. GAS RECREATION FC: 4.

Date: Saturday 21^st September 2019. Venue: Stanway School, Winstree Road, Colchester.

Where better to go on Saturday, than Stanway School, Colchester, a new venue for me at least, where on a bright, sunny but windy afternoon the home team and league leaders, Stanway Pegasus FC took on last season champions, Gas Recreation FC. Stanway Pegasus FC had received a double promotion having won Division Two last season, that their first season in the ESBFL, so clearly, they have high hopes this season just as their newly formed Reserve team do, who also top their Division One table. Curiously, Gas Recreation FC have already lost two matches this season, that does not often happen but generally if you finish above “the Gas” then probably you have won the league, its early days but already a few different teams are pushing for that coveted top spot.

The match official for this long-awaited clash, where all players would clearly know each other, was Carl Pearse who would be ably supported by Andrew Harvey and James Knappett, the later had the additional problem of trying to watch proceedings looking into the bright but low sunshine.

Gas kicked off and an early foul on Blanchett by Davison, wide on the right side set the tone for the match, Blanchett took the free-kick curling the ball left-footed onto the head of Taylor (L) who headed away but only to Shaikley who turned to shoot narrowly wide. On three minutes, Parkin for the home team swept up a Gas attack and sent the ball long towards Blanchett who, with a shift of his body and quick feet was easily past Davison sending in a low cross which RYAN MAHON controlled before firing home past static keeper, Morrison who was totally exposed. Almost immediately Gas equalised, Firkens burst out of midfield easing past Cursons before crossing low into the penalty area where RYAN TAYLOR swept the ball home, game on. The Gas defence was missing again after only five minutes, Stanway Pegasus broke down the right side and when the ball fell to the left foot of LEWIS BLANCHETT his body movement opened up the space from where he curled the ball round everyone into the bottom corner of the net, again giving the keeper, no chance to save, probably didn’t see the ball until it went past him! Braddon dived in heavily on Gregory and I commented that the referee won’t take many more challenges like that, only for Gregory to get his retribution by fouling Braddon inside the home penalty area. On ten minutes, Stanway Pegasus made it three goals, Blanchett was once again involved, holding the ball up well from a defensive clearance which allowed his colleagues to get forward and when his driven cross came in, RYAN MAHON had time to control the ball, beat Edwards before slotting past stranded keeper, Morrison.

With a quarter of an hour gone Braddon challenged too strongly on Davison to earn the first caution of this very competitive match, Ogunsayna used his feet to good effect to strike a left-footed shot which struck the under-side of the cross-bar, bounced down hitting keeper, Grove and rolling out for a corner kick, from which, Bulmer sent in a fine cross which Edwards headed against the cross-bar with Parkin clearing for a shaken home team. I know that football is a passionate game but some of the language being used was colourful to say the least, remember, there are often children watching, more than one ESBFL club has had complaints made to the ESBFL, about this increased trend of industrial language when and near where children play or watch, lets keep this aspect to a minimum or cut it out altogether please! Keating pulled back both Gregory and Taylor (R) just as they were about to break through, and this earned him a rebuke from the one-the-spot referee. The free-kick from Bulmer was headed out for a corner by Pash and the danger cleared when keeper, Grove played the ball wide to Rahiti who was clearly fouled by Girling but with the home team still in possession play continued until the ball went out of play and Girling was dealt a yellow card. Taylor (L) fouled Blanchett, he did eventually fall theatrically to the ground but had clearly been impeded at least twice before doing so. Blanchett took the free-kick which Edwards headed away, but Blanchett was again instigator, using his pace and dribbling ability to gain space in which to work and set up attacks for his team. Former team mates, Braddon and Taylor (L) clashed just on the half-way line and from the restart Ogunsayna broke away to send over a delightful cross however, no one from the Gas was there to benefit!

On thirty minutes, Blanchett once again, got round Davison finding Mahon but this time the turn and left footed shot forced keeper, Morrison to save low down, then Rahiti tried a long-range effort from way out near the side-line, keeper, Morrison parried the low driven shot before falling on the loose ball near his goal-line. Ogunsayna made ground down the right side but again his cross bounced once before going out of play for a throw-in on the far side. A poor clearance from keeper, Morrison fell to Rahiti who turned the ball back into the unmarked Mahon who with only the keeper to beat, did so, but placed the ball the wrong side of the far post, a big miss, would that be crucial as the game progressed! A better move for the Gas started by Firkens, found Davison down he left side and when Taylor (R) played the ball back to Ogunsayna he was flagged off-side, but the Gas were definitely not out of this game! Dale got frustrated by the trickery of Blanchett and received a caution for a rash flick of the boot towards the player as he ran past him again, and with the first half drawing to a close, Braddon struck a loose ball just wide, the visitors had not played very well and lacked ideas up-front, however, a long shot from Taylor (L) was blocked by Parkin and from a Taylor (L) cross, Ogunsayna headed straight into the arms of keeper, Grove.

HALF TIME: 3 – 1

So, after their “poor by their standards” first half, what could Gas do, well, after a heated half-time talk out on the pitch, three immediate substitutions were made with Davison, Bulmer and Taylor (R) being replaced by Page, Bergin and Stoneman respectively. The first involvement for Page was to foul Rahiti and when the ball was played forward Parkin fouled Dale, a player always in the thick of things but from the free-kick Ogunsayna drove the free-kick into the defensive wall. Never mind, within five minutes of the re-start Gas pulled a goal back, when Firkens was seemingly fouled, wide on the left side he continued his forward run, great advantage played here by the referee, and he played the ball through to JONATHAN OGUNSAYNA who ran on hitting striking the ball against the advancing keeper, Grove, with the ball rebounding off the Gas player to trickle into the empty net. Two minutes later and Gas were reduced to ten players, as with all substitutes having been made, Page pulled up after turning his ankle running back to make a challenge near the visitors dug-out. Stanway Pegasus replaced Cursons with Sabini but Gas were now back in this game and Firkens passed to Dale who set up Taylor (L) for a shot which flew straight to keeper, Grove. Pash was cautioned for a poor challenge on Firkens, once again breaking down the left side then as Stanway Pegasus sensed a breakaway keeper, Morrison ran out to clear the ball just on the edge of penalty area with his momentum sending him crashing into Mahon who was clearly injured and required treatment but being unable to continue was eventually replaced by Payne.

On the hour mark, Dale, for Gas had a decent shot at goal but keeper, Grove was handily placed to save but from his clearance Braddon, somewhat inevitably, clattered into Firkens on the half-way line to receive a second yellow card and his marching orders as well, that’s evened it up a bit, ten aside now! Back came the Gas again, as on sixty-five minutes the ball was played through and JONATHAN OGUNSAYNA ran on to draw the keeper out and place the ball past him into the net, three goals apiece to set up a frantic final twenty-five minutes. Two minutes later and Gas did what they often do, when the chips are down they turn up and if a goal is scored another probably follows so having been three goals to one down at half-time they were now level, well only for two minutes, as a deft cross from Dale was headed firmly home by LUKE TAYLOR to give Gas the lead for the first and only time in this match. What could the home team do now, well they took off Shaikley and put on Dadds, a former Gas player, and to be fair they had not got into this half at all.

On seventy minutes, Stanway Pegasus pushed forward with a long ball launched by Blanchett, Stoneman, last defender for Gas, was caught in possession just outside his penalty area, LUKE PAYNE reacted quickest and comfortably beat keeper, Morrison and once again the scores were level. Firkens had been instrumental in much of what Gas had created today so when he found Ogunsayna just outside the penalty area, a shot was expected and delivered but without much power with the ball trickling past the far post. The game remained tight, Gas in the ascendency, Parkin blocked a shot from Taylor (L), Rahiti fouled Gregory wide near the corner flag, Ogunsayna took the free-kick with Taylor (L) heading down, one bounce to keeper, Grove. The keeper was quickly out to the feet of Taylor (L) when he ran through onto a ball from Firkens, conceding a corner. In the dying minutes Keating handled the ball mid-half, Firkens took the free-kick with Dalziel heading clear for a corner, Dale took the corner, Taylor (L) headed down and Ogunsayna back-heeled the ball goal-wards where two defenders hacked the ball clear from the goal-line with the final whistle blowing, that’s it a four-four draw.

FULL TIME: 4 – 4.

This game had pretty much everything, a game of two halves for sure, eight goals, five cautions including a second, both teams finishing with ten players but for different reasons, a great advert for the ESBFL, and proving that even on the artificial surface teams can still play attractive football.

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, let’s start with Stanway Pegasus FC, rarely troubled in the first half they held the balance of play, scoring three times and that probably should have been more as the visitors were very subdued. Every player played their part in the first half, defensively sound, creative in midfield and with Blanchett playing well, scoring a good goal and Mahon who scored twice and might have had a hat-trick before getting injured in the second half. Turning to Gas Recreation FC, shell-shocked in the first half for sure, they came out fighting in the second half to get back in he game then lead only to fall for a draw with a defensive lapse. Who stood out, Taylor (L) looks back to his best, in whatever position he plays in, Firkens, was excellent throughout, starting in midfield but ending up more like a sweeper as the game progressed however he was still creative, at least two assists when using his pace to break forward but after some due deliberation I’ve gone for Jonathan Ogunsayna, two goals and plenty of action down either flank and maybe more goals but for the cross-bar and a good defending.

Teams:

STANWAY PEGASUS FC: Colours: Yellow & Black, Yellow & Black Shorts and Yellow & Black Socks.

Matthew Grove., Lewis Blanchett., Ben Parkin., Lee Braddon (C)., Josh Dalziel., Reece Keating., Samir Rahiti., Daniel Shaikley., Ryan Mahon., Connor Pash., William Cursons.

Manager: Ian Booth.

Used Substitutes: Luke Payne., Liam Dadds., Gianni Sabini.

Unused Substitutes: Jake Plane., Harry Alison.

GAS RECREATION FC: Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Red & Black Socks.

Glen Morrison., Connor Davison., Ben Girling., Ryan Dale., Luke Taylor (C)., Luke Edwards., Jonathan Ogunsayna., Jack Gregory., Ryan Taylor., John Bulmer., Asten Firkens.

Manager: Dean West.

Used Substitutes: Scott Page., Carl Bergin., Jack Stoneham.

Unused Substitutes: Jake Mitchell

Referee: Carl Pearse.

Assistant Referees: Andrew Harvey & James Knappett.

Player of the Match: Jonathan OGUNSAYNA

(GAS RECREATION FC)

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Additional Reporting:

YOU TUBE., FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

Once again, this season the ESBFL is widening its match-day reporting coverage, in addition to a full report written by Brian Reed, our other roving reporter, Spencer Hume, has once again made himself known during the friendlies season and he will also attend games reporting via You Tube, Facebook and Twitter to communicate up-to-date information and replicate other match reports. In addition, John Campany, Vice Chairman will continue to provide a weekly summary, published in The Gazette.

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Kick-Off times for Essex County Football Association cup matches are published on the ECFA web-site.

( www.essexfa.com/competitions/county-cups )

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