21/09/2024 – REPORT – Harwich & Parkeston FC “A” versus Roman Rovers FC Development “A”

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION FOUR

HARWICH & PARKESTON FC “A”.     4.         ROMAN ROVERS FC DEVELOPMENT “A”.            2.

Date:   Saturday 21^st September 2024.       

Venue: Harwich & Dovercourt High School, Dovercourt.

            Another Saturday with a few firsts, the home team, Harwich & Parkeston FC “A” are a new team in the ESBFL this season, it was also the first time I had watched Roman Rovers FC Development “A”, the venue is a brand new 3G pitch and todays Match Official, Frederick (Freddie) Wynter was also in his first season in the competition.

            A bright, sunny afternoon welcomed everyone to this coastal spot, as expected, the pitch looked immaculate and after the match had ended it was good to see both Clubs clear up their usual match day paraphernalia, drinks bottles, wrappers, bandages and tape to name but a few, the motto being “look after it or lose it”, respect!

            Before kick-off, the home team sat top of the division, having won four out of four matches played to date, the visitors had won two and lost two but with neither First nor Reserve Teams playing there was perhaps a temptation to strengthen up their Development “A” team!

            Harwich & Parkeston kicked off, but Smith (C) fouled Clewlow whilst Cooper tried a long range shot from thirty yards out, well wide and too high but worth the effort, Hughes for Roman Rovers possesses one of those now familiar long throws, the first forced keeper Smith (D) to punch away from the crowded penalty area. Woodward (M) played a long ball forward for Cooper to chase, defender Baker matched the pace of Cooper and shielded the ball out for a goal kick, Goddard fouled Hymus in midfield, the free kick taken by Charles was defended and Roman Rovers won a free kick themselves when Evans tripped Goddard, Reeve took the free kick, once again the home defence stood firm. On six minutes a forced change for Roman Rovers with Jackson limping off to be replaced by Feavior, a cross from Gosling-Clarke was just too high for the jump of Reeve at the far post. The home team looked well drilled and tried to play the ball out of defence at every opportunity, their central midfield of Hymus and Evans was starting to control that area, Carter was adjudged to have fouled Feavior just outside the penalty area, but the free kick taken by Reeve troubled nobody! Windred, cut in from the right side to find Eade whose right footed effort was way too high, Hymus took a long throw-in, reaching Eade whose shot was cleared off the goal line but another early warning from the long throw tactic. In fact, on fourteen minutes the long throw-in from Hymus was headed goalwards by LEROY EADE, the ball stayed low, hit the inside of the far post and rolled over the line, decent throw, decent header but poor defending!

From the restart Windred crashed into Adcock, he had plenty to say about the over-zealous tackle, both players were spoken too and play continued with Reeve taking the free kick, straight to keeper, Smith (D). A pass from Woodward (M) fell to Smith (C), but his effort cleared the perimeter fence, Windred persisted against Adcock, from his driven cross, Eade stabbed the ball just wide, but the home team had their tails up. Charles started another attack out of defence, Carter carried the ball further finding Cooper who again had no luck against the tenacious Baker. The experienced Goddard tried his luck, running forward against Carter, again good defending saw him win the ball and his team pushed forward to Cooper who was bundled over near the half-way line, JAMES SAYER took the free kick and launched a speculative long high ball which keeper, Meadows, despite a loud call for the ball, allowed it to float over his head into the net. A cross from Goddard found Clewlow but his header was narrowly wide, Harwich & Parkeston worked the ball forward from the goal kick, Eade found Windred and from his pass Smith (C) shot straight to keeper, Meadows. A strong run through midfield by Gosling-Clarke was stopped by Eade, who had tracked back, from his long pass Cooper was in space, but shot well wide. Midfielder Evans struck a fine cross field ball from the right side, finding Cooper galloping away down the left side, once again Baker made a telling challenge conceding a throw-in.

Hymus launched the throw-in, Eade helped the ball on, did it go out of play, the visitors thought so, no flag from their Assistant Referee did not help, Windred collected the loose ball but was heavily challenged from behind. From thirty yards out, JAMES EVANS took the free kick, a high floated ball into the penalty area was once again missed by keeper, Meadows and the ball again ended in the back of the net, that’s two soft goals now! Despite being three goals down, Roman Rovers kept going, Jacobs intercepted a poor pass out of defence but shot well wide, Woodward (M) went down with an injury and the players took the opportunity to have a drinks break, staying on the field of play, whilst the player was treated. Goddard struck a shot over the cross bar, Hymus defended well when Clewlow threatened, and on thirty-six minutes goal-scorer, Sayer for the home team, was replaced by Stevenson-Miller, who was promptly cautioned for his first challenge on Adcock. The pace of Cooper, down the left side, was again matched by that of Baker, Hymus made a strong run forward to force a corner, taken by Evans but overhit beyond the far post and several more niggly fouls followed as we approached half-time, Evans fouled Elliot-Gosling, Reeve took the free kick, a curling effort that cleared the cross bar, but the visitors downfall, thus far is they can’t keep the ball.       

HALF-TIME:    3 – 0.

            Before play commenced again, Harwich & Parkeston replaced Windred and Smith (C) with Lucitt and Bradley, the visitors made a change themselves with Hamenni entering play and it was their turn to kick off looking to make amends for a poor first half showing, Baker ran through to shoot, keeper, Smith  (D) parried the ball, then a strong run by Feavior saw the ball collected on the edge of his penalty area the keeper. When play was stopped for a head injury, Reeve lofted the drop ball back to the home keeper, Eade attempted to find Cooper, who failed to control the ball, Feavior picked up the loose ball, strode forward to shoot from distance but not on target. On fifty-five minutes Roman Rovers made a change, Gunn replacing Clewlow, then defender Baker chased a long through ball which keeper, Smith (D) had safely in his grasp when Baker crashed into him, there was no need for that challenge and the player escaped with a stern rebuke and the players shook hands. The respective captains, Eade and Reeve also became involved, they had exchanged some friendly “banter” throughout this match so far, so another incident that was quickly diffused. Evans sent Bradley through, but Hughes conceded a corner as the home team chased down every loose ball, putting pressure on their opponents.

            On the hour mark, Harwich & Parkeston took off Eade with Woodward (L) entering the match, Feavior put his head down and with the ball at his feet crashed through three hefty challenges before over-running the ball. Roman Rovers had improved this half but went further behind on sixty-three minutes, Hymus won a strong tackle inside his own half, the ball was played down the left side and Bradley chased it down to the corner flag, keeper, Meadows was caught in “no-mans-land” and the low cross from Bradley was turned into the empty net by TERRY-JOHN LUCITT, is that game over! Harwich & Parkeston made their fifth and final change on sixty-five minutes, taking off Evans with Rule his replacement, Woodward(L) was spoken too after a robust challenge on Hamenni, Roman Rovers, at this stoppage took off Adcock and sent on Bowman. Reeve took the free kick, low into the penalty area where a goalmouth scramble followed and when the cleared ball reached Hughes, his deep cross was punched clear by keeper, Smith (D). Cooper was shown a yellow card for delaying the restart by kicking the ball away when a free kick was conceded, the visitors made their last change with Mason replacing Elliot-Gosling. When Bradley handled the ball outside the penalty area, Reeve took the free kick, finding Mason steaming in round the back of the home defence, but his header cleared the cross bar.

            Hamenni was hard and late into a tackle on Carter, I’ve seen cards shown for those types of tackle, but play continued, Harwich & Parkeston pushed forward with Charles striking a free kick straight to keeper, Meadows. Reeve made a forward run and shot goalwards, no danger this time, Bradley did the same for the home team and when Charles made a tackle on Goddard, Roman Rovers had a rare corner. On eighty-seven minutes, Reeve sprayed the ball wide to Hughes and from his cut back ADAM MASON thrashed the ball into the net. Buoyed by this goal, the visitors threw caution to the wind and pressed forward again, a cross from Hamenni found Hughes, who had stayed forward but his chance found the side netting. On eighty-nine minutes, Woodward (L) showed dissent from a free kick decision and was sent to the “sin-bin”, from the free-kick taken by Reeve, Gunn’s header also found the side netting. Finally in the fourth minute of added time MASON FEAVIOR headed home off the underside of the cross bar to give the score-line a bit more respectability.

FULL TIME:     4 – 2.

            It was interesting to see how players adapt to playing on an artificial surface, tackles must be perfectly timed, running, apparently, is hard on the knees but it is also a fact that these pitches have been developed to replicate how a ball reacts on grass pitches. To be fair both teams had a go, the home team were technically the better footballing side, and deserved their fifth consecutive victory, the visitors had their moments but too little too late is an often-coined phrase.

            This week my Star Player was a toss-up between Evans and Hymus for Harwich & Parkeston, both were influential in the goals but with one completing the whole ninety plus minutes, I’ve gone for Hymus.

Teams:

HARWICH & PARKESTON FC “A”:    

Colours:                        Black & White Stripes, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Del Smith., Mace Woodward., Philip Charles., Max Carter., Jamie Sayer., James Evans., Bailey Hymus., Nial Windred., Leroy Eade (C)., Omarley Cooper., Charlie Smith.

Manager:                      Michael Carter.

Used Substitutes:          Logan Woodward., Terry-John Lucitt., Theo Stevenson-Miller., Aaron Rule., Ryan Bradley.

ROMAN ROVERS FC.

Colours:                        Fluro Yellow Shirts, Fluro Yellow Shorts and Fluro Socks.

Team:

Ryan Meadows., Kane Adcock., Aaron Ross., James Hughes., Laiton Baker., Elliot Gosling-Clarke., James Reeve (C)., Stephen Clewlow., Danny Jacobs., Paul Goddard., Logan Jackson

Manager:                      Rosco Evers.

Used Substitutes:          Tom Bowman., Mason Feavior., Adam Mason., Lunas Hamenni., Ross Gunn.

Referee:                       Frederick Wynter.

STAR PLAYER:            Bailey HYMUS                        (HARWICH & PARKSTON FC “A”)