21/12/2019 – REPORT – Lawford Lads FC Reserves versus St Osyth FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION THREE.

LAWFORD LADS FC RESERVES: 4. ST OSYTH FC: 0.

Date: Saturday 21^st December 2019. Venue: School Lane, Lawford.

The weather once again played havoc with the fixture list last Saturday, twenty-three of twenty-six matches were postponed, all but one because of saturated pitches, however, three matches went ahead and plenty of goals too boot! I chose to go over to Lawford where the home Clubs, Reserve team, unbeaten in twelve matches and who sat second in Division Three, two points behind opponents, St Osyth FC, who had also only lost one league match so far this season. The home team had suffered relegation after last season, had regrouped and brought in Under 18 players from their Youth set-up whereas St Osyth FC are enjoying their return to the ESBFL although on Saturday several regulars were missing and some perhaps had partied too hard! With so many games being called off there is still a band of football enthusiasts who will travel wherever to watch a game, a decent crowd had gathered on both sides of the pitch, I know for sure that some were on spying missions for future cup matches!

The rain had stopped before kick-off, more was forecast for later and a cold breeze blew down the pitch as the teams prepared for kick-off with match official Robert Salmon, mindful of the soft conditions, on what was an excellent pitch, a credit to those who tend it every week.

The visitors kicked off into that breeze, an early foul by Newton on Williams led to a free-kick taken by Simpson, Newton headed clear to Bolingbroke who shot well wide after cutting inside Raine, a strong run by O’Hara saw him make thirty yards before a double tackle from Griffin and Churchman saw him stumble, then clatter into Upton to concede possession and a free-kick. As the game progressed Lawford started to impose themselves, a corner taken by Robinson was cleared, then a chase forward by Bolingbroke saw him reach the ball, before crossing to the far post where Robinson scuffed the ball wide trying to place the ball rather than leather the ball goal-wards. Cowler made ground down the left side for the visitors, set away by Luther, finding Panton in support who played the ball wide to Harms who flashed an effort back across the goalmouth and a goal-kick. A long clearance from keeper, Mustoe set Bolingbroke clear down the left side and this time when the cross fell to Robinson, he hit it first time only to be denied by a fine reaction save at his near post by keeper, Freeman, albeit for a corner. Mann, the Premier Divisions leading scorer with seventeen goals was selected to play up top for Lawford and his presence was clearly going to be a telling factor as this game progressed, however, when he was set clear of a retreating defence he side-footed the ball wide of the advancing keeper.

A break by Cowler, for St Osyth, the player using his pace to beat Griffin until his threat was stopped by a fine tackle from Southee which led to a break by Robinson, racing clear from half-way however, keeper, Freeman was quickly out to save at his feet, excellent timing and a crucial save as the home team kept up their attacks with Freeman again scrambling to save minutes later in a six-yard box scramble. Mann, chased that lost cause scenario, keeping the ball in play down by the corner flag and his driven cross-field pass eluded keeper, Freeman and Robinson to be cleared by Luther. On twenty-one minutes Lawford deservedly took the lead, a long kick forward was headed on by Mann into the path of HARVEY ROBINSON, played on-side by Newton, on the far side and he ran on to beat the advancing keeper, who this time had little chance to save. St Osyth were on the back-foot again within minutes as Mann bustled his way through but keeper, Freeman again excelled in a one-on-one situation, but the visitors did create a chance on twenty-eight minutes Cowler setting the ball up for Lane who scuffed the ball wide.

Robinson, a product of the Lawford Youth set-up was put clear again, but his well-executed half-volley cleared keeper Freeman and glanced off the top of eh cross-bar for a goal-kick, another decent chance for the home team though. Cowler led the next St Osyth attack, using his feet to drift past Simpson and gain a first corner for his team, taken by Garey whose looping kick fell to O’Hara, unmarked at the far post but his header was off target. Churchman fouled Panton and the visitors mounted several more attacks as we approached half-time with Panton firing wide from a pass from O’Hara.

HALF TIME: 1 – 0.

Lawford replaced Williams with Stoker at the restart and the home team kicked-off, St Osyth sat back and Lawford pushed forward but were denied by some fine tackling from Newton and Luther with Mann, picking up the loose ball and testing keeper, Freeman from outside the penalty area, these missed chances could prove costly! When Lawford tried to mount another attack, Cowler charged down first one then two attempted passes and was unfortunate not to get the better of home keeper, Mustoe who gathered the ball at the second attempt, just on the edge of his penalty area. At the other end, keeper, Freeman made another fine stop when a deflected shot left him flat-footed on one side of his goal but making up the ground to save at the other side. On fifty-five minutes O’Hara was cautioned for an almost reckless lunge towards Southee, fortunately no contact or a red would have been the order of the day. Panton worked his way forward beating the home defence and when keeper, Mustoe came out Panton was forced wide, only to slip over and the chance was gone.

Just before the hour mark, Lawford should have scored their second goal, Mann got round the back of the St Osyth defence and sent in a hard and low cross that flashed across the six-yard box, Robinson ran in to connect and everyone thought “goal” everyone that is, except keeper, Freeman who made an outstanding block on his goal-line. Freeman followed this save with another, this time using his feet to clear a cross from the right side with Mann handily placed for any error. Harms for St Osyth chased forward down to the corner flag and from his cross two headers from Garey and Panton were cleared up-field. In another attack Lawford, Hipkin hit the cross-bar then defender Griffin was cautioned for a foul on Cowler and on sixty-five minutes Lawford replaced Hipkin with Easey whose first involvement was to set up Mann but keeper, Freeman, clearly inspired today, made another splendid save and when the ball ran loose, he reacted quickest to thwart the predatory Mann. The St Osyth attack had failed to get going in this match however Garey and O’Hara did work the ball down the left side with a cross-cum-shot failing to test the home defence. After seventy-minutes Lawford replaced Griffin with Wilkins, Mann rounded Luther but Raine recovered enough ground to concede a corner, the danger was not cleared and when a shot came in from, I believe from Upton, the unfortunate HARRY HULSTROM could only deflect the goal-bound shot into his own net off the finger-tips of keeper, Freemen who had little chance to save.

With fifteen minutes remaining St Osyth replaced O’Hara with Hawkins having already taken-off Luther for Bourne, Mann set Robinson away and when his cross-field pass into space and Bolingbroke the number four skied his effort over the cross-bar. With ten minutes remaining, another defensive error by the visitors, Bourne failed to control the ball, when facing his own goal and mid-half and OLIVER MANN galloped away to beat the advancing keeper for number three. St Osyth were now in the spirit of Christmas, well giving at least as on eighty-two minutes another mid-field hospital pass set OLIVER MANN through, again beating the keeper with ease. When Mann set up Bolingbroke, again in space, again un-marked the same result occurred, this time the ball was thrashed wide of the target from the edge of the penalty area. In the final minute the busiest two players on the pitch did battle again, Mann found space from a pass by Robinson, a left footed shot followed, I thought that keeper, Freeman had punched the ball over the cross-bar, in fact it hit the cross-bar and Mann was denied a hat-trick, just as he was when he cleared the last defender and hit the far post before the game finished.

FULL TIME: 4 – 0.

This turned out to be a comfortable victory for Lawford Lads FC Reserves and they leap-frog St Osyth FC at the top of the table, for the visitors this was perhaps a bad day at the office, a Christmas break cannot come quickly enough, normally charity begins at home but today one defensive error kept a player on-side to score in the first half. In the second half they were even more charitable, an own goal and two more defensive errors led to goals for Mann who rarely misses chances and he might have scored a hat-trick. but for keeper, Freeman, who was playing his role as “Scrooge” to the last minute by not giving anything else away.

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, Lawford, in striker, Mann, had the experience to threaten any defence, his pace and control and eye for goal created chances not just for himself but players around him. Defensively, Lawford were rarely troubled, Upton, Southee, Bolingbroke and Williams dominated in midfield and young Robinson, who scored one and might have had a hat-trick himself but for the cross-bar and the keeper. For St Osyth FC, Hulstrom and Raine battled away in defence, O’Hara worked hard as did Cowler, but several other players looked jaded and out of sorts excepting keeper Freeman, take a bow, a superb display despite conceding four times!

Teams:

LAWFORD LADS FC: Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Daniel Mustoe., Dylan Griffin., Thomas Simpson., Nicholas Bolingbroke., Michael Southee., Sam Churchman., Aidan Hipkin., Chris Upton (C)., Oliver Mann., Harvey Robinson., Fabrice Williams.

Manager: Jay Welham.

Used Substitutes: Ross Easey., Alex Stoker., Joe Wilkins.

Unused Substitutes: Lee Rand., Ross Butcher.

ST OSYTH FC: Colours: Yellow Shirts, Yellow Shorts and Yellow Socks.

Mitchell Freeman., Tom Newton., Darren Raine., Harry Hulstrom., Billy Luther., Cameron Lance., Mason Garey., Ben O’Hara., Oscar Cowler., Kalon Harms., Jack Panton.

Manager: Russell Mead & Lee Sparrow.

Used Substitutes: Brett Hawkins, Matthew Bourne.

Unused Substitutes: Russell Mead., Lee Sparrow.

Referee: Robert Salmon.

Player of the Match: Mitchell FREEMAN (ST OSYTH FC)

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Next weekend, Saturday 28^th December 2019 and weather permitting, will see a reduced fixture programme with cup matches involving Reserve Teams in the Reserve Cup and Division Two & Three Teams in the Tommy Thompson Cups.

In closing may I wish everyone on behalf of the ESBFL a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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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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Reminder to Club / Fixture Secretaries

Once again this season the fixtures, results, referees and “kick-off” times will be shown automatically on “The FA Full-Time / The Whole Game System” ( http://full-time.thefa.com ) but would all Club / Fixture Secretaries please advise any agreed changes, as required, to Alison Willmore ( mjw1947@sky.com ) especially for evening games and for those matches being played under floodlights etc.

KO is 2:00pm in: December & January

KO is 2:30pm in: February

KO is 3:00pm from: March to end of season

Cup Matches:

Kick-Off times for ESBFL cup matches, are generally 30 minutes earlier than those shown above but check competition rules beforehand.

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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ESBFL “web-site”

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Clubs are reminded that the following documents are all available on this website under Clubs / Documents etc:

ESBFL Handbook,