21/12/2024 – REPORT – Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves versus Great Bradfords FC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO
ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC RESERVES. 0. GREAT BRADFORDS FC. 1.
Date: Saturday 21st December 2024. Venue: Ford Lane, Alresford.
I didn’t fancy having to drive down Clinghoe Hill and through Colchester last Saturday afternoon so turned east and went to Alresford for the Division Two midtable clash between seventh placed Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves and sixth placed Great Bradfords.
On an overcast afternoon with a threat of rain, the pitch looked in very good condition, the match official was Tony Vaughan and today he would be assisted by Club Assistants, and they did a good job too.
Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves kicked off but conceded an early free kick when Higgleton fouled Scott (K) down the left side, then a cross from Miller went out for a throw-in off Higgleton, Fongwa took the throw-in which flicked off Purchase for a corner, defended well by Gray. The start had been a bit slow and the home side conceded possession from a throw-in which allowed Pike to send a long ball forward towards Mills who had stayed forward, and he gained another corner off Gray, but a poor corner followed from Postill. Watson fouled Postill down the left side, Pike took the free kick, long towards Preston but just over-hit, keeper, Spencer had to advance when Preston threatened but the shot was tame and wide of the goal. Moore for Great Bradfords showed a turn of pace down the left side but was blocked off by Collins, the ball fell to Preston whose shot was also blocked and keeper, Spencer retrieved the ball. From the keeper’s long clearance Pike fouled Smith, the free kick taken by Purchase was also hit too long, another Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves attack was started by Price, to Watson but his cross was cleared by Mayne. Watson got away down the right side, or so he thought but Mayne covered his defence, but the ball fell to Murphy, whose shot was well saved at full stretch by keeper, Churchill, this game is coming to life! A long clearance from keeper, Churchill was headed down by Purchase but only to Scott (S) who moved the ball wide to Pike whose shot was well wide, Preston and Scott worked the next attack, but the eventual shot was again wide.
Great Bradfords took the lead after fifteen minutes, Mayne fouled Watson, Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves failed to take advantage from the free kick and the visitors moved the ball up-field through Pike to Postill who gained a corner, Postill took the corner, sending the ball deep to the far post where central defender HARRY MILLS rose to head home. Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves hit back, Smith found Higgleton who sent a fine pass wide to Hodgson who shot wide when well placed, Great Bradfords pushed forward again, content to pass the ball around, Fongwa found Scott (S) who tried to set up Preston, a corner, taken by Postill followed but Mayne headed wide. On twenty-six minutes Fongwa limped off through injury to be replaced by Long, Mills, over-hit a free kick to keeper, Spencer, Mayne put in a fine challenge on Hodgson just outside the penalty area, Preston forced keeper, Spencer to save with a long-range effort from the combined play of Scott (S) and Preston himself.
Half an hour had now elapsed, the game remained a tight affair, both teams trying to move the ball into forward areas but defences remained on top of things, Collins found Smith and from his pass Hodgson was correctly flagged for off-side but better approach work from Alresford. Smith and Mayne had a right battle just outside the penalty area, the forward winning on this occasion, Smith took the free kick, over the defensive wall but straight to keeper, Churchill, well positioned on his goal-line. Moore used his extreme pace to get back and cover his defence when Watson threatened down the right side, Murphy did likewise and was central most moves created by the home team. Postil won a corner off Murphy, Postill took the corner himself, short to Mayne whose, cross found Preston, keeper, Spencer made the save but Scott (S) blasted the loose ball over the crossbar. Pike thought he had won a challenge with Smith through midfield, play continued and Smith strode on only to pull his shot well wide with only keeper, Churchill to beat. I have to say that Great Bradfords had played some good football, protecting their slender lead at the same time and in the final first half action Scott (K) fouled Higgleton whose free kick was cleared by Long.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 1.
Great Bradford restarted this close match, the pace of Moore was seen again down the right side, his close control was also impressive as he evaded several challenges in a tight situation just outside the penalty area. From the restart, Great Bradfords had changed their full-backs and Pike had to defence when Smith threatened, so when Scott (K) broke through, keeper, Spencer with his defence calling for off-side, made a fine save in a one-on-one situation. Back on defensive duties, Scott (K) raised a high boot and was penalised, but the free kick taken by Higgleton failed to trouble the visitor’s defence. Mills fouled Griffin inside the centre-circle, Watson took this free kick finding Smith whose effort flew narrowly wide, Miller forced a corner off Purchase, but the corner was hit way too long, when Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves won a free kick, Higgleton sent in a delightful ball, no one reacted as the ball bounced through to keeper, Churchill, from his clearance, Moore controlled the ball then set off towards goal leaving midfielders and defenders in his wake, however, his shot was straight at keeper, Spencer.
An hour had now elapsed, the visitors had more possession but had failed to create real chances, Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves had possession but conceded it too cheaply and when play stopped, they replaced Watson with Paige. Miller and Purchase clashed in a strong but fair challenge on the half-way line, the ball flew away for a corner, taken by Murphy but straight to keeper, Churchill who had looked comfortable thus far. The match remained end-to-end, Higgleton sprayed the ball wide to Hodgson then Smith found himself up against Pike who won the tackle this time. On sixty-five minutes, Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves replaced Hodgson with Wightman hoping to put emphasis on attack, a shot from the right side by Griffin flew wide, Long, set Scott (K) away to beat Collins but the cross went out of play behind the goal. With twenty minutes remaining, Great Bradford replaced Mills, who had taken a knock, with Graysmark-Allen, Moore, once again, picked up a loose pass and ran forward at pace and it needed a combined challenge from Higgleton and Gray to stop Moore at the expense of a corner. The corner, taken by Postill, saw Scott (K) foul Smith inside the penalty area, Scott (K) then picked up a soft yellow card for kicking the ball away and the Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves management and keeper were asking for more urgency from their team.
When Moore burst down the left side his fine cross was met on the volley by Postill whose rising left-footed shot was destined for the back of the net, that was until keeper, Spencer belied his tender years with a fine acrobatic save, turning the ball over the crossbar, a superb save indeed, a corner followed. As the home team continued to press forward, Higgleton sent in a couple of long throw-ins, from one such throw-in, Collins found space and sent a fine curling effort goalwards, from where I stood, I thought great effort, great goal, the Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves management were jumping for joy as well, but nobody reckoned on keeper, Churchill, who made a fantastic save, tipping the ball over the crossbar. On eighty minutes Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves took off Murphy, probably their best player, and sent Marchant on in his place, Scott (K) fouled Purchase, another committed challenge, Higgleton sent the free kick direct to keeper, Churchill. With two minutes and some additional minutes to be added remaining, Great Bradfords replaced Scott (K) whose ankle was injured in that last tackle, and Postill had to drop back to defend as the home team pressed for that elusive equaliser. As darkness descended and the expected rain eventually arrived, play became a bit scrappy, Postill embarked on a long run, not sure if he knew where he was heading but gained a corner, which he took, when the ball was cleared Long fouled Higgleton from which a last desperate chance feel to Gray but he hit that chance high and wide, game over.
FULL TIME: 0 – 1.
As expected from these, mid-table placed teams, this was a close fought affair, one goal sealed the points, a draw was probably a fairer result from a neutral view but to score a goal, defend well when threatened and still try to score again, Great Bradfords might feel that they did deserve all three points.
Turning to my Star Player, Murphy for Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves was probably their “stand-out player”, keeper, Spencer made a couple of decent saves but for Great Bradfords, my early attention was towards midfielder, Moore, electric pace and good control in tight spaces and he was a real threat when pushing forward throughout this match.
Teams:
ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC RESERVES
Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.
Team:
Peter Spencer., Christopher Collins., Lee Purchase (C)., Jack Higgleton., Joshua Gray., Christopher Price., Connor Watson., Connor Murphy., Matthew Griffin., Joshua Hodgson., Roger Smith.
Manager: James Gill.
Used Substitutes: Jamie Paige., Robert Wightman., Andrew Marchant.
Unused Substitutes: Bradley Hallum, James Gill.
BARNSTON AFC RESERVES.
Colours: Teal Shirts, Teal Shorts and Teal Socks.
Team:
Richard Churchill., Kieron Scott., Nathan Miller., Toby Moore., Harry Mills., Nathan Postil., Ellis Mayne., Felmark Fongwa., Bobby Pike., Sam Scott., Joshua Preston.
Management: Mike Kayley and John Seex.
Used Substitutes: Khai Graysmark-Allen., Charlie Long., Alfie Sutton.
Referee: Tony Vaughan
STAR PLAYER: Toby MOORE (GREAT BRADFORD FC)
About Post Author
