21/05/2016 – TOMMY THOMPSON CUP FINAL – REPLAY
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
TOMMY THOMPSON CUP FINAL (REPLAY)
LITTLE OAKLEY FC RESERVES: 4. WEST BERGHOLT FC RESERVES: 1.
Date: Saturday 21st May 2016. Venue: The War Memorial Ground, Little Oakley.
This game was the re-scheduled Tommy Thompson Cup-Final and was played at the home ground of Little Oakley FC whose player, defender, Richard Green sustained a bad knee injury in the dying minutes of the scoreless first game. Richard Green is now out of hospital and was present at the game together with his family and many players from his club with gate receipts, donations and raffle monies raised on the day being donated to the player who will now have a long period of convalescence and everyone in local football wishes him a speedy recovery.
Once again the Match Official for this match was Martin Avent and his Assistant Referee’s were Andrew Harvey and Jack Willmore with George Sleigh acting as 4th Official. As usual the pitch at the War Memorial Ground was in perfect playing condition although a stiff breeze was blowing straight down the pitch and before kick-off the now customary “Respect” handshake was undertaken.
Both teams made enforced changes to their starting line-ups either through injury, holidays or work commitments but a decent crowd had understandably gathered for this “charity” final between two respected Border League Clubs. West Bergholt kicked off but lost possession allowing Little Oakley to attack with pace through Mathurin who found Johnson with a deep cross but Wormall was covering in defence and started a move involving Steele down the left hand side. The first real goal-mouth action came in the seventh minute with keeper Bethell (L) punching clear from a Little Oakley corner with Hammond getting the ball back out wide to Rootes who tried a cross-cum-shot. Bethell (L) produced the first of several great saves as early as the tenth minute as when Johnson burst through after an error by Sones the keeper advanced to make a telling block in the one-on-one situation. Newman for West Bergholt cut in from the right hand side and tested Long with a shot from outside the penalty area and followed this up with a teasing cross that Kioussis (N) managed to cut out before the ball reached Murrells. On thirteen minutes Rootes found Mathurin whose sharp turn and attempted lob almost caught out the back-pedalling keeper who held the ball at the second attempt.
A curling left-footed free-kick from Murrells was gathered safely by Long with no West Bergholt forwards inside the six-yard box looking to capitalise on any error. As we passed the quarter-hour mark the game had opened up with both teams looking to attack with the industrious Hallas sending a huge clearance downfield after Johnson threatened and Mathurin followed up with a run at the West Bergholt defence that only led to a soft shot at goal. Bethell (J) blasted high and wide at the clubhouse end from thirty yards out then Little Oakley picked up the pace with Rootes attacking down the right hand side but Hallas was again covering with some excellent defending. Bethell (J) was prominent in the West Bergholt midfield but Little Oakley, through Polley and Harte nullified most moves, and a corner from Harte was headed wide by the unmarked Hammond and as Little Oakley pressed again Polley found Rootes and from his cross Hallas was again in the way. Mucaj tried a speculative shot from out on the left wing, reminiscent of the winning goal he scored in the Reserve Cup Final, this time the ball flew just wide of the far upright.
Another big header from Kioussis (N) led to Elliot breaking through with a pass out wide to Mathurin whose return cross found the unmarked Elliot but he had not timed his run properly and he was caught marginally off-side. Little Oakley replaced Eldridge with Hinks but it was West Bergholt who scored first, a huge clearance from Bethell (L) fell kindly to, skipper on the day, DARREN REVIE who despite appearing to control the ball with his hand, rolled back the years with a classy finish from close range. Keeper Long was almost caught out to a high bounce from across by Murrells, this as West Bergholt pushed forward again but his team needed to get hold of the ball and play the Little Oakley brand of passing football. A fine cross from Rootes was chested down by Johnson standing on the penalty spot but before he could get in a shot at goal, Hallas dived into a tackle to clear the danger but the warming signs were there! Kioussis (J) received his customary caution for a rash challenge on Newman, just on the corner of the penalty area from where Murrells tried to clear the defensive wall with Kioussis (J) completing the clearance and Mucaj receiving treatment for an injury. Right on half-time Little Oakley scored a deserved equaliser, Mathurin once again showed his pace and ability to cross into the penalty area, this time ELLIOT JOHNSON arrived to steer the ball sweetly past the stranded Bethell (L)
HALF-TIME: 1 – 1
There were no changes to the playing personnel at the start of the second half but within three minutes Little Oakley went in front when Mathurin embarked on a run from the half-way line to go around the keeper and push the ball goalwards where JASON SONES could only help it into the net. A free-kick from Kioussis (J) found the head of Hammond but his looping header flew over the cross-bar from six yards out then Johnson was cautioned for kicking the ball away, a cheap £10 to E.C.F.A., whilst at the other end Bethell (J) stabbed the ball just wide of the target from a great cross from the left side by Murrells, when a headed effort may have had better results! In the fifty-sixth minute another goal from that dynamic duo Mathurin and Johnson as when Mathurin eluded his marker his cross into the penalty area was met by the head of ELLIOT JOHNSON who guided the ball into the top corner of the goal and give, the keeper, little chance to save.
Little Oakley replaced Harte with Good, and Mathurin again forced a great save out of Bethell (L) who tipped over a rising shot from outside the penalty area, Bethell (J) was pulled up for a foul on Johnson with Bethell (L) again excelling to turn away the free-kick from Polley. Bethell (L) was kept on his toes and was forced to make two more telling saves from both Johnson and Good then a knocked down header from Hammond was fielded by the very busy goal-keeper. Hinks was pulled up for calling “leave-it”, “leave-it”, not an offence that you hear much about these days and Murrells was denied any further advance by a timely tackle from Polley. On seventy minutes Eades was replaced by Elmer and Little Oakley continues their attacking approach by pushing the West Bergholt players deeper into defence and not being able to get the ball away. Sones was pulled up for a hand-ball incident, almost the last man, to concede a free-kick thirty yards out with Kioussis (J) striking a fine rising shot that was destined for the top right hand corner of the goal, that was until Bethell (L) launched himself to tip the ball over the cross-bar for another fine save.
Substitute Good fouled Revie and received a verbal talking too from the referee, Mucaj shaped to take the free-kick, but before the free-kick could be taken the referee proceeded to caution Good for persistent dissent. Elmer who had just entered the game lazily drifted one way then the other down the right wing and when he turned inside Day he struck a fine cross-cum-shot that thundered back into play off the left hand upright and bounced out towards Kioussis (J) who struck a firm shot that Bethell (L) once again excelled when saving low to his left side. West Bergholt replaced the tiring Hallas with Skingley but Bethell (L) kept up his one-man crusade by denying firstly, Mathurin then secondly, Hinks who latched onto a cross from Elliot. Bethell (J) set up Mucaj whose cross back into the danger zone was met by Bethell (J) but keeper Long was there to save and from his throw-out Kioussis (J) advanced towards the half-way line before making a long cross-field ball to Elmer who skipped past the dive of Day over on the far touch-line. Day recovered and tried to race back and defend but only managed to compound the situation by scything down Elmer from behind and concede a penalty with Day receiving a caution. JACOB KIOUSSIS stepped up to hammer home the spot-kick for goal number four and within minutes the referee blew for full-time.
FULL TIME: 4 – 1
So after losing a tight Reserve Knock-Out Cup final against West Bergholt FC Reserves, Little Oakley exacted some revenge with this excellent team display and victory with all thoughts going towards Richard Green, who celebrated with his team mates when the winner’s trophy was awarded by officials from the ESBFL.
Once again, for a final I’m electing to choose a Star Player” from each team, if you have read the report above in full then Luke Bethell, the West Bergholt FC Reserves goal-keeper was outstanding. For Little Oakley FC Reserves the choice was more difficult, Kioussis (N) led from the back, Polley controlled midfield, but Johnson and Mathurin were prominent throughout so with two goals and much more beside I’m opting for Elliot Johnson.
To round off, just a few words of thanks to:
Little Oakley FC Reserves who put on a fine performance to beat a gallant West Bergholt FC Reserves.,
Little Oakley FC, the club, by hosting the event and providing refreshments for players and officials during and after the match.,
West Bergholt FC Reserves for agreeing to replay this cup final at Little Oakley and making the match a “charity match” occasion.,
Mark Kettlety of MK Publications (UK) Ltd who kindly agreed to produce the “Match Day” programme, free of charge, this 36 page production is a work of art.,
and finally, a word about the two managers, Gary Kioussis (LOFC) and Greg Murthwaite (WBFC), both have served their clubs well over the last few years but both have decided to call it a day and stand down from their respective posts, we wish them well for the future.
In closing, as last, some might say, have a good summer break, the new season is scheduled to start on Saturday 13th August 2016, numerous new teams have been elected into the ESBFL which will have four divisions for season 2016 / 2017.
Teams:
LITTLE OAKLEY FC RESERVES Colours: Blue & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Blue Socks.
Ashley Long., Adam Eldridge., Jacob Kioussis., Ben Hammond., Nathan Kioussis (C)., Reece Harte., Stephen Polley., Daniel Rootes., Elliot Johnson., Sean Mathurin., Jamie Eades.
Manager: Gary Kioussis
Assistant Manager: Paul Beasley
Coach: James Good
Used Substitutes: Daryl Elmer., Luke Good., Daryl Hinks.
Unused Substitutes: Luke Sheppard
WEST BERGHOLT FC RESERVES: Colours: Red Shirts, Black Shorts, Red & Black Socks.
Luke Bethell., Guy Wormall., Sam Day., Joey Steele., Craig Hallas., Jason Sones., Ermal Mucaj., Jonny Murrells., Jake Bethell., Darren Revie (C)., Perry Newman.
Manager: Greg Murthwaite.
Used Substitutes: Christopher Skingley.
Unused Substitutes: Greg Murthwaite
Referee: Martin Avent (Tiptree).
Assistant Referees: Andrew Harvey (Colchester).
Jack Willmore (Clacton-on-sea).
4th Official: George Sleigh (West Bergholt).
STAR PLAYER: LITTLE OAKLEY FC RESERVES: Elliot JOHNSON
STAR PLAYER: WEST BERGHOLT FC RESERVES: Luke BETHELL
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