22/02/2025 – REPORT – Cressing United FC Reserves versus Earls Colne FC Reserves
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO.
CRESSING UNITED FC RESERVES. 1. EARLS COLNE FC RESERVES. 1.
Date: Saturday 22nd February 2025. Venue: Cressing Sports & Social Club.
Despite an overnight downpour the pitch at Cressing was declared fit, so I ventured there for the Division Two encounter between eleventh placed Cressing United FC Reserves and fifth placed Earls Colne FC Reserves, who do have games in hand on the teams above them. The afternoon was somewhat warmer than previous weeks and I found a bench to sit at, anything further forward meant walking through surface water plus it gave me somewhere to lean to write my notes. The respective leading scorers for their teams were Miller (D) with eighteen for the home team and Clifford (L) with twenty-eight for the visitors.
The match official for this afternoon was Robert Willcocks, a young referee looking for promotion this season, overall, despite four cautions, he made the game easy by allowing for the tricky conditions and the competitive nature of most of the tackles which usually allowed play to continue as the offended team had retained possession.
Earls Colne kicked off and gained an early corner taken by Gregory to Barham who headed wide, and the visitors pressed forward again with Burton slipping whilst making a challenge on Clifford (O) to concede a foul. Another corner followed, Gregory, short to Moore who proceeded to foul French, another case of a player losing his footing on the soggy surface and already this match looked like it would be a physical affair. Hutchings defended well against Miller (D), then when play switched Papple made a good clearance when Gregory threatened down the middle. Morris set up Gregory down the right side, the low cross eluded everyone with Ekkaphop chasing the loose ball towards the touchline only to be shackled by defender Prow but he did gain a throw-in. Miller (D) has lost none of his competitive play so when he went in hard but unfairly on Hutchings he was spoken to by the referee, but the visitors remained on top as we approached the fifteen-minute mark. When Miller (D) found space his goal bound shot was taken under the crossbar by keeper, Game.
The opening goal came on twenty-one minutes, once again the threat materialised down the right side, Moore sent Gregory away from his low cross CHAIYANTO EKKAPHOP tapped home at the far post. Cressing were putting in plenty of effort through midfield nullifying the threat from Earls Colne Reserves, Miller (D) was causing problems for the visitor’s defence, his close control on a sticky pitch drew tackles from Clifford (O) and Hutchings, which he expertly avoided, but he failed to get a shot away. When a long ball was played forward by keeper, Crissell, Assan (W) latched onto the ball just past the half-way line, defenders were slow to turn on the wet surface and Assan (W) raced goalwards but totally miss-hit the ball and keeper, Game saved. The home team had defended deep, but effectively, as the visitors looked to increase their slender lead and were aided by some comfortable saves from keeper, Crissell. Miller (D) combined with Papple, who rode two challenges, keeping the ball in the process before finding Assan (W) who shot wide from outside the penalty area. Earls Colne Reserves should have scored again just before the half-hour mark, Gregory was free down the right side, from his cross, Barham missed the target at the far post despite the close attention of defender Stafford who gained a goal kick.
Defender Stafford suffered an injury after battling through two challenges, from the restart, keeper, Crissell launched the ball long, defender Hutchings misjudged the flight of the ball and conceded a corner, taken by Miller (D) and headed home by the unmarked GEORGE STAFFORD at the far post. Tackles remained competitive, no quarter was going to be given in this local derby, Ekkaphop found Barham and from the return Ekkaphop placed the ball into the net, the Assistant Linesman’s flag was raised, rightly so from where I sat, and after consultation the referee disallowed the goal. From a throw in taken by Moore, Ekkaphop sent in a low shot which keeper, Crissell saved at full stretch, the first of many crucial saves made during the rest of this match. Keeper, Crissell sent another long ball up field towards Miller (D), defender Hutchings let the ball bounce rather than head it away, the bounce skipped off the surface and eluded the defender allowing Miller (D) to swing his right foot at the ball which flew narrowly wide. When Prow, impeded Ekkaphop, the free kick was taken quickly, but Clifford (L) blasted the ball high and wide as the home defence dithered, then, when Ekkaphop got past Prow his low cross was fielded by keeper, Crissell, who was caught by the raised foot of Clifford (L) who received a caution whilst the keeper was attended to. The first half ended soon after, the match had been very competitive, was evenly balanced even though the visitors had created the better chances, but more of the same effort please!
HALF-TIME: 1 – 1.
Before the restart Earls Colne Reserves replaced Moore with Asante, Leonard set up a chance for Assan (W), who used his pace to round Hutchings but shot wide, then Barham set up Clifford (L), these two players had now changed positions, but Clifford (L) slipped as he was about to shoot, he was quickly up on his feet to beat Stafford but keeper, Crissell made a great save to his right side. When Gregory sent over another teasing corner, Barham rose above Swift, to head goalwards but there was keeper, Crissell saving at full stretch. Assan (W) for Cressing United Reserves was a willing runner from the left side and his pace kept defenders on their toes, Stafford embarked out of defence, dribbling past half a dozen static players until he overran the ball, and Harrison took control for the visitors. The pitch conditions were unlikely to improve but players stuck to the task in hand and equipped themselves well, when the visitors were awarded a free kick, Gregory sent the dipping ball just over the corner of the upright and cross bar, then Clifford (L) burst through but failed to register a shot on target and with play stopped Earls Colne replaced substitute Asante with Poulter.
Earls Colne Reserves continued to have more ball possession but the home team stood firmly in their way, the next player change came when Papple was replaced by Ashdown on sixty-two minutes, then Leonard was replaced by Pugh two minutes later and the first touch from Pugh saw keeper, Game, palm the ball over the cross bar for a corner, taken by Miller (D) but cleared towards Barham who fouled Burton but Stafford overhit the free kick and goal kick followed. Clifford (L) was now seeing plenty of the ball, a run and cross was struck too hard for Poulter to reach and with play stopped Earls Colne Reserves put Webster on in place of Morris and Cressing United Reserves made two changes, off went Franklin and Miller (D) with Lord and Assan (J) going on for the last fifteen minutes. Earls Colne Reserves should have scored again on eighty minutes, Clifford (L) was free on goal, keeper, Crissell was quickly out, Clifford (L) opted to pass inside to the unmarked Ekkaphop whose first time effort was parried by Prow, the ball looped up towards goal but keeper, Crissell got back to snatch the ball on the goal line. A Gregory free kick found Barham who headed wide for a goal kick, then Clifford (O) pushed forward to gain a corner, taken by Poulter to Hutchings who scuffed the ball wide for another goal kick.
The final player change came with eight minutes remaining, Hull replacing Assan (W), Earls Colne Reserves kept possession until Assan (J) hit the ball forward and gave chase against Hutchings who turned the ball out of play for a throw-in. Prow threw the ball to Pugh whose low shot was saved by keeper, Game, who launched a long ball forward to Barham who turned towards goal, but a fine challenge came in from Prow, a corner followed, taken by Gregory but Clifford (O) missed the goal with his effort, time is running out now! A frantic few minutes remained, Gregory fouled Miller (T), Poulter passed to Ekkaphop but Swift intercepted with a fine challenge, Hutchings gained possession and found Clifford (L) running into space, a fine goal bound shot followed but keeper, Crissell made an impressive save, the keeper then plucked a high cross from Gregory, out of the air to keep his goal intact. Poulter gained a corner off Assan (J), once again keeper, Crissell rose above everyone to clutch the ball and clear, the ball came back in a hurry and Stafford literally manhandled Clifford (L) off the ball to receive a caution, Clifford (O) took the free kick but keeper, Crissell was again in command, in the dying minutes Hull made a heavy challenge on Webster, another caution followed and one for Papple who had thrown the referees flag on the ground, game over.
FULL TIME: 1 – 1.
For me, a feisty local derby, both teams had a go, Cressing United Reserves were more on the defensive as their higher placed opposition pushed for goals to maintain a promotion challenge, there were some hefty challenges, the referee allowed the game to flow despite the tricky conditions and at the end, it was honours even.
Turning to my Star Player, for Earls Colne Reserves, this was a team effort, led by the Clifford brothers with experienced players Barham and Gregory being the creative heart, but Ekkaphop, for a young player looked a useful talent. For Cressing United Reserves, Stafford and Swift in central defence battled throughout, veteran Burton did well in midfield but in Miller (D) there was always a threat in front of goal, but today, for me, keeper, Crissell made numerous saves throughout this match and two great saves in the dying minutes made my mind up.
Teams:
CRESSING UNITED FC RESERVES
Colours: Maroon Shirts, Maroon Shorts and Maroon Socks.
Team:
Jordan Crissell., Luke Prow (C)., Tristan Miller., George Stafford., Aaron Swift., Franklin Burton., Jacob Leonard., Callum Papple., Daniel Miller., Daniel French., Wes Assan.
Manager: Craig Copas.
Assistant manager: Sam White
Used Substitutes: Connah Pugh., Harry Ashdown., Logan Lord., Joel Assan., Thomas Hull.
EARLS COLNE FC RESERVES.
Colours: Yellow Shirts, Navy Blue Shorts and Royal Blue Socks.
Team:
Elliot Game., Thomas Fox., Adam Morris., Oliver Clifford (C)., Jordan Hutchings., Teddy Harrison., Lewis Clifford., Chaiyanto Ekkaphop., Kevin Barham., Tommy Gregory., Taylor Moore.
Manager: Shaun Clifford
Used Substitutes: Ethan Webster., Riley Poulter., Joel Asante.
Unused Substitutes: Ben Rodwell., Shaun Clifford.
Referee: Robert Willcocks
STAR PLAYER: Jordan CRISSELL (CRESSING UNITED FC RESERVES)
About Post Author
