22/03/2025 – REPORT – Earls Colne FC versus Kings Park Rangers FC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION.
EARLS COLNE FC. 0. KINGS PARK RANGERS FC. 4.
Date: Saturday 22nd March 2025. Venue: Green Farm Meadow, Earls Colne.
After two weeks of using the train to get to ESBFL matches and then spending last weekend in the beautiful city of Lincoln, its back to ESBFL business. Today, the top two teams met at Earls Colne, the second placed, home team, unbeaten in the league since mid-October, have just two matches remaining this season whereas their opponents, champions elect, Kings Park Rangers FC, who sit top, have four matches remaining. Those four matches are all against teams in the top six and last weekend they were soundly beaten by Barnston AFC, whom they play again in early April, the home team were to be severely hampered by most of their normal first choice defenders, being absent for a variety of reasons.
The match officials for this afternoon were Jake Molloy, who would have Hayden Berry and Luke Williams as his Assistant Referees, the pitch, as usual was in excellent shape, brushed and rolled for the occasion apparently, a legacy of the hard work put in by Club stalwart, Chairman and Secretary, Robin Bragg.
As Kings Park Rangers kicked off there was a stiff breeze, whether this would hamper players was too soon to tell, Cocklin kept possession in midfield and played the ball back to Haynes-Brown, a player who had played the professional game at Yeovil Town, his cultured left footed cross flew across the six yard box, keeper, Stigant (C) was totally exposed as his defence failed to make any contact and JAMAL GODWARD ran in to tap home at the far post, with just over one minute on the clock. Already a few tasty challenges had been seen, in my opinion, not always in the area where the ball was, McNicholas was adjudged to have fouled Cocklin, I thought should have been the other way, but what do I know! Cocklin fouled Shields thirty yards from goal, Ladlow took the free kick but, Godward, defended, Earls Colne mounted another foray forward, Ladlow, from the left side found Walker, whose cross was easily fielded by keeper, Lines. Theres a saying in football, you’re only singing when you’re winning, there was certainly plenty of vocal noise coming from the visitors dug out and easily heard by the big crowd that has assembled. Earls Colne defensively, looked far from confident and Kings Park Rangers with a clear game plan looked to expose that frailty whenever the occasion arose! Shields and Molloy stopped Last unfairly but the home defence managed to clear the free kick taken by Haynes-Brown.
On fifteen minutes, another defensive calamity for Earls Colne, McNicholas was shielding the ball back to his keeper, Stigant (C) with Godward in very close proximity, the keeper failed to advance to gather the ball, McNicholas panicked and played it back anyway, the keeper was stranded as he was unable to pick up the back pass and amidst that confusion, the ever alert, ADAM HAMPSON had the easiest to chances to score number two. Cousens fouled Stigant (T), the free kick was headed away by Keating who towered over Raven, the game had remained fast and furious, Suttle pushed forward with McNicholas, who found Ladlow, whose forward ball was just too far ahead of Raven and keeper, Lines collected. Last was spoken too for a foul on Cousins, then Andreass fouled Cocklin, Dombaxe, formerly on the books of Tottenham Hotspur, took the free kick which was headed away by Cousins but only to Last whose goal bound shot was pushed away by the diving keeper, Stigant (C) and a corner followed. Dombaxe took the corner, deep to the far post where Pollard headed the ball back to keeper, Stigant (C), another case of no defence but unpunished this time. A long kick down field from the home keeper was turned aside for a corner, taken by Cousins with Keating heading out for another corner on the other side, Cousins again took the corner kick, this time to the near post where Cousens hammered the ball away into touch.
A throw in taken by Haynes-Brown, was headed clear by Cousins but only to Godward who fired the ball well wide, from the restart, as Earls Colne tried to play the ball out of defence, Cocklin dived recklessly through the back of Stigant (T) who required treatment, Cocklin was spoken too, but to me that was a yellow card all day! By trying to play the ball out of defence, Earls Colne were prone to making mistakes, the Kings Park Rangers players were always quickly in to challenge, breaking down any attempt for the home team to progress and a corner was gained, Dombaxe, took the corner, short to Haynes-Brown whose left footed cross was gathered by keeper, Stigant (C). Walker and McNicholas were guilty of over playing their attempt to build from the back, Hampson making a nuisance of himself inside the penalty area, then when progress was made, Cocklin was guilty of another over aggressive challenge on Raven, who limped way, but the lucky offender again avoided a yellow card!
The visitors, management and players, were asking for every decision, some of them were ludicrous calls for fouls but the referee kept the game flowing, Walker went over the top of Last, who had made a back, for him to fall over, gaining the foul, Hampson took the free kick wide on the right side, the ball was cleared but a poor headed pass back fell to Last whose shot forced Stigant (C) to make an excellent save. Andreas fouled Haynes-Brown, and with the match stopped, Earls Colne replaced Cousins with Harris, Walker needlessly pushed Hampson, just outside the corner of the penalty area, Cocklin played the ball left-footed into the six-yard box, keeper Stigant (C) failed to react and the unmarked JOSHUA POLLARD had the simplest of chances to score, so simple in fact, that I reckon I could have scored there and I was a goalkeeper! So, as we approach half-time, Kings Park Rangers are three goals ahead, courtesy of three defensive errors and it could have been more as in the last minute, Suttle fouled Hampson, Dombaxe curled the free kick all the way across the six yard box where Keating slotted home only to turn and see the Assistant Referees flag raised, after due consultation the goal was disallowed for off-side.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 3
Just before the restart, Molloy was replaced by Chaiyanto, a young player I’d seen playing for Earls Colne Reserves a few weeks ago, the home team were to kick off, but the visitors kept up the pressure forcing Earls Colne to defend, a defence that was understandably disjointed on this occasion. Keeper, Stigant (C) made an excellent save from Collard (N) this from a cross from Godward. Cocklin pushed McNicholas to concede a needless free kick, absolutely no need to do that when you are leading by three goals and not troubled by the opposition, the referee was right on the spot as well! Shields chased back against Godward to concede a corner, taken by Dombaxe, with keeper, Stigant (C) punching away, McNicholas and Stigant (C) managed to get the ball forward to Andreas, but from his misplaced pass, Last, fired goalwards and was denied by another fine save from keeper, Stigant (C), a corner followed. Cocklin took the corner, left footed to the far post where Hampson retrieved the ball and from his pass JAMAL GODWARD stole in to score with ease.
On fifty-five minutes Earls Colne brought on, Bacon, Calladine and Carr in place of Ladlow and Raven who had received little to no service all game, Kings Park Rangers also replaced Haynes-Brown with James, followed two minutes later with Cocklin being replaced by Collard (E). Throughout this match, Kings Park Rangers had been quicker to the ball, wanting the ball under any circumstance, kept possession and forced Earls Colne to retreat into their own half for long periods but few, clear cut, chances were created.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Kings Park Rangers made another change, Last being replaced by Codrington, who was quickly into action with keeper, Stigant (C), getting to a loose ball just before the substitute, the defence did manage to scramble the ball away though. Two minutes after that last substitution, Cunningham came on for Dombaxe, the game, as a spectacle was over by half time but both teams used all available substitutes and the lack of positive football activity that has been reported on, sums up what was a dire second half!
FULL TIME: 0 – 4.
This was a comprehensive victory for Kings Park Rangers, the margin of victory should have been much more, but to be fair, if you make mistakes at this level of football, you will get punished and Earls Colne were. Kings Park Rangers move on to next Saturdays match against Thorpe Athletic, a win might seal the title if Brightlingsea Town fail to beat bottom team White Notley.
Turning to my Star Player, the visitors won easily aided by defensive mistakes, the home team lacked any penetration being forced to defend with a make-shift defence, home keeper Stigant (C) did make errors for two of the goals but he also made more crucial saves as the match wore on, however when substitute Ekkaphop Chaiyanto entered play after half-time, he showed sufficient endeavour in midfield, working hard when defending and showing some nice touches on the ball, often under intense close marking and the odd bit of provocation from more senior players!
Teams:
EARLS COLNE FC
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Calin Stigant., Joseph Suttle., Sam Cousins., James Walker (C)., Bleu Molloy., Alfie Shields., Branen Andress., Taylor Stigant., Ryan McNicholas., Harry Ladlow., Devon Raven.
Acting Manager: Jordan Partridge.
Assistant Manager: Gary Pearce.
Used Substitutes: Ekkaphop Chaiyanto., Daniel Calladine., William Harris., Charlie Carr., Finlay Bacon.
KINKS PARK RANGERS FC.
Colours: Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts and Yellow Socks.
Team:
Jack Lines., Daniel Cousens., Curtis Haynes-Brown., Reece Keating., Joshua Pollard., Laste Dombaxe., Bailey last., Noah Collard., George Cocklin., Adam Hampson (C)., Jamal Godward.
Manager: John Pollard.
Assistant Manager: Jamie Dobkin.
Used Substitutes: Ross James., Evan Collard., Reumel Codrington., Daniel Cunningham.
Unused Substitutes: Saburi Adeniji.
Referee: Jake Molloy.
Assistant Referee’s: Hayden Berry.
and Luke Williams.
STAR PLAYER: Ekkaphop CHAIYANTO (EARLS COLNE FC)
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