22/08/2026 – REPORT – Wivenhoe Town FC Reserves versus Prettygate AFC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE.
WIVENHOE TOWN FC RESERVES. 0. PRETTYGATE AFC. 1.
Date: 22nd August 2026. Venue: “The Elixir Stadium”, Broad Lane, Wivenhoe.
After two weeks of being unavailable, my season watching matches and reporting across all seven divisions started on Saturday, with so many new teams and venues to choose, I stayed local in Wivenhoe where Wivenhoe Town FC Reserves were to play Prettygate AFC at Broad Lane, Wivenhoe.
Initially, Wivenhoe Town FC First team were almost included in the new season Club constitution, but the late withdrawal of Haverhill Sports Association FC, another former ESBFL Club, allowed them to remain in the Thurlow Nunn Division One North and they have had a decent start under new management.
Looking back at the ESBFL records, Wivenhoe Town FC Reserves last played in the ESBFL in season 2001 / 2002, much has changed at Broad Lane since that time, today the pitch was parched, hard and dusty. Today’s opponents, Prettygate AFC had one of their best seasons in the ESBFL last season, they finished fifth in Division One but three consecutive two-all draws in their last league matches curtailed any chance of automatic promotion, this season they appeared to have strengthened their squad and have designs on promotion.
The Match Official was Carl Pearse, a very experienced referee and he too did not have very far to travel, living in Alresford, he would be assisted by Club Assistants, all of whom did a good job and neither team caused any issues with poor behaviour, in fact, a match without any cards being shown!
The home team kicked off kicking away from the Clubhouse, Welsh committed an early foul on Saunders, the free kick taken by Lam was comfortably held by sixteen-year-old keeper, Seaman, from his clearance Shepperd tried a shot from distance after disposing Boyle (J) who was wearing No. 99! On four minutes Hooper clumsily crashed into Plenderleith, but the free kick taken by Bryan was cleared forward by Saunders towards Rashid who was rightly flagged offside. The free kick taken by Keep was way too long and keeper, Harvey-Piggins had a simple catch to make, from his driven clearance, Cook (C) chased forward with Bryan alongside, the latter winning the dual to clear his team’s defensive lines where Keep was already prominent in the back row. When Rashid played a teasing cross into the penalty area, keeper, Seaman was bravely diving at the feet of Cherry on the six-yard line, a good start for the youngster, as both forward and defender Welsh were in close proximity. Wivenhoe Town Reserves had started the season with wins over both Hedinghams United and Tavern and their early passing play was pleasing to see but Prettygate, with more experienced players were up for the challenge. Bryan got the ball wide to Pryke whose lay-off to Shepperd was thrashed left-footed over the crossbar but a good approach, it just needed a bit more composure for the final shot.
At times the ball was hot property, whoever had, lost it quickly as both teams made early challenges, Bryan set up Goddard for a shot which flew straight to keeper, Harvey-Piggins, James fouled Pryke wide on the left side then Cook (C) defended well when Horrocks threatened. Hooper started a good move down the left side for Prettygate, his pinpoint pass through to Lam saw the eager forward hit a left-footed shot they flew wide but gaps were starting to appear, so much so that visiting keeper, Harvey-Piggins was ten yards outside his penalty area when Horrocks chased forward, Horrocks then tried to set Plenderleith through but another correct offside call was upheld. Keep, perhaps harshly, was deemed to have eased Lam off the ball on the edge of the “D”, Cook (C) struck a curling effort around the four man defensive wall, whereupon keeper, Seaman dived at full stretch to palm the ball wide of the goal, Rashid was quickest to the ball, he turned and crossed to the far post where BRANDON LAM rose to head home. From the restart, Cherry was adjudged to have left a high foot against Keep and was briefly spoken too for questioning the obvious foul play. Whereupon a one-minute drinks break was signalled by the referee. Upon the restart, Wivenhoe Town Reserves continued to play a passing game keeping the ball on the ground rather than in the air where the visitors had an aerial advantage and were becoming quicker into any challenge. When Lam broke free from the half-way line, he only had keeper, Seaman to beat, that he did but the ball drifted wide of the far post, Lam should really have scored.
On thirty minutes, Cook (C) went on a trade-mark mazy run beating numerous players before playing in Lam whose first time shot was blocked by the feet of the diving keeper, Seaman, and the first corner of the match was awarded, taken by Saunders towards the far post where Keep rose to head out for another corner, this time taken by Cook (C) but the delivery was poor and failed to reach the near posy allowing MacKenzie to clear up field. Lam for his persistence was impeded by Keep, another free kick on the edge of the penalty area, this time Boyle (M) (No. 8) blasted the ball over the goal and stand into the car park! Whilst Prettygate now had more possession, Wivenhoe Town Reserves where not out of this match, Saunders found Rashid who set up Lam, but another tame shot was easily fielded by keeper, Seaman. A long range shot from Johnson took a deflection for a home team corner, taken by Bryan but Boyle (T) (No. 66) headed strongly clear. When MacKenzie fouled Boyle (T), Saunders took the free kick but the home defence cleared forward to Pryke, his cross caused confusion between Boyle (T) and keeper, Harvey-Piggins which almost allowed Horrocks to capitalise, however, Horrocks fouled the keeper in the ensuing scramble.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 1.
Prettygate restarted this close match, could they extend their lead, on first half chances they should be more than one goal ahead but credit the home team for defending well and being adventurous going forward. Cook (C) started a fine move, Rashid kept the momentum going finding Lam whose left-footed shot was saved low down by keeper, Seaman. The persistence of Lam, saw him foul Plenderleith just outside his own penalty area, MacKenzie took the free kick, forcing keeper Harvey-Piggins to fumble the ball inside the six-yard box, Pryke totally missed the loose ball and Goddard, well placed to score could not set his feet properly and the chance was missed. Another free kick taken by Bryan was headed out for a corner by Boyle (M), taken by Bryan, whose kick found Keep running in at the far post, only to head narrowly wide. At the other end, a misplaced back pass from Keep saw the visitors awarded a corner, taken by Cook (C) with keeper, Seaman punching clear. The first substitutions were made on fifty-five minutes, off went James and Cherry for Prettygate, with Sheleda and Lupata joining the match, and Sheleda was quickly setting up Lam and Rashid who broke free with keeper, Seaman back-pedalling to reach the cross-field pass.
Saunders clipped Horrocks, Pryke took the free kick to MacKenzie who found Johnson who turned to shoot at goal, no danger though and a goal kick followed, Wivenhoe Town Reserves made their first changes, off went, Bryan and Plenderleith with Davel and Warnes entering play, Prettygate also made a change with Dines taking over from Hooper. When Lam, broke through again his effort at goal was way too tame and keeper, Seaman had an easy save, at the other end a fine effort from Horrocks went over the crossbar and with play stopped a second drinks break was taken. Upon the restart, Rashid drifted one way then the other before shooting, weakly to keeper, Seaman whose team continued to play a high defensive line which caught the visitors forwards offside as they tried to break quickly. Wivenhoe Town Reserves made another change with West taking the place of Horrocks, Prettygate should really have scored when Cook (C) ran forward, passing to Lupata who should have hit the ball first time, instead he hesitated, Cook (C), slightly frustrated, was still in space for a return pass but the two eventual efforts from Lupata were blocked. This match had ebbed and flowed from end to end so when Wivenhoe Town Reserves broke forward, Goddard was expected to score, but, for a fine save from keeper, Harvey-Piggins who dived at the feet of Goddard to clutch the ball.
On seventy-five minutes, Wivenhoe Town Reserves made their final substitutions, there is no “roll-on / roll-off” in this division, off went Keep and Shepperd and Healy entered play alongside manager, Walker. Goddard had led the line for the home team well, his experience ahead of numerous youngsters will be invaluable, when he found space after beating three defenders, he also by-passed the keeper but placed the ball wide of the goal, turning away with his head in his hands! Robust defender, Boyle (T) was spoken too for some cryptic comments towards another player, a cross from Lupata fell to Rashid whose shot on the turn was blocked by Welsh and we entered the last five frantic minutes of play. Cook tried his luck from twenty-five yards, Healy put in a fine tackle on Lam, Goddard had shots blocked, firstly, by keeper Harvey-Piggins, then Boyle (T) and the final action saw Rashid edged off the ball by defender Healy.
FULL TIME: 0 – 1.
On the balance of play and chances created, then Prettygate deserved to win this match, by not taking their numerous chances they were likely to concede and loose points to a useful Wivenhoe Town Reserve team who have started well in Division Two of the ESBFL.
Ona pleasing note, upon arrival, I received a warm welcome from Lorraine Osman, Club Secretary and it was good to see both teams tucking into the sandwiches after the match, nice touch, perhaps a few more team could do likewise across any of the divisions.
Turning to my choice of Star player initially Keep, in defence for the home team stood out, up front Goddard held the ball up well waiting for support, his late efforts deserved a goal as well, however, as the game wore on numerous Prettygate players stood out, Cook (C) is always in the thick of things but it was a good team effort where another defender came to the fore, Tom Boyle of Prettygate, an uncompromising old fashioned, defender who missed little all game.
Teams:
WIVENHOE TOWN FC RESERVES:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Sian Seaman., Harry MacKenzie., Samuel Welsh., Lucas Keep., Alex Pryke., Owen Johnson., Paul Goddard., Owen Bryan (C)., Scott Plenderleith., Euan Shepperd., George Horrocks.
Management: Elliott Walker.
Used Substitutes: James Healy., Caiden West., Oscar Warnes., Liam Davey., Elliot Walker.
PRETTYGATE AFC
Colours: Red shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Kieran Harvey-Piggins., Sean James., Hayden Saunders., Tom Boyle., Joshua Boyle., Matthew Boyle (C)., Charley Cook., Tyler Hooper., Elliott Chery., Brandon Lam., Mehdi Rashid.
Manager: Bret Woodward.
Used Substitutes: Ivan Sheleda., Andy Lupata., Steven Dines.
Unused Substitute: Dean Cook.
MATCH OFFICIAL:
Referee: Carl Pearse.
STAR PLAYER: Tom BOYLE (PRETTYGATE AFC)
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