22/09/2020 – REPORT – Little Oakley FC Reserves versus Dedham Old Boys FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION.

LITTLE OAKLEY FC RESERVES: 0. DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC: 2.

Date: Tuesday 22^nd September 2020. Venue: War Memorial Ground, Little Oakley.

Someone said I wasn’t taking this season seriously as I again missed a Saturday match, well it was my birthday and the glorious open spaces of North Norfolk beckoned, sham that the people in Hunstanton on Saturday couldn’t count, as six people in a bubble often became twice if not more on a crowded sea-front! Anyway, back for a mid-week fixture under floodlights at Little Oakley where the home Reserve Team, one win, a draw and a defeat so far played local rivals Dedham Old Boys FC, who had recorded two wins to date.

The evening was much cooler than of late and the lights shone down on a very dry and dusty pitch but the usual “Acorns” welcome was made, COVID-19 protocol was afforded for “Test and Trace” purposes with the visitors changing in the stand on the far side. The Match Officials for this match were Rhys Collins who had Assistants, Harry Arnot and Benjamin Smith, to be honest you hardly noticed they were there, no cautions and very few incidences of controversy to talk about.

Dedham kicked off but the home team broke forward through Adams to Brazitis who gained the first corner, taken by Brazitis but Parker headed clear then Adams sent in a low shot which keeper Gill fielded easily. From the keeper throw-out Peters made ground down the right side sending in a deep cross which Hammond headed out for a corner, taken by Moseley however Vitelli fouled Adams when trying to head the ball at the far post. On ten minutes Little Oakley pushed forward through Pratt who used some neat footwork to open up a space to cross towards Eades who had strayed off-side.

The first fifteen minutes had been end-to-end, a fast game was unfolding with the home team slightly on top pushing the ball around comfortably however, Dedham were in this game and also showed useful attacking options. The pace of Vitelli is always a factor for Dedham and when a long ball forward from Ruffles cleared the home defensive line, Vitelli was marginally short of reaching the ball before keeper, Sims collected on the edge of his penalty area. This long ball option was then used by the home team Dunningham launched his clearance towards Eades, who gave chase but fired left footed over the cross-bar. Dunningham fouled Polley on the half-way line the free-kick from Moseley was headed clear by Hammond, and Little Oakley broke forward, Pratt started the move out of defence, Sullivan broke forward to find Sanderson whose run to the goal-line was stopped at the near post by keeper Gill who conceded a corner, taken by Brazitis towards the head of Eades whose knock-down fell to Pratt who set up Hammond for a low shot that drifted wide of the left side upright.

Just after the half-hour mark Adams fouled Vitelli, when the free-kick came in Vitelli controlled and spun to fire left-footed, just over the cross-bar then at the other end, Dunningham showed great determination to force his was through, riding two challenges before the ball stood up, enabling him to volley goal-wards where keeper Gill was well placed to catch, this was the first shot on target after forty minutes! Little Oakley kept up the late pressure, Pratt had a shot deflected wide for a corner, taken by Brazitis, Eades and Baister rose to attack the ball with the Dedham played receiving an injury as he landed, leaving the field of play after treatment and half-time was upon us.

HALF-TIME: 0 – 0

On this first half display a nil-nil draw was a good betting option, so was a one goal to nil score-line, both teams had worked hard without any real clear-cut chances so what could the second half produce. The home team kicked-off kicking towards the Clubhouse end, a pass from Brazitis found Dunningham whose cross eluded the run and jump of Eades at the far post. Vitelli received the ball mid-way into the home half, his close control and dribble took him round Wallace with his shot forcing keeper Sims into his first save of the match, that’s better play though. Moseley took the corner with the unmarked Baister heading wide at the far post for a goal kick, and Dedham kept the ball in the home half when Peters chased down the right side with Sullivan defending well. On fifty-one minutes came the opening goal, Smith set the move going, Vitelli ran one way, Lee ran another and when the ball was played back from the goal-line RYAN LEE slotted home past a crowd of players with Vitelli on hand should the ball not cross the line. This goal raised the tempo from Dedham, in midfield Polley, back at Dedham after several years at Little Oakley, Smith and Moseley started to dictate their teams play and from one attack Rayner stormed forward to find Vitelli whose eventual shot bobbled along the ground to keeper, Sims. On fifty-five minutes Dedham replaced Rayner and Moseley with Axcell and Hodder and their introduction certainly kept the home defence busy.

The Dedham defence had been largely untroubled until the hour mark but a free kick from Dunningham forced Parker to head clear to Sullivan who headed over he cross-bar. The introduction of Hodder forced Slater to defend, calls for a foul fell on deaf ears and Hodder kept going before running out of pitch space. A cross from Vitelli found Hodder who headed straight into the arms of keeper, Simms from six yards out, a snatched chance, then Axcell chased a long ball forward putting Little Oakley on the back-foot once again, but Dedham were now on top. On sixty-five minutes Little Oakley made their first change, Wallace being replaced by Duly, Polley fouled Dunningham inside the home half, Duly, sent the free-kick right footed towards the far post where Eades was once again marginally short of reaching the searching free-kick. Axcell and Hodder were using their pace and strength to put the home defence under pressure, allowing Vitelli to drift in looking for chances inside the penalty area. On seventy minutes a single moment of discussion, Eades ran through chasing a through ball, keeper Gill started to back-peddle then decided to advance, the ball hit the keeper, Eades hit the keeper ending up on the ground, and a big shout for a penalty went up, play was waved on by the on-the-spot official.

With fifteen minutes remaining Little Oakley replaced Adams with Sargent, but Dedham broke forward, the ball reached JOHN VITELLI who waltzed through a crowd of defenders before beating keeper, Sims, a fine individual / trademark goal, I think that is game ever! Brazitis did get a far cross post in for Eades who headed wide then a rare error from Parker, his header back towards keeper, Gill beat his keeper but bounced wide for a corner. On eighty-five minutes Brazitis was replaced by McDonald with Dedham replacing Vitelli with Went with the last action falling to Dedham when Axcell chased a ball from Smith but keeper, Sims blocked the effort.

FULL TIME: 0 – 2.

Who would have thought, three out of three wins for Dedham Old Boys FC, they now sit third behind Gas Recreation FC and a rejuvenated White Notley FC, all on nine points but its early days but still encouraging for other Clubs. After some early promise Little Oakley failed to create many chances, Dedham likewise, but when their chances came their way, they took both and in my, opinion, deserved to win

Now let’s turn to my Star Player, a difficult one this week, Little Oakley showed some promise when Hammond and Pratt were involved, for Dedham you ignore Vitelli at your peril, but Lee and later Axcell and Hodder caused problems, Polley did a good job in midfield breaking down play but Smith for Dedham was always close to the action and just shades it.

Teams:

LITTLE OAKLEY FC RESERVES: Colours: Blue & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Blue Socks.

Sam Sims., Conor Adams., Miles Wallace., Tom Dunningham., Jordan Slater., Benjamin Hammond., Theo Sanderson., Tyler Sullivan., Robert Pratt (C)., Jamie Eades., Ross Brazitis.

Manager: Matthew Windred.

Used Substitutes: Max McDonald., Liam Duly., Miles Sargent.

Unused Substitutes: Samuel Poole., Alfie Davidson.

DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC: Colours: Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.

James Gill., Liam Peters., Adam Rayner., James Ruffles., James Parker., Simon Baister., Tristan Moseley., Steven Polley., William Smith., John Vitelli., Ryan Lee.

Manager: Luke Tuttlebee.

Used Substitutes: Myles Went., James Axcell., Samuel Hodder.

Unused Substitutes: Luke Oscar., Lewis Cobden.

Referee: Rhys Collins.

Assistant Referees: Harry Arnot

And Benjamin Smith

Star Player: William SMITH (DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC)

************************************************************************************

“COVID-19” “CORONAVIRUS”

THE “ESBFL” IS MINDFUL OF THE CONTINUING SERIOUSNESS OF THIS INFECTION, MATCHES CURRENTLY BEING PLAYED WERE ALLOWED TO PROCEED UNDER THE GUIDANCE GIVEN BY THE “FA”.

THIS SITUATION IS BEING CONSTANTLY MONITORED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE “FA” WHO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE REGULAR UPDATES DIRECTLY TO CLUBS AND THE LEAGUE. PLEASE ENSURE THESE ARE READ, UNDERSTOOD AND ADHERED TOO.

IT IS INCUMBENT ON ALL MEMBER CLUBS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF VISITORS, THE FA HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS DIRECTIVES THEREFORE THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR IGNORANCE OF THESE GUIDELINES etc

ALL MEMBER CLUBS, ITS OFFICIALS, PLAYERS AND SUPPORTERS “MUST” ADHERE TO THESE GUIDELINES OTHERWISE THIS SEASON MAY ALSO BE CURTAILED EARLY.

*************************************

Additional Reporting:

YOU TUBE., FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

Once again, this season the ESBFL is widening its match-day reporting coverage, in addition to a full report written by Brian Reed, our other roving reporter, Spencer Hume, has once again made himself known during the friendlies season and he will also attend games reporting via You Tube, Facebook and Twitter to communicate up-to-date information and replicate other match reports. In addition, John Campany, Vice Chairman will continue to provide a weekly summary, published in The Gazette.

****************************************************************************************

Reminder to Club Secretaries / Fixture Secretaries

Once again this season the fixtures, results, referees and “kick-off” times will be shown automatically on “The FA Full-Time / The Whole Game System” ( http://full-time.thefa.com ) but would all Club / Fixture Secretaries please advise any agreed changes, as required, to either Mick Willmore (mjw1947@sky.com)

or M/s Alison Stanford (esblsec@icloud.com) especially for evening games and for those matches being played under floodlights etc.

KO is 3:00pm from: September to October

KO is 2:00pm from: November, December & January

KO is 2:30pm during: February

KO is 3:00pm from: March to end of season

Cup Matches:

Kick-Off times for ESBFL cup matches, are generally 30 minutes earlier than those shown above but check competition rules beforehand.

Kick-Off times for Essex County Football Association cup matches are published on the ECFA web-site.

( www.essexfa.com/competitions/county-cups )

************************************************************************************

ESBFL “web-site”

The web-site for the Essex & Suffolk Border Football League is: www.esblfootball.com