22/09/2021 – REPORT – Dunmow Town FC versus Tiptree Heath FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
DUNMOW TOWN FC: 3. TIPTREE HEATH FC: 1.
Date: Wednesday 22nd September 2021.
Venue: Cressing Road Stadium, Clockhouse Way, Braintree
For me, this was the first ESBFL evening League match that I had been able to attend, like my previous reported match, this venue, the home of Braintree Town FC was a first ever visit. The pitch looked in excellent condition and when I arrived both teams were out warming up and hopefully looking forward to a mid-table clash with both teams on thirteen points albeit that the visitors had games in hand. On Saturday both teams had competed in the Essex Premier Cup, Dunmow Town FC progressed after defeating Springfield FC 7 – 6 on penalties after the scores remained locked at 4 – 4 at Full-Time. Similarly, Tiptree Heath FC moved into the next round winning 4 – 2 away against Harold Wood Athletic FC, often a difficult place to gain any result!
For this evening, floodlit match, a warm evening as well, the match officials were Nathan Tansley, I’d not met him before, and he was ably assisted by Anthony Phillips and James McMillan and collectively, in my opinion, they got most of the decisions right, some views may differ, but referees at grassroots level do not have the benefit of VAR!
Dunmow Town kicked off and a lively start welcomed the spectators, Tiptree Heath gained their first corner in the second minute, taken by Green finding Saccoh whose shot from outside the penalty area forced keeper, Pellin to save low down. On six minutes a shot from Chesney, running through from midfield forced keeper, Pellin into another save, this time at full stretch, and another corner followed. Tiptree Heath kept up their early pressure and when Chesney threaded the ball behind the home defence Saccoh was fouled by Daley who picked up an early yellow card. Three minutes later and keeper, Pellin made another fine save, tipping over a free-kick taken by Green whose corners and free-kicks will always test any defence. A long throw-in from Prue was headed clear by Tollhurst with Davidson having his long-range shot blocked by Pennick and the visitors midfield had an early grip on this match, plenty of possession and attacking intent prompted by Chesney, Green, Hart and Chester who supplied the ball to Knill-Jones and Saccoh. Davidson for Dunmow was his usual industrious self and almost scored with a rasping drive that keeper, Cope just got his finger-tips too, the ball diverted onto the right hand upright and was cleared to safety by Pennick.
On fifteen minutes, Chesney found Knill-Jones who laid the ball back to Chesney and once again a fine shot followed but straight at keeper, Pellin stationed on his goal-line, the game remained end-to-end with the visitors creating the better chances. Chester tripped Davidson twenty-five yards out, and was spoken too by the referee, Maxwell took the free-kick towards the far post, Tollhurst rose to head clear, but from the cross from the right side by Bryant, EUSEBIO DA SILVA turned the ball into the net from about eight yards, a goal probably against the run of play! Yearwood for Dunmow Town skipped clear of Staines down the left side but his cross-cum-shot flashed across the goal area and suddenly the home team had their tails up. Green started a fine move from Tiptree Heath, Chesney, Staines and ended with Grimshaw firing low across the goalmouth, this game has more goals that’s for sure! When the visitors were caught on the break with players further up-field, Pennick dived into a challenge on Yearwood, wide on the left side and was promptly shown a yellow card.
Just past the half hour mark Dunmow Town replaced goal-scorer, Da Silva with Cohen and when Cohen challenged for the loose ball Pennick rashly dived in once again, a second yellow card and a red for an early dismissal for the young defender. To add insult to injury, perhaps, GARY COHEN scored three minutes after entering play heading home a cross from the cultured left foot of Davidson, probably his first touch of the ball. Tiptree Heath did not falter and kept pushing forward playing the sort of football we have become used too, they work hard, play a good passing game and always look dangerous and from their last attack of the half, a searching cross from Tollhurst found Saccoh at the far post, his control was good but the effort at goal was weak.
HALF-TIME: 2 – 0.
Before the second half restart, Dunmow replaced goal-scorer Cohen with Cowler whilst Tiptree Heath replaced both injured Grimshaw and Staines with Dailu and White but it was Dunmow Town in the early ascendency forcing keeper, Cope to save, from Yearwood whilst Maxwell was cautioned for pretesting a free-kick decision. Knill-Jones was spoken too when a decision seemingly went against his team, that’s life I suppose, and the first ten minutes of the half remained competitive if not rewarding as both teams pushed forward.
On sixty-one minutes Dunmow Town made their third change bringing on Jones for Maxwell, and McQuillan made a fine timely tackle to stop Dailu when he scampered through and the same player tried his luck with a shot from outside the penalty area that flashed wide. Dunmow Town went three goals up on sixty-two minutes, Davidson was in the mix as usual and when the ball fell to ALEX YEARWOOD who turned to place the ball just out of the reach of keeper, Cope, diving to his right side. To be honest, I thought the three-goal deficit was not a reflection of the possession or pattern of play as during the first half the visitors had at least three decent chances, its about taking them then not defending what you have. Chester, now playing alongside Tollhurst in the Tiptree Heath defence literally pole-axed defender McQuillan a player at least a foot taller than the offender, bit like David and Goliath, no offence lads! Tollhurst pushed forward out of defence finding Chester also pushing up but when his cross reached Hart the goal bound effort cleared the cross-bar. Yearwood struck another dipping goal-bound shot that just cleared the cross-bar and at the other end Miskin was adjudged to have impeded Dailu from behind, just on the corner of the penalty area. Green took the free-kick but keeper, Pellin was equal to the effort with Chester going close again soon after.
With fifteen minutes remaining, an error by Chester should have led to another goal for Dunmow Town but Cowler, who was gifted the ball, could only watch as keeper, Cope, saved, to spare the blushes of his team-mate. A corner taken by Green was met by the head of Saccoh, but he was denied when Miskin headed clear from just inside the goal post and Tiptree Heath continued to press forward, too little, too late! With five minutes remaining a corner from Green found the head of Chester but keeper, Pellin was well placed to catch, then Green burst forward and only a fine tackle from Smith stopped the visitors from getting a consolation goal. That consolation did materialise with time running out, Tollhurst won he ball deep in defence moving forward to send a fine pass into the path of MORLEY DIALU who he ran on the score. Dunmow Town went forward for their last attack, Miskin found Yearwood, his low cross was parried by the outstretched keeper, Cope, and Tollhurst just nipped in to take the ball away from Cowler lurking six yards out. The last attack from Tiptree Heath saw Green find Chesney who beat his defender before launching his shot, high over the cross-bar and that was it, game over.
FULL TIME: 3 – 1.
Once again, I enjoyed this match, a new venue, two relatively evenly matched teams who can play football, Dunmow Town did play a couple of more senior players, it happens in the Premier Division as they found out at Little Oakley FC Reserve, mid-week, last week!
For my weekly “Star Player” for Dunmow Town FC, Miskin looks a good player, he has pace and vision and defends well, Davison makes a difference in midfield, another player with pace and creativity with the forwards, Da Silva and Yearwood capable of scoring when given the right ball. For Tiptree Heath FC they battled away for an hour with ten players, lost two injured players at half-time but gave a good account of themselves and on another day a draw would have been fair. Up front Knill-Jones and Saccoh worked the home defence, in midfield Green, Hart, Chester and especially Chesney linked up well but for me the stand-out player was central defender and Captain, Jack Tollhurst, he won every tackle, every aerial ball and tried to motivate his team despite the reduced number of players.
Teams:
DUNMOW TOWN FC: Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and White Socks.
Team:
James Pellin., Andre Daley., Mack Miskin., Liam Smith., Connor McQuillan., Mich Prue (C)., Daniel Maxwell., Correy Davidson., Eusebio Da Silva., Alex Yearwood., Daniel Bryant.
Manager: Danny Page.
Used Substitutes: Joshua Jones., Gary Cohen., James Cowler.
Unused Substitutes: Lee Harris., Cole Layton
TIPTREE HEATH FC: Colours: Green & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Green Socks.
Team:
Jack Cope., Harrison Staines., pacey Grimshaw., Cameron Pennick., Jack Tollhurst (C)., Joe Hart., Joe Chester., Jamie Chesney., Charlie Green., Ryan Knill-Jones., Tejan Saccoh.
Manager: Danny Hunt.
Assistant Manager: Noel Pennick.
Used Substitutes: Morley Dailu., Oliver White
Unused Substitutes: Stephen Miller., Antoine McWilliams., Lee Martin.
Referee: Nathan Tansley.
Assistant Referees: Anthony Phillips and James McMillan
Star Player: Jack TOLLHURST (TIPTREE HEATH FC)
REMINDERS:
MATCH NOTIFICATIONS
Clubs are required to notify all match details, date venue, kick-off time, colours etc, to their opposition and any appointed official/s, FIVE days before the match.
TEAM SHEETS
Team Sheets should be shown or sent to the Referee and the Opposition team either by text, email etc
The BLUE “League Copy” of the Team Sheet should be sent by First Class Post to reach Mick Willmore by the Thursday after a Saturday match, this is the ONLY item of correspondence that is required by post.
FA FULL-TIME
The Referees marks, team, players, substitutes, goal scorers, red / yellow cards, and sin-bin, etc MUST be entered to FA Full-Time by the end of the Tuesday following a Saturday match (ie 48 hours after any match). Failure to complete FAFT correctly and on time WILL incur a League Fine/s.
DISCIPLINE
Since the start of the season there have been 30 players dismissed and over 400 cautions, there have also been several incidences of misconduct towards players, Match officials, members of the public and county officials. These are situations the ESBFL Management feel very strongly about, and the statistics make poor reading, the ECFA will deal with all these cases as deemed appropriate but bear in mind these actions can be very costly both for players and your, Clubs.
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