22/10/2022 – REPORT – Dovercourt Rovers FC versus. Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION TWO

DOVERCOURT ROVERS FC      3.       ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC RES       1.

Date:               Saturday 22^nd October 2022.

Venue:             Low Road Playing Fields, Wick Lane, Harwich

            Low Road, Dovercourt was my destination last Saturday, this for a Division Two match between Dovercourt Rovers FC, recently promoted from Division Three and Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves whose fortunes last season saw them request a demotion of one division. Before kick-off the home team boasted five wins from five matches whereas the visitors had picked up just victory to date, this was at the start of the month.

            On a bright sunny afternoon with a slight breeze a decent number of supporters, in fact a “ground-hopper” had counted forty-nine, had assembled for this match, the home team with two decent seasons behind them have attracted players used to playing at a higher level and this in turn generates interest in what is a young club, in every sense of the word. The match official was the experienced Richard Oakes, a referee who likes to keep the game flowing but dealing with any major issue and bringing the game back if no advantage was gained

            Dovercourt Rovers FC kicked off with Johnson giving chase against Wightman who conceded a throw-in, from which Fay ran forward to send a cross through the penalty area with keeper, Spencer, forced to save low down, six yards out. Dovercourt kept up this early possession and goal threat but when a decision for a foul was not upheld inside the penalty area, Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves broke forward chasing the long ball forward from keeper, Spencer, and CALLUM KNEVETT ran through from the half-way line to score past the advancing keeper, Simms, I had not seen that written in today’s script! Dovercourt regained their composure with the visitors trying the long ball again with Tuckwell sending Knevett away but clearly off-side this time, then Czapla flicked the ball towards goal as the home defence dithered, Selwyn sent the ball forward, Wightman comfortably headed back to keeper, Spencer as Johnson edged forward. Selwyn found Bradley, he held the ball up then threaded it through for Johnson who had just run forward too early to be caught off-side, close though, it’s all about timing and angles. The next attack from the on-top, home team, was Selwyn to Johnson, same result though and frustrated words were exchanged between the players. Alresford had shocked the league leaders with that early goal and had done very little since, however, Walsom sent Czapla away and his cross to the far post was met by Osborne (M) but defender Lammas blocked the goal-bound effort at the expense of a corner. Selwyn, through whom most home attacks emanate found Johnson who set up Smith (B) but his effort went out for a goal-kick then a long ball from keeper, Spencer saw young Topolewski give chase to set up Czapla who gained, then took the resulting corner-kick.

            On fifteen minutes, Dovercourt drew level, Bowler (L) sent the ball up top for Bradley and he turned the ball into the defensive gap and CHRIS JOHNSON ran through to score with aplomb past the advancing keeper, Spencer. Bowler (L). Johnson and Bradley again linked up well but keeper, Spencer made a fine save to deny Bradley whose shot on the turn was diverted away by the outstretched arm of the flying keeper, the referee having allowed play to continue despite a foul on Johnson. Dovercourt settled again, they were back on level terms and surely more goals should follow, just be patient and take the chances when presented, these chances came from the prompting of Selwyn, Bowler (L), Fay and Bradley. Johnson was causing problems up front, his direct approach and continual harassing was unsettling the visitors defence, and Fay using his pace to run at that defence gaining two ricocheted efforts with his final effort lacking any power to trouble the keeper. A cross from Czapla, for Alresford was whacked over his own cross-bar by defender Lammas, Czapla took the corner but Fay cleared the ball away at the far post for another corner, again cleared to such effect that defence turned into attack as MAX McDONALD picked up the ball on the half-way line, turned, drove forward, around retreating defender Osborne (J) to beat the keeper with a fine solo effort and the home team now had their deserved lead.

            When, Osborne (J) fouled McDonald, play was rightly brought back, Selwyn took the free-kick and keeper, Spencer was under pressure from Johnson and Bradley when he just managed to punch the ball clear, from inside the six-yard box. Selwyn embarked on a sixty-yard run out of defence finding McDonald wide on the left and his low cross bounced once before keeper, Spencer gathered near his goal-line. For the visitors, Tuckwell found Czapla who gained a corner off Lammas, the short corner routine was a failure as having taken the corner himself, Czapla was caught off-side as the ball was played back to him. Visiting captain, Wightman strode purposefully forward with the ball only to be dispossessed on the edge of his own penalty area by Selwyn, doing a fine covering job for his team. A long throw-in from Wesley was flicked on at the near post by Czapla but keeper, Simms was not troubled, Osborne (M) was cautioned for a foul when physically pulling back Fay, Kernott was injured when he landed heavily after a tackle then Topolewski was cautioned for stupidly hanging a leg out against Lammas, Selwyn took the free-kick but keeper, Spencer punched clear, again under pressure. As the half ended Dovercourt remained in the ascendency with Bowler (L) finding McDonald, once again, keeper, Spencer saved the day with a routine save.

HALF-TIME:    2 – 1.

            Alresford restarted this match, Bowler (L) was back to sweep up an early visitor attack, Lammas conceded a corner, Czapla took the corner and when play broke up field Johnson fouled Tuckwell, but Osborne (M) fired the free-kick well wide. The pace of McDonald down the left side saw him cross into the penalty box where Walsom headed out to Johnson who gained a corner off Wightman. Bowler (L) took the corner-kick finding McDonald who volleyed wide at the far post. A long throw-in from Selwyn was headed on by Smith (B) but straight to keeper, Spencer. A number of niggly fouls had crept into this match, Johnson on Walsom was a notable one, a long clearance from keeper, Simms, a virtual spectator this half, found Fay who passed to Johnson who shot wide after his first effort was blocked, when a pass to Bradley, in space, was perhaps a better option.

            On the hour mark, at a stop in play, the first substitution, Bowler (R) replacing Smith (B) and the home team shuffled their deference, a corner from Czapla was comfortably held by keeper, Simms, and minutes later Alresford replaced Osbourne (M) with Jessop. Johnson continued his attacking threat, but his shot was blocked by Wightman, standing firm in defence for the visitors, and it was the midfield area where most of the play happened now. A break by Fay saw his driven cross flash behind Bradley and the chances created were not being taken as frustrations grew.

            With fifteen minutes remaining Dovercourt replaced the hard-working Bradley with Smith (H) with the aim of freshening up the home attacking threat, a break by Smith (H) should have paid dividends but Fay scuffed his opportunity wide then Fay should have scored from a cross from Bowler (L) but headed wide without troubling the keeper. On eighty minutes Alresford replaced Wesley with Kerr and Dovercourt completed their substitutions when Caudill, Garwood and Watkinson replaced Kernott, Fay, and McDonald, at least everyone gets a game these days. Johnson, in space, shot wide then Smith (H) ran through two strong challenges, rounded the last defender but lost his legs and ended up in an embarrassed heap inside the penalty area. A rare shot for the visitors, from Jessop, failed to trouble the keeper despite the shot dipping at the last minute, as the minutes ran out Bowler (R) was cautioned for a head-to-head with Czapla, not much else in that really! Hallum almost provided a chance for Czapla whose pass from Tuckwell should have forced at least a save.  Dovercourt had dominated this match, numerous chances created and spurned, that was until the ninety-third minute, when KIERAN WATKINSON ran at goal and a goal was scored, an inspired substation, maybe!

FULL TIME:     3 – 1.

            League leaders Dovercourt Rovers FC retain their lofty perch, that’s six out of six in the league, for Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves its back to the drawing board, they have numerous new players and a young manager, learning the ropes as they say.

            Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player”, almost throughout one name crops up, Frankie Selwyn, he covered almost blade of grass, leading his team in an economical way, do the hard bit, win the challenge, defend when required, pass the ball on and organise the rest of the team.

Teams:

DOVERCOURT ROVERS FC:  

Colours:                        Green Shirts, Green Shorts and Green Socks.

Team:

Sam Simms., Bailey Smith., Mason Kernott., Callum Boyne., Kieran Lammas., Leon Bowler., Frankie Selwyn (C)., Elliot Fay., Max McDonald., Harry Bradley., Chris Johnson.

Manager:                      Jake Whittingham.

Used Substitutes:           Josh Caudill., Ross Garwood., Kieran Watkinson., Harvey Smith., Rhys Bowler.

ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC RESERVES

Colours:                        Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.

Team:

Peter Spencer., James Osborne., Bradley Hallum., Robert Wightman (C)., James Walsom, Kye Tuckwell., Finlay Topolewski., Antonio Wesley., Michael Osborne., Callum Knevett., Robert Czapla.

Manager:                      James Gill

Used Substitutes:           Rhys Jessup., David Kerr

Unused Substitutes:       James Gill

Referee:                        Richard Oakes.

Star Player:                Frankie SELWYN                           (DOVERCOURT ROVERS FC)

MATCH NOTIFICATIONS

Fixture Secretaries of Clubs are required to notify all match details, date, venue, kick-off time, colours etc, to their opposition and any appointed official/s, at least FIVE days before the match.

KICK-OFF TIMES

August, September & October (to end of BST):               15:00pm

November, December & January:                                   14:00pm

February:                                                                      14:30pm

March, to end of season:                                               15:00pm

ESBFL CUP TIES:                                                           30 minutes earlier, if necessary.

ECFA CUP TIES:                                                            Kick-Off as advertised

CUP TIES

There will be NO requirement for “Extra-Time” to be played in ESBFL Cup Matches, if scores are level at the end of “normal time” the match will proceed directly to penalty kicks.

SUBSTITUTES

The ESBFL allows FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named before kick-off and ALL FIVE may be allowed to participate.

Note:

In Essex County Cups (Premier & Junior) the Rule allows FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named and those FIVE SUBSTITUTUES may be used on a “Roll-On / Roll-Off” basis.

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, fully completed, 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.

(Allowances have been made for weeks where “Postal Strikes” have occurred)

RESULTS REPORTING

Rule 21(B)

BOTH Clubs shall notify/SMS the result of each Competition Match to the Competition within 30 minutes of the finish of the match. This will include Football Association and County Football Association matches.

The results of all League and Cup matches in the Competition should be reported by the FA Full-Time “SMS” (text) System.

Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

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.

“MATCH DAY APP”

This “App” is run by the Football Association and if Clubs have any issues on its use, then please refer to ECFA in the first instance.

As a Competition, the ESBFL does not recommend use of the “Match Day App”, it has known faults and any Club using it should check that all details are fully recorded before exiting the application.

A known issue is “Referees Marks” which have habit of dropping off once the team statistics are entered, a number of Clubs have had Fine Warnings and / or Fines for these details being omitted.

DISCIPLINE

Since the start of the season, till the end of September, there have been 30+ players dismissed and nearly 300 cautions, there have also been 7 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.

WHOLE GAME SYSTEM (“WGS”)

All Club Secretaries should check “WGS” on a regular basis, if you don’t, the ECFA levy a fine (25%) for late acknowledgements and payments of fines and the Club could be put into a “SINE-DIE” situation meaning they cannot play until those debts are cleared.

Club Secretaries are also responsible for adding the matches missed by players who have been suspended.

Whilst the ESBFL regularly reviews the whole Club contents on “WGS” it is not their responsibility to monitor failures by Member Clubs to follow basic procedure/s.

REFRESHMENTS

Rule 20A

The Rule {Rule 20(A)} on Page 120 of the ESBFL Handbook states:

Refreshments for BOTH teams and Match Officials MUST be provided by the home Club at half time unless these have been declined before the game.

Clubs in default shall be fined (£15.00).

NB: Whilst the Rule does not actually detail what constitutes “refreshments”, for clarity, it is in the form of drinks, these can be hot, in the form of tea or coffee or cold, eg bottled water, diluted squash or bottled energy drinks are sufficient.