23/03/2019 – REPORT – Alresford Colne Rangers FC Reserves versus Tiptree Engaine FC (D1)

Match Report

Saturday 23rd March 2019

Essex and Suffolk Border League division One

Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves v Tiptree Engaine

Lee Purchase and Gary Wright’s Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves welcomed Michael Runicles Tiptree Engaine to Ford Lane. A huge game this one, a win for Engaine will leave them 4 points clear off Flitch in 2nd with one game to play. ACR can still win the league, a win today will move them up to 2nd but they need both Flitch and Engaine to lose rest of their fixtures.

The home side got us underway at Ford Lane on a very sunny afternoon, in the first minute and Engaine did have the ball in the back of the net but it was called offside, Jake Buckland, new signing from Flitch United crossed in a brilliant ball from the halfway line and Shane Goodyear slotted home well from 12 yards out but the flag was up for offside.
Tiptree definitely started this game the better and settled the quickest and came close to opening the deadlock when some excellent work by Callum Rogers over the far left saw him lay off Shane Goodyear who from 25 yards fired at goal but he’s effort went wide of the post.
Goodyear again causing problems for ACR and he came close again when Kyle Bergin headed into Goodyear’s feet inside the box, Goodyear turned and fired at goal but he’s effort went safely into Spencer’s hands.
With 15 minutes on the clock Tiptree by far were the better side, ACR hadn’t settled down but were defending well but Tiptree almost punished them when Ryan Hart found Harry Runicles in the box, Runicles looked up and found Kyle Bergin on the edge of the box, Bergin took a touch and opened up and fired at goal but he’s effort went just over the bar.
Tiptree then had a free kick 25 yards out which saw Callum Rogers step over, Rogers stepped up and fired at goal but he’s effort went over the bar.
Ryan Hart then picked out a great pass to find Callum Rogers in the box, with his back to goal Rogers smartly turned and fired at goal but Peter Spencer got down well to make the save.
With 3 minutes till half time Engaine almost took the lead when a Jack Szmodics corner found Ryan Hart on the edge of the box, Hart dunked it in and found the head of Jake Buckland but Buckland header went just wide.

HT: Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves 0-0 Tiptree Engaine

The second half kicked off with Engaine getting us underway and the second half started the way the first half was, one way traffic but give a lot of credit to Alresford who defended really well and had to dig deep at stages to keep the score at 0-0.
Callum Rogers with some great work on the far right to win the ball back, looks up and crosses a brilliant ball straight to Harry Runicles who 5 yards out fires straight at Spencer and Spencer makes a good save and the ball is cleared.
Another new singing for Engaine, Aaron Collier came on for Harry Runicles and Michael Runicles came on for Ryan Hart and straight away Collier caused problems down the far left, he beat his man cut in and fired an effort and goal but he’s effort went well wide.
Alresford then had a great opportunity to take the lead when some good play from Robert Cant saw Ashley Sauka get past his man and fire at goal but Harry Owen comfortably caught.
Alresford then had another fantastic chance to open the scoring when a great block by Robert Cant saw the ball deflect into the path of Ashley Sauka, Sauka left it for Roger Smith who went to smash it but the ball took a horrible bobble and rolled into the keepers hands.
With 25 minutes remaining Engaine looked to grabbed an important goal and came close when Collier found Goodyear on the edge of the box, Goodyear turned away from his man and fired at goal but also fired over the bar.
With 18 minutes remaining Alresford were awarded a penalty, Steve Davis with an excellent ball into the box met the head off Roger Smith who headed back across and found Russel McLean who headed onto the bar but Charlie Prow the Engaine defender jumped and put his hands on the crossbar, and apparently hand balled it on the crossbar, Referee Simon Bird awarded a penalty and also gave a red card to Charlie Prow.
Ashley Sauka stepped up and fired home into the left corner to give ACR the lead!
Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves 1-0 Tiptree Engaine
In the last 15 minutes ACR stood strong and held off Engaine and recorded a brilliant win!

FT: Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves 1-0 Tiptree Engaine

A fantastic win for Lee Purchase and Gary Wright men, they may not have deserved it on chances but they kept Engaine at bay for 90 minutes for the last 30 minutes gave a good battle and got the goal. Tiptree missed a lot of chances, which in the end cost them, but they played well but just didn’t put the ball in the net.

MOTM: Daniel Findlay (Alresford C-R Reserves)

MOTM: Shane Goodyear (Tiptree Engaine)

Alresford C-R LINE UP| Peter Spencer, Andy Marchant, Darren Wood, Steve Davis, Daniel Findlay, Ross Matthew, Russel McLean, Chris Price, Robert Cant, Roger Smith, Ashley Sauka

SUBS| Dan Martin, Jordan Hyams, Lee Purchase, Ross Nash, Chris Marshall

Tiptree Engaine LINE UP| Harry Owen, Jake Buckland, Elliot Aves, Charlie Prow, Ryan Hart, David Quinney, Harry Runicles, Jack Szmodics, Callum Rogers, Shane Goodyear

SUBS| Aaron Collier, Ben Reynolds, Taylor Warden, David Promphrett, Michael Runicles

REFEREE| Simon Bird