23/08/2023 – REPORT – Dedham Old Boys FC versus West Bergholt FC

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC. 3.                 WEST BERGHOLT FC.     4.

Date:   Wednesday 23^rd August 2023.           Venue:             The Drift, Southfields, Dedham.

             After Tuesday and Wednesday’s evening mid-week matches most teams will have played four games, only two teams remain unbeaten, leaders Brightlingsea Town FC and Belle Vue Social FC, and with the exception of Alresford Colne Rangers FC, every team has at least one point. Mid-week matches, normally kick-off at 18:30pm unless floodlights are available, this mid-week I chose the match between ninth placed Dedham Old Boys FC, one win and two defeats, and eight placed, West Bergholt FC, two wins and one defeat, on paper a close game should ensue.

            The pitch at “The Drift” at Dedham looked very green and on a warm sunny evening the appointed Match Official was Paul Sadler, who would be assisted by Danial Axente and Lee Webb, the usual Dedham hospitality was afforded not just to me but various other Club representatives, the match was due to be the full forty-five minutes each way, the sun would drop behind the Church and barring lengthy delays would be completed in day-light.

            Dedham Old Boys have a very familiar look about their team, there were only four players I had not seen play before, West Bergholt FC now managed by Terry Rymer, have a completely new team with only one player known to me, their results to date are a far cry from the struggles they experienced last season, and for a mid-week match a decent crowd had assembled.

            And so, to kick-off, Dedham got the match started, West Bergholt pressed forward when possession was given to them, Baker fouled Keelan, just outside the penalty area, Keelan persisted in troubling Baker and Ruffles to gain the first corner of the match, Keelan took the corner, left-footed towards the near post where Vallentyne headed away but with the ball not cleared very far, Welham fouled Clark. This lively start continued with Peters sending a deep cross from a free-kick, into the visitors, penalty area, where keeper, Hardy clutched the ball high at the far post. There followed two goals in as many minutes, both to West Bergholt, firstly JASON KEELAN headed home, with the home defence going walk-about as the cross came in from the left side, the second was again scored by JASON KEELAN who latched onto a forward pass from Clark who had made good progress down the left side, a suspicion of off-side was quickly turned aside, no VAR here in Dedham! This score-line was certainly not expected but Dedham had defended poorly, and West Bergholt had capitalised handsomely, whatever next we asked! A throw-in taken by Vallentyne was headed on by Welham to Slack whose lay-off to Halsey was lobbed just wide, much getter from the home team. Then Dedham should have scored and certainly thought they had, Peters swung over a fine cross, Parker headed the ball against the cross-bar and when it dropped Slack headed goalwards only for Ketley to clear the ball off the goal-line.

            Another cross from Peters, was caught by keeper, Hardy, but his backwards momentum took him and the ball out of play for a corner kick, taken by Orrin, cleared by Luckman but Slack was guilty of handling the bouncing ball before shooting goalwards and keeper Hardy collected six-yards out. A deep cross from Ketley bounced before a hesitant keeper, Bentley, collected the bouncing ball just as Walmsley threatened. A decent dribbled attack by Babatunde saw him beat three players before Ketley stuck to his task to dispossess the eager youngster, an earlier lay-off would have been the preferred option as Slack and Orrin were in attendance. Dedham were pushing to get something back, they had limited chances so far, but a free-kick taken by Orrin saw Baker head just over joint of the post and cross-bar, West Bergholt still looked dangerous, a cross from Kenny caused problems with keeper, Bentley failing to get anywhere near the ball, which fell to Keelan, but he flashed the ball wide. Halsey, got his team forward again and after ducking in and out down the right side, he crossed to Welham who could only scoop the ball over the cross-bar, another close call, is the first goal in reply imminent. So far, in the twenty-five minutes played, West Bergholt had been quicker to the ball, stronger in the tackle, kept possession better and had taken the chances presented. Parker scythed down Walmsley, the first real challenge with any malice and received a verbal dressing down from the on-the-spot referee. The West Bergholt midfield had been dominant and when Alison threaded the ball forward for Ryan to chase, this he did, but keeper Bentley started to advance, then inexplicably stopped which gave DOMINIC RYAN the simple job of side-stepping him to score.

            Vallentyne, perhaps out of frustration, tried with a long-range effort that was still dipping as it flew over the cross-bar, Keelan wriggled past Baker, to set up Walmsley who missed the target with the home defence, once again out of sorts! A strong run down the left side by Clark, forced Baker to head away for a corner, then an acknowledged error by Welham set up Clark who shot over the cross-bar, the same player won the ball back from Baker and set up Walmsley, this time, keeper, Bentley made a fine diving save at full stretch. On thirty-seven minutes Keelan faced up to Baker, a shimmy one-way then the other forced the over-worked defender to drag the right leg of Keelan away and concede a penalty kick, to be taken by Ryan. Dedham keeper, Bentley saved the first effort but DOMINIC RYAN, forced the rebound home, the unfortunate Keelan had been injured and had to retire with Foska being his replacement. Orrin placed a left-footed free-kick straight into the hands of West Bergholt keeper, Hardy who had not seen much action due his team being so much in control of this first half, but when he was called into action he advanced to save at the feet of Babatunde and the last action saw Orrin spoken too for persistent infringements, he is young so he will learn, hopefully!

HALF-TIME:    0 – 4.

            Dedham Old Boys had to re-group, off went defender Baker and forward, Orrin to be replaced by Terry and the experienced midfielder, Polley whose has returned to the Club this season, Parker moved back into defence, Welham set Terry away down the right side and gave Walmsley a hard time deep down by the corner flag, a number of fouls might have been committed but with possession held the game continued. Vallentyne tried his luck again from distance, Terry again used his pace to go a fine run before crossing into Slack, again, he almost caught the ball in his arms before firing into the goal. This was much better from the home team, Babatunde forced a corner, then when that was cleared Babatunde crossed and Kenny headed away for a corner, taken left-footed by Vallentyne with keeper, Hardy punching the ball clear. When play stopped for an injury, Luckman tried to work a short ball from the free-drop, Welham stole the ball and alongside Slack broke forward with defenders only trailing behind them, Welham passed to RYAN SLACK who had the simplest of chances to chip the ball over the prone keeper, Hardy and score, fortune had smiled for Dedham, is this game on! A poor back-pass by Bazeley forced his keeper, Hardy to react as Slack threatened on the six-yard line, a long clearance from keeper, Bentley found Welham, who forced Kenny to hastily pass back to his keeper.

            The tone of the game had changed, had West Bergholt dropped off after cruising the first half, had Dedham Old Boys stirred themselves, yes, they had, Halsey, Welham and Polley were getting stuck in and a few feisty challenges were called up by the efficient referee. Halsey set up Slack, already seeing more of eh ball, a neat piece of control, a swivel and a left foot shot was held on his goal-line by keeper Hardy, a long ball forward from Parker saw Welham give chase forcing keeper Hardy to leave his penalty area to clear. Dedham changed Babatunde for Black on sixty-three minutes then on sixty-seven minutes West Bergholt replaced Clark with Blackman, Terry was gifted the ball wide on the right side, he looked up and ran at the visitors goal, before shooting goalwards with keeper, Hardy forced to save at the near post and concede a corner. With twenty minutes remaining Dedham brought on forward Mulenga for defender Vallentyne, his first action was, with the ball at his feet, being pushed from behind by Kenny and the referee pointed to the penalty spot, RYAN SLACK gave the keeper little chance to save, thumping the ball home from twelve yards. The momentum was now with Dedham, another push forward, Black and Mulenga exchanged passes before Kenny conceded a corner kick, which was summarily cleared way up-field to relieve the pressure.

            On seventy-two minutes Peters from a Parker pass sideways, hit the ball long to Slack, his knock-down fell to Mulenga whose rasping shot crashed back off the left hand upright, so close but it gave the home team some hope. Welham and Halsey set Terry on a chase down to the corner flag, a deep cross followed but Slack could only direct his downward header to keeper, Hardy, who fell gratefully on the ball to relieve the pressure once again. When Ruffles pushed forward out of defence, two back headers by Welham and Slack saw Northover clear his goal-line, that danger passed but with minutes Dedham scored again. Polley and Welham sent the ball out to Ruffles whose cross found Slack and this time MATTHEW HALSEY was quickest to react and steer the ball into the net, that is one goal to get in the remaining six minutes! With time running out, the handbags came out for a bit of a free-for-all on the right touch-line, six of one and half a dozen of the other, yes, that’s the number of players involved over a disputed throw-in! Tempers cooled and the remainder of the game passed without further incident excepting a long clearance from keeper, Bentley reaching Slack, but Kenny snuffed out that threat and the final whistle was blown as darkness started to prevail.

FULL TIME:     3 – 4.

            Now, it’s time to draw breath, a frantic first half dominated by West Bergholt FC, four goals to the good and it could have been more as the home defence stuttered under a constant barrage, mistakes had been made but to concede four first half goals need’s some explanation. That said the second half was almost a repeat, Dedham Old Boys threw everything forward and scored three goals and it could also have been more, so what did we witness, well the proverbial games of two halves, incidentally all the goals were scored at the same end. Was the match entertaining, from a neutral perspective, yes, from a management and player perspective, it’s a no! All the payers must take credit for playing a fast and furious game, fitness levels were high, some good football was seen, defensive errors led to many of the goals, that’s life, as they say.

            Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player”, for Dedham Old Boys, Ruffles worked hard in defence, Welham, Halsy and Polley led their second half charge aided by Slack who showed some nice touches for a big player. For West Bergholt, Luckman and Kenny defended well, Bazeley, Walmsley and Allison controlled midfield in the first half with Ryan and Keelan both scoring two goals, however, for his overall performance my choice is Allsion, creative in the first half but defending when required as the second half tables were turned.

Teams:

DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC:        

Colours:                        Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Ryan Bentley., Liam Peters., George Vallentyne., James Ruffles., Max Baker., Matthew Halsey (C)., James Parker., Henry Welham., George Orrin., Ryan Slack., Ilesanmi Babatunde.

Manager:                      Luke Tuttlebee.

Assistant Manager:        Danial Coote.

Used Substitutes:           Peter Mulenga., Joseph Terry., Elliot Black., Steven Polley.

Unused Substitutes:       Jason Sawyer.

WEST BERGHOLT FC:

Colours:                        Flouro Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts and Yellow Socks.

Team:

Jonathan Hardy., Adam Ketley., Tyan Luckman., Max Galtress., Mark Kenny., Lewis Bazeley (C)., Dominic Walmsley., Harry Allison., Henry Clark., Jason Keelan., Dominic Ryan.

Manager:                      Terry Rymer.

Coach:                          Andrew Denikiewicz

Used Substitutes:           Rocha Foska., Fraser Northover., Jordan Blackman.

Referee:                        Paul Sadler

Assistant Referees:        Daniel Axente and Lee Webb.

Star Player:                Harry ALLISON                        (WEST BERGHOLT FC)