23/12/2023 – REPORT – Alresford Colne Rangers FC versus Colne Athletic FC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC. 0. COLNE ATHLETIC FC. 4.
Date: Saturday 23rd December 2023. Venue: Ford Lane, Alresford
This week I chose a local derby, bottom placed Alresford Colne Rangers FC against league leaders, Colne Athletic FC and it was helpful, as by living in Wivenhoe, I avoided Colchester, and the A12 on the Saturday before Christmas! Colne Athletic, with one defeat, have only dropped seven points all season and boast the best “goal-difference” despite not being the leagues leading goal-scorers however their goals against tally of thirteen, matched that of what the home team have scored! The form table suggested that this match should be an easy win for the visitors, local derbies can throw a spanner in the works of course and usually the players from both teams would know each other, not so this year, as Alresford Colne Rangers attempt to rebuild both their teams after a torrid close season when management and players left for pastures new, enough said!
On a dry but blustery afternoon, the appointed Match Official was Adrian Arnot who would have Assistant Referees, Steve Martin, and Zak White, the latter, one of many new young additions the ESBFL has procured this season.
Alresford Colne Rangers kicked off, as a decent Bank Holiday crowd assembled, Showemino immediately fouled Birch, the first of many, as his next action was to push Milburn over, Nwankyo was crowded out as he threatened but when Colne Athletic won possession they played the ball confidently out from the back leading to Crisell firing over from thirty yards. On seven minutes, a goal, Brown laid the ball off to Heron whose flick-on found HARVEY EVANS running through to score past keeper Jenkinson, who was cruelly exposed as his defence was caught out of position. More desperate defending followed from the home team, a run and cross from Daly, was followed by a shot from the same player, which was blocked by Murphy, then Heron was denied by another ground level block from Odili, the pressure is on now! A
corner was awarded when Heron persisted against Masnita, from which Shurvinton powered a header straight to keeper, Jenkinson, whose reactions sent the ball wide for another corner taken by Daly, this time the in-swinging ball was headed over the cross bar by Birch. Keeper, Jenkinson, was quickly out at the feet of Crisell, and goal-scorer Evans gained a corner off Richardson, this time the ball was cleared but picked up by Daly mid-half, with his head down he evaded a tackle from Masnita, running on to see keeper, Jenkinson advancing, however, his well struck rising shot smashed against the far post and rebounded into play to be cleared.
The concession of numerous corners was a concern for the home management, as with some tall players Colne would always be a threat from set-pieces, on fifteen minutes, a Daly corner was headed straight at keeper, Jenkinson, by Birch. On sixteen minutes, Nwaokeleme fouled Daly, thirty yards out, Daly, took the free kick, sending the ball high towards the far post area where JACK BIRCH ran in, unmarked, from outside the penalty area to thump home a fine header that would have beaten most keepers. Worse was to follow for Alresford Colne Rangers, as within two minutes of the restart, Daly, started a move, linking up with Brown, who slipped the ball wide to HARVEY EVANS who was lurking in space at the far post, his finish was clinical, and this game already had a familiar look about it! Alresford Colne Rangers got their first corner after twenty minutes, Showemino had given chase against Birch, in fact it was their only move of intent inside, the visitors half, since just after kick-off, such was the pattern of play, Lee took the corner but over-struck the ball way past the assembled players inside the six-yard box. Brown fouled Murphy, Lee took the free-kick low and hard but failed to trouble the defence, from which, keeper, Weller, launched a long ball to Crisell, who took the ball in his stride, rounded the last defender before crossing towards Evans, keeper, Jenkinson stuck out a long leg to divert the ball away from where Brown turned to shoot goalwards but straight at keeper, Jenkinson. Nwaokeleme was hard into a challenge on Crisell and received a verbal rebuke from the referee, this free kick was cleared, and the home team pushed forward over the half-way line, Showemino tried to use his pace, but Birch was equally quick and having got in front was hauled back by Showemino.
A free kick taken by Milburn was heading towards Crisell, but his challenge was clearly too high on keeper, Jenkinson, as play restarted, Shurvinton was cautioned for hauling over Showemino, who took the free-kick himself but hit the defensive wall to gain a corner, once again over-hit by Lee and the visitors regrouped. Daly was sent away by Milburn down the right side, the high cross from Daly should have been a routine catch at the near post for keeper, Jenkinson but he dropped the ball, which bounced once before hitting HARVEY EVANS and rolling slowly into the back of the net. Another cross from Daly, should have led to a goal from Crisell but he scooped the ball wide of the goal with keeper, Jenkinson, well beaten, and the one-sided half ended with Odili conceding a corner when faced up against Brown, Daly took the corner from the left side, the ball evaded everyone and flew out for a goal-kick on the other side.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 4.
Colne Athletic restarted this match and promptly went on the attack, Brown found Crisell who sent the ball forward for Daly to chase, having reached the ball his shot took a deflection off Lee for a corner, taken by Daly, which was headed clear by Page to Clampin who sent in a dipping long-range shot. When Odili fouled Daly, he was cautioned, sadly, Daly blasted the free-kick way over the cross bar, Milburn did likewise in open play when put through by Crisell. On fifty-five minutes, Showemino was fouled by Birch, Lee took the free kick passing to Showemino and he in turn to Nwankyo, but the attack faltered with a goal kick given.
On the hour mark, Daly set up Evans, but despite being unmarked, he shot over the cross bar from four yards out, big miss that one, then when Knappett appeared to foul Evans inside the penalty area, calls for a penalty were heard but the referee, well placed, was not interested, I agreed and when play continued Brown advanced out of the crowded area he failed to get the ball back in to the danger zone. As in the first half, Colne Athletic had chased down any Alresford Colne Rangers player on or near the ball, giving them no time to adjust and progress, the home players were also guilty of dwelling too long on the ball and not being given fair warning that they were about to be challenged. When Alresford did the get ball forward with purpose, Showemino gave chase, but he clattered keeper Weller, un-necessarily, to receive a yellow card, fortunately, the keeper was uninjured. On sixty-five minutes, a flurry of substitutions, Alresford Colne Rangers replaced Lee with Dymitruk whilst for Colne Athletic, Shurvinton, Crisell and Heron were replaced by Baker, Yearling, and Kedar-Keogh. Daly was guilty of missing the target, when running clear, flicking the ball over the cross bar and at the other end, Milburn made a fine tackle on Showemino to see his team keep a clean sheet, with a goal-kick being given.
As we entered the final fifteen minutes, Richardson fouled Kedar-Keogh just outside the penalty area, Milburn took the free-kick but keeper, Jenkinson held the ball on his goal-line. Richardson then fouled Daly, who was still causing problems with his dribbling with the ball, Daly took the free-kick, but Birch was just a fraction under the ball to make any contact with it, Milburn thought he had sent Daly through but a run along the goal-line saw the ball go out for a goal-kick when defender Masnita intervened. The final play saw Milburn link up with Clampin but in over-running the ball, keeper Jenkinson gathered safely, Alresford Colne Rangers had played a rear-guard action for most of the second half, they were more determined this half and did not concede when the situation at half-time looked ominous, so credit there!
FULL TIME: 0 – 4.
Not a classic, its often hard to judge a match on the relative starting team positions, you can see why the home team languish at the bottom of the table, they looked fragile both defensively and in midfield and their forwards failed to see enough of the ball to contrive goal-scoring positions but these are things that can improved in training and in the weeks towards the end of the season. The opposite can be said of the visitors who started on the front foot, scoring three well taken goals and were gifted their fourth but throughout they were dangerous, playing out of defence, on both sides of the pitch with confidence, their keeper being a virtual spectator.
Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player”, Murphy the captain of Alresford Colne Rangers FC tried hard and encouraged his relative new team-mates throughout but there has to be more positive and consistent involvement from those around him. For Colne Athletic FC, the defence of Millburn, Shurvinton, Birch and Rampton looked solid but were rarely troubled, up front three goal Evans and Heron caused problems when given the ball but midfield is the usual battle ground, Clampin, Crisell and Brown played their part but for me Daly was the player who stood out with his direct running with the ball, perhaps, at times a bit selfish but when on the ball there was every chance a goal might be created.
Teams:
ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC:
Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Red & Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Tom Jenkinson., Ethan Lee., Godswill Odili., Jamie Page., Callum Richardson., Magnus Nwaokeleme., Conor Murphy (C)., Callum Knevett., Bogdan Masnita., Michael Nwankyo., Dideoluwa Showemino.
Management: Ryan Amass & Andy Smith.
Used Substitutes: Marcel Dymitruk.
Unused Substitute: Agustin Rodrigues-Lopez., Ryan Luckman., Robert Cant., Andy Smith.
COLNE ATHLETIC FC:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Robert Weller., Keelan Milburn., Daniel Rampton., Joel Shurvinton., Jack Burch (C)., Jack Clampin., Quentin Daly., James Crisell., Joseph Heron., Dale Brown., Harvey Evans.
Manager: Ben Connell.
Used Substitutes: Jamie Baker., Scott Yearling., Blake Kedar-Keogh.
Unused Substitutes: Will Crisell.
Referee: Adrian Arnot.
Assistant Referees: Steve Martin & Zak White.
Star Player: Quentin DALY (COLNE ATHLETIC FC)
About Post Author
