24/01/2026 – REPORT – Great Bentley FC “A” versus Harwich & Parkeston FC “A”
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION THREE
GREAT BENTLEY FC “A”. 1. HARWICH & PARKESTON FC “A”. 2.
Date: 24th JANUARY 2026. Venue: Great Bentley Green (Pitch 2).
After promotion last season, Harwich & Parkeston FC “A” topped Division Three, six points ahead of third placed Great Bentley FC “A”, who thus far, remained unbeaten in the league, ominously they have five games in hand, these teams met back in September where a one all draw resulted, Tiptree Jobserve FC, also with games in hand sat in second place, consolidated by another victory today.
On a bright sunny afternoon on the second pitch on Great Bentley Green, today’s Match Official was Lewis Earl, who would be assisted by volunteer Club Assistants and before kick-off there was a one minutes silence in memory of a former member of the home club who passed away recently.
Great Bentley “A” kicked off and worked three throw-in opportunities down the right side, all taken by Griffiths, the Harwich & Parkeston “A” team defended well with Woodward getting the better of Smith (A) on two occasions. Griffiths then conceded the first free kick for a handball infringement near the half-way line, taken by keeper, Eagle, which was cleared by White. Hymus received the first caution of the match after only eight minutes, this for a foul on Smith (A), Griffiths took this free kick, keeper, Eagle, fumbled the ball, perhaps unsighted at the last minute by the low sun shining straight down the pitch. The home team pushed forward down both flanks the visitors stuck to their defensive duties well with their midfielders led by Eade and Carty prominent and chances although sporadic, were equal. Smith (A) fouled Woodward, then Wilson fouled Goody, a few tetchy moments followed as both teams tried to dominate. Wilson again fouled Goody right on the edge of the penalty area, Brackenbury (J) took the free kick, beating the four-man defensive wall but keeper, Eagle, who may have seen the ball late, swooped low to his left to gather the ball at full stretch. Another foul by Smith (A), this time on Wilson was near the halfway line, Wilson took the kick himself, but Grimshaw headed clear and the first fifteen minutes had elapsed.
Woodward fouled Byford, wide on the right side, a throw-in followed with Griffiths sending in a long throw-in headed clear by Carter, the first real open play goal opportunity came from an error by Latham-Wiles who missed his tackle on Smith (C), fortunately Brackenbury (J) was on hand to clear. A long throw-in from Hymus followed, the ball bounced once before Carty stuck out a random left foot and diverted the ball narrowly wide of the goal with the home defence flat-footed. Carty worked his way down the left side, to gain a corner off Jones, taken by Clark, with Griffiths heading clear at the near post, the game was still end-to-end with Goody leading the line for Great Bentley “A”, on another quick dribbling run he was fouled, Latham-Wiles took the free-kick and keeper, Eagle was forced to palm the ball away to be cleared high down field. Winter, was heavy into a challenge on Jones, one of many creeping into this competitive match, Griffiths took the free kick, his delivery was generally always very good, but the visitors defence stood firm. A mistake by keeper Boulton was covered by defender Hall, the keeper having fumbled the ball twice whilst on the ground and Eade was frustrated that he did not make better contact on the loose ball inside the six-yard box. Grimshaw made a determined run through midfield but his shot from the edge o the penalty area was blocked by Hymus, Goody forced a corner, taken by Goody, but over-hit and the danger passed.
Harwich had another chance themselves, Eade found Winter, who passed to Clark whose effort was blocked by White on the edge of the penalty area, at the other end, a corner taken by Smith (A) was headed wide at the far post by the unmarked Griffiths. Harwich & Parkeston “A” took the lead on thirty-four minutes, a long ball out of defence was headed on by Eade and LEO CARTY ran through to score with the home team calling for an earlier infringement, not given, which involved Brackenbury (J) and Winter, the home player was shown a yellow card for dissent and he would see out the remainder of the half on the sidelines. Thus far, there had, in my opinion, been too many high and high balls played into each half, many were volleyed away in a random way which disjointed the match, Goody did chase one such clearance and gained a corner, Goody took this corner himself sending the ball towards the near post where SOLOMAN GRIFFITHS headed smartly home. The response from the visitors almost yielded a goal as well, Clark fed Eade whose goal bound shot was blocked at the expense of a corner by White.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 1.
The second half restarted, no player changes and with both teams back to eleven players, the sun had dropped even further and home keeper, Boulton was asking for a cap, which never showed up! Woodward made a fine tackle on Smith (A) and it was noticeable that the visitors had been slightly quicker into all tackles against their younger opponents. Dale blocked a shot from Hall as the home team pressed forward, and as early as the fifty-second minutes Great Bentley “A” replaced Brackenbury (J) and Latham-Wiles with Doig and Chatters, two more experienced players who would play in midfield. A header from Goody was collected under his crossbar by keeper, Eagle, and minutes later Eade attempted an outrageous attempt at a volley from thirty yards out, at least he the saw the funny side of it when it went wrong! Keeper, Boulton sent the ball wide to Doig and from his forward pass, Goody gave chase, but Carter shielded the ball back to his keeper, Eagle. Great Bentley “A” were having more of the ball possession as we reached the hour mark, when the visitors made their only substitution with Pryke replacing Wilson, Byford made a determined run through the visiting defensive line, beating three players and his goal bound shot forced keeper, Eagle to save at full stretch.
When Chatters sent in a cross, Goody rose but keeper, Eagle plucked the headed ball from under the crossbar, when Eade evaded a challenge outside the penalty area, he ran on and sent s rising shot into the side netting, this game might have another goal in it yet! Goody continued to cause problems, using his feet and pace to good effect he was keeping the Harwich & Parkeston “A” defenders on their toes, he set Byford away down the right side, but the incoming cross was poor and flew behind the goal. The introduction of Doig and Chatters seemed to have livened up the home team and from a pass from Chatters, Smith (A) shot directly to keeper, Eagle. A break by Clark, for the visitors saw him shoot straight to keeper, Boulton who cleared up field for Goody to chase, Smith (C) fouled Goody just on the edge of the penalty area, Doig swung in the free kick and Griffiths ran in at the far post to head the ball into the net. However, the Club Assistant Referees flag was waving and after consultation, the referee disallowed the goal whereupon Griffiths showed dissent and was shown a yellow card, another player to spend ten minutes off the pitch!
On seventy-two minutes the home team introduced Hutchings for Smith (A), keeper, Boulton made a fine save to deny, Smith (C) then Carty was thwarted when keeper, Boulton raced way outside his penalty area to clear whereupon Goody chased forward and faced up to Dale who made a firm tackle. The game switched back to the other end where a corner taken by Clark was punched away by keeper, Boulton this time it was keeper Eagle who was yards outside his penalty area to clear into touch whereupon Griffiths rejoined the match. Carter made a fine tackle on Goody, this time trying to wriggle through, outside the penalty area, and when play stopped again, this time for a foul by Jones on Eade, the home team brought on Wheeler for Hall, this free kick was cleared, and we were heading into time added on. Both teams had given a lot in this game, and a draw would probably have suited both teams, but in time added on there was to be a twist of fate. Keeper Boulton opted to run to the edge of his penalty area diving at the feet of Clark, the ball bounced up and ran back towards the unguarded goal, who would get there first, in the chase Eade was beaten to it by ALEX PRYKE who scored into the empty net, queuing was some delirium amongst the visitors players and supporters as the referee signalled that two minutes remained during which time Goody tested keeper, Eagle, who stood firm.
FULL TIME: 1 – 2.
This result meant that Great Bentley FC “A” had lost their first league match of the season, the last team to do so, Harwich & Parkeston FC “A” had withstood a strong challenge and were perhaps fortunate to get all three points, the home team were clearly bemused by having a goal chalked off late in the second half, and on the balance of chances they should have scored more, a draw would have been fair though.
Turning to my choice of Star player, both teams gave everything, there were some intriguing battles, but one player never stopped running and probably, on another day would have scored, that was Goody of Great Bentley FC “A”.
Interestingly, these teams are the “third” team of their respective Clubs, a commendable achievement at “Grassroots” level and perhaps Great Bentley FC will not want to see me attend another match in a reporting capacity again this season as I’ve seen all three of their teams lose, their First Team away against Thorpe Athletic FC, their Reserves away at The Rodings & Little Waltham FC and then their “A” team today!
Teams:
GREAT BENTLEY FC “A”:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Edward Boulton., Soloman Griffiths., Adam White., Callum Jones., Lucien Hall., Pacey Grimshaw., Jack Brackenbury., Liam Laytham-Wiles., Archie Smith., Nathan Byford (C)., Joseph Goody.
Manager: Richard Herbert and Gordon Lawrence.
Used Substitutes: Reece Doig., Anthony Chatters., Flynn Hutchings., Mikey Wheeler.
Unused Substitutes: Callum Brackenbury.
HARWICH & PARKESTON FC “A”
Colours: Grey Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Sean Eagle., Logan Woodward., Max Carter., Jake Dale., Will Wilson., Charlie Smith., Leo Carty., Leroy Eade (C)., Bailey Hymus., Liam Clark., Liam Winter.
Manager: Michael Carter.
Used Substitutes: Alex Pryke.
Unused Substitutes: Charlie Lynch., Philip Charles., Dan Ifield., James Evans.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Lewis Earl.
STAR PLAYER: Joseph GOODY (GREAT BENTLEY FC “A”)
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