24/08/2019 – REPORT – Shrub End United FC versus Elmden Rovers FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION TWO.

SHRUB END UNITED FC: 5. ELMDEN ROVERS FC: 1.

Date: Saturday 24^th August 2019. Venue: “3G” Shrub End Recreation Ground.

Another scorching day on which to play football, no problem with the “3G” pitch at Boadicea Way, Colchester where former Division Three foes Shrub End United FC and Elmden Rovers FC met, after a first season promotion, for a Division Two clash, both teams had new faces on show, the home team sporting the more experienced players against the youth of the visitors. My reporting colleague Spencer Hume had joined me to report and review this game, look out for his video on “You Tube” including a post-match interview with the home team management.

Today’s referee was the vastly experienced Joe Wrigley, a no-nonsense official who talked to players from both sides throughout the match, he gives players one chance then everyone knows where they stand, only two cautions in this match of two halves, well they are all of two halves, but this game was, definitely, one to watch.

Yes, the “Respect” handshake was undertaken, all clubs / teams and match officials should take note, this is an ESBFL requirement with Shrub End United FC ready to kick-off and they had a bright start when Alexander and Diggens broke from mid-field with Woods heading clear for Elmden. Alexander and Curtis followed this attack with another that Newman had to shuffle away for the first corner of the match taken by Holder towards Amass (R) whose overhead kick attempt caught defender Woods for a free-kick. Tulloch-Marsh showed his pace and control against Blowers down the right side and home keeper Luckman (R) scooped up the low cross at the near post, already both teams had shown enough attacking possibilities to ensure that goals would be scored. Wells was late into a challenge on Curtis and received a stern talking too, Woods fouled Alexander and from the free-kick taken by Holder, keeper, O’Brien punched clear and fifteen cagey minutes had passed by.

Keeper, Luckman (R) made a fine save from Justice (B) despite the player being rightly flagged for offside, Tulloch-Marsh again got the better of Blowers for pace to gain a corner, taken left-footed by Adnams towards the near post where Bell headed clear for another corner on the other side, Adnams again took the corner kick towards the far post where Woods headed into the side netting. Another free-kick taken by Adnams caused problems for the home defence when Justice (B) and Justice (J) competed for the ball with Amass (R) with home team frustrations beginning to show! Justice (B) was again caught off-side, a tight margin but the correct call and Shrub End built from the back to Alexander then Holder who snatched his left footed effort wide and at this point the referee stooped play for a, welcome drinks break a period during which the home team’s passions once again over-flowed. When the game restarted Justice (B) fouled Amass (R) who also fell heavily on the artificial surface and he required treatment both on and off the pitch. Tulloch-Marsh once again skipped down the right side this time against Bell with Harrington diving to head the cross clear from the six-yard line, then keeper, Luckman (R) advanced to block a through ball with his feet when Justice (B) was clear through.

Curtis showed a nice touch to control the ball and pass out to Amass (R) who found Alexander running forward forcing Flanders to head clear to Diggens whose return ball flew just over the cross bar. With over half and an hour gone this game remained a tight affair, Harrington was adjudged to have fouled Justice (B twenty-five yards out, Adnams struck the free-kick low towards keeper, Luckman (R) but the shot lacked any venom, but he had shown that he could deliver from corners and free-kicks with accuracy. On forty-two minutes, Elmden took the lead, keeper, O’Brien threw the ball wide to his left side finding Flanders who sent Adnams away down the left side and from his cross the predatory BEN JUSTICE had the simplest of tasks to score low past the keeper. Chandler, for Elmden made a fine tackle on Amass (R) and when the ball fell loose to Holder he fired over the cross-bar then Amass (R) chased a forward ball wide with keeper, O’Brien advancing to force the player wide until retreating as defensive cover came back however the right-footed curling cross-cum-shot from Amass (R) drifted just wide of the far post and the half ended with Tulloch-Marsh racing down the right side and forcing Harrington to concede a corner.

HALF TIME: 0 – 1

Shrub End replaced Blowers with the experienced Amass (T) for the second half re-start, a straight defensive swap and from almost his first touch in the forty-sixth minutes his pass wide to Diggens got the flanker past the last defender and when the cross came in ALFIE ALEXANDER slotted home to the jubilation of the home team and management, game on! Elmden keeper, O’Brien was poleaxed whilst in the air, near the penalty spot by a combination of Holder and Woods requiring treatment then Curtis showed some neat footwork again to draw a foul from Woods, almost central, right on the “D”, twenty -two yards out, RYAN AMASS shaped to take the kick and cleverly placed the ball over the defensive wall, hitting the under-side of the cross-bar and into the net, watch the “you-tube” clip, a great free-kick on fifty minutes. Elmden countered with a great free-kick taken by Adnams towards Wells who just failed to make a connection and the chance slipped away.

Ten minutes into the half and Shrub End scored their third goal, Amass (R) headed the ball on, finding Alexander running into the penalty area, a side step to the right, followed by one to the left saw him place the ball into the path of ALEX HOLDER who smashed the ball home, that’s three goals in ten minutes, some come-back this! Three minutes later and it became four goals, Amass (R) found space on the left side and from his cross ALEX HOLDER ran in to head home unmarked from six yards out, that’s four in thirteen minutes. On sixty minutes Shrub End replaced Alexander with O’Hara whilst Elmden replaced Woods with Pym in defence and when Tulloch-Marsh tried to get the better of Amass (T) for pace he was matched stride for stride with the defender winning the battle. Jennings fouled Justice (J) and with the match conveniently stopped the visitors replaced Wells with Hartley with Shrub End making their third change with Diggens going off and Partner entering the game.

O’Hara was spoken too by the referee for a silly challenge, the referee used considerable restraint not to send the player to the “Sin-Bin”, Adnams played the free-kick into Justice (B) and keeper, Luckman (R) made a fine save low down at the far post but this was Elmden’s first real chance of the second half. When Amass (R) was fouled on the half-way line, Holder took the free-kick but only found the arms of keeper, O’Brien standing on his goal-line. Justice (J) sent a tame effort towards keeper, Luckman (R) and when the visitors were forced to defend Pym was guilty of what I thought was a high handball, in fact the caution issued was for a poor challenge in a similar position to where the home team scored their second goal. Amass (R), who else, set the ball up but watched in agony as his dipping free-kick just cleared the cross-bar, and it was Amass (R) who was involved again when he tumbled inside the penalty area, where is VAR when you need it, the well placed referee adjudged the player to have simulated a foul and issued a caution. In the final minute Shrub End went nap, scoring their fifth goal, Holder ran into the penalty box and passed to ALEX CURTIS who hammered the ball home through a crowd of players, and once play resumed home keeper, Luckman (R) had to advance outside his penalty area to head clear.

FULL TIME: 5 – 1.

As I wrote at the start, a game of two halves, one goal down at the break Shrub End stormed back scoring five second half goals to record a convincing win, that’s three on the bounce now for the promoted team. In my opinion the more experienced players won the match, Elmden battled well but lacked that bit of experience both before and after taking the lead in a first half where they shaded proceedings. If Shrub End continue to use the 3G pitch their style of play will stand them in good stead for home matches and on Saturday, they also had a couple of players unavailable.

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, for Elmden, Adnams with some clever free-kicks, Justice (B), their main target player and flanker Tulloch-Marsh worked hard but to no avail especially in the second half when Shrub End changed their formation. For the home team, competent defensive displays from Harrington and Jennings, in midfield, Curtis, Holder, Diggens and Alexander worked tirelessly the first two perhaps a bit unfortunate to not get my selection but they both had influence, both scored goals however, Amass (R) was everywhere, did not lose a header, was involved in much of the good attacking play, scored an excellent free-kick, took a dive and got a caution, no matter he still gets my vote.

Teams:

SHRUB END UNITED FC: Colours: Navy Shirts, Navy Shorts and Navy Socks.

Ryan Luckman., Ben Clarke., Liam Bell., Adam Jennings., Mason Harrington., Lee Blowers., Alex Holder., Ryan Amass., Alfie Alexander., Alex Curtis., Joshua Diggens.

Manager: Robert Luckman.

Used Substitutes: Terry Amass., James Partner., Aidan O’Hara.

Unused Substitutes: Max Foley., Oliver Fisher.

ELMDEN ROVERS FC: Colours: Claret Shirts, White Shorts and White Socks.

Matthew O’Brien., Sam Woods., Jake Chandler., Sean Flanders., Freddie Newman., Thomas Green., Alfie Wells., Jack Justice., Bailey Adnams., Ben Justice., Lennard Tulloch-Marsh.

Manager: Warren Justice & Michael Hanna.

Used Substitutes: Glen Pym., Ben Hartley.

Referee: Joe Wrigley.

Player of the Match: Ryan AMASS (SHRUB END UNITED FC)

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Additional Reporting:

YOU TUBE., FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

Once again, this season the ESBFL is widening its match-day reporting coverage, in addition to a full report written by Brian Reed, our other roving reporter, Spencer Hume, has once again made himself known during the friendlies season and he will also attend games reporting via You Tube, Facebook and Twitter to communicate up-to-date information and replicate other match reports. In addition, John Campany, Vice Chairman will continue to provide a weekly summary, published in The Gazette.

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KO is 2:30pm in: February

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Kick-Off times for Essex County Football Association cup matches are published on the ECFA web-site.

( www.essexfa.com/competitions/county-cups )

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