24/08/2024 – REPORT – Barnston AFC versus Cressing United FC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
BARNSTON AFC. 1. CRESSING UNITED FC. 0.
Date: Saturday 24th August 2024. Venue: High Easter Road, Barnston.
The season is just three weeks old, some Premier teams have now played five matches, only four teams were undefeated and two of them entered this match on ten and nine points respectively. Barnston have Liam Ridley continuing as Manager whilst Cressing United have Darren Stone and Therese Addison-Hardy following up last season’s elevation as Joint Managers. Both teams had players unavailable, after all, it was a Bank Holiday weekend, that said the team sheets sported a number of well-known names as well as some newcomers, the usual home hospitality was afforded to the match officials and myself.
Before kick-off the pitch looked in very good condition and clearly a lot of work has been carried out in the close season, the referee for this match was the experienced Lee Miller who was ably assisted by Daniel Chernanko and a Youth Assistant, of which there are many more this season, they all expect and deserve respect, just as all match officials do!
Barnston kicked-off down the slope, when Cressing United moved forward they were awarded a free-kick which was cleared out to Hardy who volleyed over the crossbar, Gilbert fouled Miller, French took the free-kick but captain, Cole headed clear. The start had been fast and furious and fairly, even, as both teams set about their game plan, chances were there but not clear-cut but an encouraging start. A break by Wade, set up by Clarke, seemingly fouled, when the referee allowed play to continue through midfield, was thwarted by an excellent save by keeper, Taylor, the corner taken by Thorndyke was cleared by Gibbs to Tran who raced clear only to see his effort saved by keeper, Crissell, a corner followed. Bowen showed good footwork inside the centre circle spreading the ball wide to Tran who left Carney in his wake, but his driven cross was cleared by Goode. Another break by Wade saw him elude the advancing keeper but he put the chance wide of the open goal, Stokes chested down a high pass to find Armitage who gave chase to gain a throw-in, and with fifteen minutes elapsed the match between two evenly matched teams had settled down.
Good movement by Cressing United, starting with Carney, on the left side saw his low cross find Miller, but keeper, Taylor was well placed to gather the close-range effort, Barnston had grown into this match whereas Cressing United were rushing things and becoming frustrated. A fine pass in open play from Chalk, fell to French, but keeper, Taylor was quickly out to save with his feet, the keeper repeated the save minutes later as, when a mix-up between Cole and Smith, the ball fell to Wade who saw his effort go behind off the keeper, for a corner, taken by French but headed wide by Chalk. A run and dribble down the left side by Hardy was foiled by Ridley, who was injured in the process, another corner followed, taken by French and headed over by Madden. From a throw-in taken by Cole, Bowen received the ball from Tran, he turned to shoot but saw the Assistant Referees flag raised, Bowen fouled Thorndyke, then a break by Bowen saw keeper, Crissell make a save after Goode had got back to just put in a last-ditch tackle, timing was everything there!
Just on the half-hour mark Barnston took the lead, Tran had worked the ball into space on the right side, ALFIE BOWEN ran on and from a tight angle smashed the ball on the half-volley, past keeper, Crissell, great strike though. As we approached half-time the heavens had opened and steady rain was falling as I made an early move towards the Clubhouse, Tran and Roberts set up Smith who was fouled by Miller, Barnston still pushed forward Armitage found Bowen who was stopped in his tracks by a fine tackle by Goode in a one-on-one situation. As the half ended, Barnston were looking for goal number two, a free-kick, taken by Ridley was punched clear by keeper, Crissell, with defender Goode completing the clearance
HALF-TIME: 1 – 0.
Cressing United restarted this competitive match, thus far, discipline had been good as both teams wanted to play football, Barnston were immediately on the back-foot and were indebted to keeper, Taylor who made a fine full stretch save to a shot from French. The rain had markedly increased, making the surface slippery and eventually the ground started to cut up, Chalk set up Wade who passed to Carney whose rising shot was high and wide. Bowen, a tricky player, robbed Goode, who chased back only to be beaten again, this time the shot from Bowen grazed the outside of the far post. On fifty-three minutes Cressing United replaced Clarke with Stafford, Roberts fouled French then French did likewise to Roberts and play was restarted by a drop-ball to the home team, which decision had supporters in the Clubhouse questioning the “drop-ball” rule! Wade fouled Armitage, from the free kick, taken by Ridley, the cleared ball fell to Stokes who blasted the ball over the crossbar.
Keeper, Taylor, made another excellent save from French who held his head in his hands as his shot looked likely to beat the tall custodian, on seventy minutes Barnston replaced the injured Armitage with Valentine, who picked up an early caution for a rash challenge. Barnston still held a slender lead and through Bowen and Tran, were causing problems, the latter player having a shot saved low down by keeper, Crissell, then a free kick taken by Stafford went all the way through to keeper, Taylor, such a waste as Cressing United had pushed all their defenders forward.
On seventy-five minutes, keeper, Taylor made another telling save to thwart Miller and from the clearance by Ridley to Tran, the forward moved outside then back inside before passing to Bowen who slipped the ball into the net, only to be flagged off-side. The game was still end to end, that single goal may prove decisive but neither team was giving up yet. Cole sent the ball long for Bowen to chase, a corner followed, taken by Ridley with Leonard, on for Hardy, heading clear, and Miller was replaced by Prow. Carney climbed all over Bowen to concede a cheap free kick then Roberts was cautioned for a silly foul. With three minutes remaining, keeper, Taylor denied, firstly French, with an unorthodox stop, then Wade who had pounced onto the rebounded effort.
FULL TIME: 1 – 0.
Another fully competitive match, no doubt, enjoyed mostly by the home Club, they remain unbeaten in second place, but both teams gave everything, the only difference being a well taken first half goal, for me the season augers well for both teams, Cressing United will rue not taking any of their chances.
A number, of players showed up well on both sides, but this week my star player, is Andrew Taylor, the home goalkeeper, he defied the visitors on numerous occasions.
Teams:
BARNSTON AFC:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue & White hooped Socks.
Team:
Andrew Taylor., Charlie Ridley., Ryan Gilbert., Ciaran Smith., Rob Cole (C)., Ben Roberts., Nathan Stokes., Jaden Gibbs., Martin Tran., Alfie Bowen., Henry Armitage.
Manager: Liam Ridley.
Used Substitutes: Stan Valentine.
Unused Substitutes: Harry Brown., Jake Williams., Aaron Spencer., Max Holland.
CRESSING UNITED FC.
Colours: Claret Shirts, Claret Shorts and Claret Socks.
Team:
Jordan Crissell., Luke Thorndyke., Redmond Carney., Sean Goode., Ben Madden., Tim Clarke., James Hardy., Dean Chalk (C)., Daniel Miller., Andrew French., Ethan Wade.
Manager: Darren Stone and Therese Addison-Hardy.
Used Substitutes: Charlie Prow., George Stafford., Jacob Leonard.
Unused Substitutes: Alex Blake., George Smtih.
Referee: Lee Miller.
Assistant Referees: Daniel Chernenko and Youth Assistant.
STAR PLAYER: Andrew TAYLOR (BARNSTON AFC)
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