25/01/2025 – REPORT – Lawford Lads FC versus Frinton & Walton FC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE.
LAWFORD LADS FC. 2. FRINTON & WALTON FC. 2.
Date: Saturday 25th January 2025. Venue: School Lane, Lawford.
A short trip over to Lawford, last Saturday, the Division One, home team, “The Lads” sat in seventh place but had not played since mid-December whereas visitors, Frinton and Walton were unbeaten in seven league matches and sat second, albeit having played more games than those around them.
The afternoon was chilly and bathed in sunshine, the pitch, as expected was in perfect condition, a credit to the hard-working volunteers and for this match the experienced John Watson had been appointed, to be assisted by Club Assistants, never an easy job in this competitive division.
Frinton & Walton kicked off, held the ball well and worked their way up field gaining two throw-ins both headed clear by Wrycraft then a cross from Kershaw was collected by home keeper, Butler as the visitors opened positively. A handball by Lebrett when faced up by Edwards, led to a free kick wide on the left side, Blackman took the free kick, but this was headed clear by Bell for a throw-in on the other side of the pitch. Lonergan took the throw-in, long into the penalty area but Auty headed clear, at the other end Elsdon chased down a forward pass, Upton guided the ball back to his keeper, Butler whose short clearance found Stocker who ran down the left side before crossing the ball out of play. On ten minutes, Stocker fouled Mutch, then Bell fouled Lonergan mid half and as play switched back and forth Upton stopped Mayo with a strong defensive tackle. Whilst Frinton & Walton had started well, Lawford Lads had grown into this match, both teams were perhaps too eager and made mistakes which dis-jointed the pattern of play, Lawford had not played recently so were a bit rusty, Frinton & Walton on the back of a seven-match unbeaten run were tentative as any mistake could scupper that recent good form and results.
On fifteen minutes, a cross from O’Brien (R), towards Debenham led to a free kick as Debenham had fouled Lebrett on the edge of the penalty area, another long throw-in from Lonergan was cleared by Payne but in his eagerness, Payne fouled Edwards on the half-way line. Lonergan found Edwards who in turn passed the ball to Debenham but keeper, Gibson was quickly out to the feet of Debenham, and a goal kick followed. Lawford now held a slender territorial advantage and looked more positive, Lonergan linked up with Stocker who found Edwards who, in his haste, blasted the ball well wide. A free-kick taken by Payne, lofted high towards Elsdon, running in at the far post saw the ball headed into the net, however the Assistants flag was raised for an off-side decision, another free kick, again taken by Payne, long and in swinging, once again the ball was headed home by Bell, but again the Assistants flag was raised and no goal was given. This game had been primarily fought in mid-field, both teams cancelling each other out with no direct shots at goal at this half-way stage of the first half! Debenham fouled Elsdon, the free kick taken by Payne was way too high and cleared the crossbar, a cross from Lonergan was headed clear by Elsdon into the path of Wrycraft who blazed the ball high over the goal as the teams rushed out. On twenty-six minutes, Bell conceded a foul on Lonergan, twenty-five yards out, and was cautioned for his indiscretion, O’Brien (R) took the free kick, left footed but straight to keeper, Gibson who collected the ball after one bounce inside the crowded penalty area.
Mutch was injured after following up two strikes at goal from outside the penalty area, the home defence did their job well and cleared up field with a cross from Stocker forcing keeper, Gibson to punch clear but only to Lonergan who lobbed the loose ball wide. Auty, the Frinton & Walton captain was injured in a challenge and was replaced by Dawson-Dragisic, with Spacey taking the captains armband and Elsdon dropping into central defence. Dines (L) won a corner, O’Brien (R) took the corner, left footed and swinging into the goalmouth towards Stocker at the near post, but Payne was there to clear out for another corner, this time hit longer towards the far post where Upton headed wide, best chance of the game if you ignore the two disallowed off-side goal attempts. Attridge fouled Dines (L), Wrycraft took the free kick from wide on the left side, Elsdon headed clear, and this allowed Mutch to canter away down the left side, in front of the Clubhouse, but defender Rider did well to stop any major progress, but a corner followed, taken by Payne but straight into the side netting. Dines (L) got down the left side, his pass inside fell to Edwards who shot wide, when a pass to his right would have seen Lonergan in plenty of space. As the half came, to a close, Wrycraft and Mutch had a disagreement, easily sorted though, a fine run by Attridge led to a cross to the near post but it only found the side netting and as Frinton & Walton attacked again, Upton and Wrycraft stopped Mutch on the edge of the penalty area. This first half had remained goalless, the visitors did have the ball in the net twice, both chalked off for off-side though, other than that, neither goalkeeper, had a direct shot to save, let’s hope the second half is better and we see some goals!
HALF-TIME: 0 – 0.
Before the restart a number, of player changes, off went Edwards and Upton for Lawford Lads, they were replaced by Dines (S) and Metcalf, and the hosts kicked off and went straight on the attack with keeper, Gibson having to save at the feet of Debenham. Frinton & Walton maintained their patient approach with Mutch rasping a shot just wide when he found some space, Mutch and Mayo looked a good pairing up front and with Dawson-Dragisic began to look dangerous. Debenham forced a corner off Elsdon, a former goalkeeper, but now a towering centre-half, O’Brien took the corner, but the visitors defended well from inside the crowded penalty area. Dawson-Dragisic took possession inside his own half and embarked on a strong dribble forward passing to Mutch whose shot was over the crossbar, a positive start though as we reached fifty-five minutes. Debenham had shown good footwork in the first half so when he made a run and crossed, defender Kershaw just managed to flick the ball away from Lonergan running in from the right wing.
On fifty-eight minutes the referee awarded a penalty to Lawford, it looked like foul by Lebrett on Debenham, it looked a bit soft, but the referee had a better view than me, looking into the low sun, JORDAN BLACKMAN stepped up to send keeper, Gibson the wrong way, from the first direct shot at goal! Frinton & Walton equalised three minutes later, a corner taken by Payne, towards the far post was thumped home by the head of OLIVER DAWSON-DRAGISIC who rose unchallenged, a fine header, this game now had some potential. Visiting defender, Bell, already on a caution was spoken too by the referee, this for a clumsy challenge in midfield and on sixty-one minutes Bell and Mutch were replaced by Mead and Dixon as the visitors had to defend a long throw-in from Lonergan with Elsdon heading out for a corner, he had not missed a header thus far. There was a phase here that saw play get a bit scrappy, a few tackles were a bit tasty with the referee trying to keep the match going as far as possible. On seventy minutes, Lawford Lads made another change, off went Dines (L) and on went Rand, Wrycraft ducked into a raised boot, not determined to be a foul, the attack led to a corner, taken by Mayo but straight out of play.
At seventy-five minutes Frinton & Walton made their last change with Kershaw being replaced by White, when they had been awarded a free-kick mid-way into the Lawford Lads half, taken by Payne, but again this was repelled by Stocker. Mead conceded a corner when defending against Lonergan, play broke away but when Mayo ran past Wrycraft, wide down the right side, the defender hauled him back, never the last man, but a caution followed whereupon Lawford Lads made another change, this time Springett took over from Debenham who had caused a few problems with his close ball control and precision corners and free kicks. On eighty-two minutes, when defender, Wrycraft was played a short pass out from his keeper Butler, he turned and tried to get past OLIVER DAWSON DRAGISIC losing control of the ball and this enabled the visitors first half substitute to run and score from mid-half. This game was still not over as when Lebrett fouled Stocker, the free kick taken by O’Brien (R) was only palmed away by keeper, Gibson, but only to JORDAN BLACKMAN who cleverly lobbed the ball into the back of the net through a crowd of players, so all square once again. Another substitution followed for Lawford Lads, O’Brien (D) taking over from Lonergan, who had put in a big shift this afternoon, Lebrett picked up a late caution when play stopped for a foul on O’Brien (R), he took the free kick and Frinton & Walton took three attempts to clear the ball away as the home team sensed victory, which came to neither team, as the final whistle was blown soon after.
FULL TIME: 2 – 2.
The first half had been a cagey affair, neither team seemed prepared to try something for want of making a mistake leading to a goal against, but if you don’t concede you don’t lose! The second half was more direct and fair play to both teams for having a go, mistakes were made, four goals followed, two apiece and both teams probably felt, like me, that a draw was fair, the respective league positions remain unchanged.
Turning to my Star Player, for Lawford Lads, captain Stocker led his team from midfield, Lonergan played well down the right side, Debenham, held the ball up well up front and forward Blackman scored twice, one from a “soft” penalty, the other a well-directed lob. For Frinton & Walton, the second half forward line involving Mayo, Mutch and Dawson-Dragisic showed potential, the latter player taking his goals well, maybe he should have started the match! For me, one player stood out, having had a header ruled out in the first half when playing up front, he used his height to great advantage when playing in defence in the second half, apparently a former goalkeeper on the books of Ipswich Town, he now prefers playing in defence, that player is Owen Elsdon.
Teams:
LAWFORD LADS FC
Colours: Sky Blue & White Shirts, Navy Blue Shorts and Navy Blue Socks.
Team:
Charlie Butler., Callum Rider., Reagan O’Brien., Alex Stocker (C)., Ben Upton., Adam Wrycraft., Dylan Lonergan., Jordan Blackman., Daniel Edwards., Aaron Debenham., Leo Dines.
Manager: Jay Welham.
Used Substitutes: Will Metcalf., Lee Rand., Sonny Dines., Reuben Springett., Dylan O’Brien.
FRINTON & WALTON FC.
Colours: Yellow Shirts, Royal Blue Shorts and Royal Blue Socks.
Team:
Jack Gibson., Daniel Kershaw., Cameron Bell., Luke Attridge., Shane Spacey., Darren Auty (C)., Connor Lebrett., Nathan Mutch., Jake Mayes., Owen Elsdon., Mitchell Paine.
Manager: Aynsley Davidson
Used Substitutes: Jamie Mead., Patrick Dixon., Kieran White., Oliver Dawson-Dragisic.
Referee: John Watson
STAR PLAYER: Owen ELSDON (FRINTON & WALTON FC)
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