25/10/2025 – REPORT – Thorpe Athletic FC versus Great Bentley FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

PREMIER DIVISION.

THORPE ATLETIC FC.             2.         GREAT BENTLEY FC.              1.        

Date:   25/10/2025.                          Venue: Kirby Playing Fields, Halstead Road, Kirby Cross.

            Last Saturday, all matches in the ESBFL were preceded by a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Richard “Dick” Degville, ESBFL, Vice-Chairman and former League Secretary who passed away recently.

            These teams met on the first day of the season, that was on Great Bentley Green and Thorpe Athletic fortuitously, by all accounts, prevailed that day, by two goals to one, since then their respective playing records are very similar, perhaps slightly inconsistent but non-the-less both teams held places in the top six of the Premier Division.

            I have to say the pitch at Kirby Playing Fields looked in good condition, so on a bright, sunny, but chilly afternoon, today’s Match Officials were Chris Warren who would be assisted by Philip Barham and young, Amelia Sagnella, the latter another new Match Official on the ESBFL panel.

            Both today’s teams have tall players, either playing in defence or up-front, would these teams play the more obvious high ball or play out from the back and have a mid-field battle, Thorpe Athletic kicked off, Mountenay committed the first foul, on Hanna, just outside the penalty area, McAndrews took the free-kick but sent the ball high over the goal. Peace had to defend against Barnard, who forced a throw-in, McAndrews possesses one of the now back in favour, long throw ins and Baker (C) headed away and the visitors broke forward through Baker (K) who won a throw in off defender, Lamb, that challenge was to be

first of many won by the home captain. From a well worked throw-in, defender, Humphries headed clear from near his goal-line with keeper, Burnby caught in no-mans-land from a cross by Baker (K). Baker (C) fouled Hunt, the free kick was cleared and with the decibel level rising from the touchlines a cross from Brown was handled by Cowler who naturally, protested his innocence! On ten minutes a poor challenge by O’Riordan on Warin saw the first yellow card of the match, one for the team perhaps, as Warin has pace and might have broken through the high defensive line near the centre-circle. Humphries won a throw-in off Thompson (C) and McAndrews wound up his arms to send the ball long into the penalty area where Baker (C) once again used his height to head away.

            On fifteen minutes a corner taken by McAndrews, for Thorpe Athletic, was headed against the crossbar by Thompson (S) from six yards out, the first real chance of this competitive match, keeper, Blanchette was on hand to snatch the loose ball. This game had been very open so far, both teams looking to attack but both defending well, Burch fouled Lamb when he pushed forward out of defence, from the free kick McAndrews moved inside and then outside of Vaughan to send in a fine cross, taken under his crossbar by keeper, Blanchette. Great Bentley opened the scoring on twenty-three minutes, the home team failed to clear a cross from the right side, when the ball was played back in there was RORY WARIN to slam the ball into the net from close range. Buoyed by this early goal, the visitors pushed forward again and home keeper, Burnby had to run quickly out to save at the feet of Warin, Baker (K) was pulled up for a foul when he lunged at Humphries who limped away after treatment. The first goal seemed to have settled the visitors and Thorpe Athletic were now having to get stuck in and chase down every pass and win every tackle, a break by McAndrews was stopped when Morley put in a fine challenge conceding a corner on the far side, the corner taken by Cowler, was headed into arms of keeper, Blanchette by McAndrews.

            With fifteen minutes to play before half-time a long range shot from Thompson (C), bounced once before keeper, Burnby collected on the six yard line, Vaughan was adjudged to have raised a high foot towards Thomspon, this was just outside the penalty area, the free-kick was cleared towards half-way where Thompson (C) put in a high challenge on Hunt to earn the second yellow card of the match. Thorpe Athletic continued to push for the equaliser, keeper, Blanchette had to advance out of his penalty area when Barnard looked to get to the ball first, a throw-in followed but more pressure followed from the throw-in from McAndrews. This match, despite the solitary goal was an even affair, Humphries fouled Warin down the left side, Lamb headed the ball clear, and Thompson (S) broke down the left side only to be fouled by Peace, and another yellow card was shown. Most of the free kicks and throw-ins awarded to the home team were causing issue for the Great Bentley defence, the delivery by McAndrews was always of good quality, aimed at Lamb and O’Riordan, but matched defensively by Baker (C) and Burch. Keeper, Blanchette had to make a save with his feet, this at the feet of Barnard who had found some space, from the resulting corner, taken by McAndrews, a fine header from Hunt was destined for the top corner, until keeper, Blanchette grabbed the ball as it was about to cross the goal-line.

HALF-TIME:    0 – 1.

            Great Bentley made a first substitution at the start of the second half, Peace being replaced by Herbert, a straight swap at right wing-back, and the visitors were ready to kick-off, very quickly Thorpe Athletic were on the attack through McAndrews and Hunt, with keeper Blanchette quickly out to clear forward to Baker (K) who pulled up injured to be replaced by Morton. A header by Barnard was comfortably held by keeper, Blanchette, Thompson (S) rode two tackles to find feed Barnard whose shot was deflected wide by Morley, covering on the right side. Barnard took the corner, right footed, keeper Blanchette clearly called for the ball, but nobody had picked up OLIVER LAMB who ran through unmarked to firmly head the ball home for the equaliser and with the match stopped, Thorpe Athletic replaced O’Riordan with Harms. Morton fouled Cowler, keeper, Blanchette had to head the ball clear when outside his penalty area, when Hunt threatened. When Barnard was played through from midfield, he delayed his goal scoring chance, and this allowed Great Bentley defenders Herbert and Baker (C), to recover and clear the danger, basically Barnard took too long whilst n the ball!

            Great Bentley replaced Thompson (C) on fifty-eight minutes with Wright, their earlier substitute Morton, also possesses a long throw-in, defender Lamb was once again head and shoulders over Warin, a corner followed, and then a goal kick. Another long throw in, from Morton was headed clear by McAndrews and Barnard strode forward to be eventually caught by Herbert wo had gone forward to take the visitors, corner. On sixty-five minutes, Thorpe Athletic removed Richardson with Tiffney taking his place, and Great Bentley put Stoneman on in place of Morley. The game was now evenly matched, the home team had raised their game since half-time and were far more threatening than the visitors although Baker (C) headed straight at keeper, Burnby who had seen little action this half. Keeper, Burnby was called upon minutes later to collect the ball when Wright and Warin tried to work some space through the middle, visiting keeper, Blanchette made a fine save from a volley from Hunt, and Hanna fouled Stoneman after his first touch since entering play. Brown for the visitors waltzed through a couple of static defenders and was on course to score before Lamb made a superb tackle near the penalty spot, how did he do that was the comment from the side-lines, excellent defending none-the-less, had to be perfect or a spot kick was probably inevitable!

            Morton chased a long ball forward, but Harms defended well conceding a corner, and with fifteen minutes remaining, McAndrews sent Thompson away, outstripping Vaughan on the outside his cross fell to leading goal-scorer, LUKE BARNARD who controlled the ball well before poking the ball through the legs of keeper Blanchette, a soft goal perhaps but they all count. Tiffney was fouled by Stoneman, Thorpe Athletic, who had shown more confidence this half kept up their forward attacking, Barnard is always a willing runner and an outlet for attacks, this time his free kick was caught by keeper, Blanchette, now the busier of the two custodians. On eighty-five minutes the final substitutions were made, off went Barnard to be replaced by Shuttlewood for Thorpe Athletic whilst Braddon replaced Mountenay for Great Bentley. The first challenge by Braddon was on Humphries, from the free kick taken by Cowler, Hanna was adjudged to have handled the ball, Burch took the free kick but could only hit the defensive wall and when the ball fell loose a the cross was headed over his own crossbar by Thompson (S) and this epitomised the work ethic of the home team. Wright sent in a cross which keeper, Burnby held on his goal-line, from his clearance, Hunt broke forward down the right side, rounding Baker (C), with the resulting cross being cleared by Herbert. Humphries fouled Brown, Herbert took the free kick which was punched clear by keeper, Burnby and the final whistle was blown.

FULL TIME:     2 – 1.

            As expected, this was a close, hard-fought match, before kick-off, my view was a drawn match with both teams cancelling each other out, football is all about taking chances, there were not many in this match but Thorpe Athletic prevailed once again and completed the double over Great Bentley. This season the ESBFL Premier Division looks like being a closely fought affair, East Thurrock Community were without a game, they have twenty-eight points and lead by four points from, on goal difference, Great Bentley, Springfield, Hatfield Peverel, Thorpe Athletic and Sudbury Sports, all of whom have twenty-four points.

Turning to my choice of Star player, its hard sometimes to pick this player, the game was played at a fast pace, tackles were hard and fair but for me, and a gentlemen spectator agreed, that Oliver Lamb stood out, scorer of his teams equaliser, he missed nothing and a superb tackle, late-on made our decision easy.

Teams:

THORPE ATHLETIC FC:

Colours:                        Blue Shirts, Navy Blue Shorts and Navy Blue Socks.

Team:

Grant Burmby., Scott Humphries., Oliver Lamb (C)., Ryan O’Riordan., Harvey Cowler., Jake Richardson., Brandon Hunt., Jayden Hanna., Taylor McAndrews., Sam Thompson., Luke Barnard.

Manager:                      Harry Barnard.

Assistant Manager:       Nathaniel Spencer.

Used Substitutes:          Kalon Harms., Frank Tiffney., James Shuttlewood.

Unused Substitutes:      Harry Willett.

GREAT BENTLEY FC  

Colours:                        Grey Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Lewis Blanchette., Alfie Peace., Jake Vaughan (C)., Lewis Mounteney., Conrad Baker., Jack Burch., Dale Brown., Charlie Thompson., Rory Warin., Rhys Morley., Kieran Baker.

Manager:                      Jack Murray.

Assistant Manager:       Greg Taylor.

Used Substitutes:          Lee Braddon., Barnaby Morton., Archie Herbert., James Wright., Jack Stoneman.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee:                       Chris Warren.

`

Assistants Referees:      Philip Barham

                        &          Amelia Sagnella.

STAR PLAYER:          Oliver LAMB                           (THORPE ATHETIC FC)