25/11/2023 – REPORT – Tollesbury FC v. Flitch United FC

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION THREE

TOLLESBURY FC.            0.                 FLITCH UNITED FC.       2.

Date:   Saturday 25^th November 2023.        Venue: The Victoria Recreation Ground, Tollesbury.

A beautiful but cold day was forecast so I headed down to Tollesbury, they may be second bottom, but they are a well-run club and whichever team plays they always compete despite consecutive relegations. Today’s opponents were high-flying Flitch United FC who in contrast have pushed themselves upwards and with a settled team are second and thus far, before kick-off, remained undefeated in the league, boasting only three goals conceded in their seven matches, the season is long, and their current form needs to be maintained.

Today’s Match Official was young Matt Owen, and he not only had me reporting on the match, but was also being observed by, Matt Jarvis, our very own Referees Appointments Secretary, overall, with one caution and a dismissal he did very well in a game that was played in a good spirit. As usual the Match Official and both League Officials were afforded a warm welcome by long serving Club Secretary, Janet Leavett, and Peter Seaborn who rarely misses a home match.

Flitch kicked-off, Bull fouled, new signing Ewers and from the re-start Tollesbury pushed forward to gain a corner, taken by Whitman, low and hard towards Carlin whose close-range effort was cleared off the goal-line by Howe. Flitch kicked into gear and began to work the ball around the pitch with Tollesbury literally chasing shadows, that’s because the low sun was causing them! Cannon made a fine tackle on Carlin and from the throw-in Trussler handled the ball as he turned to run goalwards, McDowell then made a good challenge to dispossess Hartshom (C), the ball fell to Howe whose astute forward pass found Bull racing down the right side however, McDowell covered for his stretched defence. Gale, like Bull was using the wide areas to find space, this time Bryant stuck to his defensive duties the thwart Gale, conceding a corner, taken by Lane but the unmarked Layton (C) saw his header flash wide.

Flitch captain, Howe was orchestrating their midfield, dropping deep to collect the ball then getting forward in support of his eager forwards, but in reply, Frost found Carlin whose effort from the edge of the penalty area, dropped just over, the crossbar. With ten minutes elapsed the scores remained level, one might have expected the second top team to be ahead over the second bottom team, but the home team belied their position by thus far giving a gritty, determined and disciplined display. Whitman took on Cannon, the ball fell to Carlin whose right-footed effort cleared the crossbar, then Eaglestone made a run down the left side to find Whitman whose, cross, into Carlin was controlled, but his right-footed effort, once again flew over the crossbar. Frost sent a long ball forward to Whitman, and his pass into Smart was block by Cannon, who sent the ball forward towards Hartshom, but McDowell chased back to tackle and concede a corner. The resulting corner was headed clear by Smart, but the ball fell at the feet of Howe who chipped the ball into the penalty area where veteran defender, KEVIN SPENCER glanced his header home.

Buoyed by the goal, Flitch pushed forward again, Howe let fly from thirty yards by keeper, Foakes held tightly on to the ball on his goal-line, Gale was put through by Howe, keeper, Foakes advanced but failed to gather the ball which squirmed out behind him, Gale should have scored but for a fine piece of defending by Bryant to clear the ball away from in front of the goal. Tollesbury were now under pressure, Smart cleared the ball, Bull gave chase and from his cross Gale forced keeper, Foakes to save but with the ball running loose, WILL GALE slotted the ball home. The home team needed, to get to half-time, without conceding again, this they did, but needed “row Z” clearances from Smart and McDowell and a block from Saunders when Layton (C) threatened.

HALF-TIME:    0 – 2.

            For the second-half restart Tollesbury, replaced Smart with Aitken and Flitch replaced Layton (C) with Bates, play was even, with Flitch mainly in possession for the first ten minutes then when a throw-in decision was seemingly given the wrong way according to Bull, he spoke out of turn and was promptly dismissed with thirty-five minutes to play. Three minutes later Flitch replaced midfielder Howe, with Cook, a forward, this half had been a little disjointed so far with no pattern of play, certainly no chances from either side. A corner taken by Trussler was headed goalwards by Eaglestone but straight towards keeper, Sanger, a virtual spectator so far, Layton (R) got the ball into the feet of Lane but acting Manager, McDowell was quickly in to tackle and clear the danger.

            On sixty-five minutes, Tollesbury took off Ewers and sent on Unwin, home keeper, Foakes saved with his feet from shot from Gale who was set up by Lane, decent move but the keeper did well. Flitch continued to push forward, despite playing with ten players however, Tollesbury continued to defend well. A long free-kick taken, by Layton (R) found the head of Cook who headed straight to keeper, Foakes.

            With ten minutes remaining, defender, Spencer was replaced by Davis and when he was pulled back by Saunders the home player was rightly brandished a yellow card. Bates sent a long ball forward towards Cook, keeper, Foakes, under pressure, dropped the ball near his goal-line and somehow Cook lofted the loose ball over the cross bar, what a miss! Flitch made their fourth and final change with five minutes to go, Gale being replaced by Hartshom (J), keeper, Foakes saved again with his feet, this time from Cook, with Eaglestone completing the clearance. Tollesbury defended well for the rest of the match, bit like the “Alamo” at times, but it had the desired effect and the match ended with no further goals other than the two late goals scored in the first half.

FULL TIME:     0 – 2.

            Definitely, not a classic, Flitch United FC may have expected Tollesbury FC to roll over and get beaten, the home team without their manager and several players battled away throughout, they had chances but defensively they made it hard for the visitors.

            Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player/s”, I was impressed by the teamwork of Flitch United FC, they play ball to feet and use pace on both wings, in midfield, Howe was their playmaker, but defensively they were hardly bothered with their keeper having no saves of note to make. Turning to Tollesbury FC, they deserve credit for not giving up the cause and prompted by Acting manager, McDowell, who set a fine example, in defence, did very well to suppress and frustrate the visitors

Teams:

TOLLESBURY FC:       

Colours:                        Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Mason Foakes., Courtney Bryant., Kieran Ewers., Alfie Smart., Jack Eaglestone., Daniel McDowell., Ryan Trussler., Sam Whitman., Ben Frost., Ross Carlin., Tom Saunders.

Acting Manager:            Dan McDowell.

Used Substitutes:          James Unwin., Matt Aitken.

Unused Substitutes:      Silver Akram., Scott Keeble., Zach Surguy.

FLITCH UNITED FC:

Colours:                        Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Harrison Sanger., Cole Layton., Alex Cannon., Lewis Wiles., Kevin Spencer., Ross Layton., Liam Howe., Thomas Bull., Connor Hartshom., Will Gale., Alfie Lane.

Manager:                      Justin Winter.

Used Substitutes:          George Cook., Jack Hartshom., Scott Davis., Danny Bates.

Unused Substitutes:      Nathan Suleyman.

Referee:                       Matthew Owen.

Star Players:              Daniel McDowell                    (TOLLESBURY FC)