26/03/2022 – REPORT – West Bergholt FC Reserves versus Gosfield United FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE

WEST BERGHOLT FC RESERVES       1.                 GOSFIELD UNITED FC             1.

Date:   Saturday 26^th March 2022.                Venue:             Lorkin Daniel Field, West Bergholt.

            Fifth placed Gosfield United FC visited ninth placed West Bergholt FC Reserves on Saturday, the visitors had prevailed by two goals to one in the reverse fixture back in January. On paper, both teams had to make changes, Townrow stepped down to Captain the home team whilst the visitors were shorn of their, Manager, and leading goal-scorer, Pike, had their Reserve keeper in goal, plus an unwell Team Captain acting as Manager on the day and only one fit substitute!

            On a bright, sunny, but cold afternoon, proceedings got under way on a hard pitch, with Mariusz Burchan as the Match Official, supported by Club Assistants, who both did a good job throughout.

            West Bergholt FC Reserves kicked-off playing away from the Clubhouse end, visiting keeper Le Gresley struck a long ball forward finding Preston whose lay-off to Killin was shanked wide for a goal-kick. Clarke for the home team set Bryan away down the left side, cutting in he ran along the goal-line before crossing where Catterwell intercepted to clear. The home team pressed forward again, Turner made a strong block to deny Smith and the visitors broke swiftly to the other end with Postill, where Bloomfield blocked a shot from Preston, Turner had a shot fly wide from a cross by Martin, end-to-end already and only five minutes gone. The persistence of Goddard saw the ball cannon off Symmes for what should have been a corner kick, but a goal-kick was awarded! West Bergholt FC Reserves took the lead on ten minutes, Goddard found Farthing whose high cross from the left side was only punched towards the back post by keeper, Le Gresley and HENRY CLARKE had the simplest of headers to score from inside the six-yard box. Buoyed by this early goal the hosts attacked again, a cross from Hurley towards the far post fell to Murrells who was flagged off-side, the Gosfield response at the other end saw the ball played by Martin into the path of Killin, through on goal, but he scooped the ball over the advancing keeper and the goal, big miss that!

            The forward holdup play, by Goddard allowed his team to get forward in support and when he laid the ball back to Farthing the goal effort flew over the cross-bar, Smith set up another chance for Murrells who also blazed over the cross-bar. This early pressure from West Bergholt saw some stern defending from Gosfield with Swann and Vickery timing their challenges well in crucial positions, there is no room for error inside your own penalty area. Bloomfield brought the ball out of the home defence, finding Goddard who turned, only for Thompson to make a timely tackle then Gosfield countered, Turner found Killin on the left side, the return ball inside Puzey was met by Turner whose shot was saved by keeper, Henly, advancing off his goal-line. Keeper, Henly was again in action a few minutes later, Preston set Killin away to beat Hurley and Puzey but again the home keeper saved the goal-bound effort from twenty yards. Townrow struck a high free-kick deep into the Gosfield half, Vickery won the header against Bryan but too may long or high balls were being played, not quite kick-and-rush but nearly! Thompson put in a fine tackle on Bryan, good contest this was becoming.

            On the half-hour mark, Goddard and Smith almost walked through the visitors rear guard, this from a long ball from Townrow which fell to Bryan, once again Thompson did his defending job well. Gosfield were competing well and were perhaps unfortunate to be a goal behind, Killin found Preston who flicked the ball up and over Puzey who managed to recover to clear the danger but only momentarily as the ball was kept in play by Postill wide on the right side and having got the better of Bloomfield he sent in a cross-cum-shot that grazed the cross-bar before bouncing behind for a goal-kick. Smith was stopped in his tracks by a combined movement from Symmes and Swann, the home team were playing a high line defensively, at the other end Killin had a shot that hit Murrells for what should have been a corner, but a goal-kick was given, so that’s evened things up now! A long clearance from keeper, Le Gresley was headed up by Puzey with Townrow heading back to his keeper, Henly, then another clearance from keeper, Le Gresley found Postil wide on the right side, from his cross Preston headed just wide when well placed, he ought to have found the net from where he met the ball. This half had seen a few hit-and-hope balls played by both teams, more composure was needed according to the respective managers, Goddard received the ball back from Smith but rolled the ball wide of the right hand upright. West Bergholt now had the greater possession, but Gosfield had defended well and broke forward with purpose whenever space and player movement allowed. Murrell up-ended Killin twenty-five yards out, Turner took the free-kick, wide to the un-marked Preston who fluffed his shot on the volley and the ball bounced harmlessly to keeper, Henly.

HALF-TIME:    1 – 0.

            Before the restart, Gosfield replaced Martin with Moore, another youngster and who immediately set off on a run down the left side before Townrow put in a great tackle just on the edge of the penalty area and opposite numbers Vickery did likewise on Farthing. Smith played a short corner to Bloomfield whose in-swinging cross was headed up and over the cross-bar from three yards out, by the diving Townrow. Turner fouled Farthing, Bloomfield took the free-kick with keeper, Le Gresley once again opting to punch the ball clear and Gosfield broke forward with both Postill and Preston denied by timely blocks. When Goddard set up Smith, defender Vickery stepped in to head clear, Preston fouled Hurley on the half-way line, Townrow hit the ball long, goal-wards, where keeper, Le Gresley again punched over the cross-bar for a corner, defended well by Vickery. Killin was adjudged to have fouled Clarke just inside the Gosfield half, Murrells stepped up to strike a fine free-kick that struck the corner of the right hand upright and cross-bar, bounced down to hit the back of the head of keeper, Le Gresley and bounce way for a corner. Bryan turned Turner to concede a free-kick, taken by Catterwell but the ball drifted right across the goal and out for a goal-kick.

            Turner forced Farthing to concede a corner, Turner took the kick with Vickery heading over the cross-bar for a goal-kick, given as a corner, whoops, taken by Catterwell with Townrow heading out on the other side, another corner followed but also cleared. On sixty-five minutes West Bergholt replaced Murrells with Potter, Bryan almost proved to be a handful when he jinxed in and out before shooting goal wards where keeper, Le Gresley tipped the ball over the cross-bar. Moore found Preston, sadly off-side but more intent from the visitors who deserved a point from this close match. With Gosfield still trying to play football, Preston won a corner off Puzey, and when the ball was cleared a fine tussle between Farthing and Postill ended with both players helping each other up and shaking hands, a nice sporting touch. Gosfield keeper, Le Gresley received the only caution of this match, Bloomfield broke through from half-way, the keeper ran out of his penalty area and clobbered Bloomfield whose chip towards goal was cleared by Swann with Vickery also there to stop any goal.

            On seventy-five minutes West Bergholt made a double substitution replacing Hurley and Goddard with Lowton and Steel, Turner, for Gosfield set up Moore, drifting inside the penalty area only for the ball to clip the outside of the left hand upright and when the loose ball was played back in Killin scooped the ball over the cross-bar from three-yards out! When Vickery fouled Smith, Bryan hit the cross-bar, from the restart, the kick out from keeper, Le Gresley found Turner who moved the ball quickly on to TOBY MOORE who ran on to rifle the ball home, a deserved equaliser. Moore had been quite lively since his introduction at half-time and when he broke through his pass to Killin was met with a shot on the run that whistled past the post. Vickery, fully committed in attempting to clear a cross, only managed to foul Steel, who ran across the sight of the defender, in a central position, Bloomfield took the free-kick which cannoned off Smith for a throw-in. A goal-kick taken by keeper, Henly was headed back into the danger zone by Vickery, Preston pounced but only succeeded in hitting the side-netting for what could have been a smash-and-grab winner! The final action of the match saw a free-kick taken by Bloomfield, keeper, Le Gresley punched the ball over the cross-bar, Bryan took the corner and Bloomfield headed over at the near post.

FULL TIME:     1 – 1.

            Overall, a draw was a fair result, both teams had chances, both teams defended well when required with the home team just shading the balance of shots on goal.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player, for West Bergholt FC Reserves they are a fairly young team, Puzey played well alongside Townrow in defence, Goddard held the ball up well up-front, with Murrells prompting from midfield with Bryan, often forcing his way through. For Gosfield United, without their leading goal-scorer, their options had to change, in defence Swann and particularly Vickery played well, in attack Killin and Preston caused a few problems but in midfield, Turner was tireless and never far away from the action so he gets my vote this week.

Teams:

WEST BERGHOLT FC RESERVES:      

Colours:                        Orange Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

William Henly., Alex Hurley., Luke Bloomfield., Jack Puzey., Lee Townrow (C)., Henry Clarke., Charlie Farthing., Johnny Murrells., Paul Goddard., Owen Bryan., Harry Smith.

Manager:                      Matthew Puzey

Used Substitutes:           Callum Potter., Ben Lowton., Joe Steel

GOSFIELD UNITED FC

Colours:                        Green Shirts, White Shorts and White Socks.

Team:

Tom Le Gresley., Jason Thompson., James Symmes., Brady Catterwell., Ryan Vickery., Ross Swann., Nathan Postil., Charlie Martin., Joshua Preston., Andrew Turner., Edward Killin.

Acting Manager:            Luke Ellis.

Used Substitutes:           Toby Moore.

Unused Substitute:         Luke Ellis.

Referee:                        Mariusz Burchan.

Star Player:                Andrew TURNER                                 (GOSFIELD UNITED FC)

REMINDERS:

MATCH NOTIFICATIONS

Fixture Secretaries of Clubs are required to notify all match details, date, venue, kick-off time, colours etc, to their opposition and any appointed official/s, at least FIVE days before the match.

KICK-OFF TIMES

March, to end of season:                                               15:00pm

ESBFL CUP TIES:                                                           30 minutes earlier, if necessary.

ECFA CUP TIES:                                                            Kick-Off as advertised

CUP TIES

There will be NO requirement for “Extra-Time” to be played in Cup Matches, if scores are level at the end of “normal time” the match will proceed directly to penalty kicks.

SUBSTITUTES

The ESBFL continues to allow FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named before kick-off but only “THREE SUBSTITUTES” may be allowed to participate.

Note:

In Essex County Cups (Premier & Junior) the Rule allows FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named and those FIVE SUBSTITUTUES may be used on a “Roll-On / Roll-Off” basis.

TEAM SHEETS

Team Sheets should be shown or sent to the Referee and the Opposition team either by text, email etc

The BLUE “League Copy” of the Team Sheet should be sent by First Class Post to reach Mick Willmore by the Thursday after a Saturday match, this is the ONLY item of correspondence that is required by post.

RESULTS REPORTING

Rule 21(B)

BOTH Clubs shall notify/SMS the result of each Competition Match to the Competition within 30 minutes of the finish of the match. This will include Football Association and County Football Association matches. The results of all League and Cup matches in the Competition should be reported by the FA Full-Time “SMS” (text) System. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

FA FULL-TIME

The Referees marks, team, players, substitutes, goal scorers, red / yellow cards, and sin-bin, etc MUST be entered to FA Full-Time by the end of the Tuesday following a Saturday match (ie 48 hours after any match). Failure to complete FAFT correctly and on time WILL incur a League Fine/s.

DISCIPLINE

Since the start of the season there have been 45+ players dismissed and over 600 cautions, there have also been several incidences of misconduct towards players, Match officials, members of the public and county officials. These are situations the ESBFL Management feel very strongly about, and the statistics make poor reading, the ECFA will deal with all these cases as deemed appropriate but bear in mind these actions can be very costly both for players and your, Clubs.

WHOLE GAME SYSTEM (“WGS”)

All Club Secretaries should check “WGS” on a regular basis, if you don’t, the ECFA levy a fine (25%) for late acknowledgements and payments of fines and the Club could be put into a “SINE-DIE” situation meaning they cannot play until those debts are cleared.

Club Secretaries are also responsible for adding the matches missed by players who have been suspended.

Whilst the ESBFL regularly reviews the whole Club contents on “WGS” it is not their responsibility to monitor failures by Member Clubs to follow basic procedure/s.

REFRESHMENTS

Rule 20A

Refreshments for BOTH teams and Match Officials MUST be provided by the home Club at half time unless these are declined before the game. Clubs in default shall be fined.