26/04/2025 – REPORT – Great Bentley FC versus Cavendish FC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE.
GREAT BENTLEY FC. 11. CAVENDISH FC. 1
Date: Saturday 26th April 2025. Venue: The Green, Great Bentley
This game would see the last of fixtures to be played in Division One, Great Bentley have been playing catch-up, and a win today would secure the Division One title, after a slow start to the season they were required to win their last three matches and improve their goal difference by five in order to overhaul Gas Recreation who have topped the table all season. A big midweek win saw eight goals scored against Little Oakley Reserves, there were twelve scored against Lawford Lads in another mid-week match, that gave them six of the nine points required, so everything rested on this match. The team also had the two leading goalscorers of the division in Evans (H) {25} and Brown (D) {24}, today, Cavendish, in what has been there worst season for twenty-nine years, arrived with just the bare eleven players, but credit to those players who have suffered this season and probably realised that today might end up as damage limitation in front of an expectant large crowd.
On a bright but breezy afternoon, on a rock-hard pitch, but which had a good covering of grass, the official for this match was Paul Sadler, who was ably supported by Club Assistants from both teams.
Cavendish kicked off, but Huwes was quickly being outpaced by Evans (H) down the left side, from his cross, keeper, Williamson made an excellent save, the ball ran loose but Evans (G) lifted the ball over the cross bar and a goal kick. Great Bentley certainly looked in the mood to win this last match of the season, a cross from Peace was flicked just wide by the head of Evans (G), these early attacks were an ominous sign for the visitors. Another cross, this time from Herbert on the right side also found Evans (G) but this time he fouled keeper, Williamson. Taylor for Cavendish did strike a shot which home keeper, French held on his goal-line, at the other end keeper, Williamson was forced to punch clear another cross from Herbert, then he kicked the ball off his goal-line when Evens tried to bundle the ball home, a corner followed but that was over-hit by Herbert. Hubbard and Childs for Cavendish worked the ball down the left side, but Vaughan was quickly in to dispossess them, passing the ball wide to the left side where Evans (H) took on Huwes, only to be fouled just outside the penalty area. Evans (H) elected to take the free kick, hitting the four-man defensive wall with Vaughan trying his luck from twenty-five yards out, no danger, this time as the ball was way over the cross bar. Wood put in a timely tackle on the edge of the penalty area, this was on Brown (D), the Cavendish defence was making it difficult for the home team, clearances were long and without real purpose other than clear the ball.
On seventeen minutes, Taylor took aim from forty yards, the ball hung up in the breeze but home keeper, French had to back-track from the edge of his penalty area to catch the ball in front of his goal, Evans (H) and Brown (D) worked the ball down the favoured left side, Huwes dealt with that attack. Childs found space on the left side for Cavendish, or so he thought but Vaughan chased back to dispossess him, in fact gaining a goal kick, then Taylor found space down the right side, but Peace did well to tackle conceding a throw-in. When Childs and Taylor worked the ball into midfield, there was Yarwood who set Vaughan galloping through, when Vaughan attempted to hit the bouncing ball first time, he totally missed it and ended up on his backside, as a popular local lad he received some cryptic comments from the sidelines, taken as usual with a broad smile. Yarwood fouled Childs, Hubbard took the free kick, but Great Bentley gained possession easily, Evans (H) was once again, faced up by Huwes, but Wood covered, but on twenty-seven minutes, a goal, JAKE VAUGHAN, never one to give up on a chase, reached the long forward ball along with defender Purcell, a movement to the right then back to his left created enough space for a shot that flew across the face of the goal and into the back of the net, the deadline had been broken after some stubborn resistance by the visitors.
Evans (H) despite having the ball in the net, was denied as another forward player was then flagged for offside, it looked the right decision from where I stood on the road side, the second goal was not long in coming though, DALE BROWN was set up by Evans (H) and Evans (G), the passing had been slick and was more of a team goal and there were now ten minutes to half-time. McMahon, now I know why he is called “Rhino”, was guilty of a heavy challenge on Childs to earn the only yellow card of the match for which the player needed treatment. Hubbard took the free kick, and it was McMahon who won the header that set Evans (H) away down the left side, outpacing the retreating Huwes he crossed inside to GARETH EVANS, whose first time shot took a slight nick off a defender to nestle in the back of the net, this, no doubt calmed a few nerves from the home supporters. Cavendish were in disarray, a back pass from Wood was nudged on by Huwes to keeper, Williamson, who picked the ball up, technically a keeper, cannot pick up a back pass so an indirect free kick was awarded, the free kick was defended and Wood set Childs away down the left side, his cross was good but it hit the back of Dye, running across the edge of the penalty area. So far, home keeper, French had only one direct save to make, his opposite number had several more and saved a twenty-five yard, shot from Peace and the first half ended soon after.
HALF-TIME: 3 – 0.
Great Bentley were to restart the second half, Huwes seemingly fouled Evans (H), no free kick was given, Wood picked up the ball and tried to find Childs who had run off side, Brown (D), Yarwood and Evans (G) saw their attack stopped by Wood but three minutes into the half the home team scored a fourth goal, Herbert and Brown (D) broke down the right side, from the low cross HARVEY EVANS stroked the ball home, the Club Assistants flag was raised and the referee consulted him before awarding the goal. Within minutes, a fine individual dribble by HARVEY EVANS from the left side saw him score number five, whereupon Evans (G) was removed and Warin entered play. Cavendish had not given up and scored on fifty-three minutes, from a corner, keeper, French dropped the ball which allowed JORDAN MELIA to squeeze the ball home at the near post. Another substitution followed, McMahon being replaced by Keogh-Kader, Evans (H) continued to see a lot of the ball, beating Huwes on the outside he gained a corner, taken by Vaughan but Warin fouled Wood inside the penalty area.
To be fair, Cavendish players, despite being five goals to one down, did not throw in the towel and made a fist of playing this game, defending, whilst retreating back towards their own goal, such was the home team’s dominance, but Taylor was set up by Wanmer, with Vaughan defending well. On sixty-two minutes another player exchange, Herbert being removed to allow Smith to show his worth, and he was involved in the sixth goal, Warin played the ball wide to Smith, he played the ball inside to Brown (D) who found space to find JAKE VAUGHAN running through on the right side and he made no mistake from ten yards. Goal number seven duly followed within minutes, Smith strode down the right side, his cross hit the cross bar and fell kindly to the feet of DALE BROWN who had the simple job of tapping it home. Taylor tried a thirty-yard shot which keeper, French had no trouble saving, a bit desperate perhaps but it kept the ball away from his own goal, Wanmer fouled Warin but Cavendish defended well.
Goal number eight came on seventy-five minutes, a cross from Smith was headed down by Warin and ARAN YARWOOD with his back to goal, swivelled to rifle the ball high into the net, Taylor and Childs again worked the ball forward but home keeper, French was quickly out to clear any danger. Burch was replaced by Copeland on seventy-eight minutes, Vaughan set up Brown (D) whose back-header fell to Evans (H), but he was offside. As Great Bentley kept up their attacking tempo, mistakes would be made, a simple pass from Hubbard fell kindly to RORY WARIN who accepted the chance for number nine. Evans (H) beat three defenders before passing to DALE BROWN who scored from close-range, that was his hat-trick goal, this was now too easy but the visitors had tired considerably as the half wore on and just to cap a fine display HENRY EVANS scored another individual goal for his second half, hat-trick and concluded the scoring which was kept at eleven by keeper, Williamson who made three excellent saves in the dying minutes.
FULL TIME: 11 – 1.
As expected, Great Bentley concluded their season with another big win, albeit they finished level on points with Gas Recreation, but with a plus sixty goal difference compared to the plus thirty-five of the runners-up. The margin of this victory emphasised the commitment of the Team and Management at Great Bentley, a Club, with three adult teams, that is well run not just on the pitch but off it too. Commiserations must go to Cavendish, that’s a long journey to make to suffer such a heavy loss, we wish them well after what has been a terrible season.
Turning to my Star Player, with the number of goal-scorers it should have been an easy task but when both the Teams leadings scorers both scoring three, then I have to choose, Brown (D) has finished on twenty-seven goals, one less than Evans (H) who has twenty-eight, however, it is the latter player who I have chosen, from the first minute he was a constant thorn in the side of Cavendish.
As League Treasurer I had the pleasant task of awarding the Division One Trophy, a large crowd had gathered at the Clubhouse end of the pitch and respectfully watched on by the defeated Cavendish players, I handed the trophy to captain, Max Copeland who turned back towards his team before some wild celebrations followed.
Great Bentley, who are the holders, are also finalists in the Richard Degville Cup where they will play Sudbury Sports on Friday 9th May 2025, kick-off is 19:45pm at Coggeshall Town FC.
Teams:
GREAT BENTLEY FC
Colours: Blue & White Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Jack French., Archie Herbert., Alfie Peace., Ryan Brown., Jack Burch., Ryan McMahon., Dale Brown., Jake Vaughan., Harvey Evans., Gareth Evans., Aran Yarwood.
Manager: Jack Murray.
Assistant Manager: Greg Taylor.
Used Substitutes: Lewis Mountenay., Rory Warin., Blake Keogh-Kadar., Archie Smith., Max Copeland.
CAVENDISH FC.
Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Tom Williamson., Josh Huwes., Kamran Purcell., Shane Wanmer., Jordan Melia., Jake Wood., Connor Dye., Jack Hubbard., Haydn Taylor., Nathan McNicholas., Harrison Childs.
Manager: Liam Cawtheray.
Referee: Paul Sadler.
STAR PLAYER: Harvey EVANS (GREAT BENTLEY FC)
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