26/10/2019 – REPORT – Lawford Lads FC versus Earls Colne FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION.

LAWFORD LADS FC: 2. EARLS COLNE FC: 2.

Date: Saturday 26^th October 2019. Venue: School Lane, Lawford

Wild, windy and wet weather conditions greeted those hardy souls who travelled over to School Lane, Lawford on Saturday, I didn’t manage to see either of these teams at home last season but did pick up an away game each. Lawford Lads, under the managership of Andrew Young had fared, the better on their return to the Premier Division so last season was one of consolidation whereas Earls Colne, whilst improving under Manager, Chris Hudson were still bottom half finishers.

At the start of play the hosts sat in twelfth place and Earls Colne in fourteenth place, needless to say I was expecting a close fought game to be refereed by Brian Forbes who would be assisted by Kelvin Llewellyn and Ronald Bennett.

A surprise team selection for me was that the league’s leading goal-scorer, Mann, was starting on the substitutes bench for Lawford Lads who kicked off, kicking against the wind and driving rain whilst I sheltered in the lee of the clubhouse. One minute in and O’Boakye fouled O’Brien over by the corner flag, the free-kick taken by Lorimer was cleared upfield where Ainger defended well as Adams and Hudson attacked for the visitors. Keeper, Mustoe, saved well from a well struck left-wing cross from Stripe, Watson dived recklessly into a challenge on Carter (C), who just evaded the lunge, with the home midfielder spoken too by the match official, who sensibly made allowances for the slippery conditions. Lamb blocked a goal-bound shot from Adams who was set up by the industrious Hudson and Lamb read the next attack well as the visitors pushed forward in numbers. Hudson was again the provider for Adams of Earls Colne, this time his header flashed wide, then on twelve minutes Hudson shot over the cross-bar after more good approach play from Stripe and Randall. However, when Lawford found their attacking boots, defender Pringle stuck out a long leg to divert a cross from Allam away for a throw-in.

A rash challenge from O’Boakye on Stocker earned him a rebuke from the referee, the same player headed clear the under-hit free-kick taken by Lorimer and when Earls Colne broke forward through Hudson, keeper, Mustoe collected the ball on the edge of his penalty area. On nineteen minutes, a goal, much against the general pattern of play as Lawford took the lead when Lorimer surged down the right side, the defence called for the ball being out of play in the build-up, however the low driven cross from Lorimer found ALEX STOCKER six-yards out and he planted the ball in the back of the net. Defender Hayes continued his verbal barrage at the Assistant Referee and was promptly “sin-binned” or ten minutes to cool-off. Lorimer was the next player to be spoken too when he fouled Carter (C), a needless foul really but was worthy of a word from the on-the-spot referee. Keeper, Philips launched a long wind assisted clearance towards the Lawford end with Gooding heading the ball on and out for a corner, he only needed a call of “leave-it” from his colleagues and a goal-kick would have been given instead. Randall took the corner kick, keeper, Mustoe in his haste to punch clear through a crowded six-yard box only managed to put the ball back out for another corner, again taken by Randall with Stripe heading wide at the far post. On twenty-seven minutes, another goal, again to Lawford, Lamb hit a speculative pass out of defence, bisecting the visitors rearranged defence, Pringle missed his header allowing REAGAN O’BRIEN to run through and score with ease.

Hayes re-joined the match, this after his ten-minute break, but a high foot by Adams towards Ainger conceded possession but the free-kick from Lorimer failed to test anyone with a goal-kick following. Earls Colne clawed their way back into this match, they did not deserve to be two goals behind at this stage however, with the visitors attacking in numbers the ball was laid back to CONNOR RANDALL who rifled a low shot goal-wards, keeper, Mustoe was caught flat-footed and the ball squirmed agonisingly under his prone body and into the back of the net. Following this goal, the game was held up for a few minutes as the keeper received either treatment or some new tape for his gloves, this break did not stop Earls Colne from piling forward, a long throw-in from Stripe towards Pringle was cleared for a corner by Gooding, taken by Carter (C) but hit too long. Hayes found Stripe who waltzed around Ainger only for keeper. Mustoe to save with his feet at the near post for a corner, taken by Carter (C) and punched clear by keeper, Mustoe, to Randall whose first-time shot was blocked by Lamb, doing what defenders should do, getting everything in front of the ball. Another long throw-in from Stripe found Pringle, the ball glanced off the back of the tall defender and bounced out to Randall who chose to execute an over-head kick which was tipped away by the finger-tips of keeper, Mustoe, who had moved quickly to retrieve his positioning. The first half, finished with the Lawford keeper again clearing with his feet, this time from May and another cleared, corner, followed.

HALF TIME: 2 – 1

Earls Colne re-started this finely poised match, two visiting spectators sheltering near me, reckoned on a draw and I must admit I thought that would be the right and fair result on the balance of play so far, but there was still forty-five minutes to play! When a pass from a Lawford player hit the referee, the game was stopped and re-started with a kick to the home team, another new rule this season, however from the free-kick taken by Lorimer, keeper, Philips was almost caught out by the bounce of the ball and just managed to tip the ball over the cross-bar, a fine save, actually! A through ball from May should have seen Adams score for Earls Colne but he lost his footing on the slippery surface and keeper, Mustoe, gratefully collected. At the other end Lorimer, who possesses a lethal shot when executed right, crashed the ball against the cross-bar, mind you keeper, Philips did get a slight touch with his finger-tips to divert the goal-bound effort. Both teams were guilty of winning possession and just as easily lose it again, so frustrating for both vociferous managers on the far side! Six minutes into the half and Earls Colne drew level, May, played the ball forward and KIERAN ADAMS strode through with pace to round the advancing keeper, Mustoe to score. Almost straight away, May, rightly received a caution for a poor challenge, he had been warned a couple of times already, over enthusiasm perhaps!

On the hour mark Earls Colne replaced Adams with Nwankwo, Primus fouled Hudson but the free-kick taken by Tarman fell short and Lorimer headed away. Randall and Hudson had been the midfield engine room for Earls Colne, both had tracked back to defend then supported their attack whenever possible. A cross from Allam was smashed away from near the goal-line by Stripe, back defending but the corner kick taken, left footed, by O’Brien curled around, assisted by the wind and eventually landed on the roof of the net. Lorimer broke down the left side and only keeper, Philips was in his way saving with his feet for a corner, taken by Lorimer but not troubling anybody for a goal-kick. Stripe won a throw-in off Ainger but this time his long throw-in fell short but with all the Earls Colne defenders having gone forward it allowed Lawford to break away through Stocker whose cross from the left side was pushed back into play by the diving keeper, Philips, but behind the inrushing Watson and Carter (C) cleared. Even at this late stage and despite the conditions, both teams were trying to play constructive football and Lawford replaced O’Brien with Mann on seventy-two minutes, let’s see if his hold up play, control, off the ball running and goal scoring prowess will be capitalised on!

O’Boakye defended well when Primus threatened to break through, conceding a corner, which was cleared leading to Southee defending well as Stripe tried to break through down the left side. Hudson and Ainger challenged for the ball near the half-way line with the Earls Cone midfielder injured and unable to continue leading to Carter (J) entering the game for the last ten minutes. A free-kick taken by Hayes led to a scramble inside the Lawford six-yard box but when the ball fell loose, O’Boakye leaned back to fire the ball over the goal, easier to score as they say. Earls Colne kept up their momentum, Pringle found O’Boakye but his pass to Stripe saw the winger in an off-side position. On eighty-two minutes Lorimer, who had been cautioned earlier, was replaced by Davies but the visitors moved forward again with O’Boakye finding May who set up Davies to shoot straight at keeper, Mustoe. Mann collected he ball wide on the right side, glided past Carter (C) before sending in a deep cross towards Watson who headed straight to keeper, Philips. Mann almost had the final say on where the points might settle, picking up the ball wide on the right hand corner of he penalty area, he swivelled onto his left foot and curled a goal-bound shot that took a nick off defender, Hayes only for keeper, Philips, probably unsighted, to make a great save at full stretch at the foot of the far post to keep the scores level.

FULL TIME: 2 – 2.

All square then, a draw was the right result, two teams trying to play football, hampered by the poor playing conditions, both teams had missing players, so I was told, I hear that every week but fully understand players have lives outside of football, it can be a fine balancing act between work, family, holidays, injuries and football!

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, this was clearly going to be difficult, goal scoring opportunities were there but not taken either goalkeeper saves or poor finishing, both midfields were in a keen contest and defensively both teams did well, Southee and Lamb for Lawford Lads FC but Hayes, despite his “sin-bin” and Pringle for Earls Colne FC, stood firm the latter player getting my nod this week.

Teams:

LAWFORD LADS FC: Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Daniel Mustoe., Nathan Ainger., Lloyd Gooding., Jerome Primus., Michael Southee., Elliot Lamb., Sean Lorimer., Macauley Watson., Alex Stocker (C)., Jack Allam., Reagan O’Brien.

Manager: Andrew Young.

Used Substitutes: Oliver Mann., Oliver Davies

Unused Substitutes: Tom Ruth.

EARLS COLNE FC: Colours: Red Shirts, Red Shorts and Red Socks.

Toby Philips., Flynn Tarman., Callum Carter., Ekow O’Boakye., Jamie Pringle., Thomas Hayes., Connor Randall., Jamie Hudson (C)., Kieran Adams., Daniel May., Benrico Stripe.

Manager: Chris Hudson

Used Substitutes: Michael Nwankwo., Jordan Carter.

Referee: Brian Forbes.

Assistant Referees: Kelvin Llewellyn.

And Ronald Bennett.

Player of the Match: Jamie PRINGLE (EARLS COLNE FC)

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Additional Reporting:

YOU TUBE., FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

Once again, this season the ESBFL is widening its match-day reporting coverage, in addition to a full report written by Brian Reed, our other roving reporter, Spencer Hume, has once again made himself known during the friendlies season and he will also attend games reporting via You Tube, Facebook and Twitter to communicate up-to-date information and replicate other match reports. In addition, John Campany, Vice Chairman will continue to provide a weekly summary, published in The Gazette.

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Kick-Off times for Essex County Football Association cup matches are published on the ECFA web-site.

( www.essexfa.com/competitions/county-cups )

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