26/10/2024 – REPORT – Brightlingsea Town FC versus Thorpe Athletic FC

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

BRIGHTLINGSEA TOWN FC.  2.         THORPE ATHLETIC FC.                      2.

Date:   Saturday 26^th October 2024.                         Venue: Strangers Corner, Brightlingsea.

            It was back to Premier Division action for me again last Saturday, leaders Brightlingsea Town FC boasted ten victories from eleven matches, third placed Thorpe Athletic FC had twenty-three points from ten matches, coincidentally their goals for (thirty) and against (thirteen) were identical, this, on paper, should be a close match with the hosts looking to avenge their only league defeat to date, that at the hands of today’s visitors. These two teams also have the Premier Divisions leading goalscorers, which includes penalties in Fosker (thirteen) and Barnard (fourteen), last season saw Brightlingsea Town FC lose in the final of the Essex Premier Cup whilst Thorpe Athletic FC won the Essex Junior Cup.

            On a damp and overcast afternoon, the match official was Stuart Frankin, who would have Pierce Campbell and Harrison Newley as Assistant Referees, the latter in his first season in the Competition.

            Brightlingsea Town kicked off but Thorpe Athletic gained possession and pushed forward, when the ball was retrieved, Baker (K) faced up to Lamb who then had two attempts to tackle Fosker, no fouls were given as possession was retained. Blanchett tested keeper, Spencer with a curling left-footed effort, an excellent save saw a corner awarded, taken by Allison but keeper, Spencer held the ball high inside the six-yard box. Thorpe Athletic broke to the other end, Thompson (S) sent in a cross from the right side, the ball reached Barnard, but Griggs was quickly in to take control but conceded a corner, taken by Barnard but headed out for another corner by Fosker, Barnard took the second corner kick, this time Wallis headed clear. The cleared ball was swept up-field by Bethell to Baker (K) but Fosker was caught off-side, Blanchett crossed towards Fosker but Lamb cleared then Allison dived into a challenge with Richardson to concede a free-kick. Richardson then fouled Hunt (C) and Brightlingsea Town were content to play the ball out of defence, a left wing cross from Hunt (C) was cut out by keeper, Spencer, the busier of the two custodians so far. When home keeper, Groves, was called into action he saved at the near post from Thompson (S), another corner, taken by Barnard fell to McAndrews but his laid-back stance saw the ball flash well wide.

            Given their current leagues positions you expected both teams to attack and play had been end-to-end thus far, there had been some strong, determined but fair challenges, play being allowed to continue by the on-the-spot match official, however goal-scoring chances had been limited. McAndrews strode down the right side, crossing the ball to the far side where Barnard took control, or so he thought, but the off-side flag was raised, defender Humphries covered for Shuttlewood when Blanchett threatened, a corner taken by Allison was over-hit and the visitors forged forward, Cowler, down the right side, found McAndrews, his cross was cleared away for a corner by Baker (C). Once again, the corner was cleared towards the half-way line, Cowler, picked up the loose ball and passed to Barnard who sent over a fine cross which was met by the head of BRANDON HUNT who scored with a fine effort. Minutes later an accidental clash of heads between Allison and Harms saw both players needing lengthy treatment, the stricken Allison was eventually taken off to hospital with a split eye, Thompson (C) took his place, whilst a good dollop of Vaseline sorted the problem for Harms. Buoyed by this goal, Thorpe Athletic looked for another, Shuttlewood sent the ball long to Thompson (S), but Baker (C) cleared for a throw-in, the home team mounted another attack, Baker (K) found Fosker, Cowler tackled him, the ball fell to Blanchett whose rising left footed effort cannoned off Hunt (B) for a corner. Blanchett took the corner, keeper, Spencer punched clear but was clattered by Baker (K), he sure felt that challenge!

            When Griggs got forward for the home team, Richardson, got back to cover for Barnard, the visitors were on top at this stage and the home team were perhaps guilty of resorting to the long ball rather than how they had started by playing out from the back, either way the home team needed to settle down and play. Keeper, Spencer, snatched a loose ball from the toes of Thompson (C), then Baker (K) found Fosker whose pass inside to Thompson (C) should have seen a shot, but Humphries blocked. When Fosker was tripped just outside the penalty area, Blanchett, lined up a shot, left -footed his aim was good, the shot powerful, but keeper, Spencer made a fine diving save at the expense of a corner. Blanchett was involved again, cutting in from the right side, onto his favoured left foot, Humphries was there to block once again, Daly, a similar player to Blanchett cut in from the left side but saw his rising shot deflected onto the top of the goal net by Richardson. Baker (C) fouled Thompson (S), Cowler found Barnard, but he was caught offside, three minutes left were signalled when Fosker fouled Barnard, to receive a verbal warning, Thorpe Athletic have that attitude that says do not give up a cause and so it transpired, Wallis lost the ball on the half-way line, Thompson (S) gained possession to beat Fosker, then Griggs before the ball fell into the path of leading scorer, LUKE BARNARD who slotted home from inside the penalty area.

HALF-TIME:    0 – 2.

            Before the restart, Brightlingsea Town replaced Wallis with new signing Hodgson, Thorpe Athletic kicked off, a corner from Daly was fielded by keeper, Spencer, Blanchett took on McAndrews and gained a free kick, Hunt (C), took the free kick but straight to keeper, Spencer. Hunt (B) was being given too much space in central midfield this was an area that the home team needed to shore up, the earlier introduction of Hodgson could well have that effect. When Blanchett gained possession just outside the penalty area, he was given no respite as Lamb was always in close proximity eventually gaining possession, Fosker gave chase to a long ball forward but keeper, Spencer was quicker to the ball. Brightlingsea Town seemed better set up now, a ball from Hunt (C) found Blanchett but once again, keeper, Spencer excelled, tipping the ball over the crossbar for a corner, taken by Daly, but keeper, Spencer was again impeded by Baker (K). Cowler defended well against Daly, then Griggs stole forward down the right side, his cross was met on the full by Fosker but keeper, Spencer made another superb save, he is playing like a man possessed today! Just before the hour mark, Cowler, dived into a challenge on Daly and failed to get the ball, the challenge was inside the penalty area, a penalty kick was rightly awarded. I turned to the father of Fosker, who was standing next to me on the sidelines, Fosker was to take the spot kick, right footed to the right of keeper, Spencer, whose feet stopped the under-struck ball, the keeper being the first to react to the loose ball, apparently a first ever penalty miss for Fosker! Choosing my Star Player was probably nailed on already.

            When Thorpe Athletic were awarded a free-kick, Richardson took it, but keeper, Groves, was required to dive at full stretch to save, and from his clearance Baker (C) took aim from thirty yards but too easy for keeper, Spencer. Daly and Humpries had a running battle down the left side, Daly, got the better outcome this time but Lamb stood in his way when keeper, Spencer was seemingly beaten for the first time. Brightlingsea Town pulled a goal back, a cross from Griggs, was flicked on by Baker (K) which allowed QUINTON DALY to run through and score, game on, me thinks! A long clearance from keeper, Groves, was again flicked on by Baker (K), Fosker gave chase, but Hunt (B) was back to defend, and the home team had improved this half, with much better passing and movement. On sixty-seven minutes Thorpe Athletic replaced Harms with Bramhall, Daly shot wide when well placed, the same player then found Fosker, but Lamb shackled him just outside the penalty area. The pace of the game had not let up, Bramhall whose pass inside to Thompson saw his shot saved by keeper, Groves. Richardson dragged Blanchett to the ground through midfield, cheap free-kick but it stopped the flow of the game, another Blanchett free-kick found Thompson (C) but keeper, Spencer did his job and followed this up when a cross from Daly was heading towards Baker (K). As we approached the last fifteen minutes, a cross from Hunt (C) fell to Fosker who flashed the loose ball wide, it’s getting close now, that equalising goal that is!

            Blanchett was replaced by Lee on seventy-five minutes, Thorpe Athletic put together an attack, Cowler, Barnard and Lamb whose, cross was cleared by Bethell, Griggs picked up the ball inside the centre-circle only to be fouled by Lamb, a yellow card followed, one for the team, I think! On eighty minutes Thorpe Athletic took off Thompson (S) with Justice taking his place, Hunt (B) started another move, finding Justice whose left footed effort was kept out by keeper, Groves, a corner followed. Griggs had pushed forward for Brightlingsea Town and when he raced down the right side, Shuttlewood fairly manhandled him to the ground, another yellow card was brandished, another for the team, that was now on the backfoot! Daly, tried to set up Baker (K) and Baker (C) but keeper, Spencer, won that battle too. Cowler was injured when he clashed with Hunt (C), the home team still sensed an equaliser, they were in the ascendency now with the visitors having to defend in deep positions. As we entered time added on, a scramble inside the congested penalty area saw keeper, Spencer, seemingly drop the ball, a call for a foul went up, but ROCHA FOSKER had a shot at goal, from where I stood it looked like a couple of deflections took the ball over the goal-line and the equaliser was scored. There was a bit of “handbags” as the ball was retrieved from the net, resulting in Griggs and Cowler receiving yellow cards, but essentially it was game over.

FULL TIME:     2 – 2.

            Personally, I thought a draw was a fair result, Thorpe Athletic were the better team in the first half whilst Brightlingsea Town rallied in the second, the proverbial, game of two halves, overall, this was a good advertisement for ESBFL Premier Division football, and you can see why both teams are at the top end. This point keeps Brightlingsea Town at the top, aided by a surprise defeat for Kings Park Rangers by bottom team Tiptree Heath, Thorpe Athletic drop one place due to Earls Colne beating Dedham Old Boys, whilst Cressing United stay fifth.

Turning to my Star Player, a number, of players stood out, I won’t list them all but it’s fair to say that both teams played as a team, you can’t have individuals at this level, if there are, they tend to stand out! That said, one player did stand out, Nat Spencer has been between the posts for much of the season and with exceptional saves and good positioning all match, he then saves a penalty kick early in the second half and I had to look no further.

Teams:

BRIGHTLINGSEA TOWN FC: 

Colours:                        Royal Blue & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Matthew Grove., Ricky Griggs., Callum Hunt., Daryl Wallis., Conrad Baker (C)., Harry Allison., Rocha Fosker., Lewis Blanchett., Quinton Daly., Jake Bethell.

Manager:                      Kieran Baker.

Used Substitutes:          Charlie Thompson., Callum Lee., Henry Hodgson.

Unused Substitutes:      Connor Seymour.

THORPE ATHLETIC FC.

Colours:                        Grey & Navy Shirts, Navy Shorts and Grey Socks.

Team:

Nathaniel Spencer., Harvey Cowler., Scott Humphries., Oliver lamb., James Shuttlewood., Jake Richardson., Brandon Hunt., Kalon Harms., Taylor McAndrews.,. Sam Thompson., Luke Barnard.

Manager:                      Harrison Barnard.

Used Substitutes:          Lyndin Bramhall., Ben Justice.

Unused Substitutes:      Harry Castle., Brad Smith., James Watt.

Referee:                       Stuart Franklin.

Assistant Referees:       Pierce Campbell & Harrison Newley.

STAR PLAYER:            Nathaniel SPENCER                           (THORPE ATHLETIC FC)