27/04/2024 – REPORT – Thorpe Athletic FC versus Kings Park Rangers FC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE.
THORPE ATHLETIC FC. 2. KINGS PARK RANGERS FC. 7.
Date: Saturday 27th April 2024. Venue: Plough Corner, Little Clacton.
Thorpe Athletic FC had already won the Division One title when they took on third placed Kings Park Rangers FC last Saturday, the visitors have got stronger as the season has progressed and they have a big following at matches and through social media. For Thorpe Athletic they have already won the Essex Junior Cup and on Friday will appear in their first ESBFL Knock-Out Cup final, this is against Stanway Rovers Community FC U23’s, that match will be played at Little Oakley FC. Kings Park Rangers needed to win and hope that second placed Cressing United FC, slipped up at Great Bentley FC, more of that later. The visitors showed a nice touch when they gave the home team a guard of honour and clapped as they made their way out of the changing rooms to walk to the far pitch.
On Friday, due to a lack of Council grounds staff, Thorpe Athletic had to switch this match from Kirby Playing Fields to Plough Corner, Little Clacton, the pitches there looked in good condition, but we all know that any prolonged rain would very quickly make them unplayable!
The referee for this match was Richard Oakes, he would be assisted by Club Assistant Referees and generally they did a good job, for Kings Park Rangers, this looked a very strong team with a lot of experience at a higher level, for Thorpe Athletic they had a couple of players missing but still had a good squad from which to choose from.
Kings Park Rangers kicked off but conceded an early foul, Harms took the free kick and Milliard headed clear, and his team broke quickly forward, a cross from Hampson was punched clear by keeper, Evenett, the home team broke forward themselves through Barnard, but a goal-kick followed. On two minutes, Thorpe Athletic had forced a corner, taken by Barnard but headed wide by Bramhall, Cunningham fouled Barnard just outside the penalty area, Barnard took the free kick, but the ball hit the defensive wall bouncing out to Shuttlewood who rifled the ball left-footed over the crossbar. On seven minutes, Kings Park Rangers scored, Cunningham worked the ball across the penalty area finding ASA MILLIARD who struck a fine right footed effort that screamed past, keeper, Evenett, maybe a case of poor defending as the striker really did have too much room. Barnard was almost fouled by Cunningham, the referee allowed play to continue, the ball fell to Gray, who held the ball up for Harms who blasted the ball over the crossbar. Ten minutes in and Thorpe Athletic, through Barnard got the ball forward to Bramhall who chased down Last, to gain a corner, taken by Barnard, out to Shuttlewood, whose, cross fell too Bramhall who, surprised by the ball at his feet, leant back and hit the crossbar from four yards out! Milliard was sent sprawling by a rash challenge from Hale, surely a penalty, no, nothing given which caused a few verbal’s from the visitors, probably verging on “sin-bin” territory!
At this level of grassroots football, any mistakes can be costly, so when Thorpe Athletic lost possession inside their own half, BAILEY LAST picked up the loose ball, took a couple strides before beating the stranded keeper, Evenett. Kings Park Rangers continued to win possession easily through midfield, Cunningham was their leader through this area, he takes corners and free kicks, from one cleared corner, Humphries fouled Cocklin, more verbal’s, and histrionics followed, the free kick had been awarded but the foul did not warrant a caution despite the plea’s that fell on deaf ears. Last, fouled Foley, foul or no foul, take your pick, but the home team could not take advantage and the visitors were definitely on top. A series of tackles followed on the edge of the Thorpe Athletic penalty area, which culminated with Hunt being cautioned, having been the recipient of two of those challenges in the scramble that preceded! When Gray found space, a rare occurrence, so far, from his pass, a great shot from Bramhall on the turn was blocked by Pollard, Cunningham fouled Thompson and from Barnards free kick, keeper, Whymark could only parry the ball and MATTHEW GRAY stabbed the ball home.
On thirty minutes, Thompson worked the ball down the right side, he cut in along the goal-line but found the side-netting, better though from the home side, then Harms passed to Barnard, whose shot hit keeper, Whymark, the ball ran loose, Bramhall running in from the right side hit a fine shot but the ball cannoned back off the right hand upright, so close! A left-footed in swinging corner from Cunningham found the head of Pollard but keeper, Evenett, caught the ball in the middle of his goal and from the clearance Thompson was denied by keeper, Whymark. Kings Park Rangers increased their lead just before half-time, Hampson, was allowed too much space, down the left side, evading Foley, his cross was met at the near post by SABURI ADENIJI, who headed home, from close range.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 3.
Kings Park Rangers restarted this match, the next goal, either way, might well be crucial, either back in the game or out of sight if it’s for the visitors, now I’m no doom monger here, but with the ball played back to keeper, Evenett, he dithered just a fraction too long and the alert SABURI ADENIJI raced in to block the keeper’s clearance which bounced back into the empty goal, a disaster for him and his team. Cocklin was cautioned for a foul on Shuttlewood and Foley followed for a poor challenge on Hampson and ten minutes into the half the referee called both captains together, attempting to calm things down. From another defensive error, keeper, Evenett, had to make a fine save, conceding a corner, taken by Cunningham but Hale headed clear, and the visitors were quickest into any challenge, from a cross from Cunningham, Humphries headed clear, but the visitors picked up the loose ball and moved forward again. Thorpe Athletic pulled a goal back on fifty-six minutes, a free kick taken by Harms fell to MATTHEW GRAY at the far post where he nudged the ball home from close range, from the restart, Tracey was cautioned for a foul on Thompson.
Another dangerous free kick taken by Cunningham was palmed away by keeper, Evenett, Cunningham then ran fifty yards to take the resulting corner, eventually making it after waltzing round Barnard to further delay the taking of the corner! Thompson, for Thorpe Athletic worked his way into the penalty area, let a shot go, but Pollard was there to block the ball in front of his keeper, Whymark. Another corner taken by Cunningham, led to a towering header from Pollard which keeper, Evenett, saved on his goal-line. The visitors got their fifth goal on sixty-five minutes, JACK BAKER was allowed to run through, and he picked his spot to score with ease, the sixth followed a minute later, a long clearance was controlled by JOSHUA POLLARD just inside his own half, three strides later and he hit a fifty yard, worldie, that no keeper was going to save, game over, I think!
A number, of substitutions followed, Thorpe Athletic replaced Hunt and Gray with Castle and Power, whilst Kings Park Rangers replaced Tracey with Cannel and before the next set of changes could be made, JACK BAKER scored again, whereupon Cunningham was replaced by Southwell. Harms saw his header crash back off the cross bar as the home team pushed for some sort of consolation, and Hayes replaced Barnard with fifteen minutes to go. Jones came on for Hampson, then Collard replaced Adeniji. A cross from Cocklin was headed wide by Cannell, Thorpe Athletic looked tired now and conceded possession too easily against a team that were hungry for more goals, Baker was cautioned for a foul on Harms then Power also saw yellow for pulling back Cannell.
FULL-TIME: 2 – 7.
Not quite a classic match, Thorpe Athletic had already won the league and a cup and have another cup final to look forward too, third placed Kings Park Rangers needed to win this match and hope that Great Bentley beat Cressing United, the early results that flashed up on FA Full-Time showed that Cressing United had lost, a few messages then followed to say that result was incorrect and that Cressing United had won to stay second, two points ahead of Kings Park Rangers. These results set up next Saturdays final match between the second and third placed teams, winner takes all, but lets be honest, this Division has seen its closest contest for many years, agreed three teams have withdrawn but the top four have been there most of the season, there is every chance that those top three will be promoted to the Premier Division.
I was fortunate to be able to present James Shuttlewood, Captain of Thorpe Athletic FC with the Division One winners trophy, a trophy presented to the ESBFL in 1898, needless to say I ducked away as the fizz and celebrations started in earnest, from a personal viewpoint this Club is very well run both on and off the pitch, a few more Clubs should take note of their achievement in only four season of being in the league.
Moving to my Star player, for Thorpe Athletic, this was an under-par performance, maybe their eyes were on next Friday but today the visitors, Kings Park Rangers showed their pedigree and experience to dominate throughout. That said, this was a team effort, and every player did their bit, but for two big defensive blocks, two towering headers and a superb goal I’m going for Joshua Pollard, pick that out!
Teams:
THORPE ATHLETIC FC:
Colours: Blue / Turquoise Shirts, Navy-Blue Shorts and Navy-Blue Socks.
Team:
George Evenett., Sam Foley., James Shuttlewood (C)., Scott Humpries., Oliver Hale., Kalon harms., Luke Barnard., Brandon Hunt., Matthew Gray., Samuel Thompson., Lyndon Bramhall.
Manager: Steve Davis.
Assistant: Nat Spencer.
Used Substitutes: Joe Power., Alex Hayes., Harry Castle.
Unused Substitutes: Nat Spencer.
KINGS PARK RANGER FC:
Colours: Orange Shirts, Black Shorts and Orange Socks.
Team:
Laurence Whymark., Dan Cousens., Callum Tracey., Joshua Pollard., Bailey last., George Cocklin., Daniel Cunningham (C)., Jack Baker., Adam Hampson., Saburi Adeniji, Asa Milliard.
Manager: John Pollard.
Used Substitutes: Joshua Jones., Ben Cannell., Evan Collard., Matthew Southwell.
Unused Substitutes: Sam Bishop.
Referee: Richard Oakes.
STAR PLAYER: Joshua POLLARD (KINGS PARK RANGERS FC)
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