27/02/2016 – Tiptree Park FC versus Tiptree Jobserve FC Reserves

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE                  DIVISION TWO

 

TIPTREE PARK FC:         0.       TIPTREE JOBSERVE FC RESERVES: 1.

 

Date:   Saturday 27^th February 2016.                      Venue: Thurstable School, Tiptree

 

This week my reported match, and it is my choice, took me to Tiptree, a local derby with sixth placed Tiptree Park FC hosting second placed Tiptree Jobserve FC Reserves. The hosts are in their second season in the ESBFL and have acquitted themselves well whilst retaining a Reserve Team in the CEEFL, Division Two whereas the visitors, from Florence Park just down the road, have had a torrid time pulling their first team from the Premier Division before Christmas, let us hope these Reserves step up to Division One which does seem likely at this late stage of the season.

 

The Match Official for this fixture was Stephen Vieira another new and young referee who has plumped for refereeing rather than still playing, and on the relatively narrow but bumpy school pitch he would always be close to the action.

 

Tiptree Park kicked off and Coppin played a good ball through to Hammond who slipped the ball just past the post, Tiptree Jobserve hit back with a long ball from Elmer falling to Andrews whose pace took him round Bate but the cross was over-hit, probably aided by the narrow pitch. Back at the other end and Coppin fouled Harvey on the edge of the penalty area, Lamb took the free-kick but the curling ball struck by his left foot flew across goal and wide of the far post. This game, as a local derby should be competitive and I thought a close result would follow with the visitors having triumphed by four goals to nil on the opening day of the season. Tiptree Park had started well with Wilson heading forward to Firth who lobbed the ball just wide which perhaps forced Tiptree Jobserve to get a wake-up call with Williamson crossing to Harvey who shot wide of the goal. Tiptree Park had a corner cleared as Pomphrett was eased off the ball by Cameron and at this early stage the hosts looked the more dominant team.

Quinney put in a great tackle in midfield on Lee, passing forward to Hammond who turned to shoot with Elmer saving and from the keepers throw-out he set Andrews away down the left side however his cross-field ball towards Williamson found his colleague in an off-side position when the ball was played. A Tiptree Jobserve corner conceded by Teran was cleared by Coppin to Williamson whose return shot was held by keeper, Graham whose long clearance was handled by Lee just on the edge of his penalty area with Wilson taking the free-kick which was comfortably defended. Coppin upended Williamson wide on the right side, I thought the challenge was fair given the relative size of the respective players but once again the free-kick taken by Lee was over-hit and the home defence looked fairly solid so far, against a team who have scored eighty-eight league goals to date in seventeen games and who in this game were regularly being caught off-side.

On twenty-five minutes, Williamson and Barham worked the ball to Harvey and having controlled a difficult pass proceeded to lob the ball over the goal and the visitors were frustrated when they tried to take a quick free-kick with the referee bringing play back as the ball was rolling at the time only for Clark to strike the free-kick too high for any players to reach. With half-an-hour gone Tiptree Jobserve put together the best move of the match so far, Williamson galloped away down the right, crossing to Andrews whose firm header flew straight to keeper, Graham. Undeterred, Tiptree Park broke forward through Quinney and Hammond with Teran, forcing an excellent one handed save, by Elmer. On numerous occasions the referee had tried to play the advantage but when these moves broke down he did not hesitate to bring the play back for a free-kick. Another twenty-five yard free-kick taken by Wilson flew to Elmer and the game remained fairly open, lots of effort on a bumpy pitch but with few clear cut chances until a break by Williamson, from a pass by Harvey, saw the final shot going well wide then Lamb tried his luck with a curling free-kick from the right side but Graham made a comfortable save, catching the rebound off Andrews who has little time to react to the loose ball.

 

HALF-TIME:       0 – 0

 

Tiptree Park made an immediate change at the start of the second half with Morgan replacing Firth who took up linesman duties and Harvey and Quinney continued a personal but friendly duel as the visitors forward tracked back to challenge. Two minutes into the half and a goal was scored as with the home defence caught napping and appealing for an off-side decision, BEN WILLIAMSON ran through and although getting a fortunate double touch to the ball he managed to lob it over the advancing keeper and into the corner of the net. A free-kick from Wilson forced Elmer to save, albeit with his knee and Pomphrett was causing problems by his persistent presence whenever the ball was played forward. Quinney and Harvey were at it again when tangling in a tough challenge, a helping hand up from the ground and handshake followed, as the game proceeded elsewhere. Ten minutes into the half and Lee sent in a dipping volley which failed to trouble Graham but chances were being created, once forcing Teran to make a big last defender challenge as Harvey threatened to run through. Substitute Morgan, since his introduction had caused problems with his pace and from a run and cross from the left wing, Ireland set up Quinney whose downward header saw Elmer save at the base of the near post.

Bate was pulled up for a foul on Lamb who had embarked on a run from his own half but the free-kick from Andrews went straight to Graham, Pomphrett was replaced by recent transferee Cant, Rayner fouled Harvey but the free-kick was cleared by Teran. Another pacy run from Morgan kept Pryke on his toes whilst Williamson set Harvey away and when the ball was played back to Andrews a foul by Teran should have halted proceedings but with the visitors in possession play continued. On sixty-five minutes Coppin cleared forward out of defence but the ball fell to Andrews whose cross found the head of Harvey but Rayner was handily placed to head clear. Bate was spoken too by the referee, this for dissent but this match had been played in good spirit. Wiggett was pulled up for a foot-off-the-ground foul on opposite number Teran who had plenty to say about that which allowed time for Hammond to be replaced by Healy. Cameron was caught by a stray high foot from Quinney who received a caution, probably on the basis of persistent infringements.

With fifteen minutes to go, Tiptree Jobserve continued to press forward through Williamson who crossed to Harvey who headed over from close range then a long ball from Coppin found Healy charging through from the half-way line and when Elmer, as last man, advanced out of his penalty area to clear he felled Healy who, fortunately for the keeper, was running slightly away on an angle from the penalty area. The referee used some time to assess the situation and used common sense to only caution the relieved keeper, many other officials might have shown a straight red card and neither team argued about the obvious foul and action that followed. Lee for Tiptree Jobserve received an accidental back-header from Ireland to rattle his top teeth with play later stopped for the player to receive treatment and with just minutes remaining Wilson received a yellow card for a foul on Cameron and in a frantic finish both teams had half-chances to score.

 

FULL TIME:        0 – 1

 

Well, I expected a close game and this was what I saw, two honest teams trying to get one over the other for local bragging rights and as it was, the second placed team consolidated their league position behind leaders Cressing United FC who were inactive due to their opposition, like three other Border League teams being unable to field a team, a worrying trend perhaps and I notice that other leagues are suffering as well!

 

This week for my selection for a Man-of-the Match was a close call, certain players put in a good shift for their respective teams but overall the presence and running of Harvey for Tiptree Jobserve FC just about shaded my eventual choice.

 

Teams:

 

TIPTREE PARK FC:                                            Colours: Green Shirts, White Shorts and White Socks.

Ewan Graham., Patrick Bate., Matthew Coppin., Ben Rayner., Victor Teran., David Quinney (C)., Peter Wilson., Nils Ireland., Paul Hammond., David Pomphrett., Benjamin Firth.

 

Manager:                        Richard Catanack.

Used Substitutes:             Jamie Cant., James Healy., Christopher Morgan.

Unused Substitute:           James Handley.

 

 

TIPTREE JOBSERVE FC                          Colours: Blue & White Shirts, Blue Shorts and Black Socks.

Ben Elmer., Carl Pryke., Michael Lamb., Thomas Clark., Glenn Wiggett (C)., Robert Lee., Mario Andrews., Ewan Cameron., Kevin Barham., Dean Harvey., Ben Williamson.

 

Manager:                        Glenn Wiggett.

Unused Substitutes:         James Robinson., Jason Todd., Ben Rodwell., Samuel Joyce., Nelson Taylor.

 

Referee:                        Stephen Vieira                 (Braintree).

 

 

Man of the Match:          Dean HARVEY                                (TIPTREE JOBSERVE FC)