28/04/2019 – REPORT – Tiptree Heath FC versus White Notley FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION.

TIPTREE HEATH FC: 2. WHITE NOTLEY FC: 2.

Date: Saturday 27^th April 2019. Venue: Tolleshunt Knights Playing Fields.

What a difference a week makes, last Saturday, at the marriage of my youngest daughter we were basking in glorious sunshine, today its cold and damp, so a normal service for April is resumed then! That aside its also back to football and as the season draws to a close the number of matches diminishes, there have been evening games scheduled and played as the Fixture Secretary tries to ensure that most matches were completed before the end of April, there will be a few in early May but the season should finish on Tuesday 7^th May when two more Divisional Runners-Up slots will be finally decided, if not before, depending on other results today, midweek and next Saturday. Judging by the players on display today, a number of notable regulars were missing from both teams, some injured the odd cricketer and to be honest with nothing to play for other than pride the game played on a hard, bumpy pitch, was not a spectacle!

So, on a cold and damp and very windy afternoon I ventured over to Top Road, Tolleshunt Knights for the Premier Division match between second placed, runners-up, Tiptree Heath FC who would play fifth placed White Notley FC, a win for them would move them up to fourth. The appointed match official was Neil Strachan who would be assisted by Derrick Packer and James McMillan.

Tiptree Heath kicked off and Hunt threaded a long ball forward towards Hazell who was beaten to it by keeper, Stoneham, Ifield struck a shot high and wide at the other end from a move started by Stracey and Goodey, Pater fouled Chester who struck a long wind assisted free-kick out for a goal-kick. With ten minutes played neither had produced anything constructive, lots of midfield action but no goal scoring attempts of note. On twelve minutes a free-kick taken by Hunt fell to Hazell who drove a shot goal-wards only for team mate Ward to get in the way and divert the ball out for a goal-kick. White Notley were forced to defend as Tiptree Heath played in numerous crosses especially from Hunt down the left side. Hawkins (M) fouled Brewster, Pitts pushed the ball forward to Ifield and from his pass Goodey won a corner kick, taken by Ellis with keeper, Hawkins (P) punching clear from his goal-line.

On eighteen minutes Knill-Jones controlled the ball, ran forward only to be fouled by Pater whose defence cleared the resulting free-kick, another free-kick taken by keeper, Stoneham fell to King who used his feet to work a shooting angle with the shot cleared by Ramsey to Chester whose pass forward found Knill-Jones the wrong side of the White Notley defence, for an easy off-side decision. Another long clearance from keeper, Stoneham fell at the feet of King who set Goodey through or so, he thought as Goodey failed to control and Tollhurst edged the ball back to keeper, Hawkins (P). By the mid-half point home frustrations were beginning to tell, passes were not crisp and to feet, debatable decisions were not going their way either. White Notley had chances themselves as when Pitts got the ball forward to King he was dragged wide by defender Abrehart-Briggs, shot at goal but missed, then found he had been flagged off-side. A break forward by Abrehart-Briggs led to him putting Hazell through to beat the advancing keeper, Stoneham, but not the covering defender Pater who had run behind his keeper to clear near the six-yard line. A foul by Brewster on Ward in an off-central position led to Chester drilling the ball around the defensive ball but into the arms of keeper, Stoneham, diving low to his left. More good work by Hunt for the home team inside his own half set up Ward, who looked up to try a speculative effort from thirty yards out, but the ball sailed high over the cross-bar. On thirty-three minutes the dead-lock was broken, Ward was fouled by Stracey, Chester took the free-kick forcing keeper, Stoneham to tip the ball over the cross-bar for a corner, taken by Chester, short to CALLUM HUNT who ran on, beating a defender before placing the ball into the net from an acute angle, poor defending at a corner really but you have to take the chances when they are offered. Four minutes later and the home side doubled their lead, an error by Newton gave the ball to Hawkins (M) who clipped the ball forward towards RYAN KNILL-JONES who allowed the ball to bounce and as it rose he helped the ball over the advancing keeper to find the unguarded net for a good finish. Assisted by the wind, Ward tried a long-range effort from just inside his own half and after one bounce keeper, Stoneham was forced to palm the ball over the cross-bar for a corner. When Newman tackled Brewster, he was shown a yellow card for the robust challenge and with White Notley forced to defend for the remainder of the half the score remained at two goals to nil to the home team, however, there was enough effort from th

e visitors to consider that this game might one of the proverbial two halves!

HALF-TIME: 2 – 0.

White Notley restarted this match, the wind had not abated so it was the visitors who had a slight advantage when getting forward. Tollhurst fouled Brewster with Stracey forcing keeper, Hawkins (P) to save low to his right-hand side, a throw in from Pitts found Brewster who set up Ellis who leaned back to place the ball high over the goal. A break from Hazell looked promising, it looked off-side but with no flag forthcoming play continued until Newton recovered his position to defend well. White Notley still pushed forward, Stracey gained a corner running onto a pass from Brewster, Ifield took the corner, left-footed, finding the head of Brewster but the ball flashed wide at the far post. Hunt for Tiptree Heath again caused panic with a classy cross from the left side with keeper, Stoneham collecting and then launching a long high ball downfield. The ball bounced on the edge of the Tiptree Heath penalty area, Ifield challenged Abrehart-Briggs, won the ball or so we thought until the referee awarded a free-kick against Ifield, who was cautioned for hand-ball. Ifield was then caught off-side from a deft flick-on by King as the home defence stood idle. Wilkinson cleared up for his defence when Ward threatened again and as play switched to the other end Ramsey fouled King to earn his caution, however the free-kick from Ellis was easy for keeper, Hawkins (P).

Tiptree Heath replaced Chester with Thurston and Ramsey atoned with an excellent challenge on Goodey, just as he was about to break through the home defensive line and with Tollhurst injured in the build-up, play was stopped to allow treatment both on and off the field of play. Scrappy, was a term I heard from near the dug-outs and I did have some sympathy as I’ve seen both teams play far better this season, maybe it’s the end of season blues setting in already. Abrehart-Briggs got forward to gain a corner, this from a pass from Newman and Hawkins (M), defended well by Wilkinson, and when his team broke forward, Ifield was denied twice by keeper, Hawkins (P), once by his face and then with his arms and when the ball rolled free, King placed the ball over the cross-bar. In the next attack, visiting keeper, Stoneham launched a high up-and-under, Ifield controlled the ball wide on the left side to send in a low cross to the far side of the six-yard box where JOSH GOODEY had the simplest of chances to score.

We had now entered the final twenty minutes of play, the visitors, buoyed by that goal pushed forward for another, Ward, for Tiptree Heath rode three attempted tackles to find Knill-Jones whose lay-back to Ward was blasted wide. King held off two defenders before crossing forcing Tollhurst to head clear and with ten minutes remaining Ward tested keeper, Stoneham, again with a ball that bouncing just in front of him with the keeper pushed the ball out for a corner. White Notley replaced Ellis with Palmer and it was the home team that were forced to defend, Goodey shot just over the keeper, keeper Stoneham tried a pot at goal himself, his high and long clearance bounced once before his opposite number, Hawkins (P) watched the ball bounce once and fly over the cross-bar. Knill-Jones and Ward combined to gain a corner kick off Newton for Tiptree Heath and both teams struggled to keep the ball more than a few passes, many of which went astray! Abrehart-Briggs ventured forward but had no one up with him, White Notley were picking up the loose balls, Palmer found Wilkinson, now playing in attack but his low cross was cleared by Ramsey. Hunt cleared his lines after being fouled but play continued in any case, Pitts found the head of King but keeper, Hawkins (P) was well placed to save, its that final pass syndrome again! A free-kick from Abrehart-Briggs was punched away by keeper, Stoneham, Wilkinson intercepted the clearance to set Goodey through, he hit the post, but play was brought back for an off-side decision. Hawkins (M) covered for his defence as White Notley made a final push for that equaliser which arrived in the ninetieth minute, King controlled the ball and passed to LEE IFIELD who ran on the slot the ball home.

FULL TIME: 2 – 2.

A game of two halves, you bet, and to be honest I thought the result was a fair one, as did the match officials, Tiptree Heath were slightly better in the first half with White Notley being better in the second, cancelling each other out with two goals apiece. Not a classic, it is after all the end of the season, Tiptree Heath have vindicated the ESBFL decision to promote them two divisions, to finish a well-deserved second place. White Notley have finished fifth, again a decent achievement under the guidance of Craig Jay who brought in numerous new players this season to give the club some new impetus, long may it continue for both teams.

After the final whistle, the ESBFL, Treasurer, Brian Reed gave a short speech before handing over the Premier Division, Runners-Up Cup to Charlie Abrehart-Briggs and Jamie Chesney of Tiptree Heath FC.

Now for my Player-of-the-Match choice, difficult choice this, for White Notley, King, and goal-scorers Goodey and Ifield kept the home defence on their toes whilst captain Wilkinson played an integral part in keeping his teams fight until the end. For Tiptree Heath, Hawkins (M) was always close to the midfield action alongside Chester, Hazell, Knill-Jones and Ward perhaps needed better service but worked hard anyway however from as early as the first fifteen minutes Hunt stood out at left wing-back, good tackling, good attacks and crosses and a goal as well.

Teams:

TIPTREE HEATH FC: Colours: Green & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Green Socks.

Paddi Hawkins., Matthew Ramsey., John Newman., Charlie Abrehart-Briggs (C)., Jack Tollhurst., Max Hawkins., Joe Chester., Harry Hazell., Ryan Knill-Jones., Cameron Ward., Callum Hunt.

Manager: Steven Chester.

Assistant Manager: Gary Wood.

Used Substitutes: Luke Thurston.

Unused Substitutes: Pacey Grimshaw., Jamie Chesney.

WHITE NOTLEY FC: Colours: Amber Shirts., Black Shorts and Black Socks

Jack Stoneham., Jack Pitts., Michael Brewster., Pat Wilkinson (C)., Edward Newton., Bartosz Pater., Jack Stracey., Harry Ellis., Robert King., Josh Goodey., Lee Ifield.

Manager: Craig Jay.

Used Substitutes: Ben Palmer.

Unused Substitutes: Regan Farley-Hearn., Ryan Schofield., Nick Lappage., Jonathan Nicholls.

Referee: Neil Strachan.

Assistant Referee: Derrick Packer

and James McMillan

Player-of-the-Match: Callum HUNT (TIPTREE HJEATH FC)

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ESBFL – Final League Positions

Premier Division:

Champions: Gas Recreation FC

Runners-Up: Tiptree Heath FC

First Division:

Champions: (Subject to ECFA ruling)

Runners-Up: (Subject to ECFA ruling)

Second Division:

Champions: Stanway Pegasus FC

Runners-Up: Long Melford FC Reserves OR AFC Sudbury “A”

Third Division:

Champions: Gosfield United FC

Runners-Up: Great Bentley FC Reserves OR Dedham Old Boys FC Reserves

ESBFL – KNOCK-OUT CUP FINAL

GAS RECREATION FC V AFC SUDBURY “A”

at BRANTHAM ATHLETIC FC

on FRIDAY 3^rd MAY 2019

kick off at 19:45pm (extra time and penalties if required)

Referee: Steve Tovey

Assistants: Stuart Gillman

& Wayne Dearsley

4^th Official: Rhys Collins

Entrance is: £5.00 (Cash only)

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Additional Reporting – FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

This season the ESBFL is widening its match-day reporting coverage, in addition to a full report written by Brian Reed, the league has enlisted the help of a young volunteer, Spencer Hume, who will also attend games using Facebook and Twitter to communicate up-to-date information and replicate other match reports, please make him welcome.

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Reminder to Club / Fixture Secretaries

Once again this season the fixtures, results, referees and “kick-off” times will be shown automatically on “The FA Full-Time / The Whole Game System” ( http://full-time.thefa.com ) but would all Club / Fixture Secretaries please advise any agreed changes, as required, to Alison Willmore ( mjw1947@sky.com ) especially for evening games and for those matches being played under floodlights etc.

KO is 3:00pm from: April to end of season

Cup Matches:

Kick-Off times for ESBFL cup matches, are generally 30 minutes earlier than those shown above but check competition rules beforehand.

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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ESBFL “web-site”

The web-site for the Essex & Suffolk Border Football League is: www.esblfootball.com

Clubs are reminded that the following documents are all available on this website under Clubs / Documents etc:

ESBFL Handbook,

Player Registration Sheet,

Player “Signed-On-Match-Day” Form,