28/08/2021 – REPORT – Thorpe Athletic FC Versus Hatfield Peverel FC Reserves
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO
THORPE ATHLETIC FC: 2. HATFIELD PEVEREL FC RESERVES: 0.
Date: Saturday 28th August 2021. Venue: Little Clacton Playing Fields
Another week, another match, I’m trying to mix up my games and next week Divisions Three, Four and Five commence so there will be plenty of choice, many new teams from last season and this season as well, also plenty of talking points from the mid-week matches in the Premier Division and with results yesterday it already looks like a Division that might be hard to predict. Today I went to Little Clacton to watch two undefeated Division Two teams, home team, Thorpe Athletic FC gained an early divisional elevation having joined the ESBFL last season whereas Hatfield Peverel FC Reserves, also undefeated, won the Tommy Thompson Cup at the end of last season.
On Saturday there were three match casualties with Clubs citing insufficient players, yes it was a Bank Holiday but all three had sufficient players on Thursday and Friday then on Saturday they have only half those players, those teams will be charged as per ESBFL rule.
Today, on a windy but rain free afternoon, the referee was Andre Siqueira, a new official to me and I thought he did very well in what I thought was an entertaining match, no controversies, one caution under the totting up procedure otherwise on the spot for the crucial decisions, he was off course assisted by Club Assistants who likewise did their job properly.
And so, to kick-off, Hatfield Peverel FC Reserves started the match, quickly lost possession and Thorpe Athletic FC through Harms broke away sending in a cross which reached Taylor whose header was saved low down at the expense of a corner by keeper, Bates, who was to have a busy afternoon. The home team kept up their early pressure but Hatfield’s central defender pairing of Brewster and Grimsey won virtually every header when needed and with this pairing you could see why the visitors were undefeated. On five minutes, Castle played in Shuttlewood who cracked a fine left-footed shot goal-wards only for keeper, Bates, to once again, show his positioning sense, saving at the near post, conceding a corner. A minute later and Anderson (J) fouled Webb, the free-kick taken by Power found the unmarked Webb who headed over the cross-bar, that’s three attempts at goal already. A long angled, cross from Barnard was over-hit and from the goal-kick, taken by keeper, Bates, the ball found Power who was fouled by Anderson (J), trying to gain an unfair advantage. In the eleventh minute Hatfield were awarded a free-kick, taken by Lloyd, the ball found the head of Brewster whose thumping header crashed back into play off the cross-bar, this game is opening up. Thorpe countered, a long ball forward fell to Castle, he ran on, surely, he must score, but no, his lofted effort over the advancing keeper, also cleared the cross-bar then in the next attack Shuttlewood dragged his effort wide. A corner to Thorpe, taken by Webb created havoc at the near post and eventually Fitzgerald and Brewster scrambled the ball away.
Hatfield had taken goal-kicks short, to Grimsey, who put his foot through the ball to set up attacks deep in the Thorpe half, aiming for Anderson (J) a tricky player who didn’t seem to mind doing some dirty work and harassing defenders when required. Thorpe often played out from the back having realised that any aerial ball would see them lose possession as Brewster and Grimsey dominated and just on the half-way line, Webb was fouled. Webb took the free-kick himself, left-footed, deep into the penalty area where Grimsey headed clear with Reading fouling Shuttlewood, Webb took the free-kick but keeper, Bates made a fine save, conceding a corner. A cross from Harms was fumbled by keeper, Bates who redeemed himself by chasing the loose ball and diving on it just on the edge of his penalty area with Barnard threatening. Just before the half hour mark Anderson forced a corner off Power but the kick taken by Davies was over-hit, Hatfield kept up their bit of pressure, Webb fouled Reading, Rawlinson took the free-kick, Spencer headed clear but only to Grimsey who held his head in his hands as his well struck effort bounced narrowly wide.
A poor goal-kick from Thorpe keeper, Lawrence led firstly, to a throw-in level with the edge of the penalty area then a corner followed from which Rawlinson lofted his effort over the cross-bar, at the other end a cross from Shuttlewood was headed clear by Reading but only to Harms who volleyed the ball well wide. Another chance fell to Castle, this was scuffed wide and in reality, Thorpe should be a minimum of three goals up as chance after chance were spurned. Five minutes before half-time and a free-kick taken from wide on the left side by Taylor was headed clear by Brewster and play broke to the other end where Power slid into Rawlinson who stayed down as play continued before the injury was spotted and play stopped. As we reached half-time, both teams had tried to play good passing football, Thorpe had the upper hand and more of the chances but a stale-mate existed, hopefully some goals in the second half!
HALF-TIME: 0 – 0.
Thorpe made two changes at the restart, off went Spencer and Castle, on went Wilden and Gray, I reckon one goal might win this close match, Anderson (J) fouled Taylor and was spoken too by the referee who issued a final warning. Anderson (J) then sent Reading scampering away down the left side and his cross-cum-shot glanced off the cross-bar and back into play where Power cleared up field, but Hatfield came back and when Thorpe failed to clear the ball properly a chanced effort from Reading flew wide. In the next minute Reading was clearing up at the other end blocking a shot from Gray after good link up play from Shuttlewood and Webb down the left side, however, from the resulting corner Hulstrom stabbed at the loose ball and diverted it over the cross-bar, from six-yards out! When Wilden was tripped by Rawlinson, wide on the left side, the free kick taken by Webb was hit too long and the danger passed. On fifty minutes Hatfield made their first change replacing Lloyd with Anderson (M), and again Thorpe should have scored, keeper Bates, fumbled a free kick from Webb, as the ball bounced around Power scuffed the ball wide from six yards, another chance goes begging, much to the frustration of their manager, pacing the side-line in front of me.
A free-kick to Hatfield, taken by Rawlinson went straight to keeper, Lawrence, who for a young keeper, looked a fine prospect, safe hands, good calling, positioning, and distribution, apart from that first half goal-kick! Power, Harms and Shuttlewood broke down the left side but Grimsey stepped in to block any further advance, and keeper, Bates made a great save low down to his right hand, side to deny Barnard who was set up by Harms and Gray. Thorpe keeper, Lawrence was also called upon to make an outstanding point-blank reflex save as when a cross from the left side found Anderson (J) eight yards out, the header was firm and goal-bound until the keeper flung himself upwards to tip the ball over the cross-bar. Webb for Thorpe had the ball in the net on sixty-five minutes but was adjudged to have been off-side, Power dived into another ground level challenge on Rawlinson to concede a free-kick, but the home defence was untroubled, the next free-kick, by Anderson (J) on Harms led to the only caution of the match. Hatfield made another change replacing Simms with Hughes and before we could draw breath, a goal, we have waited seventy-two minutes for this event, Webb from Harms pass found substitute MATTHEW GRAY and he scored from close range.
Shuttlewood forced keeper, Bates into another fine save, my Star Player looks nailed on at this stage and Hatfield made their third and final change taking off Anderson (J) allowing Cooper to enter the match, again no chance to blink, Harms made a great run down the right side from the half-way line, crossing into the feet of JAMES WEBB, he goes left, then right, before placing a fine shot into the top corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area. Is that game over, clearly not, as Hatfield moved the combative Brewster into attack and from a fine pass from Rawlinson, he controlled the ball only to scoop his effort over the cross-bar. With ten minutes remaining Thorpe made their last change with Buck replacing Shuttlewood and whilst there were still chances in this end to end match the scoring remained untroubled and Thorpe ran out deserved winners.
FULL TIME: 2 – 0.
For the second week in a row this game was entertaining, both teams started with undefeated records, Thorpe moving up to second place, and despite being a couple of players missing for a variety of reasons looked a decent team who should continue to do well. Likewise, Hatfield, bemoaned having players missing and reckoned this was their worst display so far this season, I’ll have to take their word for that, but I thought they played well with limited chances and in their goalkeeper, Bates, had my Star Player. I’d also like to mention that both teams wanted to play football and gave the referee no cause for concern and both teams are a credit to the Division, keep it up, it’s a long season, that we want to finish properly.
Now let me turn to the other players, for Thorpe, keeper Lawrence, still only sixteen, looks a good prospect, defensively they were sound, Bolton, Power and Spencer doing their jobs effectively, the midfield was crucial, Shuttlewood, Webb, Hulstrom Taylor and especially Harms worked tirelessly for their forward Castel and Barnard then goal-scorer Gray. Turning the Hatfield Peverel, again a team effort, undone by two late goals, keeper, Bates, already mentioned, kept them in the game until beaten by two efforts perhaps nobody was going to save. In Brewster and Grimsey their defence looks solid supported captain Fitzgerald, the midfield worked hard, and upfront Anderson (J) kept the home defence on their toes supported by Lloyd, Simms, Davies, Rawlinson and Reading.
Teams:
THORPE ATHLETIC FC:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Oscar Lawrence., William Bolton., James Shuttlewood., Joe Power., Nathan Spencer (C1)., Harry Hulstrom., James Webb., Alfie Taylor (C2)., Bailey Barnard., Harry Castle., Kalon Harms.
Manager: James Bolton.
Used Substitutes: Matthew Gray., Louis Buck., Lewis Wilden.
Unused Substitutes: Brandon Hunt.
HATFIELD PEVEREL FC RESERVES:
Colours: Maroon Shirts, White Shorts and Maroon Socks.
Team:
Jamie Bates., James Anderson., James Fitzgerald (C)., Michael Brewster., Paul Grimsey., Anthony Lloyd., Conor Simms., Woody Reading., Louis Richmond., Sam Rawlinson., Thomas Davies.
Manager: Steven Harding.
Used Substitutes: Michael Anderson., Owen Cooper., Joshua Hughes.
Referee: Andre Siqueira.
Star Player: James BATES (HATFIELD PEVEREL FC RESERVES)
REMINDERS:
MATCH NOTIFICATIONS
Clubs are required to notify all match details, date venue, kick-off time, colours etc, to their opposition and any appointed official/s, FIVE days before the match.
TEAM SHEETS
Team Sheets should be shown or sent to the Referee and the Opposition team either by text, email etc
The BLUE “League Copy” of the Team Sheet should be sent by First Class Post to reach Mick Willmore by the Thursday after a Saturday match, this is the ONLY item of correspondence that is required by post. The team, players, substitutes, goal scorers, red / yellow cards, sin-bin, and referee’s marks must be entered to FA Full-Time by the end of the Tuesday following a Saturday match (ie 48 hours after any match).
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