28/09/2024 – REPORT – Gosfield United FC versus Great Bentley FC

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE

GOSFIELD UNITED FC.          0.         GREAT BENTLEY FC.              4.

Date:   Saturday 28^th September 2024.      

Venue: Gosfield Playing Fields, Church Lane, Gosfield.

            This Division has a close feel about it already, at the start of play three teams sat, unbeaten, on ten points after four matches, two of these teams met at Gosfield on Saturday, so what would give with Gas Recreation without a game, close on the rails are Dovercourt Rovers on nine points. In pre-season, Gosfield United had lost a number of players to local teams but as is usual had picked up local players as well, the player roundabout still exists but Manager, John Holland had three key players missing from his usual squad due to holidays. Great Bentley have also strengthened their squad, with a number of players returning from the now defunct Colne Athletic, and this Club is one of two who field three teams each week, that is some achievement when other teams struggle to field one!

            A bright, sunny, but cold afternoon welcomed a decent number of spectators for both teams, the pitch looked in good condition despite the recent heavy rain, the match official was Rob Giles who would be ably assisted by Club Assistants who did a good job.

             Gosfield kicked off and started positively down the slight slope, but the first long, but overhit ball was easily gather by away keeper, Allwood, Copeland conceded the first foul on Morter, with Martin striking the free kick direct to keeper, Allwood. Herbert (A) started the first decent attack from Great Bentley, his long ball down the right side found Brown who kept possession by playing the ball back to Copeland who used Smith down the left side, his pass in field fell to JAKE VAUGHAN who took the ball on before striking the ball left-footed, hard and low past keeper, Warren. Gosfield United had to respond positively, Copeland defended well and passed up field where Aspin scythed down Brown near the half-way line, Aspin was spoken too as he remonstrated. Yarwood tracked back to tackle and set Mountenay away, his cross was parried by keeper, Warren and Brown was high with a raised foot that failed to connect when attacking the cross. Defender, Burch lofted the ball over the home defence and Warin gave chase, Gazmuri-Symes cleared the ball only to be clattered by Warin who was spoken too.

            Gazmuri-Symes then fouled Warin just outside the penalty area, Brown took the free kick, keeper, Warren opted to punch clear and both teams were trying to play football, which was pleasant to witness, a few niggly fouls but two committed teams. Martin pulled the shirt of Mountenay, bit obvious when in front of the referee, from the free kick the ball was played wide to Smith who used his pace against Hayward to good effect, as Great Bentley started to impose the more attacking threat. A rasping shot from Martin was saved by keeper, Allwood, diving to his right after Martin had been set up by a fine run and cross from Gale. Martin almost became provider when again his pass wide to Gale saw him round Peace and fire goalwards with keeper, Allwood spilling the ball over the line for a corner but this was much better from the home team, from the corner taken by Martin, there was an infringement inside the six-yard box and the danger passed.

            A long ball forward from Burch was eagerly chased by Vaughan, but he ran into Hayward who stood his ground, Brown looked to find Vaughan again, this time, keeper, Warren was quickly out with Cannon completing the clearance. Gale tried his luck again, this time from outside the penalty area, keeper, Allwood was well positioned to save with a good catch, but not under any pressure. As we approached half time Great Bentley scored their second goal, controversially, some might say, a cross from Warin fell into the six-yard box, keeper, Warren under pressure from Vaughan, fell, seemingly fouled, the keeper did regain his feet and play continued, DALE BROWN had picked up the loose ball wide of the far post, he worked some space before rifling the ball home. Aspin spoke out of turn about a decision not being given and was shown a yellow card for a “sin bin” offence, but by persisting with his verbal tirade he was shown another yellow card followed by a red card, the “sin bin” rules have changed this season. With play stopped, keeper Warren went down injured and required lengthy treatment before being relaced in goal by Mortar and numerically he was replaced by Coleman, but the home team were now two goals behind and down to ten men. As Gosfield United pushed forward Warin tracked back to tackle Coleman, Yarwood, not for the first time overhit a forward pass for a goal kick, and the visitors were content to play out the first half by keeping the ball, however, Vaughan had a shot fly just wide and Gosfield United, through a long goal kick from Mortar, almost capitalised as Coleman evaded Burch, running through only to be denied one-on-one by keeper, Allwood, who parried the first attempt then pounced on the loose ball at the feet of Coleman.

HALF-TIME:    0 – 2.

            Great Bentley, two goals to the good, kicked off the second half, the ten players of Gosfield United now had an uphill task, literally speaking, having had the advantage of the slope in the first half, the visitors played the ball around keeping possession until a fifty / fifty challenge between Martin and Vaughan saw both players on the ground holding their knees, a total accident. Mountenay had been industrious through midfield for Great Bentley and from his astute pass, Vaughan was stopped by Matthews, then a cross from Herbert (A) was totally missed in front of goal by Vaughan. Martin was fouled by Yarwood, bit like David and Goliath, from the restart, Rusu fouled Brown, getting up to apologise, then Smith fouled Hayward and a cross from Rusu had keeper Allwood backpedalling but the ball landed on the top of the net. Vaughan broke forward, head down as usual but blasted a decent chance wide, Burch started another attack out of defence, he found Herbert (A) down the right side, but Gosfield United defender Gazmuri-Symes got back to block any danger. The third goal came on fifty-six minutes, Herbert (A) raced down the right side, from his cross, Yarwood flicked the ball on and there was DALE BROWN steaming in the head home, his second goal of the match.

Gosfield United kept plugging away and from a clearance by keeper, Mortar, Martin got the ball wide to Gale whose fine shot was fumbled out for a corner kick by keeper, Allwood, and from the corner the keeper was hurt when he collided with Matthews and required lengthy treatment. The visitors still had a goal threat, Burch pushed forward and set Herbert (A) away down the right side with Matthews heading the cross out for a corner, taken by Brown and from which a goalmouth scramble followed. On sixty-two minutes, when play had stopped, Hayward was replaced by Moses, from the free kick, Gale scuffed the ball straight to keeper, Allwood when well placed, a decent chance though. Burch, had a rush of blood to the head when he chanced his aim from thirty-five yards, but it only troubled the trees in the car park! Great Bentley scored their fourth goal on sixty-six minutes, Yarwood sprayed the ball wide to Mountenay and from his low driven cross, there was DALE BROWN to complete his hat-trick. A number, of substitutions followed as Rusu made way for Drew and Herbert (A) made way for McMahon, a straight defensive swap there, Coleman and Gale forged an attack down the right side, from the cross Drew headed over, another chance goes begging! On seventy minutes the visitors changed Peace and Brown for Herbert (O) and Britton but once again when given space, Vaughan charged forward and fired goalwards, this time, keeper, Mortar palmed the rising shot over the crossbar for a corner.

Gosfield United made their final player change on seventy-five minutes, on went Brooker, off went Gazmuri-Symes, Gale was fouled by Burch just outside the penalty area, Martin took the free kick, right footed but into the side netting. With ten minutes of normal time remaining, Manager, Murray entered play in place of Smith who had a fine game for a youngster, within a minute and having not touched the ball, Murray showed dissent when questioning a decision, so was promptly shown a yellow card and sent to the “sin bin”, that is some entrance and exit and both teams were now playing with ten players! Yarwood burst forward from midfield, took aim and thrashed a shot goalwards from thirty yards out, keeper, Mortar stood his ground on the goal-line and caught the ball. Holland, the Gosfield United manager was shown a yellow card for showing dissent, its all happening today, Speller fouled Herbert (O), Vaughan lined up the free kick but shot wide, Vaughan then embarked on a dribble forward, got the better of defender Cannon but struck his shot wide. Murray rejoined the action in added time, Mountenay and Warin linked up, but Martin stopped the attack and picked up a yellow card for persistent fouling. In the final minute, Murray ran forward to hit a fine shot, destined for the top right-hand corner of the goal, that was until keeper, Mortar launched himself to tip the ball over the crossbar.

FULL TIME:     0 – 4.

            The scoreline perhaps looks like a comprehensive win for Great Bentley, Gosfield United were always in the game, they just could not score from their chances created whereas the visitors were clinical, the first half dismissal of a home player and the loss of their keeper, probably swung the eventual result but the home team knuckled down and continued to try play football. Great Bentley stay top of the Division and on this showing will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season, Gosfield United drop to fourth after this first defeat, with Dovercourt Rovers moving up from fourth to second with Gas Recreation, third, with a game in hand.

It appears that Gosfield United FC have a kind sponsor, Suffolk Farms, a butcher who donates two sirloin steaks to their player of the match, when asked who I thought should get a free meal, I nominated Will Gale.

Turning to my Star Player, for Gosfield United, apart from Gale, there were solid performances from Captain, Speller, and central defenders Mathews and Cannon who had a lot to contend with, Martin has a good touch, and his passes and free kicks were usually accurate. For Great Bentley, a big team effort, at the back keeper, Allwood made some crucial saves and gave good distribution, the foundation of the defence is the pairing of, Captain, Copeland and Burch, two tall players that command the aerial ball, the midfield is also strong, Yarwood is key centrally, with Brown and Mountenay alongside but with Warin and Vaughan upfront they have a potent strike force. This week, I was opting for the work-rate shown by Mountenay until I realised that Brown had scored a hat-trick but his all round display gets the vote this week.

Teams:

GOSFIELD UNITED FC:         

Colours:                        Green Shirts, Black Shorts and Green Socks.

Team:

Ben Warren., Evan Hayward., Hayden Matthews., Alex Cannon., Josh Gazmuri-Symmes., Coby Aspin., Jonathan Speller., Charlie Martin., Jack Mortar., Will Gale., Rob Rusu.

Manager:                      John Holland.

Used Substitutes:          Will Drew., Dan Coleman., Adam Moses., Ollie Brooker.

GREAT BENTLEY FC.

Colours:                        Blue & White Striped Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Jake Allwood., Archie Herbert., Alfie Peace., Lewis Mountenay., Max Copeland (C)., Jack Burch., Dale Brown., Aran Yarwood., Rory Warin., Jake Vaughan., Archie Smith.

Manager:                      Jack Murray.

Assistant Manager:       Greg Taylor

Used Substitutes:          Oscar Herbert., Ryan McMahon., Toby Britton., Jack Murray.

Referee:                       Rob Giles.

STAR PLAYER:            Dale BROWN                          (GREAT BENTLEY FC)