28/12/2019 – REPORT – Great Bentley FC Reserves versus Lawford Lads FC Reserves

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

RESERVE KNOCK-OUT CUP.

GREAT BENTLEY FC RESERVES. 0. LAWFORD LADS FC RESERVES: 2.

Date: Saturday 28^th December 2019. Venue: The Green, Great Bentley.

There was a reduced fixture list last Saturday, seven cup matches were scheduled and despite the weather trying to intervene once again, five took place. Whilst I don’t normally report on a team that I had watched the week before it wasn’t hard to select the Reserve Knock-Out Cup tie on Great Bentley Green between Division Two side Great Bentley FC Reserves and current Reserve Knock-Out Cup holders who were to play Division Three, Lawford Lads FC Reserves, who currently sit top of their division.

A dry but cold afternoon welcomed a decent crowd, in excess of fifty people for what, on paper, should be a close fought affair, the visitors are on a thirteen-match unbeaten run whilst the home team are more than holding their own after last seasons deserved promotion. The match referee was George Sleigh who would be assisted by Club volunteers, the pitch, from a distance looked in extremely good condition but closer inspection suggested it would cut up during the match.

Great Bentley kicked-off but lost possession deep in the Lawford half, a searching long ball out of defence fell at the feet of Mann who galloped away from the attentions of Taylor and McMahon to send a left footed shot across the face of the goal striking the base of the far post before being cleared, now that’s an early warning sign for the home team! The second warning came after three minutes, a deep cross by Farthing fell to Mann who was denied by keeper, Kirk who was alert to the danger, with his defence flat-footed. Lawford kept up the early pressure with Feavior running through and whilst we all probably expected a goal, the ball bobble up and the eventual shot was skied high and wide with just the keeper to beat. Feavior almost became provider on seven minutes when his pass inside the home defence found Mann running through but despite a well struck right footed shot, he was denied by a fine save from keeper, Kirk who stuck out a leg to divert the ball on the six-yard line. The home side stirred themselves after this early salvo from Lawford who could have been three goals ahead by the ten-minute mark, Herbert, Bennett, Gallant worked the ball forward to Clifton, but the ball ran away from him and he fired narrowly wide. Lawford, as expected, countered, looking to Mann to hold up the ball, get players forward in support and threaten the home defence.

Herbert made a forceful dribble down the right side sending in a low cross which reached Winney, but Churchman blocked the shot at goal and from the corner kick taken by Herbert, Gallant rose to head over the cross-bar. A strong direct run by Clifton against Griffin whose attempted tackle was probably unfair, but the referee let the play continue as Bennett for Great Bentley fed Clifton, but he shot wide. On twenty minutes, Mann broke through again, Taylor did enough to force Mann wide with McMahon putting in a fine tackle to stop the attack near the penalty spot. Mann fouled Taylor just outside the home penalty area and with a break in play it let the home team take stock of events so far, they knew the danger but would need to be alert throughout the rest of the match. Hipkin for Lawford made a desperate attempt to tackle Herbert, some might say it was a cynical, but it stopped a promising home attack, Herbert took the free-kick into the penalty area where Feavior headed out for a corner and from the in-swinging corner taken by Bennet the ball was headed clear for a throw-in by Southee. The home team had got back into this game through hard work, Bennett and Herbert interchanged passes with Southee clearing for a corner, no nonsense defending by the ex, Great Bentley player. Herbert took the corner and Gallant headed over once again.

Home captain, Taylor, an old-style central defender got the better of Mann in a one-on-one situation conceding a corner, another defender taking no chances, we then had the first, of many occasions when players received head injuries! Hipkin went down following a clumsy tackle from behind by McMahon, play had continued with Lawford in possession, but the game was brought back to the stricken player who got up and play resumed, to me a needless stoppage! On the half-hour mark, Mann received the ball down the left side channel, cutting inside McMahon he was just about to shoot when Taylor, in my opinion, and others, clattered the leading marksman and he crashed to the ground, but despite what I thought were genuine calls for a penalty, play was waved on! Hipkin was again in the wars along with Taylor, an accidental collision leading to a drop ball to the home team but before Gallant could strike the ball he was fouled by Bolingbroke and this stop / start game continued towards half-time. A chase for a loose ball by Winney led to him being fouled by Southee a yard in from the goal-line but three yards outside the penalty area, Herbert took the free-kick, but Southee atoned with a clearing header. The home side finished by keeping the ball inside the Lawford half, Herbert drove past Simpson, a suspicion of a foul there too but the low driven cross reached Clifton who slipped at the wrong moment and the chance disappeared.

HALF TIME: 0 – 0.

Half-time substitutes for both teams saw Bennet being replaced by Powell for Great Bentley and Williams and Kiwomya replacing Hipkin and Farthing for Lawford Lads as both teams looked to take hold of this cup tie which might just go to extra-time and spot-kicks, I said might, hope not as my feet were starting to get cold with the cold ground underfoot. A cross from the left side by Simpson found Kiwomya who headed straight at keeper, Kirk. This game needs a goal, any goal will do! From a clearance by keeper, Kirk, the ball from Taylor found Peace over-lapping and when he played the ball inside to Winney, the forward was foiled, right on the edge of his penalty area by keeper, Mustoe who collected the ball whilst laying on the ground, his first and only real action of the game! This game had opened up, a direct run by Kiwomya forced McMahon to concede a corner from which Robinson chipped the ball in to Mann who was foiled by a finger-tip save by keeper, Kirk, another corner. Peace and Gallant got forward out of defence for Great Bentley but substitute Kiwomya chased back to defend, then Stallan got forward for the home team but Farthing recovered to help out his defence.

On sixty-two minutes Great Bentley made a double substitution with Morley and McMillan replacing Gallant and Peace and Lawford sensed a goal when Mann was played through by Southee, but Taylor recovered to get level with the forward to put in a fine challenge albeit conceding a throw-in. When Taylor blocked a shot from Robinson the rebound fell to Bolingbroke who was denied by keeper, Kirk. A fine passing move, started by Griffin for Lawford led to passes upfield involving Farthing whose deep cross found Mann, totally unmarked, who inexplicably headed wide when really, he should have scored! On sixty-five minutes a robust but legitimate challenge from Taylor on Mann saw him come away with the ball, running from the edge of his penalty area, crossing the half-way line before threading the ball through to Clifton who was stopped by Southee with another timely interception. Minutes later, a goal, in fact an OWN GOAL, Williams dribbled through down the left side, got inside the penalty area and drove the ball goal-wards, beating keeper, Kirk however despite Taylor getting back onto the goal line he could do little when trying to control the ball, other than divert the ball into his own net, Williams will probably claim the goal but the last touch was definitely off the defender! When play resumed, a run and cross from Bolingbroke found Mann whose overhead kick attempt was saved by keeper, Kirk, who pushed the ball wide for a corner kick.

Right, there are just over fifteen minutes remaining, is one goal enough, can Great Bentley take this game into extra-time, that quandary dissolved on seventy-five minutes when Lawford pressed forward, a large presence of players, were inside the penalty area where Morley up-ended Williams, no arguments, a penalty. Up stepped OLIVER MANN to hammer the ball goal-wards, keeper Kirk saved the first attempt, but Mann ran in to score from the rebound and celebrate as most forwards do these days, game over! Taylor and Kiwomya got tangled up in one strong challenge and both players were spoken too, Taylor then fouled Farthing who took no further part in the game being replaced by Rand. A real head injury followed, Griffin and Morley clashed heads in an aerial duel, both requiring treatment but both were deemed good to continue. Herbert tried his luck again, running at a retreating defence and crossing to Morley who gained a corner and in a final act Russell tried an overhead kick which was blocked at close range by defender Churchman.

FULL TIME: 0 – 2.

So a tough game for all concerned, the supposed under-dogs prevailed against the Cup holders who looked a bit off key for this match, take noting away from Lawford Lads FC Reserves though, they deserved this victory, always a threat up top, especially when Mann is played, they dominated midfield and defended so well their keeper only had one meaningful save to make. In the quarter finals Lawford will play at home to the winners of the Cavendish FC Reserve / Stanway Pegasus FC Reserve tie whose match is scheduled to be played on 18^th January 2020.

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice, I’m not going to dwell on this choice this week, defenders Taylor and McMahon were probably the pick of the home team players whereas Lawford players collectively played as a team, however I’m opting for defender and captain for the day, Southee, who constantly snuffed out any sign of danger, being in the right place at the right time and leading his team well in the absence of Upton.

Teams:

GREAT BENTLEY FC RESERVES: Colours: Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.

Trevor Kirk., Ryan McMahon., Ben Peace., Scott Stallan., Nathan Taylor (C)., David Gallant., Archie Herbert., Connor Bennett., Samuel Winney., Aaron Clifton., Kurt Russell.

Manager: Richard Herbert & Gordon Lawrence.

Used Substitutes: Alfie Morley., Chris Powell., Elliot McMillan.

LAWFORD LADS FC: Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Daniel Mustoe., Dylan Griffin., Thomas Simpson., Aidan Hipkin., Michael Southee (C)., Sam Churchman., Harvey Robinson., Nicholas Bolingbroke., Oliver Mann., Ashley Feavior., Tom Farthing.

Manager: Jay Welham.

Used Substitutes: Jordan Kiwomya., Fabrice Williams., Lee Rand.

Unused Substitutes: Ross Butcher., Joe Wilkins.

Referee: George Sleigh.

Player of the Match: Michael SOUTHEE (LAWFORD LADS FC RESERVES)

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In closing may I wish everyone on behalf of the ESBFL a Happy New Year.

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Additional Reporting:

YOU TUBE., FACEBOOK (x2) & TWITTER

Once again, this season the ESBFL is widening its match-day reporting coverage, in addition to a full report written by Brian Reed, our other roving reporter, Spencer Hume, has once again made himself known during the friendlies season and he will also attend games reporting via You Tube, Facebook and Twitter to communicate up-to-date information and replicate other match reports. In addition, John Campany, Vice Chairman will continue to provide a weekly summary, published in The Gazette.

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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 2:00pm in: January

KO is 2:30pm in: February

KO is 3:00pm from: March 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 Handbook,