30/08/2023 – REPORT – Stanway Rovers Community FC Under 23’s versus Belle Vue Social FC

CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

STANWAY ROVERS COMMUNITY U23’s.    6.       BELLE VUE SOCIAL FC.  2.

Date:   Wednesday 30^th August 2023.          Venue: The Hawthorns, New Hall Road, Stanway.

            A pleasant evening saw numerous spectators attend “The Hawthorns” home of Stanway Rovers FC, this was for the Premier Division match between their U23’s and local rivals Belle Vue Social FC, the visitors were apparently hampered by players being stranded in Manchester and had called upon two players from Wivenhoe Town FC to make up their numbers.

            The “Respect” handshake was conducted under the floodlights before match referee Anthony Phillips, who was assisted by Andrew Harvey and Pierce Campbell, commenced this match, I have to say the pitch looked in excellent condition.

            Stanway Rovers U23’s, have had a decent start to this campaign, this is their fourth home game and with three wins, one draw and one loss to date are using this team of young players well and their league position of fourth is merited. Belle Vue Social had started their season with two wins and a draw but lost to Barnston last Saturday, in this game the players would know each other well.

            Stanway kicked off, Belle Vue Social gained possession and broke down the right side through Martin, having been dispossessed by Gray, the defender turned the ball back to keeper, Lines whose attempt to volley the ball clear only led to a total miscue and the ball rolled into the back of the net, an own goal for me but LEWIS MARTIN will probably claim it. Belle Vue Social keeper, Lewis sent the ball long to Harrington, Taylor was injured in this challenge, the home team pushed forward in response, Morton set up Horne whose attempted chip over the keeper was held by Lewis, three yards out. Morton picked up the ball when it was knocked down by Lewis, had a shot at goal, keeper, Lewis saved low down but conceded a corner, taken by Morton and met at the far post by Thomas whose header found the side netting. Morton looked lively through midfield, winning challenges, and using his deft feet and pace to gain ground away from opposition players. Being one goal up Belle Vue Social tended to sit back and defend, playing the ball out of defence, but when Wyatt chased forward, he gained a corner then Cobden did the same for Belle Vue Social with Newland conceding it. On twelve minutes Mouat was hit full in the face by a defensive clearance from one of his own players but was okay to continue, Newland found Horne, the ball moved on to Thomas, but Partner placed the ball into touch for a throw-in, for the visitors Harrington was playing as a lone front man.

            Atmadjov fouled Diplock mid-half and Partner sent a rising shot just wide from thirty yards out, at the other end a spirted run down the right side by BRENDAN HORNE saw his driven cross-cum-shot slotted into his own net by Sehier, who could do little to avoid turning the ball past his own keeper. Martin, for the visitors had been central to many of their attacks and when defending used some skill to evade three players as he exited his own penalty area, he found Harrington who held the ball up before drawing a corner off Gray. The game had been a gritty affair so far, honours even, not too many goal-scoring chances, both goals will have been claimed but for me they were “own goals” under the old-fashioned interpretation! Morton and Mouat worked the ball well down the left side with the latter player forcing keeper, Lewis to help the rising shot clear the cross-bar, Morton took the corner, deep towards the far post where the incoming TEDDY COWAN headed powerfully home or was the ball already over the goal-line! Martin, for the visitors showed what a skilful player he is, using his feet well down the right touch-line he skipped past two defenders, took a return pass from Harrington to test keeper, Lines. Keeper, Lewis, sent the ball long once again to Harrington, who was fouled by Gray, Diplock, took the free-kick, driving the ball low and hard under the defensive wall where keeper, Lines collected on his goal line. Stanway has raised their attacking tempo, Taylor sent the ball forward to Thomas who set up Morton whose fierce shot cannoned back off the hands of keeper, Lewis who reacted by chasing out to collect the loose bouncing ball and got clobbered by Atmadjov, the ball was loose and both players went for it and got injured in the process, keeper, Lewis felt the full force of the challenge to sustain a head injury that needed treatment. Another head injury followed, this time to Taylor, as he ducked into a defensive clearance from Sehier. Mouat and Morton worked the ball into space for Cowan whose shot was blocked by Francis, then Morton passed to Thomas who chipped goalwards over the head of keeper, Lewis but Farthing raced back to head the ball off the goal-line, frantic stuff this!

            That’s half an hour of end-to-end football, the home team deserved to be ahead, they had found plenty of space and by being quickest to the ball, moving the ball about and by keeping possession they dominated, and this lead was increased when a cross from Wyatt was headed home by BRENDAN HORNE. Another cross, this time from Taylor found Thomas whose shot on the turn flew straight to keeper, Lewis, who caught the ball at the second attempt. On thirty-six minutes disaster for Belle Vue Social, defender Partner went down injured, received treatment, went off, then came back before finding difficulty in running so was replaced by Clarke. Cowan and Harrington clashed in a hefty challenge with Cowan shown a yellow card, a poor clearance from keeper, Lewis fell to Morton whose return shot flew well wide and home keeper, Lines was forced to palm the ball over his cross-bar from a dangerous cross from Martin. Diplock received a caution for chasing back and fouling Morton and other tackles were getting tasty. In the fifth minute of added time ANTOINE ATMADJOV scored a fine individual goal, gliding past some static defenders before picking his spot, low across the face of the goal.

HALF-TIME:    4 – 1.

            The half-time scoreline perhaps flattered the home team but its goals that count, so with Belle Vue Social, keeper, Lewis, unable to continue, Clarke went in goal meaning they were to play the second half with just ten players. Stanway Rovers Community U23’s made changes themselves, off went Cowan and Horne with Gee and Collins entering play. A shot from Mouat tested new keeper, Clarke, a left footed cross from Taylor found Wyatt who side footed wide with the goal at his mercy, keeper, Clarke, saved again from Atmadjov and when Taylor found space on the left side, Holmes, now playing in defence conceded a corner. Belle Vus Social still had chances, Martin broke through with only keeper, Lines to beat, that he did, but his chipped effort was agonisingly wide. Farthing and Francis combined to stop Mouat, unfairly though, Gee took the free-kick with keeper, Clarke rising to palm the ball away for a corner.

            On sixty minutes Stanway Rovers Community U23’s replaced Atmadjov with Tansey, Harrington and Martin worked the ball forward, but the final pass was blocked off by Newland, Morton set up Wyatt whose shot ended up in the car park. The home team remained the dominant team, Belle Vue Social were content to defend and not concede again, a great left-wing cross from Taylor fell at the feet of Wyatt who skied the ball over the almost empty net from less than six yards out. On sixty-five minutes another home player change, off went Wyatt and on went Murray, Tansey fouled Francis, that was a fairly obvious push in the back, Stanway Rovers Community U23’s defended that free-kick well and broke forward with Mouat leading the charge and with keeper, Clarke saving with his feet, the keeper then saved at full stretch when Collins controlled a pass, from Morton, turned and shot goalwards. Home keeper, Lines was a virtual spectator by now, Morton continued to cause all manner of problems with his pace and vision to find colleagues, Cobden, sent a long ball forward, Harrington got the better of Newland and gave chase and home keeper, Lines was forced into action, advancing out of his penalty area to clear up field. Morton fired wide when through on goal, Cobden was fouled by Collins, Cobden took the free-kick himself, Martin and Farthing challenged for the ball with keeper, Lines who was the “meat” in an aerial sandwich, needing treatment for his injury.

            The game was re-started by a drop ball and Stanway Rovers Community U23’s regained possession with Thomas shooting at goal, beating keeper Clarke but not defender Farthing who once again cleared off the goal-line. Cobden was working hard for his team at right wing back, holding off the combined threat of Taylor, Thomas, and Morton whose final pass found Taylor again and his cross grazed the cross bar before being cleared. With ten minutes to go, Thomas, forced keeper, Clarke into a low save, the ball ran free and JOSHUA GRAY ran in to score near the far post, Belle Vue Social hit back, an extremely long clearance out of defence by LEWIS COBDEN caused havoc in the home defence and the ball bounced into the back of the net, strange one that as not sure who had the last touch! Farthing was again the saviour for Belle Vue Social clearing the ball away after keeper, Clarke had been beaten, Thomas pounced on the loose ball hitting the right hand upright before keeper, Clarke dived on the ball. Taylor was an effective outlet for Stanway Rovers Community U23’s, this was down the left side, again Gray was the intended recipient, but the ball flew wide. With the second half already five minutes over, the added time was mainly for the keeper injury however Morton found space, as he had done most of the game, broke forward before releasing HARRY THOMAS who scored, much to his own relief, as he had numerous chances in this match.

FULL TIME:     6 – 2.

            The score-line does reflect the superiority that Stanway Rovers Community FC U23’s had throughout this match, also bearing in mind that Belle Vue Social FC played the second half with only ten players, give them credit for not capitulating, Francis and Farthing defended like their lives depended on it, Martin showed some nice touches as did Cobden, but they were outplayed, even before injured keeper, Lewis was replaced by Clarke, who did well considering the pressure his team were under.

            Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player”, which has to come from the home team, Thomas, will score goals, if given the right service, Atmadjov scored a fine individual goal but for me in a team effort, Morton was lively and influential from the first kick-off. 

Teams:

STANWAY ROVERS COMMUNITY FC U23’s:   

Colours:                        Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts and Yellow Socks.

Team:

Jack Lines., Luke Wyatt., Robert Taylor., Joshua Gray (C)., Tom Newland., Teddy Cowan., Tyler Mouat., Antoine Atmadjov., Harry Thomas., Harry Morton., Brendan Horne.

Manager:                      Glen Cowan.

Coach:                          Anthony White.

Used Substitutes:          Dylan Gee., Ehren Collins., Keane Tansley., Matthew Murray.

Unused Substitutes:      Adam Tebbutt.

BELLE VUE SOCIAL FC:

Colours:                        Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Alfie Lewis., Jonas Sehier., Charle Farthing., Dylan Francis (C)., Taylor Cogan., James Partner., Lewis Martin., Lewis Cobden., Harry Diplock., Geoff Holmes., Jack Harrington.

Manager:                      Jack Mitchell.

Used Substitutes:          Billy Clarke.

Unused Substitutes:      Shaun Hazlewood., Asten Firkins., Jacob Donnellan., Tom Halls

Referee:                        Anthony Phillipps.

Assistant Referees:        Andrew Harvey and Pierce Campbell.

Star Player:                Harry MORTON                      (STANWAY ROVERS COMMUNITY FC U23’s)