30/09/2020 – REPORT – Harwich & Parkeston FC Reserves versus Dedham Old Boys FC Reserves

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION TWO.

HARWICH & PARKESTON FC RESERVES: 3.

DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC RESERVES: 1.

Date: Wednesday 28^th September 2020. Venue: The Royal Oak, Harwich.

My, how the weather has changed, two weeks ago glorious sunshine, fine and fair evenings, this week we find that Autumn is gone already and Winter is here, as torrential rain greeted those hardy spectators, I reckon about 85 people, to a re-vamped Royal Oak, new seating and fencing to name a couple of improvements plus the pitch looked in good condition. Track and Trace was very evident, the Rules are quite specific for organised football such as this match where the elevated home Reserve Team took on local rivals Dedham Old Boy FC Reserves with the table topping home team boasting five victories and a draw before this win.

Both teams have a First Team that play at a higher level, its often tempting to strengthen up at this stage of the season when the games come quick and fast but neither team, commendably, kept primarily to youth and many of these player’s showed promise in a match well refereed by Arturo Robinson, a Forces Referee, I had not met before.

Harwich kicked-off playing away from the Changing Room end and within a minute they took the lead, from a corner, Windred headed back into the six-yard box from the edge of the penalty area and in the resulting goal-mouth melee MATTHEW GEEN got the all-important touch. A clash of heads between Windred and Peat temporarily stopped this game but both quickly resumed, Geen tried to bull-doze his way through but was fouled from behind on the edge of the “D”, Johnson took the free-kick but the ball rebounded off the defensive wall. On eight minutes, Harwich kept up their pressure and when Dedham, responded a flighted free-kick from Peters drifted just wide of the left hand upright. Copeland was fouled by Oscar on the half-way line, from the free-kick Dedham won possession and a long ball forward from Henly fell to Oscar who had just got the better of Copeland who hauled him back, a free-kick and a first ever caution for the young home defender. Oscar strode up to take the free-kick, clever move this, as he played the ball wide to LIAM PETERS who took the ball on, cutting into the penalty area to be tackled by a defender but the ball looped up over everyone including keeper, Pepperell, to land in the back of the unguarded net.

The long kicking of keeper, Pepperell was causing a few problems to the Dedham defence as when one kick cleared the visitors defence, LESLIE LEWIS was quick to react running through and guiding the ball over the advancing keeper, Henly and into the net off the right-hand upright. The crosses produced by Fay and Watkinson for Harwich would also be a telling form of attack, the first, a through ball from Fay led to Lewis missing his touch of control and the ball which squirmed wide with the keeper beaten. Peters for Dedham produced a fine run and dribble onto a ball from Peat that took him deep into the Harwich half until Mathieson got back to concede a corner, glancing the ball over his own cross-bar from close range. From the corner taken by Peters there was a foul by Oscar on keeper, Pepperell, whose long freekick found Geen wide on the left side, good control and turn set Geen away with the visitors, defence eventually covering the danger through Ross. A poor clearance from keeper, Henly, fell to Fay who hit a first-time volley back to the same keeper, then Geen tried a lobbed effort which fell just wide. On twenty-four minutes Peat dived into a challenge on Mathieson, just outside the penalty area, a free-kick and a caution followed, and Johnson sent a fine dipping free-kick rattling against the cross-bar and safety, a close call though! Harwich kept up their momentum, Peat was back to defend conceding a corner, a cross from Roots found Geen who forced keeper, Henly into a decent save.

With play reverting upfield, Mathieson was cautioned for a foul on Peat, never far away from the action for Dedham, these two had a running battle during the first half so honours even now. Harwich had been the better team going forward, a mix of youth and experience causing problems for Dedham who also sported some youngsters, good to see that they were getting to play adult football and under floodlights despite the inclement weather. Roots fouled West then Oscar was caught off-side and on thirty-eight minutes another goal, a corner taken on the far right was headed clear, falling to CHRIS JOHNSON standing thirty yards out, one bounce and a fine dipping volley roared into the back of the net, a fine strike. Keeper, Pepperell again found Geen, principal target player for Harwich, again good control, a quick turn and another volley just cleared the goal and the perimeter fence to be recovered from ASDA! The last action of the half saw Dedham attack, a cross from the hard-working Cobden found Oscar unmarked but his header flew wide and an entertaining half came to a close.

HALF-TIME: 3 – 1

The visitors kicked-off with the rain still evident, assisted by a stiff wind down the length of the pitch. Dedham were rewarded for a positive start, as keeper, Pepperell was adjudged, correctly in my opinion, of tripping Peat as he chased a loose ball. I say rewarded but Peters ran up to thump the ball high over the cross-bar and safety, a bit of a let off for the home team as if that had gone it may have changed the shape of this match. Dedham made their first change replacing Peat with Newman, but it was Harwich who scored almost immediately, a deep cross from Watkinson was headed home by MATTHEW GEEN running in to challenge with keeper, Henly arriving just a fraction late, having initially called for the ball to alert defender Avery. On fifty-five minutes Dedham replaced West with Ruffles, Geen, always a danger, ran goal-wards against Hall, his cross reached Johnson before Walsom put the ball out for what I thought was a corner although a goal-kick was given! Dedham still continued to press forward but the home defence stood strong guided centrally by Windred assisted by Copeland.

Another run by Geen had the visitors on the back-foot with Watkinson denied by the boot of Ross and from that corner Geen held the ball up well before laying it back to Watkinson who fired goal-wards only for Walsom to deflect the ball wide. On sixty-six minutes Harwich replaced Fay with Lebrett, Oscar tried to get away down the left side but was stopped by Mathieson and on seventy-two minutes Harwich replaced Watkinson with Good. Dedham, keeper, Henly made two fine saves to deny Geen, as usual running at a retreating defence, the first was just inside the penalty area but the keeper got up to chase back and deny Geen a second time for a corner. Whilst I was writing all that down there was a melee inside the penalty, the referee eventually pulled players to one side and cautioned, Good for Harwich and Cobden and Henly for Dedham, a shame really as the game had been a sporting affair.

Defender, Hall, for Dedham was the last player to be cautioned this after some persistent fouling, Roots sent Good away one-on-one with keeper, Henly who won that battle, Harwich replaced captain, Roots on eighty-five minutes with Smith entering play for the final five minutes. Dedham made their last change sending on Beedon for Rush, Oscar chased another through ball, but his cross flew out for a goal-kick and finally the last shot of the game came from Cobden, for Dedham.

FULL TIME: 4 – 1.

The final result looks like a heavy defeat for Dedham, who competed well throughout, it was a case of Harwich creating and taking more of their chances, with this win Harwich stay top of the leader-board buts its early days and who knows if this season will continue to completion, let’s hope so.

Now let’s turn to my Star Player, for Dedham, Henly made some useful saves but was beaten four times, one, that special strike from Johnson, Peat ran his heart out in the first half before being replaced, Oscar and Peters also tried hard against some solid defending and Cobden put in a good shift as well. Moving to Harwich, defensively Windred and Copeland did well, no nonsense but good use of the ball when allowed, up top Geen, as usual is a difficult player to keep quiet and with Lewis was a constant threat. Mathieson covered every blade of grass through midfield assisted by Watkinson, Fay and Johnson who gets the nod for an all-round performance which included hitting the cross-bar as well as scoring a fine goal.

Teams:

HARWICH & PARKESTON FC RESERVES: Colours: Black & White Shirts, Black Shorts and Socks.

Charlie Pepperell., Daniel Roots (C)., Keenan Brown., Max Copeland., Harry Windred., Charlie Mathieson., Kieran Watkinson., Chris Johnson., Leslie Lewis., Matthew Geen., Elliot Fay.

Manager: Gavin Hewitt.

Used Substitutes: Connor Lebrett., Robert Good., Charlie Smith.

Unused Substitutes: Quin Bird., Joseph Watt.

DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC RESERVES: Colours: Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Red Socks.

William Henry., Aaron Ross (C)., Samuel Hall., John-Joseph Peat., Craig Avery., James Walsom., Lewis Cobden., Adam West., Jamie Rush., Luke Oscar., Liam Peters.

Manager: Darren Tarling.

Used Substitutes: Toby Newman., James Ruffles., Frankie Beedon.

Unused Substitutes: Daniel Bell.

Referee: Arturo Robinson

Star Player: Chris JOHNSON (HARWICH & PARKESTON FC RESERVES)

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“COVID-19” “CORONAVIRUS”

THE “ESBFL” IS MINDFUL OF THE CONTINUING SERIOUSNESS OF THIS INFECTION, MATCHES CURRENTLY BEING PLAYED WERE ALLOWED TO PROCEED UNDER THE GUIDANCE GIVEN BY THE “FA”.

THIS SITUATION IS BEING CONSTANTLY MONITORED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE “FA” WHO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE REGULAR UPDATES DIRECTLY TO CLUBS AND THE LEAGUE. PLEASE ENSURE THESE ARE READ, UNDERSTOOD AND ADHERED TOO.

IT IS INCUMBENT ON ALL MEMBER CLUBS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF VISITORS, THE FA HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS DIRECTIVES THEREFORE THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR IGNORANCE OF THESE GUIDELINES etc

ALL MEMBER CLUBS, ITS OFFICIALS, PLAYERS AND SUPPORTERS “MUST” ADHERE TO THESE GUIDELINES OTHERWISE THIS SEASON MAY ALSO BE CURTAILED EARLY.

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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 Secretaries / 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 either Mick Willmore (mjw1947@sky.com)

or M/s Alison Stanford (esblsec@icloud.com) especially for evening games and for those matches being played under floodlights etc.

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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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