30/09/2023 – REPORT – White Notley FC versus Barnston AFC
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
WHITE NOTLEY FC. 3. BARNSTON AFC. 1.
Date: Saturday 30th September 2023. Venue: Oak Farm, Faulkbourne, Witham.
It was back to the Premier Division for me, last Saturday, the roads through Colchester were busy with United at home, didn’t they do well though, the A12, was, well the A12, Essex’s second biggest car park after the M25 and Witham, High Street was virtually stationary as well. However, when I arrived at Oak Farm, the home of White Notley FC, their Reserves were leading one nil at half time and the second half produced some flashes of good football and goalkeeping, the home side scoring their winner in the last minute after Cornard United Reserves had equalised through Hannah, with a fine team goal.
So, on the main event, in the Premier Division, fifth placed White Notley FC were playing tenth placed Barnston AFC, both teams had changed their management teams during last season and both teams had players on show that I had seen before, however, I was expecting a close match. The pitch looked in excellent condition and for late September the sun shone making it a pleasantly warm afternoon and once again I was afforded a warm welcome from the home club.
The Match Officials for this match were Folu Aladelusi, who would be assisted by Martin Smith and Scott Vine, all three were in their first season with the ESBFL and personally I thought they worked well dealing with everything in a calm and efficient manner.
Barnston kicked off, towards the Clubhouse, Griffiths (T) was injured in an early incident when Atkinson-Purse accidentally ran across his heels, from the restart from a throw-in, White Notley worked the ball forward into an area near the corner of the penalty area, defender Tetteh was forced to clear under pressure, the ball ran loose, defender Smith and Griffiths (L) challenged for the ball which ran loose, LEE GRIFFITHS was quickest to react and placed a low left-footed shot past the diving keeper, Taylor, there was only two minutes on the clock. Two minutes later and the home team scored again, Griffiths (C) ran through, defender Smith failed to get alongside to challenge and only managed to trip the player from behind with a penalty kick being awarded, this was hammered home by REGAN FARLEY-HEARN. The latest goal-scorer was over-zealous, in a challenge on Morris but atoned by clearing the resultant free-kick, taken by Smith, the home team were using the right side to mount attacks and fine cross from Farley-Hearn was gathered at full stretch by keeper, Taylor on the six-yard line. On eleven minutes, when a free-kick was conceded by the visitors wide on the half-way line, Farley-Hearn sent in a fine curling cross and there was the games smallest player, CHARLIE GRIFFITHS to head home, unchallenged. The response from Barnston was positive, a fine run and dribble across the pitch by Norris created enough space for him to have a shot, which was gathered low down at the near post by keeper, Murphy.
Morrell fouled Farley-Hearn, who sent another curling free-kick into the penalty area, this time Dewey rose to head clear and the ball fell to the right of the penalty area where Neale fouled Tetteh, foolishly he stepped in front of the ball just as the free-kick was being taken, so by delaying the re-start, he earnt a caution. At another incident Farley-Hearn was spoken too and warned about his dissent about the earlier free-kick and caution for his team-mate, Norris took that free-kick, but Taylor headed clear. Cole sent over a corner which was cleared by the home defence but when Cole received the ball back in a wide position his pinpoint cross fell to BEN MORRELL who fairly hammered the ball into the top corner, from outside the penalty area, giving keeper, Murphy no chance to save, he probably never saw it either, I timed that goal at eighteen minutes! Neale for White Notley broke down the left side, cut inside and shot goalwards, keeper, Taylor used all of his height to rise and palm the ball at full stretch over the cross-bar. Farley-Hearn took the free-kick, a teasing curling effort that was cleared by Smith and Barnston broke forward through Atkinson-Purse whose eventual cross was chested back to keeper, Murphy by Taylor.
Another Barnston attack started by Dewey saw the ball cleared by Pator, steady as a rock at the back, the loose ball was struck firmly by Morrell as he ran and turned to shoot, the ball just clearing the corner of the post and crossbar. Neale, for White Notley had taken a knock earlier in the half and was replaced by King, Bowen fouled Simmonds in his haste to get to the ball after beating Farley-Hearn on the left side. Since scoring their goal, Barnston had improved, their early defensive frailties were behind them and they had more of an edge going forward, a cross from Cole was gathered by keeper, Murphy, from his clearance, Taylor controlled the ball and laid it off to Farley-Hearn who sent a dipping shot from forty yards which keeper, Taylor scampered across to catch. White Notley made another enforced change when Goodey limped off to be replaced by Pitts, Bowen fouled Coombs on the half-way line, Farley-Hearn took the free-kick, Smith headed down where Pator passed to King whose left-footed shot failed to trouble anybody, for a goal-kick. Scott-Bell sent the ball forward to Norris whose snap-shot forced keeper, Murphy into action saving low at the base of the post, Norris was again provider, finding Bowen whose shot cannoned off Simmonds for a corner, taken by Norris, with Pitts heading clear. As the first half drew to a heavy tackle by Simmonds on Norris led to some on-field treatment which would need looking at during the break, however, after four goals inside the first twenty minutes the remainder of the half did not create too much to talk about.
HALF-TIME: 3 – 1.
White Notley re-started this match, Taylor chased forward, using his feet well for a big player, to beat two retreating defenders before shooting wide across goal, the injury to Norris had not improved and within a minute of the second half he was forced off to be replaced by Bunting. Defender Simmonds made an error when trying the clear out of defence conceding a corner, taken by Atkinson-Purse with Scott-Bell volleying the cleared ball wide. A free-kick taken by Farley-Hearn was palmed over his cross-bar by keeper, Taylor, Simmons went through Atkinson-Purse wide on the right-hand side, no caution but a warning and with a break in play White Notley replaced Cheek with Knightbridge. When Dewey challenged for an aerial ball with King, he landed awkwardly and after a lengthy delay was helped off the pitch to be replaced by Keogh-Gibbs, a blow to the visitors as his height in defence would be missed. Simmonds set Farley-Hearn away, but his left-footed shot flew over the cross-bar, Pator started the next move, a long ball forward found Coombs whose lay off to Griffiths (C) saw his shot blocked by Smith. A break from Barnston ended with a shot from Bunting from the edge of the penalty area, flying wide but the threat was still there from the visitors.
A long throw-in from Farley-Hearn was clawed out of the air near the penalty spot by keeper, Taylor, then a pass from Farley-Hearn found Taylor but keeper, Taylor made a comfortable save, Barnston to their credit still tried to play football through midfield. Cole blocked efforts, firstly from King, then from Farley-Hearn who ran onto a fine pass from Taylor down the left side and the home team had raised their tempo slightly as well. Taylor and Farley-Hearn linked up once again, there was plenty of space down that right side and from his cross Knightbridge headed straight at keeper, Taylor from a tight angle at the far post area. On seventy-four minutes White Notley changed Taylor for Bone with King taking the captain’s armband. An attack by Atkinson-Purse for the visitors saw his cross turned goalwards by Bowen but straight at keeper, Murphy, at the other end Farley-Hearn ran forward onto a pass from King and from his low driven cross Griffiths (C) fired over from close range.
When Griffiths (C) chased back to defend he climbed over Scott-Bell to concede a free-kick, taken by Bowen but fired wide, from just outside the penalty area, another free-kick taken by Cole, was headed out by King, only to be fouled by Smith. With less than ten minutes of normal time remaining, Farley-Hearn spoke out of turn and having been warned earlier in the match saw a yellow card for dissent, meaning he would spend the remainder of the match in the “sin-bin”. The home team made their last player change with Navesey replacing Coombs, Arkinson-Purse found space and sent in a shot that fairly rattled the crossbar with keeper, Murphy well beaten. Griffiths (C) fouled Tetteh, adding more time to a match now in added time, Scott-Bell took the free-kick, Smith clattered into keeper, Murphy, so another free-kick followed, and the last action of the half saw Navesey set off on a run only to shoot straight at keeper, Taylor, game over.
FULL TIME: 3 – 1.
After a fast and furious start where we saw four goals inside the first twenty minutes, the remainder of the game was fought out through midfield, there were chances, but none really tested the respective keepers. On the balance of play and possession during the game White Notley FC, and by scoring more goals they deserved this win which moves them up to fourth place, Barnston AFC remain in tenth place, in what for them, is an indifferent season so far.
Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player”, I’ll keep it straight and to the point, Charlie Griffiths by virtue of his goal, forcing the challenge that led to the penalty kick and by helping out in both midfield and defence when required, he certainly covered most of the pitch, with or without the ball.
Teams:
WHITE NOTLEY FC:
Colours: Amber Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Alexander Murphy., Regan Farley-Hearn., Thomas Griffiths., Bartosz Pator., Lewis Coombs., Harry Simmonds., Sam Taylor (C)., Andrew Cheek., Josh Goodey., Charlie Griffiths., Jack Neale.
Manager: Peter Gillott.
Used Substitutes: George Navesey., Robert King., Jack Pitts., Callum Knightsbridge., Rory Bone.
BARNSTON AFC:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Andrew Taylor., Emmanuel Tetteh., Shaye Willis., Alex Scot-Bell., Ryan Dewey., Simon Smith., Edward Atkinson-Purse., Wiliam Norris., Alfie Bowen., Rob Cole., Ben Morrell.
Manager: Neil Bell & Mark Williamson.
Used Substitutes: Jadon Keogh-Gibbs., Dan Bunting.
Referee: Folu Aladelusi.
Assistant Referees: Martin Smith and Scott Vine.
Star Player: Charlie GRIFFIHS (WHITE NOTLEY FC)
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