30/11/2019 – REPORT – Earls Colne FC versus White Notley FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION.

EARLS COLNE FC: 4. WHITE NOTLEY FC: 0.

Date: Saturday 30^th November 2019. Venue: Green Farm Meadow, Earls Colne.

Only two matches fell foul, of the weather on Saturday, both subject to local council decisions, the rest went ahead on a bright but cold afternoon, any early morning frost was washed away by yet more rain. Despite there being a Premier Division top-of-the-table clash at Tolleshunt Knights I decided to take in the bottom of the table six-pointer between Earls Colne FC and White Notley FC. I did not get to watch an Earls Colne home match last season but had seen them draw, away, at Lawford, just four weeks ago whereas I last saw White Notley away at Tiptree Heath towards the end of last season. Well, how these teams fortunes have changed, Earls Colne under Manager, Chris Hudson have at last got a regular squad together and with games in hand should pull away from the bottom of the table, White Notley on the other hand have a new management team, in Peter Gillott and Dean Grace, and despite players staying loyal, let’s just say that they have found the going tough this season

The match officials were Benjamin Ridge, once again being observed, this time by “The FA” in his quest for promotion, and he was assisted by Mariusz Burchan and Philip Barham. I had been advised upon my arrival, that in addition to the “Respect” handshake there would be a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to Earls Colne FC, Club Chairman, Roger Bragg, who sadly passed away on Friday. The ESBFL extend their thoughts and condolences to the Bragg families, some of us will remember Roger as a manager of Earls Colne FC, back in the day, a sad loss, none-the-less, a true, gentlemen!

Earls Colne kicked off and immediately sent the ball long down the left side winning a throw-in to take advantage of the long throw-ins from Stripe who found the head of Adams with keeper, Grace catching inside the six-yard box. Hudson fouled Bennett, the free-kick taken from the half-by line by Scofield took one bounce before being collected by keeper, Phillips. From the keeper’s clearance, Salter ran down the right side before gaining a corner kick off a combined effort by Gray and Wilkinson, the corner taken by Randall was punched clear by keeper, Grace who did the same when the ball was played back into the six-yard box with Gray eventually clearing the ball. When Stocking was adjudged to have handled the ball just outside the penalty area the free-kick driven in by Charnock fizzed into the side netting with keeper, Grace scrambling across his goalmouth to make sure. The pace of Adams saw him clear of the White Notley defence but he had set off too soon to be caught off-side with the visitors holding a high defensive line, then keeper, Grace advanced to challenge Salter who went down under a clumsy challenge, a good call for a penalty I thought, what do I know though as the well placed referee awarded a corner. Randall took the corner kick, keeper, Grace, failed to gather the ball cleanly with Wilkinson clearing his defensive lines. On ten minutes, Scofield fouled Hudson just a few yards outside and to the right of the penalty area, despite four players being in the defensive wall, CONNOR RANDALL blasted the ball, left-footed inside the foot of the far post and past the keeper for the opening goal. A minute later and it was two-nil, Adams raced away down the right side to cross towards the near post where the unmarked JACK CHARNOCK bundled the ball home, White Notley now had a mountain to climb and so far, had only picked up the scraps in play as the home team dominated.

However, between that second goal and the half way point of the first half the visitors did raise their game but their finishing like the final pass was poor, Stripe picked up one stray pass the beat three players before unleashing a left-footed volley that flew just over the cross-bar. Stripe defended well when Stocking and Palmer put a move together down the right side then Gray sprayed the ball wide to the left side to Blanche who held the ball up well but no team-mates were up in attack with him and Earls Colne gained possession with Easter swinging the ball wide to the other side to Stripe who ran fully forty yards, riding a tackle from Palmer before firing into the side netting. Another expansive pass and move attack involving Charnock, Salter ended with Adams fluffing his shot, gratefully picked up by keeper, Grace. Bennet, for White Notley found space in the bottom right-hand corner of the pitch and from his cross, Blanche saw his shot blocked by Hudson, the visitors tried the long ball approach but unless you have players in advanced areas then you are only going to concede possession, this happened several times much to their own frustration! Home defender, Easter embarked on a run down the right side and it was only the timey intervention of Wilkinson that stopped him from scoring, a corner at least, taken once again by Randall, in-swinging into the goal-mouth, keeper, Grace opted to punch clear not once but twice until a definitive clearance was made by the over-worked defence.

Hayes defended well against Palmer, getting the ball forward to Adams who won a corner off Wilkinson, this time the corner was taken by Charnock, again, the ball was not cleared, and Randall sent over another corner which caused panic in the visitors six-yard box. Already, to me, the fitness of White Notley might become a telling factor, the home team had piled forward on numerous occasions led by Adams whose pace had caused problems, on thirty eight minutes White Notley lost possession of the ball wide on the right side which allowed HARRY SALTER to run on, riding the tackle of Gray before side-footing home past the advancing keeper, who was given no chance to save. This goal could become crucial as the game continued, two goals you might catch, three should be a goal too far and when you are not playing well the omens are not good. A free-kick taken by Stripe led to a heavy challenge between Scofield and Hudson just outside the penalty area, a free-kick to the visitors though, from where White Notley tried to get the ball wide and forward, however, Earls Colne kept a high line and chances were few excepting when Stocking, Blanche and Bennett pushed forward with purpose until Hayes stepped in to intercept a weak pass. It was not until the forty-fifth minutes that White Notley mustered a proper shot on goal, Palmer ran down he right side finding Bennett running inside with his shot forcing keeper, Phillips to save at full stretch and the half ended upon his clearance.

HALF TIME: 3 – 0.

There were plenty of player changes at the restart, White Notley keeper, Grace, was replaced with midfielder Falco donning the jersey and gloves, defender Palmer also took a rest with Farley-Hearn and Knightbridge taking their places, numerically. Earls Colne came out sharper after the break, Farley-Hearn fouled Charnock inside of three minutes play, probably not yet used to the pace of the game, then Stocking fouled Hudson who needed treatment and from the free-kick Adams forced new keeper, Falco to save low to his right side. White Notley captain, Scofield, had worked his socks off in the first half covering much of the pitch on his side of the half-way line, Farley-Hearn launched a long throw-in causing problems inside the penalty area, so much so that the challenge by Wilkinson left Hudson in a heap on the ground leading to more treatment. Bennett and Wilkinson forced defender Hayes to intervene when the visitors threatened, and Easter stood his ground when Blanche tried to break through. To be fair White Notley were giving a better account of themselves this half, King had dropped back having seen little of the ball in the first half, a long throw-in from Farley-Hearn was headed back to Farley-Hearn who sent in a teasing curling cross that came back off the cross-bar with keeper, Phillips flapping at the loose ball for a corner.

At the other end Adams out-paced Gray, reaching the penalty area to unleash a shot that cannoned back off Wilkinson to Carter who had little time to capitalise on the loose ball. Tracey committed a blatant foul on Knightbridge, Farley-Hearn took the free-kick, right-footed from a similar place to where Charnock had scored in the first half, however, the ball curled away for a goal-kick. On sixty-three minutes White Notley replaced Stocking with Pitts who was forced to defend straight away when Carter threatened. Another encouraging move from the visitors started with Farley-Hearn and Knightbridge working the ball to Bennett who fired a shot well over the cross-bar, Knightbridge took an accidental knock to his head, thanks to the home physio who reacted first to help the player! Knightbridge was able to return soon after a spell off the pitch, keeper, Phillips was quickly out to the feet of Blanche and from his clearance Gray scythed down Hudson to earn the first caution of the match. From the free-kick near the half-way line, keeper Falco held the ball, launching the ball forward to Bennett who ran on, there was a suspicion of handball by a player lying on the ground, they will never be given though, however as play continued Farley-Hearn had a goal bound chance cleared almost off the goal-line.

On eighty minutes Earls Colne replaced new signing Salter with Owusu-Boakye, Adams ran at a retreating visitors defence and from wide on the left, he crossed the ball into JACK CHARNOCK who was standing just outside the penalty area and he was able to place the ball wide of the dive of keeper, Falco for his second and number four for the home team. From a long Farley-Hearn throw-in Blanche gave chase forcing Hudson to clear the ball off his goal-line when Knightbridge looked like scoring. As the match, came to a conclusion, Schofield was cautioned for a poor challenge on Hudson and from this high free-kick keeper, Falco, in attempting to punch the ball clear only managed to divert the ball off Farley-Hearn for a corner, game over!

FULL TIME: 4 – 0.

This was not a classic match, two teams at the bottom of the table fighting for every point, this margin of victory for Earls Colne was the highest league win of the season, their style of play should see them rise up the able, this win alone moved them from fifteenth to thirteenth as both Tiptree Engaine FC and Brantham Athletic FC Reserves lost. For White Notley FC, not a good day at the office, I’ll obviously have to be more careful when I next go to see them, got the impression I had brought them bad luck!

Now, for my Player-of-the-Match choice for White Notley FC, captain Scofield worked hard all game, Blanche on his debut held the ball up well but had little support up front, Wilkinson battled throughout in defence but, you have to defend as a team, and this was, sadly, lacking today. Turning my attention to Earls Colne FC, this was a good team effort, if you get the defence right then the midfield can create and goals will come, Easter, Stripe, Tracey and Hayes nullified most of what came at them, Hudson, Charnock with two goals, Randal with one goal and Carter dominated in midfield whilst Salter, another scorer and Adams with two assists, forged the attacking spearhead, the latter being my pick this week.

Teams:

EARLS COLNE FC: Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Toby Phillips., Cameron Easter., Benrico Stripe., Jamie Hudson (C)., Callum Tracey., Thomas Hayes., Jack Charnock., Connor Randall., Keiran Adams., Harry Salter., Callum Carter.

Manager: Chris Hudson.

Used Substitutes: Ekow Owusu-Boakye.

Unused Substitutes: Ricardo Santos., Michael Nwankwo., Lewis Tracey., Joe Parrott

WHITE NOTLEY FC: Colours: Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Dean Grace., Ben Palmer., Ryan Schofield (C)., Jamie Gray., Patrick Wilkinson., Daniel Stocking., Peter Falco., Toy Blanche., Robbie Bennett., Josh Goodey., Robert King.

Manager: Peter Gillott.

Used Substitutes: Jack Pitts., Regan Farley-Hearn., Callum Knightbridge.

Unused Substitute: Jake Pannell.

Referee: Benjamin Ridge

Assistants: Mariusz Burchan

and Philip Barham.

Player of the Match: Keiran ADAMS (EARLS COLNE FC)

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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: December & January

KO is 2:30pm in: February

KO is 3:00pm from: March to end of season

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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,