ESBFL – Knock-Out Cup Final – 2020/2021

KNOCK-OUT CUP FINAL – SEASON 2020 / 2021.

WHITE NOTLEY FC:  1.                      COLNE ATHLETIC FC:  3.

Date:   Saturday 29^th May 2021.        Venue:             War Memorial Ground, Little Oakley.

            It would have been normal for our League Chairman, Brian Tatum to welcome everyone to this, one of many cup finals to be played over the next few days, sadly, Brian sadly passed away, on Thursday 20th May 2021, his presence and leadership over many seasons will be sorely missed, the League extends its condolences to his widow and family at this sad time and before kick-off there was a minute’s silence in his memory, however, today, he was represented by his sons, David and Ian.

            It is not so long time ago that this cup competition, the ESBFL Knock-Out Cup for season 2020 / 2021 commenced, in fact, it was only after the restart of football in April, this after the second lock-down.

            White Notley FC had reached the final courtesy of victories over: Mersea Island FC (2-0)., Hatfield Peverel FC (3-2)., Flitch United FC (2-1) and West Bergholt FC (5-2).

            Colne Athletic FC on the other hand had overcome: Shrub End United FC (6-1)., Thorpe Athletic FC (2-0)., Tiptree Jobserve FC (3-1) and Brightlingsea Town FC (2-0).

            The appointed Match Officials would he experienced Lewis Farthing who would be assisted by Rhys Collins and Stephen Vieira with Arturo Robinson acting as the Fourth Official.

            For the fourth time in a week, the League extends its thanks to Little Oakley FC for facilitating this final, the pitch, as usual, remained in excellent condition and once again we were blessed with some warm summery weather for a match enjoyed by a decent crowd approaching one hundred & twenty.

            Colne Athletic FC kicked off, Daly driving forward forcing Gray to concede a throw-in and they followed this with across from Bradley which reached Daly, but his header was soft and keeper, Higgins had an easy gather at the far post. White Notley FC got their game going with Palmer sending the ball long towards Falco but keeper, Haxell beat him too it. Colne Athletic FC stepped up their game as well, a free-kick taken by Vaughan found Daly who found Ellis, but his low drive flew wide of the left hand upright. Daly fired a shot straight at keeper, Higgins and from his clearance White Notley FC moved the ball through Knightbridge., Falco and Goodey and back to Knightbridge whose cross was too deep. The pace of the game had risen, despite the afternoon heat, and another cross, this time from Farley-Hearn found the head of Falco but the ball drifted wide. Yearling responded for Colne Athletic FC, racing through on to a ball played forward by Ellis, beating Gray before crossing to Evans whose presence caused a few problems inside the penalty area and play was stopped for an infringement when Evans fouled King. White Notley FC were trying to pay a high line to catch the eager Colne Athletic FC players off-side, this worked for a time and frustrated their opposition. On ten minutes a foul, right on the edge of the penalty area by Palmer on Evans led to the free-kick, taken by Ellis, the ball clearing the defensive wall but straight into the hands of keeper, Higgins. Goodey and Knightbridge linked up to force a corner off Burch, the corner taken by Farley-Hearn was headed out by the combined defensive efforts of Yarwood and Burch. Another corner followed, this time taken by Bone with Yarwood again heading clear from near the goal-line, then a low shot from Goodey was flipped around the right-hand post by the low dive of keeper, Haxell, the first real action for him! Bone struck a shot directly to the keeper, King sent another long forward pass to Goodey who gained a corner off Bradley, taken by Farley-Hearn but punched clear by Haxell.

            White Notley FC had enjoyed a period of pressure without any return, this allowed Colne Athletic FC to step up a gear, Yarwood sent the ball wide to Vaughan but his cross was poor, then a real chance, Shurvington sent the ball through, a call for off-side was over-ruled and Yearling ran on attempting to beat the keeper who made a fine flying save. A corner taken by Vaughan was punched away by keeper, Higgins, Yearling took the next corner-kick, but Evans was once again the villain whilst fouling the keeper. Ellis tried his luck with a thirty-yard shot, no danger for the keeper here, Bradley fouled Goodey inside the centre-circle, Farley-Hearn took the kick finding Bennett, but his header lacked any power. Colne Athletic FC were awarded a free-kick when Bennett played the ball with an outstretched leg from behind Evans, some you see given, some you do not! On twenty-two minutes, Vaughan took the free-kick, twenty-five yards out, White Notley FC failed to mark up and RYAN ELLIS stole in at the far post to head home. Two minutes later and the scores were level, either Brown or Burch took out Pleace, no arguments about the decision, and REGAN FARLEY-HEARN hammered home the spot kick beating keeper Haxell comfortably although he did dive the right way. Both teams had attempted to constructively pass the ball around, defending was generally, a no-nonsense approach but not quite, if in doubt, kick it out!

            An excellent piece of control and immediate pass was shown by Farley-Hearn who passed to Bone who was instantly tackled by Vaughan, a long cross from Ellis landed at the feet of Yearling bur Farley-Hearn nipped in to play the ball back to his keeper. With thirteen minutes to half-time Vaughan rashly challenged Bone to earn the first caution of the match, the free-kick taken by Farley-Hearn was far too high and keeper, Haxell claimed without any undue pressure. Farley-Hearn dived into a challenge on Ellis, Vaughan took the free-kick finding the head of Daly but keeper, Higgins was untroubled, this time. That changed minutes later, Bennett and King both tried to attack the ball inside the centre-circle, neither made contact which allowed Daly, I think, to play the ball through for SCOTT YEARLING who ran on to score with ease. With the minutes ticking away to half-time, King was adjudged to have handled the ball and was cautioned for his efforts.

HALF-TIME:    1 – 2.

            Now for the second half, White Notley FC need a goal quickly, after a bright start they were pegged back, made a couple of mistakes to concede what are often called soft goals. Bone fouled Daly who has been everywhere on this pitch in the first half, Vaughan took the free-kick, Yarwood rose to head down to Daly whose shot was blocked, Yearling galloped away again down the right side but the cross was poor and a few more free-kicks littered the start of this half. Daly started this half just as he finished the first, running at pace with the ball at his feet, defenders were forced to either back off or dive in and get beaten by neat footwork. Within minutes of that restart another goal, again from a free-kick, Vaughan played a high ball into the six-yard box, ARAN YARWOOD rose to head down then react quickest to stab the ball into the net from close range, is that game over as it seemed that the presence of big players in the penalty area was partly the undoing of White Notley FC! Pleace went in hard on Yearling another testing free-kick taken by Vaughan but out for a goal-kick, and during this stoppage, Pleace was replaced by Barker. Ellis handled wide on the right side but the free-kick taken by Farley-Hearn was gathered by keeper, Haxell at his near post, Gray could not hold off Evans who ran on but despite opening his body and shape to find the far corner of the goal he only managed to snag his effort to the keeper!

            On the hour mark, White Notley replaced Goodey with Cole, Evans fired over the cross-bar and a long throw-in from Farley-Hearn fell to Falco whose pass found Bone whose shot was poor and without power, its clearly not gone right for White Notley FC today. Ellis was cautioned for a foul on Farley-Hearn who got up to take the free-kick, but Burch snuffed out the aerial threat just he had done all game. When a goal-mouth scramble ensued at the Colne Athletic FC end the referee had a word with keeper, Haxell, who on another occasion might have been “sin-binned” for his dissent, anyway, that was my view. On seventy minutes Colne Athletic FC replaced Evans with Baker and White Notley FC made their last change with Farley-Hearn making way for Wilkinson. The next action should have seen another goal for Colne Athletic FC, White Notley FC lost possession just inside their own half, Daly sprinted away, nobody was going to catch him but as he neared the edge of the penalty area he chose to shoot but handsomely cleared the cross-bar, such a shame as his work-rate deserved a goal! Colne Athletic FC made their last two changes, taking off Ellis and Yearling which allowed Sibbons and Hawkins to have a run-out, the latter picking up a late caution for a foul on King and it was left to Burch to once again command his penalty area heading clear under pressure from Falco.

FULL TIME:     1 – 3.

            After the match had finished, John Campany, Vice-Chairman of the ESBFL made a short speech commending both teams for providing a decent game of football for the many spectators who were by now sun burnt, he made reference to David and Ian Tatum who had travelled to watch what is normally the ESBFL “showpiece” final, hopefully they enjoyed their welcome and the thoughts and condolences that people had made.

            The Match Officials were given a round of applause before accepting their mementoes’ then Gray, Captain of White Notley FC, lifted the Runners-Up Trophy whilst Vaughan, Captain of victors Colne Athletic FC picked up the impressive Challenge Cup and become another new team whose name will adorn that cup.

            Now let me turn to my “Star Player” as it was a Cup Final, I usually choose a player from each team, sometimes its difficult to differentiate who had stood out and who has not!

            For White Notley FC, their game plan was ambushed by some defensive mistakes and on this day they did not really “turn-up” despite tireless performances from Bennett, Goodey and Pleace but for me defender King was their best player.

            For Colne Athletic FC, they were the better all round, team, another team effort, a strong forward line led by Evans and Yearling, a solid defence with Bradley and Vaughan getting forward down the wings leaving Brown and particularly Burch to win the big battles down the middle. The midfield was solid with Yarwood, Ellis, Shurvington and particularly Daly running the show, it was not always pretty to watch but it was effective in breaking up any play from their opposition, job done then.

Teams:

WHITE NOTLEY FC:

Colours:            Amber Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.

Team:

Lewis Higgins., Regan Farley-Hearn., Ben Palmer., Charlie Pleace., Callum Knightbridge, Jamie Gray (C))., Robert King., Robbie Bennett., Peter Falco., Josh Goodey., Rory Bone.

Manager:                      Peter Gillott.

Used Substitutes:           Andrew Barker., Pat Wilkinson., Robert Cole.

Unused Substitutes:       Jack Stacey., Jack Pitts.

COLNE ATHLETIC FC:

Colours:            Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.

Team:

Peter Haxell., Dan Bradley., Joshua Vaughan., Ryan Brown., Jack Burch., Aran Yarwood., Ryan Ellis., Joel Shurvington., Gareth Evans, Quentin Daly., Scott Yearling

Manager:                      Ben Connell., Jason Savage & Kevin Brown

Used Substitutes:           James Baker., Jack Sibbons., Joe Hawkins.

Unused Substitutes:       Elliot Ringe., Daniel Price.,

Referee:                        Lewis Farthing.

Assistant Referees:        Rhys Collins and Stephen Vieira

4^th Official:                    Arturo Robinson.

Star Players:              Robert KING                           (WHITE NOTLEY FC)

                                    Quentin DALY                         (COLNE ATHLETIC FC)