ESBFL – KNOCK-OUT CUP FINAL – SEASON 2019 / 2020.

EARLS COLNE FC:  2      (2).                       LAWFORD LADS FC:  3   (2).    (AET)

Date:   Friday 21^st 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 two weeks.

            Sadly, Brian Tatum 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.

            It seems a long time ago that this cup competition, the ESBFL Knock-Out Cup commenced, for a season that was curtailed back in March 2020, a lot has happened since then but these two teams had made their way to their first final for several years.

            Earls Colne FC had reached the final courtesy of victories over: Hedinghams United FC (2-0)., Boxted Lodgers FC (5-1)., Harwich Rangers FC (4-2)., Tiptree Engaine FC (3-0)., Gas Recreation FC (1-0).

Lawford Lads FC on the other hand had overcome: Gosfield United FC (1-0)., FC Clacton Reserves (2-0)., Alresford Colne Rangers FC (2-0)., Dedham Old Boys FC (1-0).

            The appointed Match Officials would he experienced Carl Pearse who would be assisted by Stuart Gillman and Simon Lyons with Tony Vaughan acting as the Fourth Official.

            The League extends its thanks to Little Oakley FC for facilitating this final, the pitch, as usual was in excellent condition, so much so that it was said that if you can’t play on that surface then take up another sport! Of course, what you can’t bargain for is the weather, strong winds and pouring rain welcomed both teams and a hardy crowd of about one hundred and fifty who endured the conditions overhead.

            Lawford kicked off playing away from the Clubhouse end however it was Earls Colne FC who created the first chance aided by some slack defending which set Adams away into space only for keeper, Thompson (J) to advance and smother the ball which ran loose to Adams whose shot at goal was blocked by defender Perry. Earls Colne FC thought they had been awarded a penalty when Perry fouled Easter fortunately the Assistants Referees flag was raised for off-side. Play resumed on seven minutes with Lawford racing to the other end and score, the Earls Colne FC defence could not clear the ball properly and when ADAM THOMPSON fired goal-wards the ball hit the back of defender Saunders and fly into the net. This gave Lawford some confidence as Earls Colne FC had definitely turned up for this final, in fact both teams were passing the ball around nicely, Lawford gained an early corner punched clear by keeper, Philips who like his counterpart at the other end was to make numerous telling saves in this game. Mann eluded the defensive efforts of Carter, but his cross was too high for the incoming Bolingbroke, Mann followed this up with a shot that crashed back off the left-hand post. On twelve minutes Watson fouled Hudson twenty-five yards out, taken by Charnock but fired high over the cross-bar. Two minutes later and Allam fouled Hudson near the centre-circle, Salter sent in across that Wood headed out for a corner.

            A long throw-in from O’Brien for Lawford saw Saunders head clear only for Watson to send a shot back towards goal which keeper, Philips saved low to his left side then at the other end keeper, Thompson played a short pass towards Robinson, Easter was quickly onto the ball back could not direct his shot-cum-cross goal-wards and that danger passed. Robinson fouled Salter with Charnock taking the free-kick only for keeper, Thompson (J) to punch the ball over the cross-bar, the corner taken by Randall hitting the side netting. Adams was giving the Lawford defence plenty to think about so a chase for a lost cause saw him slip on the greasy surface and as he rose from the ground, he “nutmegged” O’Brien before crossing to keeper, Thompson (J). A long throw-in from Easter for Earls Colne FC saw the ball reach Charnock whose rising shot was saved by keeper, Thompson (J) and when Adams latched onto the rebound, keeper, Thompson (J) flung himself high to deflect the shot onto the crossbar and safety via a defender. On twenty-three minutes Lawford increased their lead, along ball forward down the right side was picked up by OLIVER MANN who strode on to drive a shot against the near post with the ball nestling in the net on the far side. Earls Colne FC pressed again and the Lawford Lads FC defence used their, in my opinion, get out of jail card, with he ball played into six yard box, Easter challenged for the ball with keeper, Thompson (J) and defender Perry whose long outstretched seemed to strike the head of Easter who fell to the ground, a penalty for dangerous play, so many of us thought, not the referee though, who initially waved play-on only for Hudson to be felled just on the edge of the penalty area. Charnock took the free-kick but keeper, Thompson (J), once again was equal to the low shot saving to his left-hand side.

            Mann, always a player with impact was once again through on goal but keeper, Philips saved low down only for Thompson to shoot goal-wards but defender Tracey put in a huge block, a crucial stage as a third goal would have put this game to bed. Adams for Earls Colne FC picked up the ball wide on the right side, drifting in to beat three players before pulling the trigger and forcing keeper, Thompson (J) to save again, this time at the expense of a corner. The left-footed corner from Randall caused some confusion and Stripe lofted the ball over the cross-bar, a chance gone. When Robinson was guilty of a handball infringement Hudson played the ball to Charnock who crossed goal-wards where the flat-footed defence was caught out allowing HARRY SALTER to tap in from close range, forty-four minutes gone, game back on then!

HALF-TIME:    1 – 2.

            Earls Colne FC restarted this entertaining final, we had seen plenty of action and commitment and three goals with the game evenly poised despite the slight goal deficit. Charnock tested keeper, Thompson (J) and he like his opposite number, Philips had made useful saves in the first half, but the Lawford Lads FC custodian was to go down injured, from where I was it was a muscle strain as his distribution thereafter was a throw-out to a colleague or a defender taking goal-kicks. Mann broke away, not for the first time and his cross found Bolingbroke who managed to drag his shot wide of the goal. A free-kick to Earls Colne FC was taken by left-footed by Randall with tall defender, Perry heading clear to Stripe who lofted his effort high over the cross-bar.

            On fifty-three minutes Earls Colne FC made their first change with Easter making way for Horlock, but it was Mann who got round the back of the Earls Colne FC defence and once again drew a fine save from keeper, Philips with Lorimer guilty of missing what was probably an open goal from the edge of the penalty area! Lorimer took his frustration out on someone to earn the first caution of this match which had been played in good spirit. Mann, again, and this may seem repetitive but he is the main target player for Lawford Lads FC, his seasonal goal record is always impressive, took on defender  Saunders, feinted one way then the other before shooting goal-wards only to clip the top of the cross-bar. Lawford Lads FC had pushed up-field and left gaps at the back which allowed Earls Colne FC through Horlock to gain ground down the left side and from his low cross Adams really should have struck the ball first time but by allowing the ball to pass in front of him it forced him wide and the subsequent shot flew harmlessly wide for a goal-kick, not quite an open goal  to aim at but a chance non-the-less. Mann and keeper, Philips kept up their ding-dong battle, the keeper once again coming out on top with a fine save when advancing to narrow the angle on goal. Perry blotted his copy-book by receiving a caution for delaying the re-start from a free-kick deep in the Earls Colne FC half.

            Just past the hour mark Lawford Lads FC replaced Thompson (A) with Primus and once again Mann was thwarted by keeper, Philips, smartly off his line to smother the ball and play remained centralised in midfield. On eighty minutes Earls Colne FC replaced Hudson with Harris and Lawford Lads FC made a change as well with Robinson being replaced by Ainger and when play resumed Charnock clashed with keeper, Thompson (J) and received some words from the referee. Tracey fouled Mann, that’s one way to stop him I suppose, Earls Colne FC kept up their attacking efforts as Lawford Lads FC perhaps looked to keep it tight at the back. A corner from Randall was headed goal-wards by Saunders only for keeper, Thompson (J) to fling himself to his left to save, another corner, this time CONNOR RANDALL struck a left-footed in-swinging corner that evaded everyone, striking the far post to nestle in the bottom of the net, whatever happened to the man on the post positioning! That goal was scored in time “added-on” and the jubilation shown by the Earls Colne FC players and supporters was clearly evident as we now had the prospect of another thirty minutes of extra-time, before which Salter received a caution for a foul on Ainger.

FULL TIME:     2 – 2.

            Earls Colne FC started the first period of extra-time which was largely contested through midfield, that was until Mann received the ball wide on the left side, calls for offside were made but rightly turned down and this time OLIVER MANN ran on to draw the keeper and place the ball past him into the net at the far post. Earls Colne FC made their last substitution bringing on Cousins,

EXTRA-TIME HALF-TIME:      2 – 3

            Lawford Lads FC started the final fifteen minutes, they just needed to keep a tight defence, the midfield was where the game continued to be played, no quarter had been given by either side so far and even at this late stage players were fully committed. Lawford Lads FC gave a run out to Purll who replaced Allam, there was time for additional cautions for  Horlock of Earls Colne FC and Watson for Lawford Lads FC but this had not been a dirty match, in fact it was probably one of the best finals in recent years.

EXTRA-TIME FULL TIME:       2 – 3

            Those ESBFL Management Team members in attendance all agreed that this match was one of the best seen for a number of years, two footballing sides that wanted to play, no aggravation, half a dozen cautions but nothing malicious or noteworthy as both sets of players got stuck into the game with the right spirit and energy, commendable efforts from both Clubs, players and management Teams

            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 Earls Colne FC, a great team effort prompted in midfield by Hudson, Charnock and Adams but if you have read the full report it is obvious that keeper, Philips was a busy player making numerous saves throughout the match, beaten three times perhaps but it could have been far worse but for his efforts.

            For Lawford Lads FC, another team effort, Perry in defence missed very little, the midfield did the hard work to get the ball forward to Thompson (A) who scored from a deflected shot and then there is Mann, two goals that might on another day have been five, non-the-less a match winning performance.

            After the match, John Campany, Vice-Chairman of the ESBFL made a short speech commending both teams for providing a fine match for the many spectators who braved the wintry weather, the Match Officials were given a round of applause before accepting their mementoes’ then Hudson, Captain of Earls Colne FC, lifted the Runners-Up Trophy whilst Thompson (J), Captain of victors Lawford Lads FC picked up the impressive Challenge Cup.

Teams:

EARLS COLNE FC:

Colours:            Red Shirts, Red Shorts and Red Socks.

Team:

Toby Philips., Callum Carter., Benrico Stripe., Connor Randall., Sydney Saunders., Callum Tracey., Keiran Adams., Jamie Hudson., Cameron Easter., Jack Charnock., Harry Salter.

Manager:                      Chris Hudson.

Used Substitutes:           Sam Cousins., Jack Horlock., Will Harris.

LAWFORD LADS FC:

Colours:            Light Blue and White Shirts, Light Blue Shorts., Light Blue Socks.

Team:

James Thompson., Harvey Robinson., Reagan O’Brien., Nicholas Bolingbroke., Samuel Perry., Jack Wood., Sean Lorimer., Macauley Watson., Oliver Mann., Adam Thompson., Jack Allam.

Manager:                      Andrew Young.

Used Substitutes:           Nathan Ainger., Jerome Primus., Ross Purll.

Unused Substitutes:       Alex Stocker., Tom Ruth.

Referee:                        Carl Pearse.

Assistant Referees:        Stuart Gillman and Simon Lyons

4^th Official:                    Tony Vaughan.

Star Players:              Toby Philips                            (EARLS COLNE FC)

                                    Oliver MANN                           (LAWFORD LADS FC)