26/03/2016 – Holland FC Reserves versus Dedham Old Boys FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
HOLLAND FC RESERVES: 1. DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC: 1.
Date: Saturday 26th March 2016. Venue: Dulwich Road, Holland
Division One again this week, seventh playing fourth, so a short trip to the sea-side, but not the best of days to visit Dulwich Road, Holland with the wind getting increasingly stronger as it blew straight off the sea and across the pitch which gave neither team any advantage.
Both teams had regular players missing, most noticeably Dedham Old Boys FC who had five players missing from the line-up I saw in mid-February, perhaps because of the Easter Holiday whereas the home team had first team call-ups, but that is what Reserves teams should do, support the First Team!
The Match Official for this fixture was Stuart Gillman, who set out his stall very early on and kept to the script, letting players know why he had stopped the game and dealing competently with any issues, not that there were many.
Dedham kicked off and retained possession until the fourth minute when O’Riordan missed his clearing header allowing Vitelli through on goal, Wass advanced and stuck out a leg towards the ball, Vitelli was air-born having been caught by the keeper, the ball went behind the goal, the visitors shouted for a penalty, with a corner being given from the unsighted referee who also thought that the keeper just got a touch to the ball before the player, narrow margins perhaps but if you’re not sure you cannot give a decision on guesswork! Dedham were left to review their video evidence and curse their lack of an opening goal scoring opportunity but from the corner from Moseley the ball went to the far post where Bell headed the ball off O’Riordan for another corner this time taken by Allston which led to several goalmouth scrambles before the ball fell to Bell who scuffed the ball wide of an almost empty net after some desperate defending by the home team. At this early stage it was Dedham in the ascendency with Moseley prompting from midfield with support from Hargreaves and Hammond, that was until the seventh minute when a strong run by Harms (K) set Moore (J) into space and when he laid the ball into the path of THOMAS MOORE he lashed the ball with his left foot past Wakefield who barely had a chance to move.
On twelve minutes Moore (J) had a chance himself with Wakefield saving low to his right and Pearce clearing the danger then Holland thought they had scored again but the linesman flag was raised on the far side. Another promising move from Dedham started by Moseley saw Vitelli get to the goal-line, skip past Edwards and lay the ball back to Moseley who failed to find the target, blasting well wide with only the keeper to beat, quite why players want to score the spectacular goal rather than just take the chance, beats me every week I watch local football! Bell headed directly to Wass from a Moseley free-kick and when Mason put Vitelli through one-on-one against Wass he totally missed the ball as he tried to side-foot the ball into the net. A long clearance from Wass was played back first time by Mason and with Vitelli lurking Wass had to advance outside his penalty area to head clear. On twenty minutes Barnard (H) needlessly scythed down Vitelli close to the corner flag to concede a free-kick and earn the first caution of the game, Allston struck the free-kick, long to the far post where Hooten just failed to get over the ball with his header and the danger past.
Another long clearance from Wass fell to Bell who moved the ball wide to Allston and he in turn found Hargreaves who once again took on the Holland defence down the left side but on the balance of play and chances created in was a surprise that the visitors were not on level terms or even deservedly ahead but clearly a case of not taking their chances. Hooten chased forward to a ball from Moseley but Edwards guided the ball back to his keeper then Vitelli failed to control the ball first time and another chance went begging whilst at the other end Harms (T) tried a shot on the turn having been set up by Moore (J) who then put in a robust challenge on Mason, with the free-kick from Allston finding the hands of Wass inside the six-yard box. Moore (T) twice dived into challenges on Allston and Hargreaves with a fine ball from Edwards finding Barnard (B) who shot high and wide. Hargreaves and Moseley almost set Vitelli away but his option to shoot was a weak effort that failed to trouble Wass.
Moore (J) took down a long ball forward from O’Riordan and laid the ball back to Harms (T) who blazed high and wide, new balls please as the match ball flew down towards the building site and it was Moore (T) and Moore (J) who created another chance when a decent cross found its way into the Dedham penalty area from the right wing. With five minutes to half-time Ross and Barnard (B) had a running battle, no fouls but strong challenges as the referee allowed play to continue, until Hammond fouled Moore (J) with Moore (T) dramatically over-hitting the free-kick out of play behind the goal. Moore (T) fell heavily when going over the shoulder of Moseley but soon got up as the Holland physio was about to race onto the pitch. Dedham were still trying to get back on level terms but with the wind playing havoc with any high ball it was left to Vitelli to once again try his luck in front of goal but he fell under a fair challenge but there was never a chance of a penalty decision being given this time either.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 0
Right, forty-five minutes to go, can this game improve, will Dedham get back on level terms or will Holland go on to win by a narrow margin, the only thing that has changed for sure, is the wind, it’s now gusting much stronger across the pitch. The hosts kicked-off, lost possession and when the visitors threatened down the left wing, Bolton challenged Hargreaves illegally, probably going for the player rather than the ball and was promptly cautioned. Five minutes later and Mason went in hard from behind on Moore (J) and rightly, he too went into the referee’s notebook and when play restarted Vitelli, playing as a lone striker had little support when he gained possession but was easily dispossessed. A lobbed ball forward from Hammond towards Vitelli found Wass running out to punch clear with O’Riordan finishing the clearance and Wass had to be alert soon after when Vitelli threatened to get between O’Riordan and Edwards to latch onto a ball from Hargreaves. Wakefield produced a good save from Barnard (H) who turned onto the ball with his right foot with the keeper pushing the ball wide of the goal, rather than back into play, which you see so often, even in the professional game.
On sixty minutes, when Mason ran clean through the home defence it was left to Wass to thwart him, standing his ground until the last minute before parrying the goal-bound effort, once again a situation of Dedham having the chance but not being able to finish some good approach play. However we did not have long to wait for the equaliser as on sixty-five minutes Vitelli took on the Holland defence and with Edwards guilty of not putting the ball into touch, Vitelli worked his way towards goal before being blocked off by Shuttlewood however the ever alert TRISTRAN MOSELEY fairly hammered home the loose ball from ten yards out and parity was found. Dedham replaced Pearce with Parsons and soon after the referee was forced to call home skipper O’Riordan to him when talking to Moore (J) for some “out-of-turn” comments but the game remained scrappy. Moseley tried a long shot which Wass fielded with glee but from his long clearance Hargreaves picked up the ball inside his own half, beat Moore (T) on the half-way line, then crashed into a tackle from Barnard (H) before continuing his run when taking on Bolton before O’Riordan had to come across to nullify any threat of a cross from just on the edge of the penalty area.
Dependable Dedham skipper Bell, alongside Ross, was more involved this half rallying his team who had adopted a “three-at-the-back” defence with Parsons having joined Vitelli up front and his presence at corners at both ends was to prove useful. Holland made three quick substitutions with Bolton, Moore (T) and Barnard (H) being replaced by Spencer, Firkins and Hulstrom respectively and Barnard (B) and when Mason tussled outside the penalty area the short free-kick from Harms (K) led to a foul and Dedham relaxed. When Hargreaves burst forward on the left side, O’Riordan cynically brought down the player from behind to concede a free-kick and get a caution himself but Moseley, once again, going for the spectacular only managed to miss the target by some distance, such a waste from a decent position especially as his taller team-mates had ventured forward! With five minutes of normal time remaining Hulstrom dived into a tackle on Moseley, without any chance of winning the ball, Spencer complained bitterly under the eyes of the referee who sent him away, don’t know why players do this, it was clear infringement of the rules so accept it. A long curling ball from Allston almost found Vitelli who had ghosted around the back of the Holland defence but the wind just took the ball too far for any decent control then in the last minute Moseley set Parsons up but his snatched shot took off and sailed over the goal without troubling the keeper, who gave his defence a verbal bashing for not closing down the Dedham player.
FULL TIME: 1 – 1
So, after a scrappy game spoilt by the cross-field gale force wind coming off the sea plus a bumpy pitch, it was honours even, however both teams made an effort despite the elements holding sway.
This week for my selection for a Man-of-the Match, I have chosen sixteen year old Lewis Hargreaves, probably the youngest player in the league and definitely the smallest player on the pitch defending one minute but bursting forward whenever possible to link up with his midfield and forwards and for such a diminutive player he did not shirk some hefty challenges.
This week the games come thick and fast so it is Harwich & Parkeston FC versus Holland FC on Tuesday, Frenford Senior FC versus Little Oakley FC at Thurrock on Wednesday in the Essex Premier Cup Final and Holland FC versus Weeley Athletic FC in the KOC semi-final on Saturday.
Lastly, would Club Secretaries and Managers, please note that under “Rule 8(J)” the last day for new player registrations and transfers is Friday 1st April 2016.
Teams:
HOLLAND FC RESERVES Colours: Orange Shirts, White Shorts and Orange Socks.
Scott Wass., William Bolton., James Shuttlewood., Curtis Edwards., Toby Harms., Ryan O’Riordan (C)., Kalon Harms., Harry Barnard., Bailey Barnard., Joe Moore., Thomas Moore.
Manager: Gary Cullip.
Used Substitutes: Nathanial Spencer., Bradley Firkins., Harry Hulstrom.
Un-used Substitutes: Joe Foster
DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC: Colours: Blue shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Kelvin Wakefield., John Pearce., Daniel Allston., Lewis Hargreaves., Aaron Ross., Daniel Bell (C)., Tristran Moseley., Matthew Hammond., Philip Mason., John Vitelli., Miles Hooten.
Manager: Paul Ketley.
Used Substitutes: Ryan Parsons.
Unused Substitute: Rodney Rix., Paul Ketley.
Referee: Stuart Gillman (Wivenhoe).
Man of the Match: Lewis HARGREAVES (DEDHAM OLD BOYS FC)
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