REPORT – 10/08/2022 – A V LEE MEMORIAL TROPHY
CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
- V. LEE MEMORIAL TROPHY
WEST BERGHOLT FC 1. TIPTREE HEATH FC 2.
Date: Wednesday10th August 2022. Venue: The Hawthorns, Stanway Rovers FC.
Well, that summer break didn’t last long, and we are back for a new season, hopefully another full and incident free season and the ESBFL started with the playing of the annual season opener. This is normally competed for between the team that finished top of the Premier Division and the winners of the KO Cup but given that Stanway Pegasus FC won both, and have been elevated to the Thurlow Nunn Football League, the respective runners-up, West Bergholt FC, and the losing finalists, Tiptree Heath FC, were invited to play for the AV Lee Memorial Trophy, a match played under floodlights at “The Hawthorns”, home of Stanway Rovers FC, whom we thank for the use of their facilities.
The ESBFL has now successfully agreed a three-year sponsorship deal with Chelmsford City Racecourse and the league will bear that name until further notice. During the closed season a number of Clubs have withdrawn but a similar number of new Clubs have joined alongside a number of new Reserve Teams, meaning that there remains, six divisions, fifty-six Clubs with over eighty teams taking part. All new Clubs and Teams are welcomed, and we hope they enjoy competing in what is a well-run football league, being a National Feeder System League at Step 7 (Premier Division).
For tonight’s match, played on a liberally-watered but rock-hard pitch, and after an extremely hot day, the appointed match Officials were Referee, Neil Strachan who had Ricky Johnson and Pedro Das Neves Ferreira as Assistant Referees with Keiran Williams acting as Fourth Official.
This report will be somewhat truncated, by my standards at least, as it was an evening when people sought the opportunity to talk about football, facts and rumours and various teams took the opportunity to collect Team Sheet Pads.
West Bergholt FC kicked-off, Chester, Captain of Tiptree Heath FC committed the first foul with Davison sending the ball towards Townrow whose header was just wide, Farthing stepped across Green to concede a foul just outside the penalty area, taken by Green himself but blasted straight into the defensive wall and be cleared. Green and Allen looked lively up-front for Tiptree Heath FC, shorn of a couple of regular players, the former gaining a corner, taken by Green, and cleared at the far post by Townrow, whose team were also seemingly missing a couple of players, early days perhaps!
A run by Green down the left side saw his low testing shot gathered by keeper, Thorpe, at the near post but on twenty minutes, Dialu raced away down the left side, beating two defenders before crossing to the near post where CHARLIE GREEN turned the ball home, although there was a suspicion of an “own-goal” it was not claimed. The first and welcome drinks break followed.
West Bergholt FC pulled a goal back on thirty-four minutes, the left foot of Blanchett providing a fine cross from the right side that KARL ANDRADE headed home from six yards out. A Blanchett corner found the head of Bethell who headed over the cross-bar, then a Blanchett, free-kick, was headed out for a corner by Knill-Jones. The first half was fairly eventful, honours even, but plenty to play for as the temperature started to drop.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 1.
Tiptree Heath FC restarted this match, Chesney was seemingly fouled by Dolphin, play was allowed to continue but Bethell impeded Knill-Jones to earn the only caution of the match. Dolphin got a shot away at goal, but Kensdale was on hand, with keeper, Lee, beaten, to clear at the far post.
Play was end-to-end, with no real end result, that was until Green sent MORLEY DIALU away to score past the advancing keeper, Thorpe, other chances came and went but neither keeper was forced into anything extravagant, I suspect they will be busier as the season starts to unfold from Saturday.
Both teams used their allowed complement of five named substitutes, this is a change from three from five as in previous seasons, but “Roll-On / Roll-Off” has not been sanctioned for the ESBFL by its Member Clubs.
FULL TIME: 1 – 2.
Early season matches can be a bit of a lottery, friendlies hopefully indicated fitness and are times to bed in new managers and players, commitment is often lacking due to holidays and this year because of the extremely hot weather, which currently does not look like changing.
Now, let’s turn to my “Star Player” perhaps a difficult choice but for me Daniel Keeble of West Bergholt FC and Morley Dialu of Tiptree Heath FC were my pick on the night, the latter player both a provider and scorer and with his pace causing problems.
Teams:
WEST BERGHOLT FC:
Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Declan Thorpe., Daniel Keeble., Connor Davison., Jake Bethell (C)., Harvey Cowler., Nicholas Farthing., Cameron Dolphin., Jamie Beecham., Karl Andrade., Lee Townrow., Lewis Blanchett.
Manager: Ryan Lines
Assistant Manager: Lionel Thoms.
Used Substitutes: Alfie Eldridge., El-Tariq Macauley., Freddie Hayes., Jack Harrington., Brad Smith
TIPTREE HEATH FC
Colours: Green & Black Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Robbie Lee., Ben Kensdale., Callum Hunt., Cameron Pennick., Dylan Hunt., Ryan Knill-Jones., Joe Chester (C)., Jamie Chesney., Charlie Green., Rory Allen., Morley Dialu.
Manager: Noel Pennick
Used Substitutes: William Leavett., Lee Martin., Tejan Saccoh., Tyler Whymark., James Partner.
Referee: Neil Strachan.
Assistant Referees: Ricky Johnson and Pedro Da Navas Ferreira.
4th Official: Kieran Williams
Star Player/s: Daniel KEEBLE (WEST BERGHOLT FC)
Morley DIALU (TIPTREE HEATH FC)
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