21/02/2015 – Tollesbury FC versus Alresford Colne Rangers FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

TOLLESBURY FC: 2 ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC: 2

Date: Saturday 21^st February 2015.

Venue: Garrison Ground, Colchester

The mid-table clash between Tollesbury FC and Alresford Colne Ranger FC caught my eye this week, probably because there is a stand to sit in if it rains but the best place to watch is from the top of the bank, behind the dug-outs as you get a higher view of proceedings. It is fair to say that both these clubs are going through the motions this year, numerous player changes have been seen, neither team has a chance of winning the league but neither are they in danger of being relegated however a respectable league position would help.

Referee for this match was Christopher Green, assisted by Simon Bird and M/s Joanna Withams and I was curious when arriving at 1:45pm to find that kick-off was actually 3pm. Generally at this time of year kick-off would be 2:30pm but the well appointed Garrison Ground has floodlights so my only comment would be a polite request to all clubs secretaries to always put kick-off times on the Mitoo web-site as soon as the fixtures are published. It helps not only local club supporters but the group of ground-hoppers that roam the country and particularly for when the inevitable evening games commence in April.

Today, Tollesbury were missing key midfielder Hull (R) and a couple of other players whereas the visitors had the lively Lamb back up front but have clearly missed the long term injured Rogers as well as dependable defender Carter. I suppose it is easy to make excuses for non-availability, injuries do take their toll and work commitments in these economic times often depict priorities and give Team Managers a weekly headache.

Alresford led the first attack with Lamb being stopped by Hope who dived into a timely tackle just outside the penalty area whilst Stoneman was stopped when Thomson gave chase to incept and clear. Bryan forced his way through for Tollesbury by-passing Thomson but an off-side decision closely followed, and then a poor back-pass from Keeble (S) put Czapla through but his first time chipped effort only found Nixon who was standing a long-way off his goal-line. Baker should have done better when another piece of questionable defending on the half-way line by Tollesbury allowed his him to lob the keeper standing on the eighteen yard line but he screwed the effort wide of an empty goal. A rash attempt to challenge by Drysdale on Gibbons saw a free-kick conceded but the free-kick from Stoneman only found Spencer.

Keeble (B) started another home attack with a throw-in to Stoneman who passed to Bryan and collected the return pass only to shoot over the cross-bar before more another defensive lapse by Keeble (B) allowed Czapla to gain possession and run at the retreating Tollesbury defence, go round the advancing keeper and then contrive to run the ball into the side netting albeit on his own as no other visiting player was up with that passage of play. With fifteen minutes gone Alresford had been gifted two gilt-edged chances but had spurned both and they went behind soon after when Stoneman was fouled by Thomson twenty yards out in an almost central position. OWEN BRYAN stepped up to curl the ball over the defensive wall and when the ball bounced in front of keeper, Spencer, he dived to his left but only helped the ball into the back of the net and the opening goal, one of those occasions when keepers only want to bury their head in their hands following a crucial error. Five minutes later and what appeared to be another crucial error saw Tollesbury increase their lead, Bryan had forced his way through a crowded penalty area and saw his shot hit the inside of the left hand upright and bounce behind the keeper to ASH STONEMAN who was hit on the knee and the ball ricocheted into the back of the net. But with Stoneman standing behind the keeper at the original shot he clearly looked in an off-side position, however despite the protestations of the visitors towards the officials the goal was allowed to stand.

Alresford now had to get their act together and score goals, Price (D) and Baker got a decent attack going down the left side but similarly Gibbons was finding space down the Tollesbury left as well. With twenty-five minutes gone Lamb was fouled in a central position just outside the penalty area by Keeble (B), WAYNE LAMB put the ball down and scored with a fine direct free-kick that gave keeper Nixon no chance to save as the ball found the top right hand corner. Despite this excellent goal back for the visitors the game lacked any sparkle, too many errors had been witnessed with play very disjointed in all areas however Alresford were let off again when Bryan ran at goal, passing Thomson, a suspicion of a foul by Bryan perhaps as Thomson protested, to find Stoneman and when the return pass came to Bryan although he connected with the ball his shot was well wide. Price (C) lost possession to Stoneman who he fouled when trying to retrieve the situation and as the half closed Eve blazed over the cross-bar from a driven cross from Stoneman.

HALF-TIME: 2 – 1

The start to the second half was slow, would Tollesbury sit on their slender lead or would the visitors make a game of it as before the start I thought a close game ending in a draw would be about right so something would need to happen to reach that conclusion. Stoneman was active again up front putting pressure on Thomson and Drysdale before finding Bryan who flicked the ball up and round Thomson and forcing Spencer to parry the resulting volley. Seaborn and Thomson clashed in a heavy challenge but with play allowed to continue Woods fouled Stoneman with Thomson reluctantly being forced to leave the field after treatment. Bryan lined up the free-kick and when the ball squeezed through the defensive wall keeper Spencer flung himself to his right to push the ball past the left hand upright for a corner. Bryan was then in the wars after a heavy challenge from Thomson and he too was forced to eventually leave the field of play clutching his ribs.

A long throw-in from Lamb was headed on by Payne but Nixon collected, Marchant received a caution for a less-than-suttle trip on Gibbons and three substitutions followed, Bryan and Eve were replaced by Jones and King whilst the visitors swapped Baker for Todd. Tollesbury took their eye off the ball and Todd drifted in to head into arms of Nixon from a cross by Czapla, Seaborn dived into a challenge on Czapla rather late and was duly cautioned and Stoneman went down with a touch of what looked like cramp. Fifteen minutes remained when Todd fouled Seaborn and Lamb ran through from an on-side position but lobbed the ball over the cross-bar, another crucial miss. Czapla was replaced by Schofield and Lamb was seen running through taking the cross field ball on his chest in front of Bright before launching a speculative shot on the run which cleared the perimeter fencing.

Bright fouled Price (D) but the free-kick was wasted and Thomson got an overdue caution for a foul on Gibbons but the free-kick, taken by King only found Spencer. With neither team looking like scoring again I turned to my learned fellow spectator, Richie Hewitt, and said, we need something special here! Pleace forced Spencer to punch clear from a closer range volley after James had lobbed the ball forward behind the visitors defence. Marchant was fortunate not to receive a second caution when tackling from behind and he was immediately replaced by Yearling right on ninety minutes. Three minutes into injury time, in a last ditch attempt, Woods for Alresford worked the ball forward once again with a looping cross from the left which was headed goalwards by Yearling, Nixon’s reaction save only pushed the ball out and MARC YEARLING rammed the ball home from three yards, talk about a get-out-of-jail card being played by the Alresford management.

FULL TIME: 2 – 2

Both Management Teams thought a draw was a fair result. Alresford should have been ahead before going two goals behind before a fine free-kick gave them hope. The second half was again a scrappy affair and Alresford left it very late to gain a deserved share of the points.

This week my Man-of-the Match selection, after a lot of deliberation, goes to Wayne Lamb of Alresford Colne Rangers FC, yes, he has his critics for some of his on-field antics but he was the bright light in attack for the visitors, scorer of one goal but he could quite easily, with a bit more composure had more.

Teams:

Tollesbury FC
Colours: Green Shirts & Green Shorts

Drew Nixon., Ben Keeble., Charlie Pleace., Luke Seaborn., Steve Hope., Jamie Bright., Andrew Gibbons., Scott Keeble., Ash Stoneman., Owen Bryan., Matthew Eve.

Player Manager: Luke Seaborn.

Used Substitutes: Bradley James., Simon King., Ben White.

Unused Substitutes: Danny Carroll., Corin Haines.

Alresford Colne Rangers FC
Colours: Red Shirts and Black Shorts

Peter Spencer., Andrew Marchant., Wayne Woods., Jamie Thomson., Sam Drysdale., James Baker., Daniel Price., Christopher Price., Wayne Lamb., Robert Czapla., Luke Payne.

Manager: Malcolm Price.

Assistant Manager: Nicholas Allston.

Used Substitutes: Ian Todd., Michael Schofield., Marc Yearling.

Unused Substitutes: Richard Wilkinson.

Referee: Christopher Green.

Assistant Referee’s: Simon Bird and M/s Johanna Withams.

Man of the Match: Wayne LAMB (ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS FC)

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Request to Club Secretaries.

On “MITOO” would all Club Secretaries please amend Club Contacts, Team Colours in addition to adding the time of “Kick-Off” for HOME matches.

KO is 2:30pm in: February

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