Page Title

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBAL LEAGUE - A.V. LEE TROPHY

Date: Tuesday 9th August 2011 Venue: North Road, Brightlingsea

Well here we go with a new season opener, in the form of the A.V Lee Trophy. As usual this Trophy is the curtain raiser for the new Essex & Suffolk Border Football League season and is contested between the previous season winners of the Border League, Premier Division (Brightlingsea Regent FC) and the winners of the Border League, Knock-Out Cup (West Bergholt FC). The game was played at North Road, Brightlingsea and in all my years of visiting that venue the pitch looked in extremely good condition, those who can remember a bumpy, weed strewn pitch would be pleasantly surprised as clearly a lot of effort has been put in by a small band of people to ensure that Brightlingsea Regent FC, meet the exacting standards of the Ridgeons League where they have migrated after a rapid rise through the ranks of the Essex & Suffolk Border League.

James Webster, the Manager of Brightlingsea Regent FC confirmed that they had retained all of last year's squad with the notable addition of defender Kevin Hughes from Stanway Rovers FC. In fact their team for this match was probably their strongest available given this was a mid-week match in mid-August!

West Bergholt on the other hand were clearly under-strength, citing holidays and work commitments, however, both teams begin their respective league campaigns with tough matches away at Fakenham FC and Alresford Colne Rangers FC respectively.

West Bergholt kicked off into the slight breeze and with the low sun in their face. Their early pressure was thwarted by the home defence and in only the second minute when a free-kick for offside was cleared up field TERRY RYMER pounced on the loose ball and curled a fine 25 yard effort round keeper Morrison who had little chance to move, let alone save and the home side were one up with their first attempt. Both teams were committed in the early exchanges a tackles were hard but deemed fair by referee Dean Welham who was assisted on the night by Rob Oakes and Maison Urwin.

The referee brought back play at one incident and from the long West Bergholt free-kick Carvey was impeded just outside the area. Springett took the free-kick but the wall stood firm and the ball rolled away for a throw-in. From the long throw the ball bounced up onto the bar but Griggs in the home goal was adjudged to have been impeded when advancing for the high ball.

Brightlingsea Regent had now got their act together and the qualities that won them the league last season began to show with the midfield trio on Morley, Holman and Sillett in control, strong tackling, strong in the air, mobile on the ground and using their team mates to good effect. In one move involving Hill and Rymer the cross field ball was chased down by Sillett whose pass back across goal went out of play with no one there for what seemed an easy opportunity. When Rymer, who was always in the action, was fouled Sillett took the free-kick but his effort was high and wide. The unmarked Sillett then had an even better chance to score scooping the ball over the bar from inside the six-yard box. West Bergholt, were living dangerously in defence, with Gibson slicing his clearance over the bar for a corner, whereas their smaller forward players were being marshalled well by the home central defence pairing of Holman and Hughes. When West Bergholt did create an opening Carvey saw sight of goal but his well struck effort was comfortably saved by Griggs who thus far had had a quiet evening. Sillett was always pushing forward and when he was fouled 30 yards out a neat practice-pitch move, wide of the defensive wall, saw Hills effort flash across goal, begging for a touch.

West Bergholt then had a good claim for a rare corner but the Referees Assistant flagged for a goal-kick, but the visitors raised their game as half-time approached. When put into space Bethell raced down the right cut inside and forced Griggs to make a save low to his left at the expense of a corner.

Carvey then crossed for Gibson but his firm header drifted wide of the far post. Springett then forced Griggs into action again with a 35 yard effort that the flying keeper palmed away for another corner which was cleared by Hughes before Bethell again tested the keeper with a shot from outside the area. This period was to be West Bergholt's best passage of the game trying to capitalise on the numerous free-kicks that had crept into the game but the home side weathered the attempts. With two minutes to go before half-time a head-to-head altercation between Gould and Springett saw both players cautioned with the former somewhat fortunate to only see yellow! After two more minutes of feisty challenges, free-kicks and a verbal warning to Morley, referee Welham brought the half to a close. In the first half Brightlingsea Regent had by far the better share of the ball but West Bergholt had redeemed themselves just before half-time and at only one nil had not looked out of this game.

HALF-TIME: 1 - 0

Both teams emerged from half-time, no changes to playing personnel but the floodlights were on and the decent sized crowd, I counted +/- 90 people as the game restarted, anticipated more goals. They did not have long to wait as although West Bergholt were pushing the ball around well, prompted by Carvey and Jay, when they lost possession Brightlingsea looked dangerous through Schofield and Hill down the flanks and Rymer through the middle, and who in particular was giving Gibson a torrid time. Hill used his pace to clear the West Bergholt defence but his teasing cross was cleared without any danger. On the hour Salter and Sillett were replaced by Meadows and Wallis for Brightlingsea Regent and almost immediately it paid dividends. On sixty-two minutes a deep corner was played back in by Hughes, Rymer latched on to the ball on the opposite side of the goal and his cross was met by LIAM MORLEY who stooped to head home from close range for a two nil lead. Within three minutes it was three nil, an opportunist pass behind the visiting defence saw TERRY RYMER clip a fine lobbed effort over the stranded Morrison, who again had little chance to make a save.

West Bergholt made their first substitution when Jay was replaced by Dale but again it was the home side that capitalised when the referee awarded a free-kick thirty yards out. With four players in the defensive wall TERRY RYMER lined up his shot and comprehensively beat the diving Morrison down near the post to complete his hat-trick. To be fair to West Bergholt they were playing a very good team without certain key players who will surely be available regularly on Saturday's and there will not be many games where they will concede four or more goals like in this game. To their credit they continued to try to play football but found the Brightlingsea Regent midfield and defence in resolute mood and looking to score more goals at any opportunity. A defensive mix-up between Griggs and Holman almost let the visitors in but the keeper atoned for his fumble, before Gibson's back-header almost set-up Rymer as he crept around the defence. Brightlingsea Regent made their last change taking off Hill and bringing on Kelly. Again there was an immediate impact, good unselfish work down the left by Meadows set up a close range tap-in by TERRY RYMER for his fourth and the fifth for the home side. Bethell for West Bergholt again forced a good save from Griggs and as the game petered out Dale for the visitors shot over the bar from distance.

FULL TIME: 5 - 0

Brightlingsea Regent, were worthy winners of the A.V Lee Trophy and after a few encouraging words for both teams from League Chairman Brian Tatum, Alan Gould presented trophies to the officials, West Bergholt and to victorious skipper to Kevin Hughes.

Teams:

Brightlingsea Regent:

Matt Griggs., Ryan Salter., Jake Gould., Liam Morley., Kevin Hughes., Jake Holman., Dean Sillet., terry Rymer., Harry Schofield., Matt Hill.

Used Substitutes: Richie Meadows., Phil Kelly., Darryl Wallis

Unused Substitutes: Michael Lyness., James Cole

West Bergholt:

Glen Morrison., Stuart Reddick., Marcus Warren., Robbie Jay., Anthony White., Gareth Gibson., Carl Marangou., Ryan Carvey., Jake bethel., Liam Springett., Johnny Murrells

Used Substitutes: Jamie Thomson., Ryan Dale

Unused Substitutes: Ian Newman., Ryan Lines

Man of the Match: TERRY RYMER

*****

As a new reporter, who am I?

My name is Brian Reed, and I have been associated with Weeley Athletic FC since 1968, and still remain as their Chairman and Treasurer. Sadly Weeley Athletic FC opted to withdraw from the Border League at the end of last season and I found myself with Saturdays afternoon's free, well at least that's what my wife thought. When I was asked to take up this role, I had no hesitation as I'd probably go and find a game to watch in any case.

Enough for now but expect to see me from time to time as I intend to visit as many grounds as I can during the coming season.