Gas Recreation 3 v Holland FC 0

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBAL LEAGUE - KNOCK-OUT CUP – Round 2

GAS RECREATION FC 3 HOLLAND FC 0

Date: Saturday 20th October 2012. Venue: Bromley Road, Colchester

Having watched two Border League Knock-Out Cup ties in the first round I was torn between following either of those first round victors, Tollesbury FC or Holland FC but chose all Premier Division clash between Gas Recreation FC and Holland FC, played at Bromley Road, Colchester. I have to say that despite some heavy rain the pitch looked in excellent condition, the Referee for today’s game was Stuart Hannam assisted by Clive Skinner and Andrew Harvey.

Gas Recreation kicked off and almost immediately from Craig’s chipped pass forward Thorne got behind Parrish but keeper Ball was quickly off his line to smother the ball just inside his penalty area. Taylor impeded Martin in full flight but Panrucker’s deep free-kick was defended for a throw-in, then Chapman, playing against his former team was adjudged to have fouled Newland (Lo). After five minutes the visiting defence played the ball back to keeper Ball who was quickly closed down by Thorne and in rushing his clearance the ball fell to Craig thirty yards out and he in an instant without any change of position volleyed the ball back just clearing the cross-bar of the empty goal. From this early showing we should see an entertaining and open game as both teams were committed to attack and defence even though it seemed to be littered with some heavy tackles on the slippery surface. Churchlow launched a long kick downfield, Parrish failed to control at the first attempt and the ball fell invitingly to Dillon but his snap-shot deflected off the covering Thorogood for a corner. Thorne was looking sharp in front of goal, always looking to pull defenders away before turning and using either foot to create a shooting opportunity. Downes forced a corner for Holland, the ball deflecting off Wheeler, however, Churchlow dominated the corner clutching the ball with ease. Despite the early Gas pressure, Holland had defended well and had started to be a force through midfield.

On ten minutes, when Panrucker committed a foul twenty-five yards out, Thorne grabbed the ball but his free-kick was far too high. Morris fouled Chapman down the right side and from Craig’s free-kick Parrish headed out for a corner. West appeared to up-end Thorogood outside the penalty area, just on the angle of the area and goal-line but referee Hannan, well-placed as usual, awarded a goal-kick, maybe, the players tumble was less than convincing! As play switched to the other end Panrucker conceded a throw-in, Taylor launched the first of many long throw-in’s, Martin headed clear, the ball reaching Thorne standing un-marked twenty-five yards out and his first time volley just cleared the cross-bar and the home team were getting closer. When Ball launched a long kick downfield the ball clearing the home defence and Fuller raced onto the loose ball before sending a left foot volley across goal where Churchlow saved, the ball ran loose but West had tracked back to clear the danger at the expense of a corner. Churchlow again caught the high corner and set Taylor away with a good thrown clearance however Taylor’s long cross-field ball was hit too strongly and drifted away for a goal-kick.

After twenty-minutes, Greenley chased a loose defensive clearance before chipping an excellent ball forward to Craig, who had stayed forward but again whilst the final cross was good, none of his colleagues were in the area to convert the chance. A minute later and from Churchlow’s goal-kick Martin fouled Thorne right on the edge of the penalty area, four players lined up in the defensive wall but Chapman’s driven effort around the right side of the wall saw keeper Ball made a smart full length save at his near post. Gas, had regained the upper hand and were forcing Holland to defend deep, however gaps were appearing and Gas were looking to exploit these at every opportunity. Five minutes later and the home side took the lead, Poole fouled Dillon and from the quickly taken free-kick, Thorne and Taylor played the ball short with the latter’s goal-bound effort being cleared only as far as JOSH DILLON who rifled back a goal-bound shot which took a huge deflection to beat the otherwise well-positioned keeper. Almost immediately Gas increased their lead, another free-kick was conceded deep on the left hand side, Thorne lined up a right foot shot and the ball fairly fizzed across the goal passing the probably unsighted keeper and Parrish managed to block the ball between his legs lying prostrate on or near the goal-line. In the frantic scramble that followed the loose ball was eventually bundled home by ELDON CRAIG.

So, whilst Holland had been defending in depth they had been undone from two free-kicks and looked deflated. Ball had to be alert to advance and take the ball off the toes of Taylor as be got into the area, then did even better to thwart Thorne’s left foot shot. Martin was injured in a heavy fifty-fifty challenge with Greenley on the half-way line, the first incident to feature these two midfield players! A free-kick effort by Downes deceived West and the ball skimmed off the back of his head, drifting wide of the goal for a corner kick. Gas went on the attack again, Morris made a tackle and Thorne’s attempted goal effort from forty yards out was more than speculative but Ball had to back-track to cover the dipping ball which just cleared the cross-bar. Numerous fouls, from both teams, continued to litter the first half and I’m sure the referee’s patience would soon be tested to the full. Two minutes before half-time and Martin crossed to Thorogood who tried to flick the ball goal-wards from between his legs, it did deceive Churchlow but the ball drifted agonisingly wide of the right side upright. As the half finished Thorne, with Downes in close attendance, tested Ball again and Taylor headed a bouncing ball over the cross-bar as the Holland defence stood still.

HALF-TIME: 2 – 0

Holland manager, Batten, made two immediate substitutions at the restart replacing Morris and Thorogood with Skeggs and Harms. Panrucker made an excellent foray forward, riding three tackles before finding Harms down the right side but his cross inside to Martin saw his header clear the goal. Six minutes into the half and Meadows was introduced for Newland (Lo) who had taken a heavy challenge moments earlier. Downes put in a great challenge on Taylor, blocking a goal-bound effort from an acute angle before Thorne was caught off-side twice in quick succession as Holland pushed their defensive line higher up the pitch. Also, Holland appeared more aggressive going forward but just I wrote that comment Martin received a caution for a heavy tackle on Greenley who was not best pleased!

Play had become scrappy, Martin and Greenley clashed again on the far side when Martin headed the ball onwards catching Greenley as he arrived a fraction too late. Then when Parrish cleared the ball forward on the clubhouse side, Thorne appeared to catch the player rather late, Parrish stupidly reacted by kicking out at a player and Dillon got himself involved. After a lengthy discussion between the Referee and his Assistant, Dillon was shown a yellow card, Parrish was rightly dismissed and Thorne somehow escaped punishment! Playing Gas away with only ten players would really test Holland now and Newland (Le) dropped back into defence as Gas pushed forward in search of more goals. Harms pushed the ball forward to Meadows but his shot deflected off Wheeler bouncing to Churchlow. Poole put in a deep cross for Martin but it was too high, then when Gas broke forward Ball advanced to clear from Dillon, both players with feet raised to a bouncing ball just outside the penalty area.

With twenty minutes remaining, Chapman gained possession in midfield, moved forward and played an excellent pass into the path of ROBERT THORNE who held off the challenge of Downes before side-footing the ball past Ball. Holland tried their hardest to get back into the game, Harms down the right side looks a decent prospect forcing a corner taken by Skeggs but Martins excellent header thumped against the angle of post and cross-bar and was cleared. Chapman again found Thorne, this time beating the offside trap and Downes for pace, but Ball excelled with another good save. Newland (Le) found Harms and again his cross was met by Martin but the effort was too high. West was replaced by Clewley in defence and Churchlow advanced to catch a free-kick taken by Downes. Greenley found Thorne, once again in space but again Ball excelled at full stretch. Harms took on and beat three Gas players however the final pass fell behind two of his colleagues and Martin was again in the wars after a clash with Chapman on the far side of the pitch. Manager Cowan, replaced Dillon and Thorne with Springett and Bethell but it was Taylor who came nearest to scoring when his lobbed effort from twenty-five yards bounced back of the top of the cross-bar to be cleared up-field by Downes. Harms was providing a good outlet for the visitors showing some pace and skill down the right side, again beating two defenders, again finding Martin in support but again his effort was wayward.

Visiting keeper, Ball, was again in action saving this time from Taylor’s left foot half-volley, parrying the ball high into the air before recovering to catch and clear downfield. Harms made another run down the right side this time from the half-way line, he beat Coote before firing goal-wards but the ball drifted wide. In the last minute Springett went on a good run for the home side, going clear of the advanced keeper and rolling the ball goal-wards where Newland (Le) made a superb clearance off the goal-line, his clearance hitting the post and rebounding into play, a great piece of defending. With only seconds to go Downes pulled back Chapman, just outside the area but Holland cleared the danger.

FULL TIME: 3 - 0

Gas Recreation deserved this cup victory, solid in defence, aggressive and creative in midfield and always dangerous in attack. Holland played their part, defending well for most of the game, conceding goals from poor clearances for the two first half goals and the third was probably a result of losing the dismissed defender, however the fitness of the home side was a factor and Holland had shown little attacking threat until Harms was introduced in the second half.

By the way, congratulations go to Tollesbury FC who defeated West Bergholt FC by a single goal to nil to reach the third round.

Teams:

Gas Recreation FC: Colours: Red

Paul Churchlow., Eldon Craig., Jay West., Matthew Greenley (C)., Steven Coote., Daniel Bugg., Wayne Chapman., Luke Taylor., Josh Dillon., Robert Thorne., Michael Wheeler.

Manager: Glenn Cowan

Used Substitutes: Jimmy Clewley., Craig Springett., Bobby Bethell

Holland FC: Colours: Orange

Alex Ball., Wayne Morris., Frankie Parish., Lee Newland., Blake Panrucker (C)., Steven Downes., Bruce Poole., Joe Martin., Louie Newland., Jack Fuller., Ross Thorogood.

Manager: Rob Batten

Used Substitutes: Kalon Harms., Aaron Skeggs., Lee Meadows

Unused Substitutes: Scott Pittaway

Referee: Stuart Hannam

Referee Assistants: Clive Skinner & Andrew Harvey

Man of the Match: Alex BALL (Holland FC)