It seems I must be putting a jinx on certain fixtures as for the second week running my intended game on which to report had been called off, this time a Premier Division local derby, so once again the match outcome will be subject to a decision from the League Management Committee. Sadly and perhaps a worrying trend is that this game was one of three fixtures called off last Saturday because teams had insufficient players. So after only ten weeks of a new season these three cancellations follow two games, similarly cancelled in each of the preceding two weeks as well!

Fortunately there were still plenty of other games to watch and despite seeing Holland FC win comfortably at Lawford Lads FC in mid September, this week, they would be given a sterner test when playing away to West Bergholt FC, with both teams undefeated so far.

The Match Officials for this game were Lewis Farthing who would be assisted by Stuart Gillman and Simon Lewis and generally I thought they worked very well as a team, six cautions maybe, but all deserved.

West Bergholt FC kicked-off with Holland FC defending the first attack with Oldhampstead clearing and with both teams wanting to get an early lead in a fast but tentative start. McInnes tested Bethell (L) with a low shot and from the long clearance the ball only found the head of Goldsworthy who, glanced the ball back to his own keeper, Ball. Eaton looked to capitalise on a defensive error by the home team but Springett got back to tackle, conceding a corner, taken by Thorne on the left side, the in-swinging ball forcing Bethell (L) to tip the ball away for another corner, this time on the right, Thorne once again curled the ball goalwards, Bethell got the slightest of touches with Springett perfectly placed at the far post to head off the goal-line. Cowler, playing right side defence for Holland got forward to receive a throw-in and after passing to McInnes the ball was eventually laid back by Thorne to Cowler whose dipping goal-bound effort cannoned back off the cross-bar, a good effort by the young defender. Bethell (J) played the ball to Gibson to get a home move going and Carvey tried to keep the move going only to find Martin blocking his progress at the expense of a corner, taken by Springett but cleared by a towering header from Martin.

On fourteen minutes Martin was adjudged to have fouled Cripps, when tackling from behind, Springett set the ball up for the free-kick curling his free-kick to the far post where McIlwaine headed goalwards allowing STUART REDDICK to nudge the ball home between Ball and Cowler standing on the goal-line at the other post. The pace of the game did not relent and when Chapman volleyed goalwards, Bethell (L) advanced to collect but saw a high foot raised by Thorne who had chased through, both players exchanged words with the referee stopping the game to caution both players. Right the game is warming up, the home team lead but the visitors had shown enough attacking movement to cause problems, they just needed to get the final ball right. A few minutes later Thorne beat Parish to the ball and sent a low cross towards Eaton standing six yards out, however Eaton only managed to scoop the ball over the cross-bar, a big miss for the visitors. At the other end Oldhampstead tried to play the ball out of defence but was robbed by McIlwaine who tried a chipped effort from outside the penalty area with the ball nestling in the arms of Ball.

Cripps, now playing again at West Bergholt after a brief sojourn at Stanway Rovers FC was cautioned for a rash challenge on Goldsworthy and these two would be at each other for much of the game as the tackling tempo increased. A quick break from Thorne was stopped when Springett intervened once again and Holland continued to rush their attacking moves however a volley from Eaton hit Gibson, loping up to be caught by Bethell (L). Mid-way through the half and neither team had shirked any tackle which were still fairly feisty with free-kicks being awarded to both teams and these broke up any real flow to the game. A Goldsworthy free-kick was cleared for a corner by McIlwaine with Bethell (L) punching clear the corner kick taken by Thorne, Thorne then set up Eaton, right in front of the home keeper who saved and Eaton almost got Martin through with Bethell (L) getting to the ball first.

With half an hour gone West Bergholt were well organised to stop the Holland attacks and the visitors were showing signs of frustration, another corner from Springett found the head of McIlwaine whose header forced a reflex save by Ball with Parish stopping the ball on the goal-line before Ball recovered to smother the loose ball. Martin was adjudged to have crudely hauled Cripps to the ground to earn a caution, not sure if Martin was the actual culprit but the referee had made the right decision from which the ball was played out wide to McIlwaine whose great cross forced Ball to equally excel with a fine diving catch inside the six yard box. Reddick received a caution for a game stopping challenge just as Holland were getting forward with home defenders out of position, another tenner to the County coffers. Ten minutes to half-time and Martin and McInnes for Holland were still trying to create decent openings for the lively Eaton and Thorne both of whom showed some quality ball control and passing. It was that Martin and McInnes combination that carried the ball through midfield to Thorne whose, first time shot was blocked by the prone body of Reddick on the edge of the penalty area. Carvey tracked back to stop Thorne, again in space, after being set up by Eaton’s run down the left followed by a low cross into the danger area. Goldsworthy and Cripps renewed acquaintances almost on half-time, this time on the half-way line with the Holland player receiving a caution under the totting up procedure.

At half-time West Bergholt had kept their single goal lead but not for the want of trying by Holland, the football was not always pretty with defences holding firm and numerous free-kicks littering he half.

HALF-TIME: 1 - 0

Holland kicked off the second looking to get an equaliser but it was Cripps who burst through a gaping hole in the Holland defence, beating Oldhampstead for pace and with only Ball to beat he screwed his low effort agonisingly wide of the target, a crucial miss perhaps but then both teams had seen similar incidents already. The equaliser came on fifty minutes when Carvey fouled Martin twenty-five yards out, up stepped ROBERT THORNE to strike a shot past the defensive wall which appeared to jump over the ball leaving the helpless Bethell (L) to watch as the ball entered the net. Kearney replaced Cowler for Holland on fifty-five minutes with McIlwaine striking a firm shot straight at Ball. Three minutes later and Holland took the lead, Poole worked his way down the right wing, playing the ball into ROBERT THORNE who from an acute angle, turned and struck a cross-cum-shot high over the last defender as well as the keeper who was at the near post whereas the ball found the top corner on the far side, was it a cross, was it a shot, with no other players in the penalty area we have to assume it was a shot!

On the hour mark Springett found Ball with a direct free-kick then from a Springett throw-in a low shot from Davidson flew just wide with Reddick being replaced by Webb. Ball was injured turning the ball away from close range but the fortunes of Holland had clearly changed from being a goal down to being two goals to one ahead. Davidson sent a long ball forward to McIlwaine who ghosted round the back of Parish to head just inches wide of the right hand up-right and we did not have long to wait for the West Bergholt equaliser. On sixty-eight minutes Cripps received the ball from Bethell (L) and sent a defence splitting pass into the path of GARY McILWAINE who stroked the ball home past Ball who again pulled up injured to be replaced by Chapman in goal and with Sorrell entering midfield. The first action for Chapman was to organise a defensive wall to defend a free-kick conceded by Goldsworthy when he fouled Cripps, fortunately the free-kick from Springett hit the defensive wall and flew away for a corner. As play switched from end to end a cross from Springett saw Gibson head narrowly wide then Poole won possession before a blocked tackle from White took the sting out of the ball as Bethell (L) gathered.

Goldsworthy still persisted in diving into tackles, this time on Gildea twenty-five yards out and with no defensive wall perhaps Holland were taking a chance with Springett looking straight at replacement keeper Chapman, fortunately Holland defended this free-kick despite a half-hearted shout for handball when the ball reared up to a players hand. With ten minutes remaining Thorne picked up the ball on the half-way line when running back into his own half but with clever use of his body and both feet he turned to run between two shadowing players and set off towards goal however his final ball, a low cross across the penalty area found Eaton unmarked as he turned the ball into the net but sadly, for the visitors, in an off-side position. With the final minutes ticking away McIlwaine was replaced by Newman, Goldsworthy fouled Cripps, again and Springett hitting the free-kick far too long.

FULL TIME: 2 - 2

It has to be said that both teams had a right go at winning this game, however much of the attacking football was curtailed by fouls and free-kicks with neither side really on top, one could say that West Bergholt shaded the first half whereas Holland shaded the second half which means that both teams remain unbeaten this season and I was reliably informed that West Bergholt FC have not lost a Premier Division League game for thirty-five matches in the period since Saturday 16th August 2014.

My Man-of-the-Match player was going to be a difficult selection, Springett, Carvey, Cripps and McIlwaine played well for West Bergholt FC whereas Oldhampstead, Goldsworthy, Martin, Eaton and Thorne with two goals did likewise for Holland. I have noticed on Mitoo that Springett and Oldhampstead got their clubs respective mention for star player so for a change I’ll go along with their manager’s choices.

Teams:

WEST BERGHOLT FC: Colours: Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts and Yellow Socks.

Luke Bethell., Liam Springett., Connor Davidson., Gareth Gibson., Anthony White (C)., Stuart Reddick., Callum Gildea., Ryan Carvey., Sam Cripps., Jake Bethell., Gary McIlwaine.

Manager: James McIntyre.

Assistant Manager: Mark Farthing.

Used Substitutes: Perry Newman., Kieron Webb.

Unused Substitutes: Robert Fidler., Mark Farthing.

HOLLAND FC Colours: All Orange

Alex Ball., Harvey Cowler., Frankie Parrish., Alistair McInnes., Steven Oldhampstead., Neil Goldsworthy., Bruce Poole., Joe Martin., Steve Eaton., Robert Thorne., David Chapman (C).

Manager: Rob Batten.

Assistant Manager: Glen Cowan.

Used Substitutes: Keelan Sorrell., Ben Ryan.

Unused Substitutes: Aaron Kearney.

Referee: Lewis Farthing (West Bergholt)

Assistants: Stuart Gillman (Wivenhoe)

Simon Lewis (Clacton-on-sea)

Men of the Match: Liam SPRINGETT (WEST BERGHOLT FC)

And

Steven OLDHAMPSTEAD (HOLLAND FC)