Bergholt Heath YFC – Results w/e 18th May
BHYFC U15s vs Notley Youth – League Cup Final
The last match of the season for Bergholt Heath saw the Under 15’s back in the League Cup final for the second successive year, this time up against newly crowned league champions Notley Youth, at Wivenhoe Town FC. Once again Bergholt were without injured striker James, and the cup tied Joe.
Bergholt started the match brightly on a dry and bobbly pitch, and despite playing against a wind stronger than expected, took the match to Notley with the strikers working hard to prevent the Notley defenders having time on the ball to play their usual long-ball style to their fast running strikers. Apart from a couple of early chances, this pressure was working and pressure paid off with a goal around the 15 minute mark: Aaron came up from right back to pick Ben out with a throw on the edge of theNotley area. Ben got free from his marker to whip in a superb cross that Max rose to head powerfully home at the far post.
Unfortunately the lead only lasted a few minutes when from their second corner Notley equalised – again with a header. Notleywere continuing to try and hit the ball over the top to use the advantage of the wind and their pacey strikers, which kept theBergholt defenders on their toes dealing with a succession of headers. In contrast, Bergholt got the ball down and played through the midfield at every opportunity.
However around 5 minutes before half time the Notley long ball game finally paid off when another ball was played over the top. Sam miss-judged the flight in the wind and for once missed his header. Jamie and Harry tried to get back to cover as the ball ran through with the striker in pursuit, but he had a relatively easy job of poking the ball home past Connor who had not really progressed out of his goal to narrow the angle. HT: 1-2.
At half time the Bergholt manager asked the officials for some protection as there was a tendency for the opposition to jump at players, or pull them back, rather than concentrating on the ball – which was generally going unpunished in the first half. Within minutes of the second half starting, the first yellow card of the game was shown to a Notley player for pulling back Ollie. Another yellow card was shown mid way through the half when yet again a player jumped at the Bergholt defender without too much concern of where the ball was, and this was followed by yet another card for the same offence a few minutes later.
As the game wore on Bergholt had come into the match more and more and half chances came – the best of which fell to Ollie who exchanged passes with Ciaran and curled a superb effort just wide of the goal from outside the area. Ben was pulled back and then fouled in the area all in the same move for what looked like an obvious penalty, but the referee waved away protests.
For the last 10 minutes Bergholt switched to 3 at the back and moved Sam up front to force the game. This tactic worked and saw Bergholt force several corners in the last few minutes, two of which saw Sam get his head to the ball but unfortunately in neither occasion could he direct the ball on target. Bergholt’s final chance came after another corner was cleared but only to Leo, who set Jamie up to hit a half volley from 25 yards that was aiming for the top corner until a Notley defender got his head to the ball to deflect it for Bergholt’s final corner of the game, which unfortunately came to nothing. There was still time, however, for the referee to send off a Notley player when he showed him a second yellow card – apparently for swearing.
Final score: Bergholt Heath 1-2 Notley Youth
FA Charter Club?
This match concluded the Season for Bergholt Heath. The Club is hoping that during next season, if not before the 2014-15 season starts in September, it will have been awarded FA Charter Club Status.
The Player Awards Evening will take place at the Orpen Hall on Saturday 14th June, starting 6pm. The Club AGM will take place at the Queens Head PH on Wednesday 25th June, starting 8pm.