Bergholt Heath YFC – Results 5th & 12th February
BHYFC’s matches on 5th & 12th February produced 3 wins and 2 losses with lots of goals. There are 2 home games this Sunday to support at Poors Field kicking off at 10am and 10:30am.
Results 5th February
The Under 8 team had another high scoring encounter, but were just beaten by Halstead after having been on the wrong end of some dubious decisions. There was no match for the Under 10s.
Wivenhoe Town Reds vs BHYFC U12s
Bergholt travelled once again to Wivenhoe, this time to play Wivenhoe Town Reds. The first time the two met earlier in the season it was a very close match and ended in a draw. After good performances from both last week, anticipation was high for a repeat tight game.
Wivenhoe kicked off the match and from the very start showed their tactics by trying to get the ball to the fast striker and press the Bergholt defence. The first attack was repelled at the edge of the box and that type of play was typical of the first half. Despite it not being a very big pitch, both teams did not really trouble the opposition goalkeeper. For Bergholt the defence did extremely well to cope with pace and direct running, whilst at the other end they squandered opportunities to shoot and the Wivenhoe defence were able to get back to block the ball when the shot came. HT 0-0.
Tight Game
With the game so tight it was very important to get the first goal and for the first ten minutes of the second half it looked that it would never come as both teams once again cancelled each other out. Now, Bergholt pride themselves on their passing ability but it was in fact a long ball from Theo which saw James beat the offside trap and burst through on goal. With his form this season there was only one outcome as he lashed the ball into the back of the net to finally break the deadlock. 0-1.
This gave Bergholt the confidence to up their game and with fifteen minutes to go they doubled their lead when a cross from the left was missed by all except Oliver at the back post who slid in for his eighth of the season. 0-2.
This spurred the hosts into action and they continued pressing Bergholt and finally got their reward when one attack saw James come out and get the block but the ball fell loose. Joe tried to flick it out for a corner but unfortunately did not get enough of a boot on it and it hit the post and to the grateful Wivenhoe striker who had the simplest of tap-ins.
Tails up
With this goal Wivenhoe had their tails up and tried again and again to get through the Bergholt defence but, with James in goal, the team were magnificent in their protection of the lead with Joe, in particular, atoning for his error with some vital challenges. FT 1-2 for a Bergholt win.
Another entertaining and tight match. Well done to Bergholt for finally breaking the curse of the orange away kit!! Bergholt player of the match: James Laver – some excellent saves and brave blocks in the second half onslaught.
Results 12th February
Despite the wet weekend all teams managed to play on Sunday. The Under 8s had a convincing win away to Great Bentley. The Under 10s lost away to Layer Colts, but their performance was promising which is the main thing.
Feering Falcons Reds vs BHYFC U12s
This week Bergholt travelled to Great Tey to play Feering Falcons Reds. They had a depleted squad as illness had robbed them of both ‘keeper James and tigerish midfielder Jameson, whilst hotshot Oscar was enjoying skiing on foreign slopes.
With James being out of action, Tommy donned the green jersey and gloves and went between the sticks for the first half. For the first ten minutes he was a spectator as Bergholt piled pressure to the host’s defence with Ollie and Freddie coming close. That said Bergholt didn’t have it all their own way after that as Feering also came close with a shot that just fizzed over the bar.
The visitors then took the lead when a cross from the right by Freddie was chested in by Thomas beating two defenders and the ‘keeper to the ball. But Feering were not downhearted and soon restored parity when hesitation in the Bergholt defence allowed the Feering striker to nip in and chip the ball over Tommy. This was the last goal action of the half as both teams then cancelled each other out. HT 1-1.
Change of ‘keeper
Having had an excellent half in goal, half-time saw Tommy swap with goalscorer Thomas who went between the sticks, and he was chomping at the bit to get stuck in. His urgency and drive saw Bergholt take a grip of the early exchanges of the second half and once again took the lead when a corner from Oliver was missed by everyone and fell to Theo at the back post to smash the ball into the Feering net. He was quick to remind his manager to take back his comment that the ball never gets that far across the goalmouth!
Feering however once again fought back and a break saw a very cool finish from the Feering striker who gave Thomas no chance. At 2-2 the game was played mainly in the Feering half but the Feering ‘keeper, having made some excellent saves in the first half, was once again equal to the long-range efforts Bergholt were restricted to.
Good Stops by Feering but…
Having made a number of good stops, it was unfortunate for the Feering ‘keeper that the next Bergholt goal was due to his error as he spilled a cross and gifted the ball to James who couldn’t miss. With that James claimed his tenth of the season. This buoyed Bergholt and dented the confidence of Feering and soon James was celebrating again as his speed took the flying winger past his full-back and his chip floated over the ‘keeper and into the top of the net.
At half-time Aaron was taken off as he had tweaked his hamstring but such was his desire to play, the centre-half came back on up front for the last few minutes of the match and it was he who claimed an assist as he took the ball in the middle of the Feering half, ran forward (well, hobbled forward…) before sliding a through ball to Freddie whose sweetly struck shot flew low and hard into the corner of the net. FT 5-2.
It wasn’t a typical Bergholt performance today by any means but three hard-fought points in the bag nonetheless.
Bergholt player of the match: Thomas Lloyd – commitment at the plenty in the first half and some excellent handling in goal in the second half.
Fixtures 19th February
- U8s Away to Stanway Rovers Blues
- U10s Home to Dovercourt Vipers ko 10:00
- U12s Home to Layer Colts ko 10:30
Come along to the Poors Field and cheer the 10s and 12s on. But please remember to stay behind the respect barrier.