Bergholt Heath YFC – Results w/e 4th May
Two matches were played last week, both by the under 15s..
BHYFC U15s vs Heybridge Swifts – League Cup Semi-Final
Having been re-instated into the League Cup as Clacton had fielded two cup-tied players in the quarter final, Bergholt took on Heybridge under the floodlights at Halstead Town FC on Tuesday evening 29th April.
Bergholt were looking for revenge against the team that had battered them 5-1 just a couple of weeks before, and from the outset the team looked far more determined to prevent Heybridge scoring, with Ciaran in particular running the midfield like a man possessed – possibly hyped up on various cold remedies downed for his bad cold! Heybridge had the better of the early exchanges but as usual the Bergholt defence stood firm and any shots that did come in were rushed and as a result were high and wide. Bergholt had their moments but generally it was half chances for both teams. HT: 0-0.
The second half was generally the same pattern as the first half, although Bergholt had a shout for a penalty when the Heybridge defender looked to bat the ball away from Max in the area using his arm, however the referee appeared not to see it and waved away the protests. This incident was the highlight of the second half. FT: 0-0.
In to extra time and Bergholt seemed to be getting stronger the longer the game went on with the Heybridge players rattled that they couldn’t find a way past a resolute Bergholt team with all 11 players on the pitch trying their hardest. All through extra time half chances again came and went, but the final score remained 0-0 and so for the second time in the cup against Heybridge this season, it was to be decided by penalties.
- Heybridge were first up, and it was scored. 1-0
- Ollie stepped up for the first Bergholt penalty and confidently slotted home. 1-1
- Heybridge scored. 1-2
- Max coolly found the corner for 2-2
- Heybridge scored. 2-3
- Jamie also found the corner. 3-3
- Heybridge scored. 3-4
- Up stepped Ciaran who miss hit his shot but – much to his relief – it deceived the keeper. 4-4
- Heybridge scored. 4-5
- Luke confidently placed his right in the top corner. 5-5
- Heybridge scored. 5-6
- Aaron was the first for sudden death and scored with a powerful shot. 6-6
- Heybridge scored. 6-7
- Jake was next and rolled his shot in. 7-7
- The next Heybridge player hit his shot straight down the middle and Connor parried it over the bar. 7-7
- Up stepped Sam – who tries to keep away from penalties – and he hit his shot into the corner: 8-7. Cue wild celerations (and comments from many that both teams could teach England a few things about penalty taking).
Bergholt are into the League Cup Final for the second season in a row. They will play Notley Youth on the weekend of 17th/18th May at Wivenhoe Town.
Bergholt Heath ‘man of the match’: votes not collected but special mention should go to both Ciaran and Aaron.
Bures United vs BHYFC U15s
The last league game of the season on Sunday 4th May saw Bergholt make the short trip to Bures United who had secured runners-up spot behind champions Notley. As seems normal these days Bergholt again had a few players missing, with striker James back on the injured list after just one substitutes appearance since the end of November. This week he was joined by fellow striker Ben who was unavailable as he was taking part in a charity event and Tom who had injured his foot.
Missing two strikers meant the Bergholt manager had to shuffle the pack and this week it saw usual front man Max joined up top by central defender Sam. The match kicked off in bright sunshine on a bobbly pitch. The early exchanges looked typically end-of-season with neither team having the killer instinct. Bergholt however used the relaxed atmosphere to soon get their passing game together and had a few superb passages of play that just failed to be rounded off with a goal the passing deserved. After around 15 minutes Bergholt took the lead with Max battled his way through the central defenders and slotted the ball under the keeper as he came out to block. Unfortunately just a few minutes later Bures were level when a couple of Bergholt players were slow to clear the area after a corner was cleared and played the Bures front men on side when the ball was played back into the box. 1-1. The entertaining game ebbed and flowed through to half time without any further goals.
The second half started in the same exciting end to end fashion. Bergholt regained the lead when Ollie sent Max away with a superb through ball. Max ran on to the ball and, under pressure from the defender, coolly curled his shot round the keeper and into the far corner of the net without breaking side for one of the goals of the season. However as with the first Bergholt goal, Bures got back on terms soon after. This time a free kick from the half way line deceived Connor in goal and he could only parry it into the roof of the net for a soft equaliser. Back came Bergholt and they were awarded a penalty when Sam had his shirted pulled as he escaped his marker on the edge of the box to run through on goal. Up stepped usual penalty taker Ollie to confidently slot the ball into the net. 3-2. Again Bures came back into it and for the first time in the match they managed to carve open the Bergholt defence down the left wing. The ball was whipped in and with only one central defender back in position, the striker connected well with his header for yet another equaliser. Not to be beaten, Bergholt scored their fourth – and what proved to be winning – goal when the ball was pumped into the Bures area from a free kick and Max got a back header in just as the keeper came out and well and truly clattered him (a good job he was facing backwards so he didn’t see the challenge coming!). The ball bounced into the empty net with Jamie on hand to ensure none of the defenders could get near enough to clear off the line to deny Max his hat-trick.
Final score: Bures United 3-4 Bergholt Heath
Bergholt Heath finish the season in 4th place in the A League – the same position as last year – on 26 points and a goal difference of +11.
Bergholt Heath ‘man of the match’: Max for his hat-trick and non-stop running.
Upcoming Fixtures
The final match of the season for Bergholt Heath will be the Under 15 League Cup final vs Notley Youth over the weekend of 17th / 18th May to Wivenhoe Town FC – details to be confirmed.