Tom Bowdidge – sadly missed

Firstly this week it is with great sadness that Bergholt Heath has to report that one of our ex-players, Tom Bowdidge, passed away on Friday morning after a brave fight against cancer, at just 19 years old. Tom will be greatly missed by all those that knew him around the village and beyond.  As a mark of respect all three Bergholt Heath teams wore black armbands during this weekend’s matches.  Tom started a cancer charity “Teens Against Cancer Baby” last year and spent the last year of his life bravely raising money for his charity at every opportunity. Should anyone wish to donate to the charity in Tom’s memory, please visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tom-Bowdidge.

The following message is on Tom’s Facebook page (linked above and from picture):

We have organised Tom’s funeral now. It will be on Wednesday 30th October at 12 noon in St Mary the Virgin Church, New Church Road, West Bergholt, Colchester, CO6 3JF.  It was Tom’s wish that he had a massive funeral so we would be delighted to welcome as many of you as are able to attend.  We would like it to be a time when we mourn his loss but also celebrate his life. Dress code will be dark but we hope people will wear a touch of blue which was Tom’s favourite colour.
With our love as always xxxx

BHYFC Results 20th October

Brooklands vsBHYFC Under 9s

Bergholt Heath Under 9s faced their toughest game of the season today against unarguably the best team in the league, Brooklands.

Before the game started the Bergholt team put on black armbands in respect of Tom. After the torrential rain that preceded it, the game kicked off in sunshine and began brightly for both teams with Bergholt matching the hosts for possession.  Brooklands then started to take charge of the game, but try as they might they could not break through the Bergholt defence with the boys battling for everything and if they did get any shots on target, then Daniel’s handling was faultless.

For all their performance Bergholt fell behind with a well-taken goal.  This didn’t get the boys disheartened and they tried to get back on level terms and Thomas L, with his usual once-a-game long range effort, came close to finding the net but the keeper got down well for the save. With the half-time whistle imminent, Brooklands went further ahead when a powerful long range fizzed right through a crowded penalty area and with Daniel unsighted, found the corner of the Bergholt net.  HT 0-2.

As with the first half, the beginning was fairly even with Bergholt almost getting on the score sheet but James’ effort was just held by the Brooklands keeper.  However, minutes 30-36 will be 6 minutes that Bergholt will want to forget.  Once again, Bergholt’s luck deserted them as Brooklands extended their lead when a deflected shot caught out an unlucky Daniel.  From this, another 3 goals rattled in quick succession as Brooklands tried their luck from outside the box – each shot gave Daniel no chance.  The last 4 minutes, Bergholt managed to regroup themselves and see the game out without further loss.  FT 0-6. Although Brooklands were the better team and deserved their win, the scoreline was particularly harsh on Bergholt who played really well.  Credit should go to the defence today who were superb and didn’t deserve to be on the end of that scoreline.

Bergholt Heath player of the match: Thomas Lloyd – a captain’s performance with some excellent tackling and energy.

BHYFC UNder 11s vs Halstead Town Reds

The Under 11s were the only team at home this week and comfortably beat Halstead Town Reds 5-1 with goals coming from Jonah Murray and Richard Frost with two each and one more from Tyler Webb.

Stanway Rovers vs BHYFC Under 15s

Following last weeks league cup win, the Under 15s were in round two action of the Essex Cup, but luckily  – with the whole of Essex to be drawn against – their away match was only a couple of miles up the road to play Stanway Rovers, their local rivals in the A league!

Bergholt started slowly, which seems to be a trend so far this season, and in the first 10 minutes they allowed the home side to have several tester shots at goal – but luckily Connor comfortably handled anything that came his way.  Just before the quarter of an hour mark Bergholt got forward to create something for the first time in the match.   Stanway gave away a free kick on the left, Ollie Sanderson played the ball diagonally into the box, James Holden got a flick on and Sam Clark finished at the far post – only to find that the linesman had raised his flag!

However Bergholt were not to be denied and within a minute another attack saw a corner conceded and Sam rose high at the far post to loop his header back over the Stanway ‘keeper and into the roof of the net.  These two quick fire attacks and the goal spurred Bergholt into life and they restricted the hosts to long range attempts for the rest of the half.  Half time: Stanway Rovers 0 -1 Bergholt Heath

The second half started in completely the opposite manner to the first and within 2 minutes Bergholt were further ahead.  Leo Tiffney picked the ball up centrally just outside the Stanway area.  Owen Bernhardt ran in from the right and called for the ball to be played through, Leo picked him out superbly and Owen comfortably slotted the ball into the far corner.  A brilliantly worked goal.  Within 2 minutes Bergholt scored their third goal.  James chased a long ball into the left of the area and under his pressure the defender handled the bouncing ball. Penalty.  With Ollie now off the pitch resting having been ill during the week, Captain Jamie Bowden took the spot kick and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to score his now customary goal against Stanway Rovers.

The game was now being controlled by Bergholt, however the hosts got on the score sheet with around 10 minutes remaining.  An attack was cleared into the midfield but was stopped by an alert Stanway player who immediately played it back.  The ball evaded the Bergholt midfielders and as Sam came across to cover the obvious gap, the striker flicked it though to his partner who had the run on the blind side of Jamie and he finished well as Connor tried to close the angle. However this was the one and only clear cut opportunity for the hosts and Bergholt saw the match out comfortably to move into round three of the Essex cup, when they will be at home to the Romford Flyers.  Final score: Stanway Rovers 1 – 3 Bergholt Heath.  Bergholt man of the match: Jamie Bowden.